Benjamin Sprunger is a busy man.
He is currently starring in the Griffin Theatre production of Company at Stage 773. "I always wanted to be an actor," he said. "I majored in theater in college in Ohio and after I graduated, I came to Chicago specifically to work in theater. I went to L.A. for a while, did theater, film, TV work, but the Chicago theaters kept calling me back to do shows so I decided to return in 2006.
"I came out to myself when I was 18. Being in the theater department provided an insulated environment that made it easy. Coming out to my parents was much harder. They're very religious and there was some distance in our relationship at first, but they've come to accept me as I am."
Sprunger works as an accountant for Live Nation Entertainment during the day, but his heart lies in theater. Realizing that he owes a lot to the off-Loop theater community and About Face, in particular ("I've done six shows with those people. We're close and I do what I can to support them"), he raised funds for the theater last year by entering five bar contests (wet boxers, etc.) and donating his winnings.
He is also a member of the Lutheran Gay Chorus, which puts on programs in various churches every two months or so. "I do it because I enjoy it and it also helps me keep my voice in shape," he explained.
In addition, he recently served as a judge in the Great Gay Screenplay Contest, organized by David Zak, a friend at Pride Films and Plays. "I was on the screening committee, narrowing the entries down to five semifinalists. I won't be part of the final judging because of scheduling conflicts but it's been interesting."
Sprunger and partner Erik Burns travel frequently, and will go on a gay cruise to the Bahamas and St. Martin next spring and then attend a wedding in the Mexican Riviera. They will then go to the mountains in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. "Three years ago I discovered a new passion—snowboarding—and since then, we do a gay ski week each year."
He feels the greatest danger facing the LGBT community is complacency: "I know myself that I feel good about where I'm at. I have some professional success and don't experience any direct discrimination or insults. I have a settled life with a loving partner. I own my own condo, I have a car—an old car, but it's paid for—and I'm somewhat complacent.
"But I think we need to remember that we've only come so far, that there are still many barriers that need to be knocked down and we need to keep working at that."
His vision of the future includes the possibility of parenting: "I haven't really thought about it too, too much, but I would like a child. I've thought about it in that glowingly distant way without thinking about the consequences but it would be nice to rear and teach a child. We'll see."
THE STATS
Name: Benjamin Sprunger
Age: 36
Occupation: Actor
Relationship status: In a committed relationship
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Hobbies: Music geek: Has 8,000 songs in his iTunes library
Favorite food: Cereal—of all kinds
Favorite movie: Empire of the Sun
