Benjamin Reigel

Benjamin Reigel is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Colorado Mesa University, specializing in Acting and Directing. He is based in the Moss Performing Arts Center and is deeply involved in classical theatre, particularly Shakespearean works.

Reigel holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Delaware's Professional Theatre Training Program and a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota. His professional journey includes extensive teaching at Western Michigan University and Shorter University before joining CMU.

His research and artistic interests center on Shakespearean performance, with a strong emphasis on original practices and First Folio texts. As Founder and Artistic Director of The Backbone Ensemble Theatre, he integrates scholarly inquiry with performance innovation. He has performed, directed, or choreographed over 50 Shakespeare productions, bridging academic and professional theatre.

While no formal scientific awards or peer-reviewed articles are listed, his extensive professional credits across major regional theatres—including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Milwaukee Repertory Theatre—highlight his national recognition. He has performed roles such as Hamlet, Tom in The Glass Menagerie, and Antonio in Twelfth Night, and directed Cyrano de Bergerac for the Texas Shakespeare Festival.

Reigel is actively engaged in mentoring through performance and pedagogy, though no named students are listed. He lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with his family, continuing his dual commitment to education and professional theatre production.