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From Page to Stage: The Storytelling Journey of Ben Berman ’20
Ben Berman ’20 has loved storytelling for as long as he can remember. A lifelong theater enthusiast who began writing as a student at Calvert, he has turned that passion into a successful career path. Today, he studies screenwriting at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and writes for both stage and screen. He is especially drawn to the entertainment industry’s collaborative nature. Although the writing process often begins alone, Ben enjoys working with directors, producers, and actors to bring a story to life and seeing his words transformed through performance and production.
Ben says becoming a better writer starts with being an avid consumer of stories. He reads plays, watches films, and studies the work of writers he admires. However, he believes inspiration is only a starting point. He then draws on his own experiences and observations. "Having an ear and eye for how people interact in daily life" is key, he says. Bringing that perspective to his work allows him to create characters and relationships that feel authentic and personal.
Ben found early opportunities at Calvert to explore his love of theater through the Lower School drama club, then continued with theater and musicals in Middle School. He credits the School's strong program for helping him develop the discipline and skills he relies on today. "Calvert gives you that foundation and structure that you need in a creative industry," he says. He is especially grateful for the emphasis on composition, grammar, hard work, and attention to detail. "My work ethic is strong," Ben notes, and adds that Calvert taught him not only how to write clearly, but how to choose words thoughtfully and write with purpose.
This summer, Ben achieved an exciting milestone when his original play, It's a Struggle Coming Out, premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe after a sold-out run in Los Angeles. Developed in collaboration with the Los Angeles Theatre Initiative (LATI), which helps bring original student work to new audiences and stages, the production debuted internationally at one of the world's largest performing arts festivals. Ben describes the play as "an homage to all my favorite teen and '90s movies." He spent a week in Edinburgh for the festival and called it an incredible experience. The city's streets were filled with artists and audiences from around the world, creating an atmosphere unlike anything Ben had experienced before.
As he continues his studies at USC, Ben is already developing new projects, including a web series and another play set to open at USC in October. Whether writing for theater or film, he remains committed to telling stories that combine personal perspective with an understanding of what connects people.
Calvert School is a coed independent lower and middle school.
