Ben Wendel is a multi-faceted theatrical artist based in Los Angeles.

“I want to give the audience a hint of a scene. No more than that. Give them too much and they won’t contribute anything themselves. Give them just a suggestion and you get them working with you. That’s what gives the theater meaning: when it becomes a social act.” - Orson Welles

Currently living in Los Angeles with work spanning from New York to London, Ben is an award-winning director, playwright, producer, and lighting designer.

Ben’s first play, Anthropocene, opened at the Baron’s Court Theatre in London to sold-out performances and several 5-star reviews. The production received multiple award nominations, including an Off West End OFFest Award nomination, while Ben received three Fringe Theatre Awards nominations for New Writing, Lighting Design, and Producing. The production subsequently won the London Pub Theatre Standing Ovation Award for Best Black Box Production.

Ben’s directorial credits include The Arsonists at The Complex Theaters, Tourrorists at the 2022 Hollywood Fringe, Mother Courage and her Children, and The Laramie Project. They have also assisted Grey’s Anatomy’s Kate Burton on several Shakespeare productions with the University of Southern California Master of Fine Arts ensembles.

Their directorial work takes inspiration from dance and clown work to explore the body onstage. Their training and work are based in Brechtian alienation, Viewpoints, and Grotowski's Poor Theatre. They believe theatre is at its most electric when an audience is asked to build along with the ensemble.

In addition, Ben has worked as a producer and lighting designer on several productions, approaching each opportunity with a sense of professionalism, creative understanding, and technical know-how.

Resumes and photos can be found throughout this website.

Ben is a proud graduate of the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts, where they were awarded the Discovery Scholar distinction for creating exceptional new theatrical works, and has trained at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Kennedy Center, and the British American Drama Academy.