Kenny Leon News

The Drama League presents DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. The festival series that began January 10, 2020 continues with an evening of short plays probing the complexity of relationships with The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones by Marcus Gardley, directed by Chika Ike, and The Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson, and Daniela Vlaskalic, directed by Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly. The limited engagement begins Friday, January 24, 2020 at 7:30pm for three performances through January 25, 2020 at The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street). Tickets are priced at $45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members.

Tony and Grammy-nominated actor, singer, comedian and producer David Alan Grier joins the 3rd hour of TODAY to discuss his stage return in the Broadway debut of a?oeA Soldier's Play.a??

President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions Thomas Schumacher; Caissie Levy (Frozen on Broadway); Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton on Broadway); Jennifer Locke (Hamilton national tour); creator/Executive Producer Tim Federle, Olivia Rodrigo, and Joshua Bassett (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney +); Luca Padovan and Isabella Russo (School of Rock); Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Between The Lines); Rob Rokicki (The Lighting Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical); and Lotte Wakeham (Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical) are some of the stars and creatives confirmed for the 2020 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival Atlanta (#JTF).

The Drama League presents DirectorFest,  the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Launching the 2020 series is the musical Hello Again, with Book, Music and Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, Music Direction by Jesse Kissel, and Directed by 2019 Drama League Leo Shull Musical Directing Fellow Ben Randle.

Today's top stories: A Soldier's Play begins previews tonight on Broadway, and more!

Today Keen Company Artistic Director Jonathan Silverstein announced the cast for the New York Premiere of Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage. LA Williams will direct a cast that features Prema Cruz, Alfie Fuller, John-Andrew Morrision, Khiry Walker, and Sheldon Woodley. The design team includes You-Shin Chen (scenic), Asa Benally (costumes), Oona Curley (lighting), and Lindsay Jones (original music & sound design). Casting is by Billy Hopkins Casting. Fran Rubenstein will serve as Production Stage Manager and Drew Francis will be the Production Manager.

Over the past ten years, Broadway has been home to a plethora of creative triumphs. From daring new works to re-imagined classics, theatre has consistently challenged our perspectives, ignited our passions, and defied our expectations. For that, audiences have the creative minds of Broadway to thank. 

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, has announced the 2020 TCG Gala: Our Stories will be held on Monday, February 3, 2020 at The Edison Ballroom (240 W 47th Street). The Gala will honor the National Black Theatre Festival of Winston-Salem and David Henry Hwang and will include festive performances, inspiring speakers, and a celebratory dinner with theatre leaders, celebrities, and enthusiasts. A 6:00pm cocktail reception will be followed by a 7:00pm seated dinner, with entertainment beginning at 7:20pm. Additional programming will be announced soon.

A Soldier's Play begins preview performances on December 27, 2019, and opens officially on January 21, 2020. This is a limited engagement at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street).

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the acting company for the 36th annual DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102.

Roundabout Theatre Company will soon present the first Broadway production of Charles Fuller's award-winning drama A Soldier's Play, directed by Kenny Leon. A Soldier's Play will star David Alan Grier as 'Sergeant Vernon C. Waters,' Blair Underwood as 'Captain Richard Davenport,' Nnamdi Asomugha as 'Private First Class Melvin Peterson,' Jerry O'Connell as 'Captain Charles Taylor,' McKinley Belcher III as 'Private Louis Henson,' Rob Demery as 'Corporal Bernard Cobb,' Jared Grimes as 'Private Tony Smalls,' Billy Eugene Jones as 'Private James Wilkie,' Nate Mann as 'Lieutenant Byrd,' Warner Miller as 'Corporal Ellis,' J. Alphonse Nicholson as 'Private C. J. Memphis' and Lee Aaron Rosen as 'Captain Wilcox.'

Rehearsals are underway for the Broadway production of A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller, directed by Kenny Leon.

The best of Broadway walked the red carpet at the Broadhurst Theatre last night as  Jagged Little Pill celebrated opening night! BroadwayWorld was there and we're bringing you photos from the star-studded night below!

Roundabout Theatre Company will soon present the first Broadway production of Charles Fuller's award-winning drama A Soldier's Play, directed by Kenny Leon. A Soldier's Play will star David Alan Grier as 'Sergeant Vernon C. Waters,' Blair Underwood as 'Captain Richard Davenport,' Nnamdi Asomugha as 'Private First Class Melvin Peterson,' Jerry O'Connell as 'Captain Charles Taylor,' McKinley Belcher III as 'Private Louis Henson,' Rob Demery as 'Corporal Bernard Cobb,' Jared Grimes as 'Private Tony Smalls,' Billy Eugene Jones as 'Private James Wilkie,' Nate Mann as 'Lieutenant Byrd,' Warner Miller as 'Corporal Ellis,' J. Alphonse Nicholson as 'Private C. J. Memphis' and Lee Aaron Rosen as 'Captain Wilcox.'

2019 has come and gone, which means it's time to get excited for the new shows coming in 2020! This year will bring anticipated revivals of Company, West Side Story, and The Music Man, fan favorite Six, brand new musicals Diana, Mrs. Doubtfire, and MJ, and many more.

Tickets are now on sale for the 36th annual Directorfest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of stage directing. Known for its history as an identifier of the next generation of directing talent, the festival will include six fully-staged productions, a showcase concert of a new play-with-music, a town hall, and conversations with directors including 2017 Tony Award Winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), 2014 Tony Award Winner & 2010 Drama League Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Kenny Leon (A Soldier's Play), and Intimacy Director Claire Warden (HBO's 'Mrs. Fletcher').

Time stands still but life goes on might be one way of looking at Will Eno's charming and sweetly philosophical The Underlying Chris, receiving a fine premiere production directed by Kenny Leon at Second Stage.

Today Keen Company Artistic Director Jonathan Silverstein announced his plans for Keen's Playwrights Lab, including readings from this year's participants as well as the playwrights for the 2020 Lab.

The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare In The Park production of Much Ado About Nothing was broadcast on PBS' Great Performances, on November 22.

Second Stage Theater just celebrated opening night of the world premiere of Will Eno's The Underlying Chris. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the production will feature Hannah Cabell, Michael Countryman, Denise Burse, Nicholas Hutchinson, Lenne Klingaman, Lizbeth MacKay, Nidra Sous La Terre, Howard Overshown, Isabella Russo, Charles Turner, And Luis Vega.