Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and choosing Chicago as his vocational home, Darren Lee Brown (he/him) is proud of and passionate about his Midwest storytelling roots. Wearing many hats in the industry, Darren finds consistent work throughout the region as an actor, puppeteer, director, coach, script doctor, scenic carpenter, designer, technical director, backstage manager, and production manager. He's grateful to have contributed across many storytelling genres, from devised and musical theatre, circus and cabaret, opera and puppetry, television, and voice-over. His curiosity and thirst for good storytelling alongside good collaborators knows no bounds.

Darren completed his undergraduate education at the University of Dayton, studying music, theatre, and philosophy, after which he spent the next several years watering the seeds of his career in small theatre companies across Southwest Ohio. He received his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Connecticut, where he served as a resident ensemble member with the Connecticut Repertory Theatre from 2014-2017. Additional associations during this period: The Zoot Theatre Company, Monomoy Theatre Company on Cape Cod; Mumford & Sons' Gentlemen of the Road Tour; ESPN Headquarters; Sesame Workshop; The Nutmeg Summer Series w/ Artistic Director Terrence Mann.

After a brief post-Masters layover back in Dayton to reunite on a handful of projects with old colleagues, he settled in Chicago in 2018 and has resided here since. During his tenure in The Windy City, Darren has worked in roughly four dozen venues throughout Chicagoland as a freelance artist. Longstanding partnerships have included Threaded Films, The Studebaker Theatre, The Athenaeum Theatre, the DePaul University School of Music, the Opera Festival of Chicago, The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, Visceral Dance, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding, and Teatro Zinzanni. He currently serves as the Production Manager for both the DePaul Opera Theatre program and the Opera Festival of Chicago. In addition to his Chicago partnerships, Darren maintains a collaborative relationship with Ohio Playwrights Circle as a voice artist, workshop coordinator, and director. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Dayton's Annual Transylvanian Convention, a Rocky Horror Show company, currently in its 17th season.

His favorite television show is Scrubs, his favorite movie is Home Alone, his favorite musicals are Man of La Mancha and Reefer Madness, his favorite books are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and he really digs Shakespeare. If you enjoy any or all of these stories, you should probably reach out and become friends. Or follow him on Instagram @darrenlybrown.