We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Weis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Brandon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on—and truly one of the proudest moments of my career—was the creation of Fresno’s first professional theatre company, Chanticleer Shakespeare Co.
Growing up as a young actor in the Central Valley, I was fortunate to have access to wonderful community theatres and strong arts programs through our local schools. However, despite Fresno being the fifth-largest city in California, it had never had a professional theatre company. For those of us passionate about theatre, that meant if we wanted to pursue acting professionally, we had to leave our community and seek opportunities elsewhere.
Years later, life brought me back home, and two friends I had worked with in the past approached me with the idea of joining them in founding a professional Shakespeare company here in Fresno. At the time, I had stepped away from a 20+ year career in corporate management—roles that were financially stable but didn’t fulfill me creatively. The timing couldn’t have been better.
Together with my Artistic Director, Blake Ellis and Technical Director Brandi Martin, we dove head-first into making this vision a reality. One of our biggest early wins was securing a landmark partnership with the Warnors Center for Performing Arts to make the iconic and historic Warnors Theatre (originally a Pantages Theatre built in 1928, just before the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles) the “Home of Chanticleer Shakespeare Co.”.
The process of creating a professional theatre company from the ground up is not for the faint of heart. It is incredibly challenging, with fun surprises and key learnings that pop up along the way. We navigated forming a nonprofit, filing for 501(c)(3) status, working with Actors’ Equity Association to meet professional standards, and quickly applying for the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture grant through the City of Fresno’s Measure P funding. That grant was historic, as Measure P represents millions of dollars dedicated annually to support the arts in Fresno for the next 30 years. It was inspiring to know our community valued the arts so deeply.
Two of the biggest “pinch me” moments of the process were receiving official Equity contracts for our inaugural production of Richard III and when we saw the posting of our casting call on the Actors’ Equity website. We were thrilled to receive over 200 submissions from actors nationwide, but equally important to us was our commitment to local talent. Our production included five Equity professionals alongside twelve local non-union actors, many young and early in their training.
I vividly remember the first two rehearsals—the energy in the room and the sense of transformation as the cast came together. Seeing local actors dive into Shakespeare’s words alongside seasoned Equity professionals was truly inspiring. From the beginning, there was a strong foundation, with many standout moments. As the process unfolded, I noticed a growing confidence and clarity among the entire cast. There was a greater understanding of expectations and a marked shift in focus and preparation going into our second rehearsal and beyond, as everyone began to embrace the material, artistic style with a shared sense of purpose and passion. This kind of artistic growth and mentorship right here in Fresno was exactly what we set out to create—a professional, supportive space where local actors can stretch their abilities without having to leave their hometown.
Wearing multiple hats—as Executive Director, producer, and actor—reminded me why I fell in love with theatre in the first place. It was hard work, no doubt, and sometimes frustrating, but 99% of it was pure magic. The audience response to our first production was overwhelmingly positive, and it felt incredible to be part of a milestone for the Fresno arts community.
Overall, this project was meaningful not just because it revived my own passion, but because it created a lasting professional theatre home for our community—something I, and many others, had dreamed of for years.
Brandon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Theatre and performing have been lifelong passions of mine. While working on my degree at Fresno State, I took a 15-month break to tour across the U.S. and Canada with Missoula Children’s Theatre—a professional touring company based in Montana. Fun fact: I’m still the youngest actor they’ve ever hired. That experience gave me invaluable exposure to professional theatre life on the road.
After the tour, I worked regionally on the Central Coast at the PCPA Theatrefest for a couple of summers, which deepened my appreciation for regional theatre. When I returned home to Fresno, I co-founded the Woodward Shakespeare Festival—free Shakespeare in the park at Fresno’s Woodward Park, which went on to provide 14 seasons of free, quality Shakespeare performances to the community. I stepped away during that first season because I accepted a career-shifting opportunity that required a relocation.
What started as a part-time job during college turned into a decade-long career in corporate management, first as a District Manager for a Fortune 500 company in Southern California. Over the years, I also held leadership roles at Michaels Arts & Crafts, GNC, and Starbucks. While these roles were rewarding financially and professionally, theatre always stayed in the back of my mind, calling me back.
Recently, I’ve returned to the arts in a big way. In addition to starting Fresno’s first professional theatre company, I’ve been involved in the theatre community here in Fresno and took on the role of Drama Director for a local elementary school’s 4th–6th grade musical productions. That’s been an incredibly special project—working with young performers, guiding them, and watching their growth has been a true joy. In fact, another school principal reached out to me to direct for their campus as well, so that’s become a rewarding side venture.
Alongside my Chanticleer Shakespeare Co. Artistic Director Blake Ellis, we’ve also co-written, produced, and acted in a short film that’s been making waves on the indie film festival circuit, earning multiple awards. I thrive on staying busy and am not afraid to make life-changing decisions to keep art a vital part of my life. Ultimately, I love working hard, doing meaningful work, and continuing to learn along the way.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’m actually in the middle of the most significant pivot of my life right now. The past five years have been filled with an extraordinary amount of personal loss—starting in 2020, when my mother passed away unexpectedly. She was my biggest supporter and the one who always encouraged me to find a way back to theatre. In the years that followed, I also lost my father-in-law, stepmother, uncle, two grandmothers, my dog of over 10 years, and several other meaningful losses in my life. It was a lot, and it changed my perspective profoundly.
For over two decades, I had built a successful career in the corporate world—holding multi-unit leadership roles for companies like GameStop, GNC, and Starbucks. While those roles offered levels of stability, they left no room for theatre or the arts, which have always been essential to who I am. After everything I’d experienced, I realized I could no longer ignore that part of myself. I had to reevaluate what truly mattered. And what I came to understand is this: yes, financial security is important—but time is more valuable. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
My father-in-law, who was a real estate broker, used to tell me, “If you worked as hard for yourself as you do for others, you’d control your own outcome.” That stuck with me. So, I made the leap. I left corporate life and became a Realtor to put my future in my own hands and give myself more flexibility and the chance to realign my life with my passions.
In the past two years since that pivot, I’ve done multiple stage productions, co-created an award-winning short film that’s currently on the indie festival circuit, directed two children’s theatre productions, and co-founded Chanticleer Shakespeare Co.—Fresno’s first professional theatre company. My stress levels have dropped significantly, and I feel more artistically fulfilled than I have in nearly twenty years. I’m finally making the impact I want to have on my community, and it’s been a clear confirmation that I made the right choice.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Honestly, I think the most important thing we can do as a society is to truly recognize the value that artists and creatives bring to our communities—not just as entertainers, but as culture-shapers, educators, and storytellers. Art helps us process the world around us, and more than ever, I think people are craving that kind of connection; especially since the pandemic.
One of the biggest ways we can support creatives is through meaningful, long-term investment. I don’t just mean donations here and there—I mean consistent funding and resources that allow artists to build sustainable careers. What we saw with Measure P here in Fresno was a huge step in the right direction. A 30-year commitment to supporting the arts through public funds! That’s a clear message that this city values its creatives, and it gives organizations like ours a real chance to plan, grow, and make lasting impact.
Access is also key. We need to make sure that the arts aren’t only available to those who can afford a ticket or who live near a major city center. Growing up in the Central Valley, I had access to great community theatre, but if you wanted to pursue acting professionally, you had to leave. That’s a big reason we started Chanticleer Shakespeare Co.—to build something here that gives local talent a real opportunity to grow professionally without having to go somewhere else. This extends to access for audiences as well. That means making art affordable and available throughout a community, not just in affluent areas. It also means giving artists access to affordable resources, mentorship, and performance spaces. Great ideas and voices deserve to have the runway cleared for them, not met with blockades at every turn.
And we’ve got to start early. Supporting youth arts education is a game-changer. I’ve seen it firsthand directing elementary school musicals—the way it builds confidence, teamwork, and creative thinking in young kids is incredible. We’re not just teaching them how to perform—we’re teaching them how to express themselves, how to collaborate, and how to take pride in their work. Those are life skills.
At the end of the day, I think society can best support artists by treating the arts as essential—not a luxury or an “extra,” but as a core part of what makes communities vibrant, empathetic, and whole. If we can do that—through funding, education, access, and infrastructure—we’ll see the arts thrive, and our communities will thrive right along with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chanticleershakes.com
- Instagram: chanticleershakespeareco
- Facebook: Chanticleer Shakespeare Co
Image Credits
Photo from the production, with me in the blue suit, is credited to Laura Kennedy at MK Fresno Photo.
Photo of Brandon Weis sitting with hands crossed is credited to Miguel Gastelum.