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Kenny Leon

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Kenny Leon BIO

Kenny Leon is a Tony Award-winning Broadway and television director. His Broadway credits include the Tupac musical Holler If You Hear Me, A Raisin in the Sun starring Denzel Washington (Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play and Best Revival of a Play), The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, Stick Fly, August Wilson’s Fences (which garnered ten Tony nominations and won three Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play), Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf. He also directed Smart People for Second Stage. Leon's recent television work includes "Hairspray Live!", and "The Wiz Live!" on NBC. He is the recipient of the 2016 Mr. Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing and the 2010 Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League. Mr. Leon serves on the board of New York's Public Theater and is Artistic Director of Atlanta's Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company.

Kenny Leon Photos

Kenny Leon Productions

 
[Broadway, 2025]
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[Broadway, 2024]
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[Broadway, 2024]
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[Broadway, 2023]
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[Off-Broadway, 2023]
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[Off-Broadway, 2023]
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[US Tour, 2022]
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[Broadway, 2022] [Replacement]
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[Broadway, 2022]
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[Broadway, 2020]
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[Off-Broadway, 2019]
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[Off-Broadway, 2019] [Replacement]
Director[Replacement]
 
[Broadway, 2018]
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[Broadway, 2018]
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[Regional (US), 2017]
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[Motion Picture, 2016]
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[Off-Broadway, 2016]
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[New York, 2015]
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[Broadway, 2014]
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[Broadway, 2014]
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[Broadway, 2011]
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[Broadway, 2011]
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[Broadway, 2010]
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[Broadway, 2007]
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[Off-Broadway, 2006]
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[Washington, DC (Regional), 2005]
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[Broadway, 2004]
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[Broadway, 2004]
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[Off-Broadway, 1999]
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Kenny Leon Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Direction of a Play

Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious

Drama League Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Direction of a Play

Kenny Leon, Topdog/Underdog

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Kenny Leon, Topdog/Underdog


winner
Obie Awards - 2020 - Directing Award

Kenny Leon, Much Ado About Nothing


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Kenny Leon, A Soldier's Play

Tony Awards - 2020 - Best Direction of a Play

Kenny Leon, A Soldier's Play


winner
Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Direction of a Play

Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun


winner
Drama League Awards - 2010 - Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Kenny Leon

Tony Awards - 2010 - Best Direction of a Play

Kenny Leon, Fences

Helen Hayes Awards - 2005 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical

Kenny LeonTambourines to Glory


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Director - Play

Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun

Helen Hayes Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical

Kenny LeonBlues in the Night

Kenny Leon Videos

Kenny Leon News


Tickets For SOME LIKE IT HOT at Proctors Go on Sale This Week


Proctors announced that single tickets for the upcoming engagement of SOME LIKE IT HOT in Schenectady will go on sale 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2.

2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!


Nominations for the 2024 Drama Desk Awards have just been announced by Kathleen Turner. Check out the full list of nominees here!

Photos: MOTHER PLAY Celebrates Opening Night on Broadway


Mother Play officially opened on Broadway on April 25 at the Hayes Theater. Check out photos of the cast and VIPs at the after party here!

2024 Tony Awards Nominations- Live Reactions


The nominations for the 77th Annual Tony Awards were announced this morning by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Follow us throughout the day, as we'll bring you Tony nominee reactions!

2024 Tony Awards Nominations - Show by Show


The nominations are in! Check out how each show fared individually in a full list of nominations by show.

2024 Tony Award Nominations- HELL'S KITCHEN and STEREOPHONIC Lead the Pack!


The 77th Annual Tony Awards nominations were announced this morning by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Renee Elise Goldsberry and here they are, celebrating the best of the 2023-24 theatre season. Check out the full list of nominees here!

Photos: The Company of HOME Meets the Press


See photos of the company of Home on Broadway featuring Kenny Leon and more meeting the press!

Photos: On the Red Carpet at Opening Night of MARY JANE


Mary Jane, led by Rachel McAdams, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog, officially opened on Broadway last night, April 23. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the opening night red carpet here!

DEAD OUTLAW, STEREOPHONIC & More Lead in Nominations for 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards


Read the full list of 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations! Leading the nominations are Stereophonic and Dead Outlaw.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, CABARET & More Lead in Nominations for 2024 Drama League Awards


Read the full list of 2024 Drama League Nominations! Nominations include Cabaret, Merrily We Roll Along and more.

Keen Company to Present DIRECTORFEST in May At Theatre Row


Discover the talents of two emerging directors as Keen Company collaborates with The Drama League for DIRECTORFEST at Theatre Row. Learn more!

Photos: Go inside The Entertainment Community Fund's 2024 Gala


Last night at the Entertainment Community Fund, (formerly The Actors Fund) gala, they announced the $160 million ESSENTIAL Campaign: a bold and comprehensive effort that will combine all of the organization’s fundraising, allowing the Fund to serve more people in more places.

Entertainment Community Fund Launches $160 Million ESSENTIAL Campaign


Entertainment Community Fund is launching the $160 million ESSENTIAL Campaign, combining all of the organization’s fundraising, allowing the Fund to serve more people in more places. Learn more!

Broadway Buying Guide: April 8, 2024- HAMILTON Rises to the Top


Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, April 8, 2024.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 4, 2024


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 4, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes and More Will Lead Kenny Leon's OUR TOWN Revival


Grover's Corners, here they come! The new Broadway production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, just announced that the play will feature 28 actors. We have all of the details!

Broadway Buying Guide: April 1, 2024- MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Rolls to the Top


Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, April 1, 2024.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 1, 2024


Happy April Fools' Day, BroadwayWorld! It is April 1, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Meet the Cast of CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway


The Kit Kat Club is now open! Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, starring Academy Award and Tony Award winner Eddie Redmayne and introducing Gayle Rankin, begins previews tonight, April 1, at the August Wilson Theatre. Meet the cast of Cabaret here!

Meet the Cast of PATRIOTS, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway


The Almeida Theatre production of Patriots officially begins previews on Broadway tonight, April 1. Meet the cast of Patriots here!

Kenny Leon FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Kenny Leon been nominated for?

Kenny Leon has been nominated for several awards including Outstanding Direction of a Play at the Drama League Awards for Topdog/Underdog, Outstanding Director of a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Topdog/Underdog, a Directing Award at the Obie Awards for Much Ado About Nothing, Outstanding Director of a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Soldier's Play, Best Direction of a Play at the Tony Awards for A Soldier's Play, Best Direction of a Play at the Tony Awards for A Raisin in the Sun, the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing at the Drama League Awards, Best Direction of a Play at the Tony Awards for Fences, Outstanding Director, Resident Musical at the Helen Hayes Awards for Tambourines to Glory, Outstanding Director - Play at the Drama Desk Awards for A Raisin in the Sun, and Outstanding Director, Resident Musical at the Helen Hayes Awards for Blues in the Night.

What awards has Kenny Leon won?

Kenny Leon has won the Directing Award (Obie Awards) for Much Ado About Nothing, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for A Soldier's Play, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun, Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards), and Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun.

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