Brando Crawford is a director, actor, and founder of Acting for a Cause, a creative initiative producing guerrilla-style theatre and film to support pressing social causes through art. The project has been recognized internationally (BBC, British Vogue, Variety, Chicago Tribune) for its innovative livestreamed performances featuring Florence Pugh, Jacob Elordi, Bella Thorne, and a cast of Hollywood’s most sought-after young talent. These productions have raised tens of thousands of dollars for organizations including amfAR, the Entertainment Community Fund, and Mount Sinai Hospital, while drawing millions of viewers to reimagined classics and contemporary activism.
Each Acting for a Cause production is fully volunteer-driven, with actors, crew, and collaborators donating their time and talent. Select projects have been released in partnership with global fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Fred Segal, merging high-concept storytelling with bold visual design.
Crawford recently directed and starred in a reinterpretation of Tommy Wiseau’s cult film The Room, shot in a single day and featuring Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk, Bella Heathcote, and original cast member Greg Sestero. Executive produced by Mike Flanagan, the project was called by Odenkirk “the best experience I’ve had in show business besides working with Chris Farley.”
In Chicago Theatre, Crawford was last seen in “The Anyway Cabaret” at TUTA, “Martyr” at Steep, and in “Rudolph” with Broadway In Chicago.
He is also a musician and member of the band Never Sorry, alongside School of Rock alumni Rivkah Reyes and Joey Gaydos Jr., and actor Rob Raco, with collaborators including Twin Shadow and pianist Mike Garson.
Crawford co-owns The Language and Music School in Oak Park, Illinois, located in a restored historic mansion. Across education, performance, and preservation, his work reflects a commitment to using art as a force for collective impact and cultural memory.