Benaiah Link
Who Am I?
Benaiah Link is the founder of 1st Time Productions, a Black-owned creative production company established in 2003. Benaiah has been writing, producing, and performing as a singing and recording artist on stage since 2002, bringing over two decades of creative experience to his work. Originally launched as a music production company, 1st Time Productions began with Benaiah writing, composing, recording, and producing original music before expanding into playwriting, directing, and full-scale theater production.
While Benaiah’s foundation is rooted in music, his work extends far beyond songwriting and production alone. He is a multidisciplinary storyteller whose creative scope includes concept development, scriptwriting, directing, producing, and designing live performance experiences across both music and theater. His artistry is driven by narrative depth, emotional honesty, and cultural relevance.
As a playwright and director, Benaiah is known for creating work that is raw, reflective, and deeply human, centering themes of trauma, healing, relationships, identity, and lived experience within the African American community. His storytelling blends realism, humor, vulnerability, and therapeutic insight—inviting audiences not only to watch, but to reflect and engage emotionally.
Benaiah is the writer, director, and producer of the original stage play Trauma Attraction, which earned him the 2025 A Taste of Theatre Festival Playwright Award. He received the award on October 11, 2025, at ETA Creative Arts Foundation, recognizing Trauma Attraction as an outstanding debut work. Following its award-winning festival recognition, the full stage production of Trauma Attraction is scheduled to premiere May 15–17, 2026.
Influenced by his interests in mental health, emotional wellness, and personal development, Benaiah’s work is intentionally designed to go beyond entertainment—serving as conversation starters, mirrors, and healing spaces.
Through 1st Time Productions, Benaiah Link remains committed to artistic growth, creative excellence, and giving every story—on stage or through music—the opportunity to be fully realized, for the first time.
About 1st Time Productions
Stories told
for the first time.
A Black-owned creative production company rooted in music, theatre, emotional truth, and culturally relevant storytelling.
Who We Are
Built for stories that
deserve a stage.
1st Time Productions is a Black-owned creative production company established in 2003 by Benaiah Link. What began as a music production company has grown into a multidisciplinary creative house focused on original music, stage plays, live performance, and full-scale theatrical experiences.
The company was created to give artists, stories, and lived experiences the opportunity to be fully realized — often for the first time. Through music, theatre, and live production, 1st Time Productions creates work that is emotionally honest, culturally grounded, and built to connect with real people.
Today, 1st Time Productions continues to develop original works that explore trauma, healing, relationships, identity, resilience, and the complexity of the human experience.
Creative Focus
- ✦ Original stage productions
- ✦ Music production and songwriting
- ✦ Scriptwriting and directing
- ✦ Live performance experiences
- ✦ Culturally relevant storytelling
Founder & Creative Director
Benaiah Link
Benaiah Link is the founder of 1st Time Productions. He has been writing, producing, and performing as a singing and recording artist on stage since 2002, bringing over two decades of creative experience to every project he develops.
Originally rooted in music, Benaiah’s creative journey expanded into playwriting, directing, producing, and designing live performance experiences. His work brings together narrative depth, emotional honesty, and cultural relevance.
As a playwright and director, Benaiah is known for creating work that is raw, reflective, and deeply human — centering stories around trauma, healing, identity, relationships, and lived experience within the African American community.
“Every story deserves the opportunity to be fully realized — for the first time.”
Our Mission
Create work that moves people
beyond the moment.
1st Time Productions exists to create emotionally bold, community-centered art that gives voice to real stories and real people. Our mission is to produce original work that entertains, challenges, heals, and opens the door for meaningful conversation.
Emotional Truth
We believe the most powerful stories are the ones that feel honest, human, and unafraid.
Cultural Relevance
Our work centers lived experience, community, and the realities that shape who we are.
Creative Excellence
From concept to stage, we approach every production with intention, craft, and purpose.
Now On Stage
Experience Trauma Attraction live.
May 15–17, 2026 · ETA Creative Arts Theater · Chicago, IL
Get Tickets