ABOUT ME

First of all — thank you for being here!

My name is Benjamin Grabill, and I serve as the Technical Director at the Wonder Theatre in San Antonio, Texas.

I’m also an Artist, Musician, Designer, Amateur Perfumer, and Entrepreneur.

A long time ago, while studying Architecture, I began as a volunteer scenic designer and builder during the Woodlawn Theatre’s 2012 Halloween production of The Rocky Horror Show — featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sharon Needles. Going in, I knew how to use tools and had a little bit of practice with design… but no theatrical experience. Zero. I simply thought it might be fun to give it a try.

It was, and I was hooked.

Not long after, I was invited to join the Woodlawn team full-time. I became the House and Box Office Manager, designing and building sets by day and running front-of-house operations by night. The rhythm was steady: I’d spend three to four weeks designing and building a production, then shift immediately into hosting patrons during its run.

Those early years were formative. I worked on up to 12 productions a year, rapidly gaining hands-on experience and building a solid foundation in theatrical design and construction.

I’m forever grateful for the guidance and mentorship of Kurt Wehner. Let it be known: he is, by far, the hardest-working person I’ve ever met, and by a wide margin. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. Thank you, Kurt.

Today, I continue my work at the Wonder Theatre, serving as Technical Director and Resident Scenic Designer.

More than anything, design captures my focus: picking apart a script or challenge, researching its context and constraints, exploring multiple lines of thought, iterating ideas, and following intuition until a clear solution emerges — then bringing that vision to life in the physical world…

I find this process deeply rewarding.

Over the years, I've been honored to receive 15 Alamo Theatre Arts Council Awards for Excellence in Scenic Design for productions at both the Woodlawn and Wonder Theatre. More recently, I was recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival with a Commendation for Excellence in Scenic Design for Disney’s Newsies at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.

Beyond my work at Wonder Theatre, I also freelance as a Designer of Built Environments, Theatrical Consultant, and Scenic Designer. I love a creative challenge!

Check out the graduated proscenium I designed and built for San Antonio’s newest downtown attraction, The Magic Saloon at Alamo Plaza — or take a look at the sparkling new lobby I created for Modern Mingle.

And at your leisure, please visit my luxury beard oil brand, Crows & Bellows, at CrowsBellows.com.

If you’ve read this far — you deserve a dozen high-fives. Thank you.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out and say hello. You can fill out the contact form, or email me directly at Benjamin.Grabill@outlook.com.

I look forward to hearing from YOU!