ABOUT BRAYLON

Braylon is an award-winning director and educator, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. With a career rooted in both professional and educational theatre, Braylon has established himself as a passionate, visionary artist with a commitment to storytelling, artistic collaboration, and arts education. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC), a prestigious national labor union that recognizes his standing as a professional director in the theatrical community. 

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Braylon has served as the Artistic Director of Burnsville Summer Theatre for four seasons. This respected summer stock program and organization, located north of the Twin Cities, has been a platform for Braylon to helm various productions. His directorial work there has consistently drawn local attention for its bold vision and high production values. In addition to his work at Burnsville, Braylon has maintained a thriving freelance directing career, contributing to productions at high school, collegiate, community, and semi-professional to professional levels across Minnesota. His wide-ranging experience includes contemporary dramas, large-scale musicals, classical texts, and original works.

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In addition, he holds a professional teaching license in Theatre Arts, which he used for several years as a full-time theatre educator before transitioning into a full-time freelance directing and arts administration career. His educational leadership remains a cornerstone of his work, and he continues to dedicate himself to nurturing the next generation of theatre artists while collaborating with other young artists. Especially in 2024, when Braylon directed a landmark production of Hairspray at BCS Summerstock, a production that garnered significant critical acclaim, and was nominated for 23 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards, winning seven, including the title Best Musical of 2024. 

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At the moment, he serves as the Resident Competition One Act and Spring Production Director at White Bear Lake Area High School, where he teaches acting, directs the school’s theatre productions, and coaches students in both performance and theatre communication/administration. His role also includes helping students prepare for collegiate theatre programs. Braylon is particularly proud of the many students he has mentored who have gone on to pursue theatre degrees at institutions such as NYU Tisch, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Normandale College, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

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One of Braylon’s standout achievements in his educational area of expertise came in January of 2025, when he directed an adaptation of Qui Nguyen’s 'She Kills Monsters' for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) One Act Play competition. The MSHSL competition is one of the state's most competitive and prestigious theatrical events, divided into 16 regions with 10–15 schools competing in each. After multiple rounds of adjudication by theatre industry professionals, White Bear Lake Area High School’s production, under Braylon’s direction, was awarded 1st place in Section 4AA, advancing to represent their section at the State Tournament Festival. This honor marked 13 years since White Bear Lake had advanced to state, and was in Braylon's 3rd year with the program, which is a testament to his excellence in directing, mentorship, and theatrical innovation.