Described by Oregon ArtsWatch as "mesmerizing" and "electric", Ben Tissell is an actor, musician, songwriter, and educator based in Portland, OR.

 

A member of the Actors' Equity Association, Ben is equally at home in musicals, plays, classics, and new works. Favorite roles include Dr. Pomatter in Waitress, Nick in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Jason in Ordinary Days, and Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance. 

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As a songwriter Ben has released multiple full-length albums and regularly performs to full houses at venues in Portland and beyond. His music can be found on Spotify and other streaming platforms. A classically trained lyric baritone, Ben brings his powerful voice to opera, contemporary pop and folk, jazz, and musical theatre. 

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Ben has been commissioned as a playwright and lyricist by a

variety of professional theatre companies and also currently

serves as Assistant Professor of Theatre at George Fox University.

 

In 2020, Ben created The Chimes, a solo show based on Charles Dickens' beloved Christmas story. Remounted in 2022 an 2023,

The Chimes drew audiences of over 200 patrons per night. 

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When not making theatre and music, Ben can usually be found outdoors, reading a novel, or being goofy with his beloved niece and nephews.