BRAYLON M. LANE
STAGE DIRECTOR | TEACHING ARTIST | THEATRE ADMINISTRATOR
ABOUT BRAYLON
Braylon is an award-winning director, performer, arts administrator, and teaching artist hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recent collaborations include Guthrie Theater, LyricArts, Phipps Center for the Arts, Children's Performing Arts, Loud Mouth Productions, and Burnsville Summer Theatre, to name a select few. He is currently entering his second season as Education & Programming Manager at Children's Performing Arts, where he oversees the Department of Education, staff, teaching artists, serves as line-producer on the youth "mini-legacy" productions, and collaborates with the Production & Operations Manager on the overall Artistic Development of the company. An aspiring Artistic Director, he is immensely passionate about Regional Theatre Development and is proud to call the Twin Cities his home, with such a vibrant theatre scene. Recently, Braylon was officially elected into office to serve and represent Minnesota on the Theatre Arts & Speech Committee in the National Federation Of High School Associations. He is also on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Thespians, the MN branch of EDTA's National Thespian Society, the world’s largest honor society for middle and high school theater students. He is also on the Script Selection Committee for The Phipps Center For The Arts.
Braylon is an associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC). He served as the Creative Director of BCS Summer Theatre for multiple seasons, where he directed a landmark production of Hairspray, which garnered significant critical acclaim and was nominated for 23 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards, winning seven, including the title Best Musical of 2024. This respected summer stock program and organization, located north of the Twin Cities, was a platform for Braylon to helm various productions. His directorial work there, and around the state/region, has consistently drawn local attention for its bold vision and high production value. As a cross-trained theatre professional, he has worked in various positions at all levels, including High School, Collegiate, Community, Professional, and Regional Theatre.
Directorially, his wide-ranging experience includes contemporary dramas, large-scale musicals, classical texts, and especially original works. In addition, he holds a teaching license in Theatre Arts, which he used 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.
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Braylon directing 'Miss Nelson Is Missing' at the Phipps Center in Wisconsin | Molly Jay Photography
For 5 years, Braylon also served as the Theatre Guild Program Director at White Bear Lake Area High School, which has a renowned local reputation for high-quality secondary school-level theatre. In 2026, the program had 3 students make it to Hennepin Theatre Trust's TRIPLE THREAT FINALISTS, and one the year prior. Braylon has led dozens of workshops, directed or produced nearly a dozen of the school’s theatre productions, and coached students in both performance and theatre communication/administration.
His role at the high school, along with his professional private coaching that he offers, has helped many students prepare for collegiate theatre programs. Braylon is particularly proud of the many students he has worked with who have gone on to pursue higher education at institutions such as the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Normandale College, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Century College, and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire to name a few.
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.