Biography

Benjamin W. Smith (he/him) is a bi-lingual theatre-maker and artistic leader from Fredericton, New Brunswick / Wəlastəkwewiyik. Primarily a director, he has worked with theatres and cultural organizations across Canada including, Theatre New Brunswick (TNB), The New Brunswick Drama Festival, NotaBale Acts Summer Theatre Festival, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, Studio Theatre, and Nuova Vocal Arts.

He is the founding artistic director of Impulse Productions, an independent project-based theatre company, and is currently an instructor in the Department of Theatre at MacEwan University. From 2017 - 2020, Smith worked as an instructor at the TNB Theatre School and assisted TNB Mainstage productions, developing new work, training young artists, and celebrating emerging talent. In 2019, he served as President and Interim Artistic Director for St. Thomas University’s flagship theatre company, Theatre St. Thomas.

Since 2020, Ben has collaborated with Broadway’s Tony LePage and Justin Matthew Sargent on the development of a new musical entitled, Sweet Dreams. The musical is a comedic, modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to the timeless music of Air Supply. He has been artist-in-residence at Theatre New Brunswick and the Fredericton Playhouse Inc.

Ben holds an MFA in directing from the University of Alberta and a BA with Honours from St. Thomas University, becoming the first student to graduate with an interdisciplinary degree in artistic direction, creating and completing a sold-out director's thesis in the provincial capital. He is a certified member of the Academy of Fight Directors Canada, recognized in various weapon styles and disciplines, and has trained with Theatrical Intimacy Educators based in Nashville, TN to integrate trauma-informed practices into their approach. In 2020, Smith was one of eighty Canadian artists recognized by the National Theatre School of Canada’s #ArtApart Campaign and was nominated for the Tom McCain Memorial Award, St. Thomas University's highest academic distinction in leadership. In 2021, Smith was also recognized by ArtsNB and awarded the Stephen Graham Bird Award by Theatre New Brunswick.

Recent directing credits include: Indecent (Studio Theatre), Something Rotten! (Grant MacEwan University), East of Berlin (University of Alberta), The 39 Steps (Bleviss Laboratory Theatre), Tough! (University of Alberta), Sweet Dreams (InterMISSION), Matilda The Musical (Impulse Productions), Annie and The Wizard of Oz (Theatre New Brunswick) Scooter Thomas Make it To The Top of The World (Theatre St. Thomas).