Ben Free (they/them) is a New York-based freelance lighting designer, programmer, and electrician, originally from eastern Connecticut. Ben has designed theatrical works, dance, and live events, and has experience as a production/head electrician across theatre, opera, and live events.
Ben’s design credits include Orestes (Purchase Repertory Theatre), and several dance projects for the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase. They’ve also previously worked at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival as Assistant Head Electrician and ALD for PSF’s production of Fences.
Ben graduated this spring from Purchase College, SUNY, with a BFA in Lighting Design.
Resume
Full resume and references available upon request.
| Lighting Design | |||
| NWSoD 2023 | Northern Westchester School of Dance | Dir: Lynda Griffin | 2023 |
| Arcana (Camille) | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Camille Phelps | 2023 |
| Wrought | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Netta Yerushalmy | 2023 |
| M is for Me | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Charlotte Aucella | 2023 |
| Infinite Realities and the Ones We Know | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Angelina Laguna | 2023 |
| Orestes | Purchase Repertory Theatre | Dir: Raz Golden | 2023 |
| E-MORTALITY | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Daiane Lopes da Silva | 2023 |
| ABIDANCE | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Sophie Ortiz | 2023 |
| The Nutcracker | Allegra Dance Greenwich | Dir: Allison Otto-Walsh | 2022 |
| A Sentiment From Me | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Anna Nitardy | 2022 |
| Crystal Clear | Purchase Playwriting/Screenwriting | Dir: Calista Janicki | 2022 |
| a wake barely remembered | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Kayla Farrish Chor: Chelen Middlebrook | 2022 |
| Hidden Alchemy – Chelen | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | Chor: Chelen Middlebrook | 2022 |
| Project Journey | Purchase BA Theatre/Performance | Dir: Tristan Griffin | 2022 |
| Frame(D) | Purchase BA Theatre/Performance | Dir: Leah Bickley | 2021 |
| Frozen Jr. | Tolland Youth Services Community Theatre | Dir: Danielle Jones | 2019 |
| Seussical the Musical | Tolland Youth Services Community Theatre | Dir: Danielle Jones | 2018 |
| Assistant Lighting Design | |||
| Fences | Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival | LD: Aja M. Jackson | 2022 |
| A Walrus in the Body of a Crocodile | Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Purchase College | LD: DJ Fralin | 2021 |
| Play – Mary and Luiza | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | LD: Nicole Sliwinski | 2021 |
| Asè – Eliana | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | LD: Nicole Sliwinski | 2021 |
| Fleeting Touch | Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College | LD: Nicole Sliwinski | 2021 |
| A Little Woman | Purchase Playwriting/Screenwriting | LD: Nicole Sliwinski | 2019 |
| Related | ||||
| Sound Designer | Fefu and Her Friends | Cons. of Theatre Arts, Purchase College | Dir: Rachel Dickstein | 2022 |
| Make It Play | Cons. of Theatre Arts, Purchase College | Dir: Jack Tamburri | 2022 | |
| Asst. Sound Des. | We are Proud to Present… | Cons. of Theatre Arts, Purchase College | SD: Meredith Young | 2022 |
| Asst. Head Elec. | PSF 2022 Season | Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival | PM: Joshua Rose | 2022 |
| Prod. Electrician | Dialogues of the Carmelites | Conservatory of Music, Purchase College | LD: Nicole Sliwinski | 2021 |
| Programmer | Misanthrope/The Colored Museum | Purchase Repertory Theatre | LD: Nickolas Lambert | 2021 |
| Skills |
| Proficient with Vectorworks 2023 (2D and 3D), Lightwright 6, ETC EOS programming, Microsoft Office, Windows, and music reading. |
| Intermediate knowledge of Adobe CS, Qlab, AutoCAD 2020 (2D), networking, Mac OS/Linux, soldering. |
| Basic knowledge of grandMA3, Dante, carpentry, stitching, painting and props. |
| Mobile Elevated Work Platforms certified (NSS). Valid Connecticut Class D driver’s license, COVID vaccinated (including boosters). |