Ben James Tyrrell
Actor, Mike in Off-Broadway's Honeyland
Honeyland takes place in Boston sometime in the early 1970’s. Friends who had not seen each other in years get together to celebrate and reflect on the life of their late friend Mike, who had died in Vietnam during the war. The show is about friendship, growing, and learning together. I love how honest this piece is in depicting the sentiments of the youth in this time of radical change in history. I enjoy the song Push the Button, the contrast of the vaudeville-esque upbeat number reflecting on the inevitable nuclear holocaust by the powers of the world produces quite the impact.
At what age did you start your craft? What inspired you to do so? How do you continue to exercise and grow it?
The first show I cried in was Les Miserable in 2010. It was unlike anything I’d seen or felt up until that point in my life, and when I left the theatre I knew I wanted to make other people feel that way. I was eleven when I took up acting classes and got into my local theatre shows. I hang out with my friends, watch movies, tv and go to shows, and I live my life. I think about the world and people and I like to play! I think growth naturally happens when you give living your full attention.
Who is the audience for this show, and what would you like them to get out of it?
This show is for everyone, I believe. We are formed by the wars that came before us. We are also formed by the fight against them. Humanity will continue to speak up against evil in the pursuit that one day we can live in a world of love and understanding rather than fear and hatred.
Who are your collaborators? What do you like about working with them?
The team on this project is incredible! Denny and Clarry know what they want out of this show, and I’m honored to make it come to life. The cast is awesome to work with, we all get on and give each other the space to play in rehearsal!
What are you most proud of with this production? Or in your life?
My proudest accomplishment in my life so far is my relationship with my girlfriend. She’s doing a contract on Harmony of the Seas right now and she’s doing an incredible job! We grow and learn so much from each other, and she inspires me to be a better man every day. She’s amazing and I love her.
I’m from Lafayette, Louisiana! Got my BFA in MT from the University of Arizona (Bear Down🤩). I live in New York and I’m interested in people, riding bikes, and watching movies with my AMC Stubs! @benjamestyrrell on IG
