I'm Ben Ballmer, a Chicago-based composer, director, actor, and theatre artist. Born and raised in Evanston, educated in Indiana, and now living in Edgewater, I'm a Midwesterner through and through. Chicago is the most beautiful city in the world, and I will DIE ON THAT SOAPBOX.

I'm a fierce advocate for work that strikes a balance between traditional, lucid storytelling and challenging our expectations of what constitutes theatre. I love minimalism. I love love stories. I love fiery drama in small spaces. I love absurdist performance art. I love dance when you least expect it. I love goofiness and sock puppets. I love blurring the lines between all forms of art & media. I strive to create electrifying, one-of-a-kind performance projects that thrill audiences and ignite conversation.

As a writer and composer, I'm a recipient of a 2018 ACF NextNotes Composer Award and a two-time semifinalist in the Blank Theatre's Young Playwright's Festival. I’m part of the writing duo Korman & Ballmer, currently developing a project using Measure for Measure as a launchpad to explore queerness in a 90s Evangelical cult.

When I'm not having adventures behind a piano, you'll probably find me exploring the nooks & crannies of our beautiful planet or curled up in a cozy corner with a nice book.

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