Bio
BEN PEOPLES
Consultant
Currently based in Pittsburgh, PA, Ben has spent nearly 10 years working in professional theatre with jobsranging from deck hand to technical director. In 2002, he earned a BFAin technical direction and lighting design from the prestigious CarnegieMellon University School of Drama in Pittsburgh, PA. In the Bay Area,Ben also worked for several professional companies including Marin TheatreCompany, the Conservatory at ACT, the Magic Theatre, Palo Alto Players,and PH Productions. Ben spent two years as Assistant Technical Directorat California Shakespeare Theaterwith Dave Nowakowski. Notable highlights of Ben’s career includelighting designer for Passion at Starlight Productions inPittsburgh, and Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical at the Ray ofLight Theatre in San Francisco. He was master electrician for Mano AMano at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, as well as numerousone-off productions throughout the Pittsburgh area. As a rigger, Benflew performers nightly as the chief rigger at Busch GardensWilliamsburg’s Imaginique, was flyman for a production ofInto the Woods in a 100-year-old hemp house, and worked the2000 GM Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Ben spent two years workingfor Auerbach Pollock Friedlander as a drafter, designer, and projectmanager. Since joining The ShalleckCollaborative in 2004, he has worked on nearly every project to some capacity.In recent years, he has managed projects at the following schools:
- American Canyon High School, Napa Valley Unified School District, CA
- San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, CA
- Whitman College Harper Joy Theatre, Walla Walla, WA
- Los Angeles City College Clausen Hall, Los Angeles, CA
- Lewis & Clark College Flanagan Chapel, Portland, OR
- Portland State University, Portland, OR
- Bayside School, Sausalito, CA
- Wy’east School, Hood River County School District, WA
Ben has also guest lectured at Carnegie Mellon’s School of Architecture in Spring, 2010.
Ben’s understanding of theatrical systems, combined withhis frequent work in live theatre allows him to quickly developsolutions to complex problems, both in rigging and lighting systems design. Ben’s additional skills in networking technologies allow him to be ahead of the curve as theatrical systems increasingly become data-centric.
References are available upon request.