Broadway Performer Arbender Robinson Takes Center Stage At Canterbury

On Monday, September 15th, Canterbury’s performing arts department hosted an exciting improv and character development workshop led by performer Arbender Robinson. More than 25 students participated in the 90-minute interactive workshop, where they learned to develop characters through physical and verbal improvisation. Mr. Robinson’s energy, excitement, and insight encouraged the participants to drop their inhibitions and explore their creativity through theatre games and character exercises.

Robinson, a Broadway veteran, triple-threat performer, vocal coach, and talent agent, made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning production of Hairspray, where he covered the role of Seaweed. In the original cast of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, he covered the roles of Prince Eric and Sebastian. He also served as the Dance Captain and Swing for the Broadway revival of Hair and was seen in the Broadway revival of Ragtime. Other Broadway credits include Disney’s The Lion King, covering the role of Simba; Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; The Book of Mormon; Shuffle Along; and In Transit. He also holds the distinction of being the first African American to play Marius (Les Misérables) on Broadway.

Performing Arts Department Chair and Co-Director & Music Director of Theater Christopher Rich hailed the event as a great success. “It was an amazing experience for our Canterbury students. Mr. Robinson really got at the heart of creating a character for the stage, encouraging attendees to think out of the box and fully look at what it takes to bring a complete character to life,” he said. “Mrs. Mathewson, our theatre director, and I are so thankful we could bring him to campus right before our auditions for this year’s Fall play, Peter Pan."

“I think it was a great way for people who hadn’t really known much about acting to get into the program,” said Sixth Form student Amelia Welsh, who has been performing in Canterbury shows since her freshman year. “I thought it was also cool for the people who have acted before, as the thing with acting is, you can never stop learning. I think it was a great experience, and I learned a lot.”

Mr. Robinson will soon be returning to The Book of Mormon to cover roles in select performances, and in January he will return to the hilltop to teach a musical theatre and audition workshop: just in time to prepare students for Canterbury’s Spring musical auditions.

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