The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Out & About

Media Credit: COURTESY BEN EVAN Ben Evan, a former kicker for the Bulldogs, return to Athens tomorrow night on the musical stage in Neil Berg's "100 Years on Broadway." [Click to enlarge]

Whether on the field or on the stage, Rob Evan knows how to work a crowd.

A former punter and kicker for the Bulldogs in the late 1980's, Evan graduated from the University with a Finance degree in 1990 - only to strike it big on 42nd Street.

On Friday, he will return to Athens and his alma mater as a bona fide musical star, touring with composer Neil Berg in his show, "100 Years of Broadway."

"It'll be great to see Sanford Stadium again," Evan said about his return. "I have a lot of New York friends coming in. I'd love to share this [city] with them and go over to the Grill."

While path to stardom is often an uphill climb with plenty of casualties washed up on the wayside, Evan's vocal talent has gotten him noticed from the very beginning.

From singing "Thanks for the Memories" at Vince Dooley's farewell gala to a stint performing on a Norwegian cruise ship, Evan started small but it wasn't long before he saw his name in lights.

Within only three months of living in New York, he was offered the prominent role of Enjolras in "Les Miserables."

"Because it was such a successful show, it ran forever. It was the world's greatest temp[orary] job," Evan said.

It was a fitting role as well, considering that it was a performance of "Les Mis" at the Fox Theatre that first inspired him to enter show business.

"It [the musical] really blew me away, it shook me to the core," Evan said.

The musical reignited a drive that had lain dormant during his time between the hedges.

"When I played for Georgia, I just put all that on back burner," Evan said. "I didn't really perform or sing at all during college."

Continued...

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