Dyllon Burnside is a creative force! Seamlessly able to transition from thespian to crooner to producer and filmmaker, he has accomplished a tremendous amount in a relatively young career. Having already appeared in notable stage, television and film projects, Burnside has worked with some of the best in the business, including award-winning directors Glenn Weiss, Kenny Leon and Rob Ashford to name a few. He gained recognition as a promising young actor while starring in Broadway’s Holler if Ya Hear Me inspired by the music and lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Shortly after, he appeared as a Lost Boy in NBC’s Peter Pan Live! and in the critically acclaimed series High Maintenance currently airing on HBO, all while completing his studies at the prestigious CAP21 Conservatory for music theatre and The New School where he garnered a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Writing.

The Pensacola, Florida, native began performing professionally at the tender age of 12 as a member of the Hip-Hop/R&B boy band 3D, which afforded him the opportunity to tour the country performing original music alongside folks like Stevie Wonder and Rihanna in such venues as Madison Square Garden and the Nokia Theater. Shortly after the group disbanded, Burnside turned his attention to another art form: acting. “It’s interesting how it happened. I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I knew from a very young age, but music happened for me first. I started a Hip-Hop/R&B group when I was in middle school and it sort of took off unexpectedly. We were always on the road touring, so I couldn’t devote the necessary time to pursue theatre. It got to a point where I knew if I were ever going to be an actor, I would have to leave the group. So, I had to make a really hard decision, but it has proven to be a good one so far.”

He is also passionate about providing quality arts programming and training to youth in underserved communities. For many years, he produced an annual toy drive and concert called ‘Christmas in the City’ in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida where hundreds of kids and families received gifts and enjoyed performances by some of the areas most gifted artists. He has also taught performing arts workshops and spoken at schools across the country about the importance of arts education as a means of personal empowerment and self-expression. In addition, he also served as a producer on the award winning short film, “The Jump” and “Hold Up The Light,” a theatrical event at DC’s Arena Stage.