Benjamin Elias Harding

Since Benjamin was very young, he has loved to sing and perform for a crowd. He has been performing since he was four years old, starting with his church choir and in his first stage production at six. He is currently enjoying high school and continuing to learn how to be a better performer through arts programs.

From Atlanta, Georgia, he is so happy to have made his Broadway debut as Bruce in the entertaining show Matilda the Musical at the Shubert Theater in New York City. Previous roles are Pugsley in The Addams Family at OnStage Atlanta and James Henry Trotter in James and the Giant Peach at the Alliance Theater. James/Peach has been nominated for many awards in the Suzi Bass Awards in November 2015. He enjoyed his first national tour of Elf the Broadway Musical last year as Michael Hobbs. He performed as Michael Banks in the Suzi winning production of Mary Poppins at the Aurora Theater where he learned that "Anything Can Happen If You Let It." He very much enjoyed being Oliver Twist in MelloDrama's production of Oliver! the Musical at the Cumming Playhouse which he won the Youth Award in the 2014 Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre (MAT) Awards.

Meeting and performing with Liz Callaway and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert was a wonderful experience. It is where he first sang "There Is A Santa Claus" and perked his interest in Elf. And, that led to all the future roles he has performed.

Benjamin loved being in the Alliance Theatre's production Zorro the Musical which won Best Musical in the 2013 Atlanta Theatre Fan Awards. It also allowed him to work with many Broadway actors like Adam Jacobs (Aladdin/Lion King/Mama Mia/Les Miserables), Andrea Goss (Caberet/Once), Gabrielle McClinton (Pippin), Eliseo Roman (In The Heights/Leap of Faith), Danny Bolero (In The Heights NT), Nicholas Carriere (Lion King NT) and Logan Denninghoff (Beauty and the Beast NT) along with internationally acclaimed Flamenco dancers and musicians.

Previously, he has performed as Gavroche in Les Misérables: School Edition (14th Street Playhouse/Red Phoenix Theatre Company), a Royal Prince in the King and I (Fox Theater/Atlanta Theatre of the Stars), LeFou and Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (Red Phoenix Theatre Company/Act 3 Productions), Siren in Xanadu (Act 3 Productions -2012 Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre (MAT) Award for Best Musical and Best Ensemble).

Benjamin is a 8th grader. In addition to singing and acting, he love playing French Horn and sports.

"I want to thank God, my parents, Marsha and Bill, and sister, Brianna, for all of their encouragement, love and support."