Chaney is an arts leader, director, and educator whose work explores how theatre can create artistic, educational, and civic impact both onstage and beyond it. 

He serves as Chief Education Programs Officer at Alley Theatre: one of the largest and most respected Regional Theatres in the USA. Its programs reach more than 20,000 people annually across 40+ school districts, businesses, healthcare institutions, and community organizations.

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Chaney holds an MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University and has taught at Tulane University, LSU, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). At Tulane, he created Shakespeare on the Road, an innovative service-learning course in which students toured performances to area schools. 

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As a professional actor, Chaney worked in theatre, film, and television—performing with companies including Ford’s Theatre, American Shakespeare Center, Virginia Stage Company, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and SITI Company. He later served as Associate Artistic Director of the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival, where he produced and directed classical, original, and interdisciplinary work that brought new audiences and artistic perspectives to Shakespeare.

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While teaching acting at Tulane, Chaney discovered how powerfully theatrical training resonated with students outside the arts, including those studying business. That experience helped inspire his subsequent work coaching executives and the creation of Alley Articulated, Alley Theatre’s professional communication and leadership development program. Today, he continues to coach actors, executives, attorneys, and healthcare professionals—translating the actor’s tools of presence, listening, adaptability, and authentic communication into practical skills for a wide range of professions.

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At the Alley, Chaney also produced and directed several new Theatre for Young Audiences touring productions, including Alley Theatre’s Brainstormers series. He also leads initiatives exploring the possibilities of applied theatre in healthcare, education, and community settings. His work reflects a central belief: the skills developed through rigorous actor training can empower people to communicate, collaborate, and connect more effectively—both onstage and throughout their lives.

 

Chaney is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.