Brandon Bruce

stage director, actor, playwright, educator

Directing

View PDF of Directing Resume

ADMINISTRATIVE/PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

Assistant Professor of Directing, Playwriting & Theatre History
St. George, UT – July 2021 to Present

Executive Artistic Director of Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Birmingham, AL – September 2016 to August 2020

Senior Manager of Performance Interpretation (Artistic Director)
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Williamsburg, VA – November 2013 to January 2016

Artistic Director of Strawdog Theatre Company
Chicago, IL – June 2011 to November 2012

Artistic Director of BackStage Theatre Company
Chicago, IL – May 2004 to April 2007

directing – Professional

BLAMED: An Established Fiction
by Callie Prendiville-Johnson (co-directed with Aubrey Sanders) Tumbleweed Theatre Company, Ivins, UT 2024
Macbeth No. 9 adapted by Brandon Bruce & Company Tumbleweed Theatre Company, St. George, UT 2023
Catch Me If You Can by Terrence McNally, Marc Shaiman, & Scott Wittman St. George Musical Theater, St. George, UT 2023
Bunnicula by Jon Klein & Chris Jeffries Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2020
Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown Birmingham Festival Theatre, Bham, AL 2019
Alice in Wonderland adapted by Brandon Bruce & Luke Schares Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2019
Peter Pan adapted by Douglas Irvine Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2018
The Three Musketeers by Ken Ludwig Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2018
Cinderella by John B. Davidson Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2017
James & the Giant Peach by Pasek/Paul/McDonald Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2017
Harlequin’s Holiday by Luke Schares & Brandon Bruce Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2015
The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni/adapted by Brandon Bruce Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2015
Thomas & Sally (opera) by Thomas Arne Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2014
The Beloved Women of Chiota by Catherine Hagner Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2014
Sword Play by Andrés Enriquez & Luke Schares Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2014
Scapin by Molière/adapted by Terry Burgler Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2014
The Revolutionary City by various authors/devised work Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2014-15
Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross Fox Valley Rep, St. Charles, IL 2013
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster/adapted by Brandon Bruce & Christine Scarfuto Strawdog Theatre, Chicago, IL 2012
The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow Shawnee Theatre, Bloomfield, IN 2011
The Fantasticks by Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt Shawnee Theatre, Bloomfield, IN 2011
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry Shawnee Theatre, Bloomfield, IN 2010
Denali by Austin Bunn Working Group Theatre, Iowa City, IA 2010
The Scene by Theresa Rebeck Iowa Summer Rep, Iowa City, IA 2010
The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman Shattered Globe Theatre, Chicago, IL 2009
The Deal by Lewis Black Alley Cabaret, Iowa City, IA 2008
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Pella Shakespeare Festival, Pella, IA 2008
The Ruling Class by Peter Barnes BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2007
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Festival 56, Princeton, IL 2007
The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2006
Tango by Slawomir Mrozek Chopin Theatre, Chicago, IL 2006
Denise Druczweski’s Inferno by Eric Schmiedl BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2005
Terra Nova by Ted Tally BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2004
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Signal Ensemble Theatre, Chicago, IL 2004
Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin New Leaf Theatre, Chicago, IL 2002

directing – EDUCATIONAL

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 2024
This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing by Finegan Kruckemeyer (co-directed with Rook Reilley) Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 2023
Men On Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 2022
The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 2021
The Revision by Jordan Harrison University of Alabama at Birmingham, Bham, AL 2018
Up by Bridget Carpenter Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL 2012
Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 2011
Copenhagen by Michael Frayn Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA 2011
The Boy in Black by Tony Meneses & Dan Roeder University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2010
Reefer Madness! The Musical by Dan Studney & Larry Murphy University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2009
Akarui by Jen Silverman University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2009
White Elephant by Tony Meneses University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2009
The Toymaker’s War by Jennifer Fawcett University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2008
Chicago by Sam Shepard University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2007
Thief Unseen by Mary Hamilton University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2007

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY

BLAMED dir. Brandon Bruce & Aubrey Sanders Tumbleweed Theatre, Ivins, UT 2024
A Midsummer Night’s Dream dir. Brandon Bruce Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 2024
Macbeth No. 9 dir. Brandon Bruce Tumbleweed Theatre Company, St. George, UT 2023
Man of La Mancha dir. Brandon Burk SimonFest, Cedar City, UT 2022
The Sword in the Stone dir. Ronan Marra Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2020
And in this Corner…Cassius Clay dir. Jamil Jude Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2019
Peter Pan dir. Brandon Bruce Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2018
The Jungle Book dir. Charlie McGrath Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2018
The Servant of Two Masters  dir. Brandon Bruce Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2015
Sword Play dir. Brandon Bruce Colonial Williamsburg, Wburg, VA 2014
Perilous Night dir. Liz Neerland Nimbus Theatre, Minneapolis, MN 2013
Petrified Forest dir. Shade Murray Strawdog Theatee, Chicago, IL 2012
Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom dir. Joanie Schultz Strawdog Theatre, Chicago, IL 2012
Mauritius dir. Eric Forsythe Iowa Summer Rep, Iowa City, IA 2010
Dead Man’s Cell Phone dir. Eric Forsythe Iowa Summer Rep, Iowa City, IA 2009
Closer dir. Ronan Marra Signal Ensemble Theatre, Chicago, IL 2006
Romeo and Juliet dir. Eric Wegener Festival 56, Princeton, IL 2006
Macbeth dir. Phil Kasper Expanded Arts, New York, NY 2000
The Two Gentlemen of Verona dir. Nancy Cates Weathervane Playhouse, Akron, OH 2000
The Vampire dir. Lisa Channer Yale Summer Cabaret, New Haven, CT 1998

SOUND DESIGN

Macbeth No. 9 dir. Brandon Bruce Tumbleweed Theatre Company, St. George, UT 2023
Count Dracula dir. Kris Davies Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 2022
Mr. Popper’s Penguins dir. Laura Byland Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2019
The Watsons Go to Birmingham dir. Chalethia Williams Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2019
And in this Corner…Cassius Clay dir. Jamil Jude Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2018
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott dir. Chalethia Williams Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2018
Perilous Night dir. Liz Neerland Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bham, AL 2013
The 39 Steps dir. Brandon Bruce Shawnee Theatre, Bloomfield, IN 2011
Akarui dir. Brandon Bruce University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2009
The Skin of Our Teeth dir. Brandon Bruce BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2006
Denise Druczweski’s Inferno dir. Brandon Bruce BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2005
Terra Nova dir. Brandon Bruce BackStage Theatre Company, Chicago, IL 2004

EDUCATION

MFA in Directing from the University of Iowa
BFA in Acting from Kent State University
Certified Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique

TRAINING

Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium (modules 1, 2 & 3) – Instructors Lionel Walsh, Catherine Albers, James Haffner, Melissa Owens
Suzuki Movement Training (2 years experience) – Instructor Allan Byrne
Grotowski Acting Training – Eric Forsythe
Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) – Instructors Chelsea Pace & Laura Rikard
Shakespeare – Bob Smith, Alan MacVey, Terry Burgler
Stage Combat/Fight Directors Canada (unarmed, rapier, dagger, small sword, scimitar, quarterstaff, broadsword, cloak)
– Chris Ockler, Paul Gelineau, Larissa Yanchak, Daniel Levinson

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

EXCELLENCE IN ACTIVE TEACHING AWARD – Utah Tech University
– Awarded in 2024

RISING STAR – TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Utah Tech University
– Nominated for this Award, 2022

6 BROADWAY WORLD NOMINATIONS – The Three Musketeers
– Nominated for Best Production, Best Scenic Design, Best Director, & Best Actor, Best Actress, 2018

3 BROADWAY WORLD NOMINATIONS – James & the Giant Peach, Einstein is a Dummy
– Nominated for Best Production, Best Scenic Design, Best Director, & Best Musical, 2017

3 JEFF NOMINATIONS – The Little Foxes Chicago’s Jeff Awards, 2009
– Nominated for Best Production, Best Scenic Design, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role

TOP 20 SHOWS OF 2009 – The Little Foxes Chicago Tribune & Sun-Times, 2009

IRAM AWARD – Akarui
University of Iowa, 2009
– Awarded for Outstanding Direction

IOWA ARTS DIRECTING FELLOWSHIP
University of Iowa, 2007

One of “20 CHICAGOANS YOU SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT”
Time Out Chicago, 2007

ORGIE AWARD – Tango Chicago’s Orgie Awards, 2007
– Awarded for Best Director

CRITIC’S CHOICE – The Ruling Class Chicago Reader, 2007

JEFF AWARD – The Skin of Our Teeth Chicago’s Jeff Awards, 2006
– Awarded for Actress in a Principal Role

JEFF NOMINATION – The Skin of Our Teeth Chicago’s Jeff Awards, 2006
– Nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role

CRITIC’S CHOICE – Denise Druczweski’s Inferno Chicago Reader, 2005

© 2024 Brandon Bruce