Video: The AMDA Effect- Zhailon Levingston Talks Arts Advocacy, Advice for AMDA Students & More

Blog: Zhailon Levingston (AMDA Graduate)

In 2021, AMDA graduate Zhailon Levingston became the youngest Black director in Broadway history, and he has some advice to share. “Stay nerdy. Stay curious. Stay weird. Don’t try to be cool EVER, because the thing that got you to this point is the thing that’s gonna take you to the next point.” He believes taking advantage of opportunities at AMDA and keeping yourself open to an institution that asks you to work hard and helps you fulfill your potential can only help lead you to personal success. It was at AMDA where he learned he didn’t need to stay restricted to one label. He could be a director, a performer, a writer, a storyteller and an activist.

Watch and learn more about Words on White, Zhailon Levingston’s arts advocacy program, his time at AMDA and how it all led to directing productions of Hadestown, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and Chicken and Biscuits.

AMDA College of the Performing Arts is committed to providing an unsurpassed performing arts education to a diverse community of creative artists. AMDA serves as both school and stage, where students are given the support and opportunity to define their own personal objectives and to develop and refine their own distinctive artistic voices. Visit amda.edu to learn more!