Benjamin DanieL Philip
(George)
Founding Member, Life In Arts Productions
Producer, Of Mice and Men
A storyteller by birth, Benjamin’s artistic journey started in his hometown of Eugene, Oregon, then set off to New York University where graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2006. After a brief stint of touring the country with an original work devised by Stephen Wangh and several students of the Experimental Theatre Wing, Benjamin returned to Eugene where he ran his own theatre company, Trial By Fire TheatreWorks from 2008-2012. An aspiring actor/writer/director of stage and screen, he has 30 plus years of experience — from performing to producing, from directing to designing, from Off-Off Broadway in New York to a make-shift garage in his hometown of Eugene, Oregon.
After surviving a serious illness and losing his beloved mother to cancer within the same three year period, Benjamin has struggled to return what he loves most: the ideals of community and collaboration, and the hope of creating relationships with talented individuals and local Portland companies producing amazing work. In 2016, he began Life In Arts Productions, where he produced his second full length play in the Portland area: THE PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh, directed by Jamie Rea. He also tackled the role of Katurian Katurian in critically acclaimed production, one of his favorite roles to date.
Benjamin is a life long advocate for those with mental health issues who have been ignored, dismissed and abused in the theatre community, and he’s setting out on a new journey to create more safe spaces here in the Portland Area. After a turbulent period of financial trouble and severe illness, he stepped away from the theatre for the first time in 28 years in 2018.
Benjamin is very excited to return to Life In Arts Productions,
and he hopes to once again to create great art with great people.
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
— George Bernard Shaw
LIFE IN ARTS PRODUCTIONS 