Jack Benjamin and Clint McGuire

Clint McGuire (55) asks Jack Benjamin (70) about his family history regarding the arts. Jack says he grew up in Washington DC, and that his parents did appreciate theatre, and the arts in general, as spectators.

Jack says during the 1950s and '60s you got involved in the arts through school. He says his first practical experience in theatre was as stage crew.

Jack remembers his dad taking him to see the original production of "Camelot," with Richard Burton and Julie Andrews. He says it was a pivotal moment in his life.

Jack talks about his family moving to Dallas, Texas. He says he continued to be involved in theatre and was also a drummer in the school band.

Jack talks about college and says he went to multiple schools. He says he attended East Texas State University for graduate school and also taught there. Jack remembers Dr. Curtis Pope as being an instrumental influence.

Jack says the most valuable thing he learned at East Texas State was to keep an open mind.

Jack remembers working at the Harlequin Dinner Theatre in Washington DC, prior to graduate school. He says it was the early '70s and he was a lighting designer.

Jack says his master's degree is in directing.

Jack says he graduated from East Texas State in May of 1979. He remembers being hired by Brookhaven College (Dallas College Brookhaven Campus) that same summer and says he stayed there until 1986.

Jacks says the transition from student to teacher was difficult. He says the students at Brookhaven College were just a few years younger than him. Jack says that by today's standards his directing style is old school and harsh.

Jack remembers Terry McCracken auditioning for a show at Brookhaven College in 1980. He says they remain close friends and that she just turned 85.

Jack says he also met Bill Hammerschlag at Brookhaven College. He says the theatre department at Brookhaven was very new and more like a community college when he started teaching there.

Jack remembers sending out resumes in the summer of 1986. He says he got a call from the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) and was flown in for an interview in late July. He remembers Carey Robinson and Marti Costantino being present and says they have become lifelong friends.

Jack talks about being hired by USC Aiken, and how quickly everything moved after that.

Jack remembers former USC Aiken Chancellor, Dr. Robert Alexander, telling him to build

Jack says he experienced culture shock moving from Dallas, Texas, to Aiken, South Carolina

Jack remembers his talks with Carey Robinson, the department's Technical Director, while they figured out what to do. He says they started out with no theatre students.

Jack remembers contacting Stormy Borman, a theatre student in Texas, and convincing him to transfer to USC Aiken. Jack says the first show at USC Aiken was Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park.

Jack says by the fall of 1987, enrollment in his acting class had grown from six students to twenty-two students. Jack says Olivia Sanders was one of those students.

Jack remembers Dr. Alexander wanting children to have a reason to visit USC Aiken. Jack says producing children's theatre and busing in school kids grew out of the request.

Jack says the theatre department's first planned season included four children's shows and four mainstage plays, including "Look Homeward, Angel" by Kettie Frings.

Jack talks more about Stormy Borman, remembering that Stormy wore a bathrobe around campus. He says Stormy ran for Class President and won.

Jack says the university's Etherredge Center was brand new and that it was exciting to watch it come alive. He talks about the success of "Look Homeward, Angel."

Jack says the department produced Shadow Box and The Oldest Living Graduate during the summer of 1988.

Clint brings up Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). Jack says UCS Aiken's first entry into the festival was "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" by Mark Medoff. He says Brian Riley was brought in to design the set which included a functional stove.

Jack remembers traveling with the production and having to take the set up a flight of stairs. He says the show received an excellent rating and was strongly recommended for the regional level of the festival. Clint says "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" was his first show with the department. He says it was the fall of 1988.

Jack says the department produced its first musical in the spring of 1989. He says he wanted to shock some people and chose "Godspell" by Stephen Schwartz. Jack says you do get used to receiving a letter of complaint here and there.

Jack says he and Carey Robinson picked shows to challenge themselves as well as the audience. He says you do not want to pick a show that you cannot execute well.

Jacks says his biggest challenge at USC Aiken was the budget. He says the department had to survive off of box office receipts.

Jack remembers the department's 1989-1990 season as monumental. He says the children's shows were now being student-directed. He says the department's summer production of "Grease" still holds the box office record for the most ticket sales.

Clint and Jack thank one another. Jack says he appreciates the opportunity to get these stories recorded.