P. J. Benjamin

P. J. Benjamin (born September 2, 1951)[3] is an American actor known for his work in theatre.

P. J. Benjamin
Born (1951-09-02) September 2, 1951
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1973–present
Known forPlaying the Wizard in Wicked and Amos in Chicago
SpouseLouisa Flaningam[2]

A native of Chicago, Illinois,[1] Benjamin made his Broadway debut in the 1973 revival of The Pajama Game.[4] He has since performed in at least seven other Broadway shows as well as various touring, off-Broadway, and regional productions.[3][5]

Benjamin is best known for his performances as Amos Hart in Chicago and the Wizard of Oz in Wicked. Between 1997 and 2006, he played Amos in the Broadway production and two national tours of Chicago.[6][7][8] The musical shared on its official Facebook page that Benjamin had performed as Amos on Broadway for 1,989 days, which was "more than any other actor for any other character" in the production as of November 2011.[9] He joined Wicked's first North American tour as the Wizard in 2006.[10] He played the Wizard on Broadway from 2008 to 2011,[2] performed in the tour in 2012,[11] and returned to the Broadway production in 2015 and again in 2017.[12][13]

Outside his work in theatre, Benjamin has appeared in films and television series including Ice Age, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[2]

He is married to actress Louisa Flaningam.[2]

Theatre credits
Year Show Role Venue Ref.
1973 The Pajama Game Dancer Broadway [4]
1979 Saravá Vadinho Broadway [14]
1980 Charlie and Algernon Charlie Broadway [15]
1981 Sophisticated Ladies Performer Broadway [16]
1985 Wind in the Willows Chief Weasel Broadway [17]
1993 Ain't Broadway Grand Mike Todd (standby) Broadway [5]
Promises, Promises J. D. Sheldrake Goodspeed Opera House [18]
1995 Brigadoon Jeff Paper Mill Playhouse [19]
1997 Houdini Martin Beck Goodspeed Opera House [20]
1997–2000 Chicago Amos Hart National tour [6]
2002 A Saint She Ain't W. C. Fields Westport Country Playhouse [21]
2003–2005 Chicago Amos Hart Broadway [22]
2005 National tour [23]
2006 Wicked The Wizard of Oz First North American tour [10]
2008 Damn Yankees Joe Boyd Encores! Summer Stars [24]
2008–2011 Wicked The Wizard of Oz Broadway [2]
2012 First North American tour [11]
2013 I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan Ray Off-Broadway [25]
2015 Wicked The Wizard of Oz Broadway [12]
Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical Grandpa Dallas Theater Center [26]
2016 The Wizard of Oz Professor Marvel/The Wizard The Muny [27]
2017 Wicked The Wizard of Oz Broadway [13]
2022 Choir Boy Mr. Pendleton Philadelphia Theatre Company [28]

References
  1. "P. J. Benjamin". Actors' Equity Association. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  2. Gans, Andrew (July 28, 2008). "Benjamin Will Be Wicked's New Wizard Beginning July 29". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  3. "P.J. Benjamin (Performer)". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  4. Millward, Tom (October 19, 2017). "Jacobs & Benjamin begin performances in Wicked tonight". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  5. "P. J. Benjamin". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  6. Jones, Kenneth (November 13, 1998). "Chicago Celebrates 2nd Anniv w/ Concert at Times Sq. Visitors Center Nov. 14". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  7. Jones, Kenneth (May 2, 2000). "Chicago Road Company Ends Long Run, But May Return in Fall". Playbill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. "John O'Hurley Joins National Tour of Chicago for 3 Cities". BroadwayWorld. April 10, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. Chicago The Musical (November 5, 2011). "15 Days of Trivia: PJ Benjamin has performed Amos Hart on Broadway for 1,989 days..." Facebook.
  10. "Murney, Cuervo, Benjamin, Waldman, Freeman to Join Wicked Tour". TheaterMania. January 23, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. Gans, Andrew (April 30, 2012). "Wicked Tour to Welcome Nicole Parker and PJ Benjamin". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  12. Gans, Andrew (March 9, 2015). "Broadway's Wicked Will Welcome Arielle Jacobs and P.J. Benjamin". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  13. Gans, Andrew (February 7, 2017). "Chad Jennings Makes Broadway Debut in Wicked Feb. 7". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  14. Eder, Richard (February 12, 1979). "Theater: 'Sarava,' a Musical Version of 'Dona Flor'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  15. Rich, Frank (September 15, 1980). "Theater: Musical 'Charlie and Algernon'". The New York Times. p. 57. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  16. Rich, Frank (March 2, 1992). "Ellington's 'Sophisticated Ladies'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  17. Kuchwara, Michael (December 21, 1985). "'Wind in the Willows,' A New Musical, Opens on Broadway". AP News. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  18. "'Promises, Promises' Only Partially Delivers". Hartford Courant. November 1, 1993. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  19. Klein, Alvin (April 23, 1995). "THEATER REVIEW; That Enchanting Glen, With Music to Match". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  20. MacDonald, Laura (October 17, 1997). "Houdini Musical Materializes at Goodspeed Oct. 17". Playbill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  21. Taylor, Markland (August 1, 2002). "A Saint She Ain't". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  22. Gans, Andrew (May 23, 2005). "Benjamin Has Hart Beginning May 23 in Broadway's Chicago". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  23. Kendt, Rob (February 4, 2005). "Still Packing Heat". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  24. Gans, Andrew (June 6, 2008). "Cox, Mulheren, Selya and Benjamin Join Encores! Damn Yankees Company". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  25. Rampell, Catherine (July 31, 2013). "Decades After a Strike, Still Living With the Fallout". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  26. Leydon, Joe (September 21, 2015). "Pre-Broadway Review: 'Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical'". Variety. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  27. Gans, Andrew (June 13, 2016). "Muny Season Kicks Off Tonight with Wizard of Oz, Featuring Broadway Artists". Playbill. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  28. Rabinowitz, Chloe (February 26, 2022). "Review: Philadelphia Premiere of CHOIR BOY at Philadelphia Theatre Company". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
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