Cast Bio

Ben Ortega (Johnny) Ben Ortega studied acting at UCLA and privately with Lisa Chess.  Appearing steadily on Bay Area stages and beyond since 1996, Ortega was last seen onstage as George Peterson in the Dreamweavers Theatre’s production of Same Time, Next Year in Napa, CA.  Other favorite roles have included Felix Ungar in The Odd Couple, Ken Gorman in Rumors, Mark in The Shadow Box, the Inspector in Dogg’s Hamlet, Cahoot’s Macbeth, Ivor Fish in Rough Crossing,George Hay in Moon Over Buffalo, Picasso in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Zed in Cinderella Waltz, Yvan in Art,Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men, Verdecchia/Wideload in Fronteras Americanas (a one-man show), Buddy in THUNDERBABE, and Jack in Incorruptible. Ortega was also nominated for Best Actor Shellie Awards for his work as Harry Baldwin in Panache and Allan Felix in Play It Again, Sam, as well as for a Best Supporting Shellie Award for his work as Jack in Incorruptible.