This story was originally published in the November/December 2025 edition of Paducah Life Magazine.
Click here to read the original publication.
From a regional theatre actor to a deployed military infantryman then back to the theatre, Ben Grimes’ career path is far from traditional. “My acting career was going so well that I joined the Army,” Ben admitted with a light chuckle. “I mean, yes, my acting career was not going very well but… I wanted to do something that was a little bigger than myself.” It was a decision that would prove life-changing, reshaping his sense of purpose and leading him toward a vision of theatre as both an art form and an act of service.
Grimes always saw himself in the arts, even as a kid. He starred in his first play at 10 years old in a youth theatre program, similar to what Market House Theatre offers. He went on to attend a performing arts high school and earn his degree from Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts before pursuing acting professionally in Chicago, Austin, and New York. But during that time, he found a feeling of ego that he found unsettling. “I felt like I was in a very self-serving place,” Ben detailed. “Being an actor, it can be very selfish at times.”
Ben enlisted in the U.S Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in 2006, planning a short stint to then use the GI Bill to help him earn his Master’s degree. “That did not come to pass,” he recalled, smiling at his own irony. What began as three years of service turned into fifteen, including two deployments to Baghdad in 2006 and 2017. Along the way, he met the love of his life, Laura, and together they built a family with their two children, Buzz and Birdie. When his military career came to a close, the return to civilian life brought its own battles.
Grimes returned home carrying invisible wounds; PTSD, depression, and anxiety that made ordinary life feel unfamiliar. In search of connection, he found his way back to the place that fueled his passion: theatre. “I came back to theatre as a way to get back in touch with myself,” he shared. “It helped me reconnect to who I was before and start rebuilding who I wanted to be.
That rediscovery led Ben to the Clinton School of Public Service, where he earned his Master of Public Service. His thesis project, The Breach, became a drama therapy initiative for veterans and military families processing trauma through group meetings, performance, and the texts of William Shakespeare based in Little Rock, Arkansas. “You can’t heal from anything until you speak it aloud,” he said. “I’ve seen veterans share stories they’d carried for years and be met with nothing but empathy, gratitude, and a hug from the audience.”
The Breach grew into Riverside Actors Theatre, a company founded on the belief that art can change lives. While its focus began with veterans, Grimes saw its reach extend far beyond. “The Breach started with veterans, but trauma is universal,” he explained. “Teachers, first responders, anyone who serves others opens themselves up to the weight of trauma. Theatre helps us process it together.”
Now, Ben is leading through service in the Paducah arts community in his work as Managing Artistic Director of Market House Theatre. Under his leadership, Market House is deepening partnerships with local nonprofits, expanding access to programming, and continuing to nurture the next generation of artists through education and outreach while honoring the traditions and history of one of Paducah’s cornerstones of creativity. “This is a generous community where people support one another, they support creativity, and they understand that the arts help drive everything else forward.”
One of Ben’s biggest initiatives since joining Market House Theatre has been a community partnership commitment: each Signature Series show this season will feature a partnership with a fellow local non-profit to support their mission and bring awareness to the needs of the community. So far, MHT has conducted a sock & underwear drive for Family Service Society in connection with A Comedy of Tenors, a blood drive for Dial M for Murder, and will soon be collecting can goods for Paducah Cooperative Ministry for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. “When people buy a ticket to Market House, they’re not just supporting theatre; they’re helping lift up other organizations that make Paducah stronger. Looking ahead, I want to continue exploring new ways we can serve this community, both onstage and beyond.”
Ben has focused on legacy & stewardship of Market House Theatre since joining but, Ben hopes to honor what has come before while providing a fresh perspective for programming and outreach. “I envision a vibrant Signature Series alongside a robust black box program that supports new work,” he added. “And one day, I’d love to see a play festival right here in Western Kentucky, something that shares our artists and our stories with the nation.”
Even with Market House Theatre’s existing vibrant programming, Ben hopes to soon bring The Breach to Paducah, though it may not be anytime soon. “I’m in an observation phase right now; learning, listening, and figuring out how to make it fit,” Ben detailed. “The program has always been rooted in veterans’ stories, but The Breach is about helping anyone who carries trauma share those stories and begin to heal.”
Through every scene of Ben’s life, one conviction rings true; service takes many forms. From serving his country, to serving his peers, to now serving as an arts leader, Ben’s focus on empathy and compassion through service resonates in every action, on and off the stage. As Ben starts his new chapter in Paducah with Market House Theatre, he’s proving that art might be one of the powerful acts of service of all.
