KYLE BRAND
Director • Choreographer • actor
A STATEMENT FROM THE ARTIST
Through every aspect of my creative output, I strive to illuminate the foibles and triumphs of human nature with my own brand of absurdity, compassion, and flair. Coming from a balletic background, my strength lies in making the work appear easy; to cultivate a creative room and adapt quickly to new challenges - all with a shrug and a smile.
Every scene, song, dance, and transitional moment is infused with impeccable preparation and an exceptional puzzle-solving mindset. But most importantly, each aspect of my signature style is effortlessly executed in service to the story being told. Collaboration is key, and I thrive within the teamwork-oriented environments of theater and film.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kyle grew up in a dance studio. Not literally, but if his cumulative hours were split up in thirds, it would’ve been his home, school, and Dance Horizons. From his early movement years rolling around on the floor as a potato in “The Veggie-Boogie” to the many dance conventions and competitions, he studied and fell in love with the techniques in ballet, modern jazz, and tap. When he was 13 years old, his ballet teacher inquired whether or not he’d like to join a ballet company. As evidenced by this website, he did not. Though, as the old story goes: boy watches West Side Story once, boy realizes that you can sing, act, and dance all at the same time, boy decides to pursue a music theater career.
Kyle landed at The Hartt School in Hartford, CT to study Music Theater. For four years of intense conservatory training - including a return to rolling on the floor (this time as a pumpkin pie) - he honed his dancing, singing, and acting skills. Concurrently, he started training as a choreographer, in large part due to the Head of Dance for the Music Theatre department, Ralph Perkins, who always let the story shine in front of the technique.
These first years of training came in handy right away, as Kyle along with Jamison Daniels, Anna Trumbo, and Amy Claussen, founded The Sandbox Theater Company in Southern California. Its purpose was to give opportunities to young artists in the midst of their training to play, commune, create, and perform. In the company’s two years, they produced concerts, as well as Bat Boy the Musical (Kyle served as choreographer), and a new play The City that Never Sleeps - starring and written by Christine Dwyer, Bethany Lauren James, and Jamison Daniels.
When Kyle moved to New York, his first gig was a dancing blood platelet for a medical industrial presentation. For those who’re keeping score, that’s potato, pumpkin pie, and blood platelet - he was now ready to tackle inhabiting humans. The first of which were in ensembles of such shows as The Ballad of Cat Ballou (Jackson Hole Playhouse), The Little Mermaid and Mamma Mia! (Northern Stage), and Oliver! (Pioneer Theater Company). Following these multi-part ensembles, he played Von Hussler in Mary Poppins (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Rudolpho in Matilda the Musical (Northern Stage), and the Emcee in Cabaret (The Monomoy Theater). He’s also very proud to have been a lead in Sasha Pasternak’s first full-length feature (which he also served as producer) We Lack, Definition.
To keep his creative juices flowing, Kyle has had the opportunity to teach at The Hartt School, Boston’s Children’s Theatre, Northern Stage’s Bridge UP! Program, and AMDA. As a teaching artist, Kyle has learned the most about collaborative processes, and discovered the power in meeting people where they are in creative spaces.
In the early days of his career, he pursued not only jobs on the performing side of the table, but also the creative side. So it was his great fortune to meet Mark Waldrop, who took him on as an associate director in projects at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Olney Theatre Center. His guidance in how to run a room, allow people to do the work they’ve been trained to do, and sculpt out a vision with collaborators has left an indelible mark. Kyle would also act as an associate choreographer for Natalie Malotke, who is a kindred spirit and a life-long collaborator.
Kyle started working on his own projects, directing and choreographing plays & musicals, bringing along everything he learned as a working actor, teacher, and associate. His regional credits as a creative include Playhouse on Park, New London Barn Playhouse, Wagon Wheel, Florida Repertory Theatre, Quintessence Theatre Group, and Northern Stage. He continues to seek out new theater collaborators, but also loves to return to the regional theaters that he considers artistic homes.
He currently lives in Atlanta, attempting to be the best uncle to his two Aussie nephews. Thank goodness they both love to get lost in a book, because telling a good story is one of his favorite things. Besides family, Kyle considers his friends as his most valuable asset, and if you can believe it, he’s still friends with the person who played the carrot in “The Veggie Boogie.”