Lileana Blain-Cruz
The Metropolitan Opera Reveals 2026–27 Season - LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, MACBETH and More (Feb 19, 2026)
Review: PURPLE RAIN at State Theatre Minneapolis (Nov 6, 2025)
Review Roundup: PURPLE RAIN Musical World Premiere in Minneapolis (Nov 6, 2025)
BIO
LCT: Pipeline; the LCT3 productions of Marys Seacole (Obie Award), War (also Yale Rep); also Resident Director. Recent projects include Dreaming Zenzile (St. Louis Rep, McCarter, upcoming at NYTW/National Black Theatre); …(Iphigenia) (MASS MoCA, Arts Emerson, Kennedy Center); Hansel and Gretel (film for Houston Grand Opera); Anatomy of a Suicide (Atlantic); Fefu and Her Friends (TFANA); Girls (Yale Rep); Faust (Opera Omaha); The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (Obie Award), Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine (Signature); Thunderbodies, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Soho Rep); The House That Will Not Stand, Red Speedo (NYTW); Henry IV, Part One, Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Bluest Eye (The Guthrie); Salome (JACK); and Hollow Roots (the Under the Radar Festival at The Public Theater). 2021 Doris Duke Artist, 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist, 2018 United States Artists Fellow. Upcoming: The Listeners (Opera Norway).
Photos
Productions
Awards and Nominations
Lileana Blain-Cruz, Dreaming Zenzile
Lileana Blain-Cruz, White Girl in Danger
winner
Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin Of Our Teeth
Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth
winner
Lileana Blain Cruz, Marys Seacole
Lileana Blain-Cruz, Pipeline
winner
Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World
Videos
Video: THE BLOOD QUILT at Lincoln Center Theater First Look
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2024-11-20 13:45:40
Video: Go Inside Rehearsals For EL NIÑO at the Metropolitan Opera
by Joshua Wright - 2024-04-12 14:42:42
Video: Director Lileana Blain-Cruz Discusses Latin American Influences in The Met's EL NIÑO
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-04-06 16:00:53
Exclusive: Listen to 'Why I Kill' From Michael R. Jackson's WHITE GIRL IN DANGER
by Stephi Wild - 2024-03-28 09:26:04
Video: Go Inside the Photo Shoot for EL NIÑO at the Metropolitan Opera
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-03-24 15:33:01
Video: The Company of WHITE GIRL IN DANGER on Living in Michael R. Jackson's World
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2023-03-06 09:33:42
Meet the 2022 Tony Nominees: THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH's Gabby Beans
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-05-25 16:30:20
Meet the 2022 Tony Nominees: THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH's Lileana Blain-Cruz
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-05-20 16:00:20
VIDEO: First Look at THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, Opening Tonight at Lincoln Center Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-04-25 12:28:43
TV: Watch Highlights from Dominique Morisseau's PIPELINE, Opening Tonight at LCT
by BroadwayWorld TV - 2017-07-10 13:13:25
VIDEO: Lucas Hnath's RED SPEEDO Features An On-Stage Swimming Pool
by Michael Dale - 2016-03-03 19:44:30
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 19, 2026
The Metropolitan Opera has revealed its 2026–27 season, featuring five new and 12 repertory productions, a special 60th-anniversary gala, and performances of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
by Jared Fessler - Nov 6, 2025
When the lights went down inside the State Theatre and the opening chords of “Let’s Go Crazy” rang out, it was clear that Purple Rain had come home. The new stage musical, based on Prince’s 1984 film, is making its world premiere in Minneapolis before heading to Broadway—and it feels like the city has wrapped its arms around it.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 6, 2025
Performances are now underway for the world premiere stage adaptation of the iconic film, PURPLE RAIN. The Broadway-aimed production is playing at Hennepin Arts’ historic State Theatre in Minneapolis. Read the reviews for Purple Rain here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 5, 2025
You can now get a first look at photos of the world premiere stage adaptation of the iconic film, PURPLE RAIN. The cast features Kris Kollins, who is making his professional stage debut in the lead role of The Kid.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 8, 2025
Due to audience demand, producer Orin Wolf and Hennepin Arts are pleased to announce that the stage adaptation of the iconic film PURPLE RAIN will rock the historic State Theatre for one additional week.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 19, 2025
The world premiere musical adaptation, PURPLE RAIN, will play at Hennepin Arts’ historic State Theatre in Minneapolis. Get a first look at the video for 'I Would Die 4 U'. Watch here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 21, 2025
The complete cast has been revealed for the world premiere stage adaptation of the iconic film, PURPLE RAIN. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 12, 2025
The cast members who will lead the pre-Broadway world premiere stage adaptation of PURPLE RAIN have been revealed. See who is starring and learn more about the world premiere production.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 9, 2025
The Assembly has announced the fifth cohort of its Deceleration Lab, supporting two new collaborative theatre projects: Black Reconstruction in America by Alle Mims and Dezi Tibbs, and 心esthesia by Tianding He, Xuanqi Liu, and Menghang Wu. Public showings to be announced.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 20, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop has revealed the individuals selected for the 2025/26 Season 2050 Administrative and Artistic Fellowships. Learn more about the artists here!
by A.A. Cristi - May 22, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop is now presenting Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole, written by Tony and Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo and NYTW Artistic Director and Usual Suspect Patricia McGregor, and directed by McGregor. Check out photos from opening night.
by Rachel Weinberg - Apr 29, 2025
Zora Howard’s BUST: AN AFROCURRENTIST PLAY opens with a mystery. In Huntsville, Alabama, Retta (Caroline Stefanie Clay) and Reggie (Ray Anthony Thomas) witness an all too familiar interaction between their friend Randy (Keith Randolph Smith) and two police officers — Tomlin (Mark Bedard) and Ramirez (Jorge Luna). But in the wake of Randy’s rage at the officers, something mysterious and surprising happens...keeping him safe from harm. It’s tough to write about the specifics of BUST because to reveal some of the play's secrets is to ruin the mystery for audiences. But Howard’s set-up essentially asks the question: What happens when Black rage is repackaged into a magical force and potentially one to keep the person experiencing it safe?
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 29, 2025
Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Zora Howard’s groundbreaking, laugh-out-loud new drama, BUST, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, opens tonight. Check out photos from the production. Check out photos and video from the production.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 29, 2025
Tickets for the pre-Broadway world premiere stage adaptation of Prince's legendary film and album, PURPLE RAIN, will go on sale on Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m..
by Emmy Rice - Mar 29, 2025
Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners will the Lyric Opera of Chicago stage beginning Sunday, March 30 for a limited run of five performances.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 19, 2025
The cast has been set for Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Zora Howard's new drama, BUST, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz. Learn more about the upcoming show here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 27, 2025
James Bundy, who has served Yale since 2002 as the fifth Elizabeth Parker Ware Dean of David Geffen School of Drama and fourth Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, will step down from these positions on June 30, 2026.
by Jennifer Skura Boutell - Feb 26, 2025
BUST, the Alliance Theatre and Goodman Theatre world-premiere co-production written by Pulitzer Prize-finalist Zora Howard is 'a revelatory and genre-defying exploration of community, conflict, and the far-reaching impacts of historical racism.' Directed by Tony Award nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz, BUST premieres on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre, February 13 – March 16, 2025, and in the Goodman’s Albert Theatre, April 19 – May 18, 2025.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 16, 2024
Northern Stage will kick off the new year with the Vermont premiere of King James by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winner Rajiv Joseph. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 12, 2024
Alliance Theatre and Goodman Theatre revealed the cast and creative team of their upcoming world-premiere co-production, BUST. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Dreaming Zenzile, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for White Girl in Danger, Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards) for The Skin Of Our Teeth, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Skin of Our Teeth, Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Marys Seacole, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Pipeline and Directing (Obie Awards) for The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.
Lileana Blain-Cruz has won the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League Awards for The Skin of Our Teeth. She also received Special Citations from the Obie Awards for Marys Seacole and won the Obie Award for Directing for The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.
Videos