Our Team
Ben Smallen
Artistic Director/Lead Experience Architect
Ben Smallen (MA, Theatre Arts – Villanova; BFA Acting - Syracuse) has been working as a director, actor, and teacher in Philadelphia since 2002. Recent productions include: Lockhardt (Premiere, 2018 Philly Fringe), LaSalle Univeristy’s Fall 2018 production of Urinetown, Villanova University's production of Into the Woods (2018), and the World premiere, original musical UNITED at the historic Betsy Ross House, for the 2017 Philly Neighborhood Fringe Festival (Creator/Director/Producer). Other highlights include: Wendy & Peter (Creator/Director/Producer - World Premiere 2014 Fringe), Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? (Philadelphia Premiere 2010 Fringe), Mr. Lockhardt (Take Ten Festival NYC 2017 – award: Best Director), Rocky Horror Show (University of Pennsylvania 2011), Pasek and Paul’s Edges: A Song Cycle (Philadelphia Premiere 2012 Fringe). Companies include: Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Arden Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, 1812 Productions, Act 2 Playhouse, Montgomery Theatre, University of the Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University and LaSalle University. Ben is current board member, and founding member of Directors Gathering.
Madison Claus
Associate Artistic Director- Content & Process Development/Lead Experience Architect
Madison Claus (BFA, Musical Theater - University of the Arts) is a performer and theater maker, who has Southern roots but loves to now call Philadelphia home. Madison's foremost interest is fostering a room where all voices are invited to dig in to material and experiences with hunger and passion. Favorite performances include Skin of Our Teeth and Marie Christine (both UArts, dir. by Taibi Magar), and The Summer in Gossensass (dir. Rick Stoppleworth). Production credits include: Lockhardt (World Premiere, Philly Fringe, Dramaturg and Assistant Director); 2016 and 2017 Equinox Festivals at UArts (Dramaturg). In 2017, she was able to travel to Fringe festivals in Prague, Kingston upon Thames, Buxton, Manchester, and Edinburgh with new work Edison by Joshua Logan Walker. www.madisonclaus.com
Mitchell Hansen
Associate Artistic Director - Game Design and Content Development/Lead Experience Architect
Mitchell Hansen (BFA, Theatre Arts - University of the Arts; Certificate, Game Design - FIT & NYU) is a Philadelphia based Game Designer, Actor, Director, Podcaster, Producer, Artist and more! Mitchell is a strong-willed and vivacious collaborator with an urge to tell stories that help us uncover what it means to truly be human. With a background in the Classics and an affinity for game design, Mitchell brings a heightened sense of play to everything he does. Previous productions include, The Marvelous Portal of Oz and Kingdom of OZ ARG( 2019 Fringe), Lockhardt (2018 Fringe at the Arden), Threepenny Opera (UArts in collaboration with Alexander Mihail), Honk! Jr. (Walnut Street Theatre), Twelfth Night (UArts in collaboration with Matt Pfeiffer) and more. Mitchell is also the host and creator of his very own podcast Not So Famous where he tackles personal quandaries, news, entertainment, and each episode he interviews a different artist on what their artistry is all about and why they do what they do. You can follow him or his podcast on Facebook (Not So Famous), Instagram (@LeModernGentleman) & Twitter (@TheOriginalMDH) or, simply write "Hamlet" 3 times in a leather-bound journal and wait for him to appear. He gives special thanks to his family, and the company; for, without them, none of this would be possible. Let's break some eggs.
Samantha Ricchiuti
Manager of Marketing and Community Engagement
Samantha Ricchiuti is a Philadelphia based actor, director, teaching artist, and administrator. Sam also serves as the Company Manager for the Bistro Romano Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. Sam is committed to making exciting and engaging regional theatre. She is thrilled to be able to share her love of storytelling with local audiences. Locally, Sam has worked with The Revivalists Collective (REAL’s predecessor), The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Family Stages, Mechanical Theatre Company, The Candlelight Theatre and more. Nationally, Sam has worked with The National Theatre for Children, Hangar Theatre, and Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre. Sam is ecstatic to be a member of REAL. She would like to extend her most heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Ben for asking her to join the team to help create this company. Follow Sam on Twitter and Instagram @SamRicchiuti or on her website www.samantharicchiuti.com