Our Team
HILLARY C. DREW
Executive Director/Co-Founder
With a BA in Theatre from University of Central Florida, Hillary has a decade of experience working professionally as a teaching artist, director, producer, and youth theatre program director in Colorado and Florida. In these capacities, Hillary took a leadership role in her community as an arts advocate and was instrumental in growing existing programs both artistically and administratively. Her work with community outreach, marketing efforts and grant preparation, was critical to both the organizational impact on the community, but also its ability to be sustainable.
Hillary began her love for theatre at the age of three. Knowing the positive impact it brought into her life, her passions grew into a desire to share this art and her skills with the next generation. Hillary is very excited to begin a new journey at WTP, and becoming a part of the Wellesley Community.
“I believe that the theatre arts further one’s character, understanding, and growth as an individual. My goal as an educator is to inspire students to create, explore, think critically, have an understanding of what’s going on around them and enjoy every minute of it!”
BEN RUSH
Artistic Director/Co-Founder
For over 20 years, Ben has worked in all aspects of the theatre as a performer, director, designer, technician, carpenter, and youth educator. Ben attended Florida School of the Arts majoring in Acting and pursuing his Associate in Science degree. Later, he formally expanded his knowledge in Technical Direction with a B.F.A. from University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
As a performer, Ben grew into such roles as Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Cervantes / Quixote (Man of La Mancha), Harold Hill (The Music man), James Leeds (Children of a Lesser God - Best Actor, SETC 2007), and the title role in Shakespeare's Macbeth (Best Actor, District V Thespians 2007). Ben was honored to be a part of the nationally cast World Premiere of RAGTIME: School Edition, and featured on the Original Cast Recording of that production.
Ben worked professionally in Orlando as a stunt performer at Universal Studios Orlando as well as an actor with regional houses such as Florida Children's Repertory Theatre, Orlando Rep, and Mad Cow Theatre. As a child of educators, Ben followed his own desire and dream to teach.
Ben began by working with high school students as a technical design consultant. He then directed and taught both youth and adults through performance camps, classes and productions with various Orlando organizations. Ben furthered his practical experience with the commercial technical side of the performing arts while working with PRG. Ben co-founded Wellesley Theatre Project to pursue his passion for teaching. He looks forward to training the next generation of artists.
"Life is all about choices, and so is art. By playing a character, creating a dance, or designing a world; an artist can and will affect themselves as well as others. My goal is to allow our students to take ownership over the art and the world it exists in. By doing so, they hone a craft and learn valuable life skills- all while gaining the courage to find their voice, make their choice, as a Citizen Artist."
