Benjamin Sota

Contact Benjamin Sota

843-349-2145 bsota@coastal.edu

Edwards Building 229

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00AM - 12:00PM, 3:00PM - 4:00PM, Friday: 12:00PM - 1:00PM, 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Biography

Benjamin Sota is the founding artistic director of Zany Umbrella Circus, a physical theatre company founded in 2002 that has toured both nationally and internationally. Respective websites are www.zanyumbrellacircus.com and www.zanytent.com.

He has directed and produced over forty shows and performed them at the National Council on Foundation, the National Storytelling Convention, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, at Al Hussein Amphitheater in Amman Jordan, Mass MoCA, Summer Stage in Central Park, Hager Fikir Theatre in Addis Ababa, ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu, The White House, and the Corcoran Gallery.

In additional to theatre, Benjamin studied circus formally at Flic Circus School in Turin, Italy, the San Francisco Circus Center, Trapeze Arts, and Acro Sports. He holds a Certificate in Pantomime from the Berliner Schule für Schauspiel, Berlin, Germany. 

Funding and awards include a Jacob K. Javits fellowship, the Stainer Arts Award, the Eben Demarest Trust, and grants from Heinz Foundation, the Grable Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundation, The Sprout Fund, City Parks Foundation, and Artist and Cities.

Benjamin has had the opportunity to be a guest instructor of physical theatre, acting, and/or movement at institutions including Salisbury University, the Punahou School, Ashland University, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Mississippi University for Women, University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Education

M.F.A., Directing from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa

M.F.A., Physical Theatre from Accademia dell’Arte

B.F.A., University of Pittsburgh