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Liesl Tommy

BIO

Liesl Tommy is an award-winning stage director returning to the Huntington having previously directed Top Girls (2018), A Raisin in the Sun (2013), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2012), and Ruined (2011). Her credits include productions of Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed (Broadway and The Public Theater) starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o (Tony Award nomination for Best Director), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s Appropriate (Signature Theatre), Tracey Scott Wilson’s The Good Negro, UNIVERSES’ Party People, and A. Zell Williams’s Urban Retreat (The Public Theater), Les Misérables (Dallas Theater Center), Hamlet (California Shakespeare Theater), The Piano Lesson (Yale Repertory Theatre), and John Kander/Greg Pierce’s musical Kid Victory. Ms. Tommy is the recipient of an Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Pioneer of the Arts Award, Lillian Hellman Award, Lee Reynolds Award, Alan Schneider Award, NEA/TCG Directors Grant, New York Theatre Workshop Casting/Directing Fellowship, and the inaugural Susan Stroman Award from the Vineyard Theatre. Ms. Tommy facilitated the inaugural Sundance East Africa Theatre Director’s Lab and is a member of the board of the Sundance Institute. Ms. Tommy serves as a program associate at Sundance Institute Theatre Program.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Washington, DC (Regional)]
Shakespeare Theatre Company Production, 2018
Vagonava


Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2026]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Director
 
[Williamstown, MA (Regional), 2017]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2017]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2016]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015] [Replacement]
Director[Replacement]
 
[Off-Broadway, 2014]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2009]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2004]
Director

Awards and Nominations


winner
The Lortels - 2016 - Outstanding Director

Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed

Tony Awards - 2016 - Best Direction of a Play

Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed


winner
Obie Awards - 2014 - Direction

Liesl Tommy, Appropriate

Videos

News


THE FESTIVAL IN DA BACK Comes to The Flea Theater
by Stephi Wild - Mar 10, 2026

On the heels of being announced as a co-producer for the new musical  Imitation of Life by Lynn Nottage, Liesl Tommy and EGOT winner John Legend, National Black Theatre has revealed cast and ticket availability.
Applications Now Open for The 24 Hour Plays Nationals in NY and LA
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 23, 2026

The 24 Hour Plays Nationals, an annual professional development initiative for early-career theater artists, will return this summer for a 15th year, with cohorts in both New York and Los Angeles.
Photos: John Legend Previews IMITATION OF LIFE, Sara Bareilles Sings THE INTERESTINGS in Industry Sneak Peek
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 20, 2026

Last week, Broadway Across America convened approximately 250 of the commercial theater industry’s most influential leaders for the Biennial Broadway Across America Theatrical Conference. See photos.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 13, 2026- Chatting with OH, MARY! Star John Cameron Mitchell and More
by - Feb 13, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is February 13, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
John Legend & Lynn Nottage Musical IMITATION OF LIFE To Premiere At The Shed This Fall
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 12, 2026

IMITATION OF LIFE, a new musical by Lynn Nottage and John Legend, will premiere at The Shed in New York City. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the limited engagement is co-produced with National Black Theatre. Further casting and ticket details will be announced.
Meet the Cast of THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, Now Playing on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Oct 8, 2025

Performances are now underway for the Broadway premiere of The Queen of Versailles. Previews begin on October 8. Meet the cast of The Queen of Versailles here and read bios of the show's stars and cast!
The 24 Hour Plays Reveals Company for The 24 Hour Plays Nationals in NYC
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 27, 2025

The 24 Hour Plays revealed this year's company for The 24 Hour Plays Nationals in NYC. Learn more about the events taking place in July and see how to attend!
National Theatre Welcomes New Artistic Associates Miranda Cromwell, Dr Sophie Duncan, Clint Dyer, and Lynn Nottage
by Stephi Wild - Apr 24, 2025

The National Theatre has announced that Director and Choreographer Miranda Cromwell; author, academic, and dramaturg Dr Sophie Duncan; and Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage have been appointed as Artistic Associates.
Ben Jackson Walker Returns to & JULIET For UK Tour
by Emmy Rice - Apr 19, 2025

It was announced today that a new Romeo will be joining the & Juliet UK touring Company! Ben Jackson Walker, who played the original Romeo on Broadway, will be joining the cast.
La Mama Umbria Will Host 26th Year Of International Symposium For Directors
by Stephi Wild - Mar 31, 2025

This Summer, as La MaMa Umbria celebrates the 26th year of its flagship program, directors and playwrights will have an opportunity to learn from some of the most renowned theatre-makers in the world.
Meet the Talented Cast of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB as It Lights Up Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Feb 21, 2025

Discover the vibrant cast of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB as they bring Cuba's golden age to Broadway. Performances start tonight at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Learn more!
The 24 Hour Plays Nationals Open 2025 Applications and Reveal LA Expansion
by Stephi Wild - Feb 20, 2025

The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals return this summer for their 14th year. An annual professional development initiative for early-career theater artists, the 2025 program will take place this July.
Vineyard Theatre Reveals Winners of the Emerging Artists Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 20, 2024

Vineyard Theatre has revealed the recipients of the 2024-2025 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award and Colman Domingo Award. Learn more about the award and the recipients!
PASSING STRANGE Revival to Complete A.R.T. 2024/25 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2024

A.R.T. will produce Passing Strange to conclude its 2024/25 Season. Tony Award-nominated director Liesl Tommy will direct the A.R.T. production. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
Video: & JULIET's Philippe Arroyo & Ben Jackson Walker Show Off Their Broadway Crib
by Joey Mervis - Sep 20, 2024

In this video, watch as Ben Jackson Walker and Philippe Arroyo welcome us to their Broadway crib with a champagne toast and an inside look at their lucky Nicholas Cage pillow, bedazzled guitar, character bobbleheads, and of course, cherished gifts from fans.
Shaina Taub Will Host Broadway for Harris Community Launch
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 26, 2024

Shaina Taub, creator and star of Broadway’s Tony-winning Suffs, will host the Broadway for Harris Community Launch Call tonight, Monday, August 26 from 6:00-7:00pm ET. The call will take place over Zoom and is open to the public.
70+ Broadway Stars Unite in Support of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 20, 2024

New York’s theater community is organizing to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election. Broadway for Harris is a volunteer coalition of industry professionals and theater enthusiasts united to elect Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and down ballot Democratic candidates this November.
THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: NATIONALS 2024 Cohort Announced
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 24, 2024

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS has announced this year's cohort for The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, which will return this summer for their 13th year. A weeklong professional development initiative for early-career theater artists, The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals 2024 will take place July 15-22, 2024 at the Pace University Lower Manhattan campus. 
Interview: 'The Play Really Explores the Idea of Identity': Actor Giles Terera on Energy, Bravery and Music in PASSING STRANGE
by Kat Mokrynski - May 22, 2024

Passing Strange, the Tony Award-winning rock musical by Stew, is making its European premiere at the Young Vic. The show tells the story of a young man in the 1980s who travels the world to find himself, going from his home of Los Angeles in the United States to the punk rock realms of Amsterdam and Berlin.
Photos: Inside Rehearsal For PASSING STRANGE at the Young Vic Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 19, 2024

The Young Vic Theatre has released all new rehearsal photos from the European premiere of the Broadway hit musical Passing Strange. Check out the photos here!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Liesl Tommy been nominated for?

Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Eclipsed, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Eclipsed and Direction (Obie Awards) for Appropriate.

What awards has Liesl Tommy won?

Liesl Tommy has won the Outstanding Director award from The Lortel Awards for Eclipsed and the Direction award from the Obie Awards for Appropriate.

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