Benjamin recently served as Associate Producer for The Last Time We Were Here, a concert event at the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival. The Last Time We Were Here played 2 successful performances at the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe on July 25th and July 27th.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE is Jacob's story, a singer-songwriter on a path toward superstardom, trying to make sense of the big moments in his life (most notably the end of his relationship with Grace) with nothing more than a guitar and a mic. A blend of folk-rock music, love letters, and poetry, it's the story of two hearts longing to be heard in a world too small for their words. Jeremiah and Jessica will perform the roles of Jacob and Grace, as well as other tell the stories of other couples woven through the story.
Co-writers Jeremiah Parker Hobbs and Jessica De Maria, who also perform as Jacob and Grace, are both Atlanta based writers and performers. Hobbs, an actor, singer, songwriter and musician just completed a national tour of DELLA'S DINER and can be seen this summer as Roger in RENT at Actor's Express, located in Midtown Atlanta. De Maria, a Long Island native, appeared as the Narrator in MURDER BALLAD at Actor's Express and will next be playing Helena in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at Stage Door Players in Dunwoody, Georgia, a metro-Atlanta community.
The very beginnings of The Last Time We Were Here technically started in 2008, when, in a playwriting class in college, Jeremiah challenged himself to write a musical. Over the years, the music, the lyrics, and the story continued to evolve as a labor of love for Jeremiah. Enter Jessica in early 2014 as a writing partner with new passion and perspective. Together they fleshed out the story, songs, and life of the piece. Their collaboration was the impetus to get the show where it is today.
I love you. It seemed like a perfect way to start.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, an intimate new folk rock musical, transports us to a world of dimly lit bars in which a single moment can be transformed into a lingering memory by no more than a guitar and a mic. Jacob, a singer-songwriter on a path toward super-stardom, struggles to make sense of the big moments in his life – most notably the end of his relationship with Grace, a passionate woman fascinated by a romance from the past. Two other characters weave the stories of other couples into this powerful blend of music, love letters, and poetry.
Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus
Design: Chelsea Steverson