2003 PTTP grad Ben Reigel

6:00 p.m., May 31, 2003--When actor Lee Ernst takes on the role of John Barrymore this fall, it won’t exactly be art imitating life. But with his son, Ben Reigel, successfully launched on an acting career of his own, the two UD graduates may be starting a new theatre dynasty—one with a very blue and golden influence.

Ernst and Reigel are the first father and son duo to graduate from UD’s prestigious Professional Theatre Training Program—albeit about 10 years apart.

Ernst, now a respected member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, who also is sought after for roles at the American Players Theatre, graduated from the first PTTP class at UD in 1992. Reigel, who followed in his father’s famous footsteps, graduated this spring with the Class of 2003.

Of course, his years at PTTP weren’t the first time Reigel had taken to the stage at UD.

“Our family moved to Newark when I was a freshman in high school and Lee enrolled in graduate school. I played some of the children’s parts in productions then,” Reigel said, including “Our Town,” “Henry IV” and “The Caucasian Chalk Circle.”

After Ernst graduated, the family moved back to Wisconsin where Reigel finished high school and went on to major in drama at the University of Wisconsin. After graduating from college, there was never any question that he would audition for a PTTP slot the next time a three-year class began.

“It seemed as if wherever I was, the best people were graduates of PTTP,” Reigel said. “I knew I wanted to train for classical roles and after talking it over with Lee I decided to go for it.”

But it was all a little intimidating, he said. “The faculty had had known me since I was a little kid, and my dad is one of their real success stories. I put a lot of pressure on myself worrying, ‘Did they take me because of him?’ ‘Do they expect me to be as good as him?’ It was something I just had to get over, like anyone who follows in the footsteps of a parent who excels in the same profession.”

1993 PTTP grad Lee Ernst

For his part, Ernst has fond memories of Reigel as a little boy joining him on stage, playing a fairy in “Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” at the American Players Theatre when he was only 4 years old.

Both seem to have always known that the theatre was where Reigel would find a career.

Ernst said he has made an honest attempt to withhold too much parental advice, but like most actors, the two enjoy discussing their craft when they are together.

“Like any parent, sometimes I just can’t help myself,” Ernst said. “I think the thing I tried to stress to him most is that there is a whole world out there that is much bigger than the theatre. I urged him to experience all that he can so that he will have more to bring to each part. Theatre is more than just learning lines and getting up on stage.”

If Reigel heard that advice, it may have been in passing, as he says his dad is such a nice guy he has to “beg and plead” with him to critique his performances. “I really value his opinion, and I always know he could tell me how to take a performance to the next level,” he said.

Most of the time, Ernst has already played a role that Reigel lands, but this fall things will be reversed. Ernst will be playing Richard III, a role Reigel has already played.

“I might hang around and see what he does with it,” Reigel said, laughing.

Special theatre interests that have been passed down from father to son include make-up and fight choreography. Ernst teaches both, and, from the time Reigel was an adolescent he was his father’s favorite and most available fight-staging partner.

Ben Reigel in the PTTP production of Beaux’ Strategem

“Ben used to beg me to go out into the back yard and stage a fight,” Ernst said. But, the two insist, it was always just for fun or to advance the craft. Ernst never took a swing at Reigel for misbehaving, and Reigel said he never really wanted to hit or swing a sword at his dad.

The rest of the Ernst family includes wife and mom, Sandy Ernst, who is the associate artistic director of the Milwaukee Reparatory Theatre; Ben’s older sister, Amy, who also acted as a child but opted for a career with a software firm; Isaac, 18, who is a musician; and 8-year-old Madeline, who has the potential to catch the acting bug, her dad says.

Currently, while Ernst continues to act in Milwaukee, Reigel is employed by the Texas Shakespeare Festival. The two said they would love to appear together on stage some day.

“Sure, I think we should do ‘Death of a Salesman’ with my dad playing Willie Loman and me playing Biff,” Reigel said. “Of course, Dad still looks pretty young…well, maybe in another 10 years.”

Is it the beginning of another theatre dynasty?

“Hmm…I don’t know about that,” Reigel said. “At least we don’t have all the substance abuse problems of the Barrymores.”

Article by Beth Thomas