👋 my name is Brayden Hade & I am a freelance
Director,Writer
& Photographer
Projects
As a director and designer, I’m very proud of what my team and I have accomplished with Rent the Musical at the Cupcake Theater. We wanted to bring a fresh take to this beloved production, and capture the spirit of the original Broadway staging while still giving it a unique modern aesthetic.
We started with the digital backgrounds. We wanted to create a sense of unity and connection between each scene while still keeping up with the show’s iconic, gritty atmosphere. Through careful composition and intense color production, we were able to marry the two elements together.
To compliment our set, we assembled a cast of top-notch professional actors living in, and around the Los Angeles area. With years of stage experience under their belts, each actor brought a unique take to their role in the show and united behind our shared goal of creating a powerful piece of theatre.
The performance itself truly brought the audience into the world of Rent. From “Seasons of Love” to “La Vie Boheme”, everyone felt the camaraderie of our characters and felt the heartache of their struggles.
It was an absolute joy to have been in charge of such an incredible production, and an honor to bring the light of musical theater to this city. I’d like to thank everyone who helped make this Rent the Musical a success and hope that our audience members take away some of the larger themes of the show- hope, acceptance, love, and resilience.
Directing/Design: Legally Blonde (Cupcake Theater)
2022 Cupcake Theater production of “Legally Blonde,” starring Margie Mays of American Idol. For this production I co-directed with Jewell Valentin, and designed all the marketing media and designed all the digital backgrounds for the production. Conceptually, I styled the show as almost a superhero story, with comic book like backgrounds that introduced every character with their name.
Elle Woods did not receive her name until the end of “So Much Better,” when she self actualized into the woman she was to become. Whenever Elle would retreat into her own mind, the full color backgrounds would change to sparsely laid out abstract figures in pink and black to indicate we were in her mind. I also used digital effects such as falling sequins, exploding glitter names, and sprawling stock footage of Boston to give excitement and a distinct feel to the project.
Directing/Design: Avenue Q (Cupcake Theater)
As the show’s designer and director, and I’m here to discuss the production I had the privilege to helm in 2021 at the Cupcake Theater in Los Angeles.
Avenue Q is a Tony Award-winning musical comedy which tells the story of Princeton, a recent college graduate trying to find purpose and companionship in his new adult life. This production of Avenue Q was special because, despite the pandemic and its associated restrictions, the show flourished, with many regular attendees and even Jeff Marx, the show’s own creator.
To adhere to Covid restrictions and ensure both audience members and performers felt comfortable the theatre applied several stringent protocols. This included the use of digital backgrounds, which allowed us to create engaging visuals without needing a physical set. We also had the pleasure of working with a professional cast of actors here in our own local Los Angeles community.
I’m particularly amazed by how well our audience adapted. Although they were not able to enjoy their traditional luxury theater experience, they were still enthralled and won’t soon forget the energy of our show. We were so lucky to have motivated performers and enthusiastic viewers who, despite it all, were not deterred. Of course the pandemic has presented many challenges and taken away so much. It’s been a reminder to appreciate those moments we can cherish, even when things aren’t normal – or easy. Avenue Q was truly a unique experience and cemented the fact that “everything in life is only for now.”
Directing: The Shape of Things
Rehearsing in our apartment kitchens for Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things” was unlike any experience I’ve had before. Our production company, Bruth Media, presented this drama at the Alchemical TheatreLab in NYC in 2011. We were fortunate enough to sell out every night, after weeks of dedicated rehearsing in unorthodox spaces.
In LaBute’s classic hit, a bold love story blossoms between two college students, Adam and Evelyn, who pushes the boundaries of ownership and identity. Their unconventional love story intrigues the audience as Evelyn’s unpredictable behavior takes the audience by surprise. Yet their relationship begins to unravel when Adam discovers his girlfriend’s ulterior motives, which leads him to question their connection.
As director of this production, I was brought into a world of creative storytelling that I had only ever imagined. It was a grueling task to direct a show as complex and layered as this one, but with dedicated cast members, it soon became second nature. Chelsey Clime did a phenomenal job as Evelyn. She excelled in her ability to channel the witty and eccentric nature of her character while communicating LaBute’s honest themes of love and identity. Barry DeBois, Nick Fesette, and Karen Bray also gave top notch performances that made the piece feel new and vibrant.
Producing “The Shape of Things” pushed us out of our comfort zones, allowing us to explore the creative abilities of our entire team. The show’s success gave us the launch we needed to get Bruth Media off the ground, and for that we are forever grateful. We look forward to making more spectacular stories to captivate our audiences with in the future.
Design: The Little Mermaid
As a graphic designer, creating artwork for Cupcake Theater’s Los Angeles production of “The Little Mermaid” was an exciting challenge. The play tells the classic story of a beautiful, brave mermaid who longs to find true love and happiness on a forbidden land above her underwater kingdom.
My job was to design the video backgrounds and marketing materials for the play. I wanted to bring the audience into the world of the mermaid and give them a sense of underwater magic. After extensive research on the underwater world, I created a mesmerizing underwater world comprised of vibrant colors, moving lights, and glittery particles. The imagery was combined with enchanting music to really transport you into the heart of this classic fairy tale.
The marketing materials also had to reflect the rich underwater world and allow audience members to envision themselves as part of the experience. Utilizing rich colors, textures and the magic of photoshop, I crafted powerful visuals that showcased the play’s vibrant characters and brought their underwater story to life. By establishing a mesmerizing visual identity, I was able to draw in viewers and draw them in to the show.
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Brayden Hade
Director, Writer, Photographer, Editor, Actor, TeacherI am available for freelance work of all types. Please message me with the details of your project for a quote.
Email: brayden@braydenhade.com