Benjamin Salka is the co-founder and CEO of Story Pirates, a media company that celebrates the words, ideas, and stories of kids. Under his leadership, Story Pirates has grown from a pilot program in a single school auditorium to an internationally beloved family entertainment brand. Story Pirates has published a series of acclaimed books, multiple award winning albums, a sold-out national tour, and one of the most downloaded podcast for kids and families. Benjamin also co-founded Story Pirates Changemakers, a non-profit arm of Story Pirates that brings arts and literacy programs to low-income schools, homeless shelters, hospitals and refugee centers.
At age 23, Benjamin directed the off-Broadway production of I Sing! (recent productions in Australia, London and Glasgow). He began assistant directing and producing on and off-Broadway at theaters such as The Roundabout, MTC and The Atlantic Theater. Highlights include The Dazzle (Outer Critics Circle Award, assistant director to David Warren) and The Goat (Tony Award, assistant to producer Scott Rudin). In film, he assisted Rudin on the Oscar nominated The Hours, and Jonathan Glickman, former president of MGM, on the Oscar nominated Seabiscuit. He was associate director to David Warren on Mindy Kaling and Branda Withers' breakout comedy Matt and Ben.
With Eva Price and Victoria Lang, he is a producer of Found, a musical based on Davy Rothbart's popular magazines and books.
He directed the long-running stage show Creation Nation with Billy Eichner and Robin Lord Taylor, and contributed to tv's Billy on the Street.