Directing Bio
In the summer of 2014, Grant and a group of friends founded The Rest of The Wood Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. Grant served as the company's Artistic Director from 2014 to 2017, during which time he directed productions of Urinetown, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, and A Very Potter Musical. Select members of the company have since gone on to work on Broadway, in television and film, and at some of America’s most prominent regional theaters.
Soon after, Grant sought out performers from the Acting/Musical Theatre Department at the Chicago College of Performing Arts and directed three more productions: On Stars Not Falling, The Dream of the Burning Boy, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
In the following years, Grant directed A Doll’s House, Part 2 and associate directed The Minutes at Edge of the Wood’s Resident Theatre. The Minutes was nominated for four Jeff Awards: Best Direction, Best Production, Best Ensemble, and Best Lead Actor in a Short Run (Won: Jack Hradecky).
In addition to his professional directing work, Grant is also an instructor at Edge of the Wood Theatre School, where he has recently directed student productions of Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Charlotte’s Web, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Brian Hill, Herb Metzler, Stephen Loch, and John Chambers in The Minutes
Broadway actor Jack Cahill-Lemme before he was on Broadway in Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier
Herb Metzler and Jeff-Nominee Janet Rourke in A Doll’s House, Part 2
Sophia Arnold and Jeff Award-Winning Actor Jack Hradecky in The Minutes
Testimonials
“Grant is an instinctual theatrical storyteller with a keen eye for truth. He has the talent, skills, and taste of a seasoned professional director.”
-Janet Rourke, Actress and Jeff-Nominated Director
“Grant brings his formidable skills as an actor to his role as director.”
-John Chambers, Artistic Director of The Resident Theatre at Edge of The Wood
“Kilian expertly guides all four of his actors through fascinating debates, while letting the audience laugh about and ponder some age-old questions.”
-Chicago actress Peggy Roeder on Grant’s 2024 production of A Doll’s House, Part 2
Grant with the company of The Minutes at the 2024 Joseph Jefferson Awards
