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As a kid, Ben Dibble was fascinated by dinosaurs. He even had a dinosaur coloring book and, by 3, could name them all.
"I was a complete dinosaur nut," he said.
No wonder Dibble is having such fun with the Arden Theatre Company’s current production, the world premiere "The Dinosaur Musical."
The Arden Children’s Theater productions, which are recommended for families and for ages 5 and older, are a highlight each year. In last season’s hit, "A Year with Frog and Toad," Dibble played a toad. This season, he’s morphed from bog-bound to leapin’ lizard with another leading role.
"It’s been a blast!" said Dibble, who is appearing in his fourth Arden Children’s Theater production. "It’s definitely one of my most rewarding theater experiences."
With its strenuous physical action, it’s also one of his most challenging. For instance, in his entrance, Dibble arrives swinging from a rope.
The play takes place near the end of the dinosaur era. The Tyrannosaurus rexes have made a pact to swear off meat and stop eating each other. When a group decides to violate this agreement, Dibble’s character, Reginald Van Cleef, leads another group to foil their plans.
"My character is a dinosaur with a heart of gold," he said.
He’s also a brave soul with impressive strength. In a vigorous fight scene, he manages to subdue five others.
"They corner me and the fight starts with slapstick combat," Dibble, from South Philly, said. "I grab and whack two of them and whack another with my [costume’s] tail. Then I kick him in the rump and set him spinning."
When the fight ends, Reginald exits via the swinging rope.
"By the end of that scene, I’m totally winded," Dibble said.
But there’s still another just-as-strenuous fight scene coming.
"I get whacked around and flung around by another dinosaur," Dibble said. "He picks me up on his shoulder and I’m flailing around. Then I get whacked from behind and I’m grabbed by the tail and swung around."
Only an agile actor could handle this.
"I enjoy physical stuff," he said. "I’ve rolled down ramps head first and I’ve done scenes where I’ve been thrown into the air, but these are the most physical stage fights I’ve ever done."
THERE ARE VOCAL challenges, too, in the form of musical numbers, as well as sounding like a dinosaur.
"There’s lots of dinosaur roaring and growling," he said. "We have to sound menacing, but without straining our vocal chords."
And with 10 performances each week – sometimes twice a day – the actor has to warm up both his body and his voice. Dibble brings a steam inhaler to the theater and uses it for 15 minutes at least once a day. He also drinks 1 or 2 gallons of water each day. In addition, his routine includes 30 minutes of stretching.
"I have to make sure everything is limber, from voice to muscles," said the 27-year-old.
He has to stay in peak condition throughout the show’s run, which is through Jan. 22. In all, it will involve a total of 75 performances.
For Dibble, there’s one added challenge. He and wife Amy Dugas Brown are expecting their first child in January. The due date is Jan. 15 and "The Dinosaur Musical" will still be on the boards.
The show will go on, but Dibble has a plan. As soon as his wife goes into labor, the understudy will take over. Dibble will be out for three days.
Overall, the fact that he’s an expectant father has added a new dimension to his experience on the stage.
"Doing this show while we’re expecting our own child makes children’s theater even more important and special," he said.
Dibble’s wife knows the rigors and demands of his career as she, too, is in theater. Brown is the associate artistic director of the Arden. She is in charge of educational programs and is the casting director.
Back home, the couple is making room for their expanding family. They were already living in South Philly, but have moved into a house on South Percy Street.
"Lots of our theater friends live within a 10- to 20-block radius," Dibble said. "The whole theater community seems to be moving south these days."
Theater has been a major part of Dibble’s life since age 16 when he landed the lead in his high school’s production of "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
"I loved every minute," said the Wyalusing native.
When the idea of a career in acting took hold, it wasn’t surprising, as Dibble grew up in a theater-loving family.
"Both sides of the family were musically inclined," he said, "and we always did community theater."
He attended the University of the Arts in Philly on a scholarship, majoring in musical theater. His first professional role was in spring 2000 in the Arden production of "Into the Woods."
Many more followed and he’s been nominated for the Barrymore Award seven times. He’s been on the boards of the Wilma Theater, the Walnut Street Theatre, l8l1 Productions and the Act II Playhouse. At the Arden, where his career began, he appeared most recently in "Winesburg, Ohio."
He not only performs in children’s theater at the Arden, but also teaches acting and theater to children through its educational program. The versatile actor also has performed in cabarets he created, including
a solo show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in January 2004.
But right now, his focus is on "The Dinosaur Musical."
"The great thing about performing for kids is that they’re not just politely sitting there," he said. "You know when you’ve lost them. But if they’re engaged, they give so much energy back to us.
"Some of these kids have never been to a theater before and they’re riveted. So we’re nurturing a whole new audience for theater. And that’s very rewarding."
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The world premiere production of "The Dinosaur Musical" continues through Jan. 22 at the Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St. Tickets are $14 to $30, with prices varying depending on age. Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at 215-922-1122 or at www.ardentheatre.org.
