Ben Needham is designer and educator specializing in computer visualization. His work includes designs for Theatre, Television, Film and Theme Parks. He currently is the Resident Designer and Director of Technical Theatre for the Academy for the Performing Arts while also owning and operating Digital Squirrel Studio, a full service design studio located in Bedford Ohio.

Mr. Needham has designed over 500 theatre productions for a wide range of theatres, venues and touring groups. Past clients include Virginia Musical Theatre, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Knoxville Opera, Lyric Opera of Cleveland, Porthouse Theatre, Sign Stage Theatre on Tour, Circle Theatre Orlando, Virginia Governors School of the Arts, and Beck Center for the Arts among many others. His design work features extensive computer pre-visualization to create virtual versions of the final designs during the conceptual phase of the process.

Mr. Needham’s Film and Television work includes feature and independent films, regional and national commercials and television shows as well as a national award show. Highlights include  Set Designer on Stephen Spielberg’s LINCOLN which received the 20130Academy Award (Production Design Rick Carter), KILLING LINCOLN for National Geographic starring Tom Hanks, KILLING KENNEDY for National Geographic starring Rob Lowe, the HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION AWARDS filmed at Constitution Hall, Washington D.C., and the  new AMC Productions new series TURN.

Other notable works include, Designer for Inaugural season of Geauga Lake Amusement Park’s stage and water ski productions, Theming Design for a Motor-Sports Hall of Fame, Computer Rendering for many architectural projects and Animation Services for training and promotional events both local and national.
As an educator Mr. Needham has taught at high school, college and graduate levels having instructed in all aspects of technical theatre and animation. Among the schools Mr. Needham has taught at are The University of Georgia, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, Lake Erie College, Lakeland Community College, and the Performing Arts Academy at Chagrin Falls Schools.

Ben currently resides in Bedford, Ohio with his wife Christie and three children.