Kenny Leon
Photos: Stars Walk the Red Carpet at the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards (May 18, 2026)
70th Annual Drama Desk Awards Winners - The Full List (May 17, 2026)
2026 Drama League Awards Winners- Joshua Henry, MEXODUS, LIBERATION Win Big (May 15, 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, 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
Video: Anika Noni Rose Praises Diverse Perspectives in THE BALUSTERS: 'We Are Running the Gamut'
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-28 16:07:20
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
News
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - May 18, 2026
The best of the New York City theatre community gathered at Town Hall for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards. Stars in attendance included John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Alex Brightman, Beth Leavel, Donna McKechnie, and more. Check out photos here!
by Nicole Rosky - May 17, 2026
The best of the New York City theatre community was at Town Hall for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards, the theater award honoring excellence across all of New York City’s theatrical landscape. Check out a full list of winners here.
by Nicole Rosky - May 15, 2026
The best of Broadway and off-Broadway were on hand at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to celebrate 92nd Annual Drama League Awards, hosted by Emmy Award winner Frank DiLella. Check out a full list of winners here.
by Nicole Rosky - May 15, 2026
Just yesterday, the 2026 Tony Award nominees gathered at the Sofitel New York to meet the press for the first time and BroadwayWorld was there for the special day. Check out photos of the 2026 nominees here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 13, 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of The Balusters will extend for an additional two weeks at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The production has received 16 award nominations, making it the most nominated new Broadway play of the season.
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 11, 2026
Theatrical Outfit has announced their 50th Anniversary Season with 5 mainstage productions of classics and modern works, 4 new plays, 3 special anniversary events, 2 productions with new and returning community partners and 1 brand new commission.
by A.A. Cristi - May 9, 2026
Actor's Express announced THEATRE PEOPLE, a weekly podcast series featuring conversations with Atlanta theatre artists across disciplines about their careers, artistic visions, and connection to the city's theatre community.
by Bruce Glikas - May 8, 2026
Tom Hanks recently paid a visit to two Broadway productions, Joe Turner's Come and Gone and The Balusters. The actor, who was last seen on stage in This World of Tomorrow in 2025, posed with cast members at both shows. Check out photos here!
by Bruce Glikas - May 8, 2026
Annette Bening and Ella Beatty recently paid a visit to The Balusters, which is now playing on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The pair posed with the cast backstage after the performance. Check out the photos here!
by Nicole Rosky - May 5, 2026
This year's nominees are checking in with BroadwayWorld to tell us all about how they got the news. Check back for live updates!
by Nicole Rosky - May 5, 2026
The nominations are in! Below, check out how each show fared individually in a full list of nominations by show. Follow us on BroadwayWorld throughout the day, as we'll bring you Tony nominee reactions, exclusive reports, surprises, behind the scenes coverage and oh, so much more!
by Nicole Rosky - May 5, 2026
BroadwayWorld's official Tony Awards coverage is here! Check out the 2026 Tony nominees here and follow us throughout the season for exclusive nominee interviews, special coverage and lots more!
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.
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
