Palisades-Trained Ben Platt to Star in ‘Theater Camp’

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Ben Platt—who attended and trained at The Adderley School in Pacific Palisades—has a starring role in the upcoming film “Theater Camp,” which will be released on Friday, July 14.

Platt, who is often featured on the big screen in musical roles, such as “Pitch Perfect” and the film version of “Dear Evan Hansen,” will star as Amos Klobuchar. The cast is rounded out by Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham, Ayo Edebiri, Owen Thiele, Caroline Aaron and Amy Sedaris.

“Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon star in the original comedy ‘Theater Camp’ as Amos and Rebecca-Diane—lifelong best friends and drama instructors at a rundown camp in upstate New York,” according to a press release from Searchlight Pictures. “When clueless tech-bro Troy (Jimmy Tatro) arrives to run the property (into the ground), Amos, Rebecca-Diane and production manager Glenn (Noah Galvin) band together with the staff and students, staging a masterpiece to keep their beloved summer camp afloat.”

The film marks the directorial debut for Gordon and Nick Lieberman, who were also the writers, alongside Galvin. It is based on an 18-minute short film that Galvin, Gordon, Lieberman and Platt uploaded to YouTube at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Variety, “earning a cult following among musical theater geeks.”

“Theater Camp” has garnered several nominations—and one win—at various film festivals, including SXSW, Seattle International and Sundance, where it won the Ensemble U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award.

During Platt’s tenure at Adderley, he performed in productions like “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Into the Woods.” He referenced his time at the school when he won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for “Dear Evan Hansen.”

“When I was 6 years old, I was the prince in ‘Cinderella,’ in a blue sequin vest at The Adderley School in the Palisades in California, and I’ve spent every single day of my life since then just madly in love with musical theater,” Platt said. “It’s where I found everything I’ve ever loved and where I belong. I’ve dreamed every day since of being on this stage and being part of this community of artists.”

“Theater Camp,” which is rated PG-13, features a runtime of one hour and 34 minutes.