Brandon Grimes
ACTOR - SINGER - VOICE TEACHER -COMPOSER/LYRICIST- DANCER
Photo by Lauren Kanter
Brandon is a New York-based actor, singer, composer/lyricist, and caring human. Specializing in complex characters and complex music, Brandon has always been fascinated with the human spirit, its need for hope, and how pain can grow into radical joy. He is fascinated by how different genres of storytelling can inspire and move audiences, and is devoted to learning as many skills as he can to better tell these stories. He is a forever-student and currently a proud member of Joan Rosenfel’s acting studio.
On stage Brandon has appeared alongside Broadway legends, and in many powerful productions including drama-desk winners. He is drawn to characters who have a dark side and are struggling to find their own sense of joy. His favorite roles to date include Bobby in Company, Sweeney Todd, and Laertes in Hamlet.
On film Brandon has worked with many of the most promising young directors. He’s thrilled to be taking on his first lead in a feature film shooting this summer! Stay tuned for details.
Brandon is a lifelong music theory nerd, and his ability to sight read and learn music quickly make him a great candidate for working on new music and musicals. One of his proudest moments was stepping in as an emergency replacement for a reading of a new adaptation of John Waters' Pecker, directed by Broadway director Stephen Nachamie (at which Mr. Waters would be present). Brandon seamlessly learned the role in 2 hours and the production went off without a hitch. Brandon hopes that one day he will be able to originate a role on Broadway.
As a composer/lyricist, Brandon gravitates toward stories of people who are overlooked by society but know they have more to offer. His music has been recorded by such incredible performers as Broadway’s Jackie Burns and Lotte-Lenya finalist Amy Weintraub. He is currently working on a family-friendly musical that centers queer characters.
Brandon trained at University of Michigan where he got many amazing opportunities in musical theatre, opera, and non-musical theatre. He got to perform in a quartet concert with piano legend Martin Katz, appear with the Metropolitan opera’s Jenai Brugger, self-produce Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, as directed by Robert Swedberg, and work with the legendary musical theatre faculty, including Caroline Helton who is to this day his vocal and pedagogical mentor.
When he’s not performing or writing, Brandon enjoys board games, Renaissance fairs, Disney characters, and being a supportive friend.