Vicencio says as more musical professionals come to Shanghai, there's a greater need for these artists to find a way to communicate with locals. That's what pushed him to set up the website www.AskBenny.cn. It's an online community that aims to teach foreigners Mandarin and educate foreigners about Chinese culture through creative means including the use of games, comics, videos and interaction between online users around the world.

"Musical theater is a new form of art to Chinese people - just like what Mandarin is to the West," says the native-English speaker, who began learning the Chinese language when he arrived in Shanghai. "And, it is no doubt the first step for interested Westerners to get a better understanding of Chinese culture."

Apart from the website, Vicencio has also been working on his first book. Nine Invaluables to Auditioning in Musical Theater shares his industry experience and focuses on advice for auditions. Vicencio, whose career highlights also include acting roles in Hollywood movies Marco Polo, the re-make of Jesus Christ Superstar and Spanish science fiction film Arachnid, says he chose to write the book because industry books on the topic of auditioning are lacking - or are often only given from the perspective of the director or producer.

"My book brings together 10 years of my experience, sharing perspectives from both sides of the table, with empathy for the actor and ways in which the auditionee can help themselves counter the effects of auditioning," says Vicencio.

Vicencio's book is set to be released in September and will be printed in both English and Chinese.

(China Daily April 28, 2008)