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Zhailon Levingston

BIO

Zhailon Levingston is a Louisiana-raised storyteller, director, and activist. He is a Board Member for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, which he co-created, and teaches the Theatre of Change course at Columbia University.


He is a Music Mentor Fellow and has done work with Idina Menzel’s A Broader Way Foundation. His directing credits include: Neptune (Dixon Place, Brooklyn Museum), The Years That Went Wrong (Lark, MCC), The Exonerated (Columbia Law School), Chariot Part 2 (Soho Rep., for The Movement Theatre Company), Mother of Pearl (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center). He is the associate director of Primer for a Failed Superpower with Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, and Runaways at The Public Theater with Sam Pinkleton. Most recently, he directed Chicken & Biscuits which premiered on Broadway in 2021 and Patience which premiered at Second Stage UPTOWN Summer of 2022. Zhailon is also the former resident director at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway and the associate director of Hadestown in South Korea.

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Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
Concert Presentation, 2017
Performer

Productions

 
[Broadway, 2026]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2025]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2024]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2022]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2021] [Replacement]
Director[Replacement]
 
[Off-Broadway, 2020]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Community Engagement Team.

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2026 - OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Zhailon Levingston , Cats: The Jellicle Ball


winner
Tony Awards - 2026 - Best Direction of a Musical

Zhailon Levingston, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Drama Desk Awards - 2025 - Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Zhailon Levingston, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Drama League Awards - 2025 - OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Zhailon Levingston, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2025 - Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Zhailon Levingston, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Videos

News


Photos: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Celebrates Tony Triumph at CATSQUERADE After-Party
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 8, 2026

Cats: The Jellicle Ball celebrated its three Tony Award wins with a special CATSQUERADE watch party and after-party at Masquerade. Guests included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Raúl Esparza, Chris Colfer, Law Roach, and the show's Tony-winning creative team. Check out photos of the event!
Tony Awards Fashion: Stars Serve Glamour, Glitter and More on Broadway's Biggest Night
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 9, 2026

The category is: Tony Awards Eleganza. Broadway legends, rising stars, Hollywood favorites, and fashion icons all came ready to walk at this year's ceremony. Rachel Zegler, Cole Escola, Queen Latifah, Darren Criss, Jordan Roth, Bernadette Peters, and dozens more brought glamour, confidence, and undeniable star power to the red carpet.
Premios TONY 2026: SCHMIGADOON! conquista Broadway en una noche de homenajes y emoción
by Emilia Ruiz de Somocurcio - Jun 8, 2026

La ceremonia de este 7 de junio concluye con un empate entre LOST BOYS, RAGTIME y SCHIGADOON! con cuatro premios cada uno
Video: Qween Jean Reacts to Tony Win - 'It's a Tremendous Blessing'
by Talking Tonys - Jun 7, 2026

At the Tony Awards, Qween Jean took home the award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for CATS: The Jellicle Ball. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!
Video: Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch on Their Tony Win- 'People Coming Together is the Only Path Forward'
by Talking Tonys - Jun 7, 2026

Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch took home the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for CATS: The Jellicle Ball. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, they checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge.
Video: Tony Winners Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons Are Ready for the Next Job
by Talking Tonys - Jun 7, 2026

Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons took home the Tony Award for Best Choreography. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, they checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share their initial reaction!
Photos: Andrew Lloyd Webber and CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Celebrated at PAC NYC Benefit
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 5, 2026

On June 3, the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) hosted a special benefit celebration honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber and the acclaimed production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Check out photos from the event.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld June 8, 2026- 79th Annual Tony Awards Roundup!
by - Jun 8, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 8, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the Tony Awards fun you may have missed while watching the show!
Photos: Backstage with the 2026 Tony Awards Winners
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 7, 2026

Yesterday they were just nominees, but now... they're winners! BroadwayWorld is backstage at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards and we've got photos of all the evening's winners.
Photos: 2026 Tony Awards- Stars Walk the Red Carpet
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 7, 2026

The stars are aligning at Rockefeller Center! That's where the best of Broadway comes together today to walk the red carpet ahead of the 79th Annual Tony Awards- the biggest celebration in the American theatre. BroadwayWorld of course will be on hand at Radio City Music Hall all night to keep you up to speed on what's going on onstage, backstage, and behind the scenes!
2026 Tony Awards Guide - How to Watch, Who is Nominated & More
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026

Something's coming! The best of Broadway will take the stage Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk. Need a refresher on how to watch and when? We've got you covered!
Two UK Premieres And More Set for Kiln Theatre 2026-2027 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 2, 2026

Kiln Theatre announced its upcoming season, featuring the UK premieres of TABLE 17 and BERLIN, a new production of NINE NIGHT directed by Artistic Director Amit Sharma, and a community production with 80 cast members.
SCHMIGADOON!, LIBERATION and More Win 2026 Tony Awards - The Full List
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026

The best of Broadway takes the stage tonight at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk. Stay tuned all night ling for updates from inside the ceremony.
Recap the 2026 Tony Awards Acceptance Speeches
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026

The 79th Annual Tony Awards have come and gone! As winners took the stage at the big event, BroadwayWorld brought you full text of all of the acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the humorous, and everything in between.
Video: Meet the Tony-Nominated Directors of 2026
by Luka Vonier - Jun 2, 2026

Watch in this video as we chat with: Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)), Whitney White (Liberation), Lear deBessonet (Ragtime), Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch (Cats: The Jellicle Ball), and Christopher Gattelli (Schmigadoon!).
Final Chance to Vote for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards
by Team BWW - Jun 2, 2026

This is the final chance to vote for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards. The Theater Fans' Choice Awards honor and celebrate the best of New York Theater - as decided by the most important critics, the audience at large - allowing YOU to have your say during the most exciting time of the year for the theater community.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld June 2, 2026- Meet Tony Nominees Ali Louis Bourzgui and Betsy Aidem and More
by - Jun 2, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 2, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Photos: Men of Broadway Celebrate LIBERATION at Cocktail Party
by Stephi Wild - Jun 1, 2026

Ryan J. Haddad, Zhailon Levingston, Michael Mayer, Sam Pinkleton, Stark Sands, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson hosted the “Men of Broadway Celebrate Liberation” cocktail party, which was held at Dear Irving. Check out photos here!
Photos: Andrew Lloyd Webber Makes Guest DJ Appearance at CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 1, 2026

DJ WEBZ aka Andrew Lloyd Webber made a guest appearance in the DJ booth alongside original CATS star Ken Ard, who portrays DJ Griddlebone in the production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Check out photos here!
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Welcomes Andrew Lloyd Webber To the DJ Booth
by A.A. Cristi - May 29, 2026

A special guest took to the DJ booth at CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL on Broadway this week as composer Andrew Lloyd Webber made a surprise appearance at the Broadhurst Theatre. Watch the video!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Zhailon Levingston been nominated for?

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (Drama League Awards) for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (Drama League Awards) for Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Cats: The Jellicle Ball.

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