Kenny Leon
Photos: Michael Urie, Lilli Cooper, and More Attend THE FEAR OF 13 Opening Night (Apr 16, 2026)
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 9, 2026- DEATH OF A SALESMAN Opens On Broadway and More (Apr 9, 2026)
Photos: Anika Noni Rose, Richard Thomas and More in THE BALUSTERS (Apr 8, 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
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Productions
Awards and Nominations
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 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.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 31, 2026
Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God, the dramatic concert work, had its one-night-only Metropolitan Opera House debut last evening in its largest staging to date. See photos and video of the concert's debut at the Met!
by Stephi Wild - Mar 31, 2026
Performances are now underway for Manhattan Theatre Club's 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. Meet the cast of The Balusters here!
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 27, 2026
Keen Company has announced the lineup for MIXTAPE: VOLUME 3, curated by Ato Blankson-Wood. The one-night-only performance will take place Monday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.
by Jennifer Broski - Mar 27, 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club will soon present 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. Check out photos of the new Broadway marquee here.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 27, 2026
Meet the full Titanique Broadway cast! Jim Parsons, Melissa Barrera, Deborah Cox & more bring this Céline Dion-powered musical comedy to the St. James Theatre.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 25, 2026
Michael Longoria, star of Jersey Boys on Broadway, is releasing Catch A Wave, a new album celebrating the songs of The Beach Boys. Check out an exclusive first listen to Longoria's rendition of the classic song 'Good Vibrations.'
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club has released rehearsal photos for The Balusters, a new play by David Lindsay-Abaire. Directed by Kenny Leon, the production will begin previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The cast includes Marylouise Burke and Anika Noni Rose.
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 24, 2026
Rehearsals are officially underway for Manhattan Theatre Club's 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. Check out photos of the cast in rehearsals here.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 19, 2026
Performances are now underway for Lindsey Ferrentino’s new play, The Fear of 13, starring two-time Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and Golden Globe Award nominee Tessa Thompson. Meet the cast here!
by Stephi Wild - Mar 18, 2026
Westport Country Playhouse has announced that registration is now underway for its children's education program, Playhouse Playmakers, on Saturdays, April 11 through May 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 18, 2026
Performances are now underway for CATS: The Jellicle Ball, which begins preview performances Wednesday, March 18 at the Broadhurst Theatre ahead of a Wednesday, April 7 opening night. Meet the cast here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 11, 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club's 2026 Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street will honor the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and be hosted by Amber Ruffin. The funds raised will help MTC continue to develop and produce the highest quality of new work.
by Jennifer Broski - Mar 10, 2026
Roundabout Theatre Company hosted its 2026 Gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, honoring Emmy Award-winner Jean Smart. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos below!
by Stephi Wild - Mar 5, 2026
Ma-Yi Theater Company and The Public Theater have announced a one-week extension for the world premiere of JESA, written by Jeena Yi in her playwriting debut.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 4, 2026
xSteppenwolf Theatre Company has unveiled its 2026/27 Season. The 51st Season features five Steppenwolf Membership Series productions: two world premieres, a Chicago premiere, an English-Language premiere and a modern masterpiece.
by Jennifer Broski - Mar 3, 2026
New York Theatre Workshop's 2026 Gala was held on Monday March 2 at 6PM at Gotham Hall, honoring Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo, Tony Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, and NAACP Image Award nominee Nicole Ari Parker. Check out photos here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 a Directing Award from the Obie Awards for Much Ado About Nothing. He received the Outstanding Director of a Play award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Soldier's Play. Additionally, he won the Best Direction of a Play at the Tony Awards for A Raisin in the Sun. Leon was also honored with the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League Awards and the Outstanding Director - Play award from the Drama Desk Awards, both for A Raisin in the Sun.
Videos