Kenny Leon
Review: August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN at Actors' Shakespeare Project Has Glint of Greatness (May 4, 2026)
Raúl Esparza, Norbert Leo Butz, Beth Leavel and More to Present at 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards (May 4, 2026)
Video: Watch a Scene from THE BALUSTERS on Broadway (Apr 29, 2026)
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.
Photos
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
Productions
Awards and Nominations
Kenny Leon, The Balusters
Kenny Leon, The Balusters
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious
Kenny Leon, Topdog/Underdog
Kenny Leon, Topdog/Underdog
winner
Kenny Leon, Much Ado About Nothing
winner
Kenny Leon, A Soldier's Play
Kenny Leon, A Soldier's Play
winner
Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun
winner
Kenny Leon
Kenny Leon, Fences
Kenny LeonTambourines to Glory
winner
Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun
Kenny LeonBlues in the Night
Videos
Photos & Video: Santino Fontana, Jessie Mueller & More Lead LAMB OF GOD in Largest Staging Yet
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2026-03-31 13:00:58
Photos and Video: Joyce DiDonato, Phillip Boykin and More in AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2025-12-18 16:33:42
Video: Tom Hanks Discusses the Joys of Performing Live in THIS WORLD OF TOMORROW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-11-26 10:43:11
Video: Tom Hanks, Kelli O'Hara, & Kenny Leon Talk THIS WORLD OF TOMORROW on CBS MORNINGS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-11-18 12:39:49
Video: Renée Elise Goldsberry Talks Returning to Broadway in THE BALUSTERS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-11-17 17:13:01
Video: Tom Hanks Previews New Play THIS WORLD OF TOMORROW at The Shed
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-06 11:38:37
Video: Kecia Lewis Performs 'Right Hand Man / One Last Time' From HAMILTON at MISCAST25
by Michael Major - 2025-06-13 09:37:32
Video: OTHELLO Star Denzel Washington Praises the Entertainment Community Fund
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-04-25 19:01:46
Video: Inside OTHELLO's Opening Night with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal
by Joey Mervis - 2025-03-24 15:31:54
Video: Katie Holmes Surprises Zoey Deutch on GMA with OUR TOWN Question
by Josh Sharpe - 2024-12-09 12:34:37
Video: How Beowulf Boritt Found Grover's Corners to Bring Back OUR TOWN
by Joey Mervis - 2024-10-01 11:24:53
Video: Kecia Lewis Celebrates Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
by Joey Mervis - 2024-06-16 22:37:51
Video: Get a First Look at HOME on Broadway Directed By Kenny Leon
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2024-06-07 15:58:50
News
by R. Scott Reedy - May 4, 2026
What did our critic think of GEM OF THE OCEAN at Actors' Shakespeare Project?
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 4, 2026
The 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards is set to be the largest gathering in the organization's seven-decade history — with the most Drama Desk winners and nominees, past and present, ever assembled for the ceremony.
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 29, 2026
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, The Balusters has extended for an additional two weeks and will now run through Sunday, June 7 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Watch a scene from the new play in this video!
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 29, 2026
Raúl Esparza and Helen J Shen will announce the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards nominations on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 10:00AM ET. Check out the nominees so far and check back later for teh complete list.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 28, 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of THE BALUSTERS, the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle-nominated play by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Kenny Leon, has extended its run at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 28, 2026
Tony Award-winner Anika Noni Rose is back on Broadway in The Balusters, a new play by David Lindsay-Abaire. The performer is also releasing a new children's book this September, and spoke about both projects on TODAY. Watch her interview.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 28, 2026
Trading Places, the Broadway-bound new musical based on the Paramount motion picture written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod, will have workshop presentations in New York City.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 28, 2026
Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon will join playwright Ned Van Zandt and director Amir Arison for a post-show talkback at SoHo Playhouse, exploring the creative journey from actor to director.
by - Apr 28, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 28, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Luka Vonier - Apr 27, 2026
The world premiere of The Balusters, a new play by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, officially opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Watch in this video as the whole cast and creative team celebrate the special night!
by Sidney Paterra - Apr 26, 2026
For Broadway fans, the highlight of every spring is the announcement of the Tony Award nominations—the most prestigious recognition in American theatre. But how are Tony nominees chosen, and who gets to decide? In this guide, we break down the Tony Awards nomination process and reveal how Broadway’s biggest honors are determined.
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 24, 2026
The Rocky Horror Show official is officially open on Broadway at Studio 54! You can now see photos of the film's original star Susan Sarandon, stars like Laverne Cox, and more at the opening night of the show here!
by - Apr 23, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 23, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 22, 2026
The world premiere of The Balusters, a new play by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Kenny Leon, is now open at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Check out photos of the cast taking their opening night bows here!
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 22, 2026
The critics are weighing-in on the world premiere of The Balusters, a new play by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. Read the reviews and learn more about this new comedy now at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in our review roundup!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 20, 2026
The Drama League has announced the 2026 Drama League Awards Nominees, which include Chess, Heathers, Ragtime, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Titanique, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and more. Check out the full list here!
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 16, 2026
The stars came out for opening night of The Fear of 13, including Michael Urie, Lilli Cooper, Common, Anna Wintour, and many more. Check out the photos from the red carpet here!
by - Apr 9, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 9, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 8, 2026
You can now get a first look at production photos for the world premiere of The Balusters, a new play by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Kenny Leon, now in previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
by - Apr 1, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 1, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Outstanding Direction of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Balusters, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Balusters, Outstanding Direction of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Outstanding Direction of a Play (Drama League Awards) for Topdog/Underdog, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Topdog/Underdog, 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 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), Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Fences, Outstanding Director, Resident Musical (Helen Hayes Awards) for Tambourines to Glory, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun and Outstanding Director, Resident Musical (Helen Hayes Awards) for Blues in the Night.
Kenny Leon has won several prestigious awards, including the Directing Award at the Obie Awards for Much Ado About Nothing, the Outstanding Director of a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Soldier's Play, and the Best Direction of a Play at the Tony Awards for A Raisin in the Sun. He also received the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League Awards and the Outstanding Director - Play award at the Drama Desk Awards for A Raisin in the Sun.
Videos