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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

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: WELL, I’LL LET YOU GO Celebrates Opening Night
by A.A. Cristi - May 16, 2026

Bubba Weiler’s Well, I’ll Let You Go officially opened at Studio Seaview. The stars came out for opening night, including insert and Julia Chan, Micaela Diamond, Susannah Flood, Sam Gold, Zhailon Levingston, N'yomi Allure Stewart, Bess Wohl. Check out photos of the production.
Photos: Behind the Scenes with the 2026 Tony Award Nominees for Musicals
by Jennifer Broski - May 16, 2026

Earlier this week, the Tony nominees gathered at the Sofitel New York to meet the press for the first time and BroadwayWorld was there to speak with all of them! Check out photos from behind the scenes with the nominees as they chatted with Richard Ridge and passed on our very own Tiny Tony.
Photos: Hanging with the 2026 Tony Award Nominees
by Bruce Glikas - May 15, 2026

It's Tonys season! A total of 129 Tony Award nominations went out in 26 categories for the spectacular work of Broadway artists this season. All of the nominees were celebrated yesterday as they met the press for the first time. Check out photos from inside the big day here!
2026 Drama League Awards Winners- Joshua Henry, MEXODUS, LIBERATION Win Big
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.
Photos: Meet the 2026 Tony Award Nominees
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!
Photos: Jason Weaver, Jacob Latimore, & Birgundi Baker Visit CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL
by Josh Sharpe - May 13, 2026

On Tuesday, May 12, stars Jason Weaver, Jacob Latimore, and Birgundi Baker of The Chi supported the show's creator, Lena Waithe, with a visit to CATS: The Jellicle Ball, produced by Waithe. Take a look at photos from their visit here.
Unpack the Tony Awards History of the 2026 Nominated Revivals
by Sidney Paterra - May 9, 2026

The results of the 2026 Tony races are very much still up in the air, but many of this season's nominated revivals have been Tony-tested before. How did they fare? The past may not always be the best indicator of the future, but accolades of years past provide interesting insight nonetheless. Check out a complete list of who was nominated, in what categories, and most importantly... if they won!
Sierra Boggess, Liz Callaway and More to Perform at 70th Drama Desk Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 8, 2026

The Drama Desk Awards has revealed the line-up of special performances and tributes for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards, taking place Sunday, May 17, 2026 at The Town Hall.
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES, THE VISIT and More Set for Pasadena Playhouse 2026/27 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 7, 2026

The Mainstage offerings for the 2026/2027 Season of Pasadena Playhouse has been revealed! The Mainstage Season kicks off with an all-new Pasadena Playhouse production of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s chilling classic The Visit.
Feature: Stages St. Louis Founder Jack Lane and Former Muny Associate Producer Mike Bosner Vie for the Musical Revival Tony Award
by James Lindhorst - May 5, 2026

St. Louis is at the center of one of the most hotly contested races at this year’s Tony Awards. The producing teams of Ragtime and CATS: The Jellicle Ball have ties to St. Louis, and both are nominated for Best Revival of a Musical. Stages St. Louis founder Jack Lane is a co-producer of Ragtime. Mike Bosner, a John Borroughs High School alum and former associate producer at The Muny is the lead producer on CATS: The Jellicle Ball.
2026 Tony Awards- The Nominees React
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!
2026 Tony Nominations - Show by Show
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!
2026 Tony Nominations: THE LOST BOYS and SCHMIGADOON! Lead with 12 Each
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!
Raúl Esparza, Norbert Leo Butz, Beth Leavel and More to Present at 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards
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.
André De Shields To Return For Season 7 Of LIVE FROM MOUNT OLYMPUS Podcast
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 29, 2026

Tony winner André De Shields returns as Hermes in the seventh and final season of LIVE FROM MOUNT OLYMPUS, the Onassis Foundation's Greek mythology podcast for kids, now featuring original songs in every episode.
National Black Theatre Will Present Sarah Jones, Amy Sherald Stage Adaptations in 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 28, 2026

National Black Theatre announced its spring/summer programming, including a co-commission with Oxford University featuring Tony Award-winner Sarah Jones and a theatrical reimagining of Amy Sherald's American Sublime, directed by Zhailon Levingston.
Amy Sherald, Christian Slater & More Set for Public Forum at The Delacorte
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 23, 2026

The Public Theater's revitalized Delacorte Theater will reopen this summer with PUBLIC FORUM and PUBLIC STORIES programming, featuring Amy Sherald, Michael Sandel, Anna Deavere Smith, and DC 37 union members as civic storytellers.
Photos: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Visit GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 21, 2026

Cats: The Jellicle Ball took over Good Morning America on Tuesday, with a dance performance from the cast of the ballroom-inspired Broadway revival. Check out photos below from their morning show appearance.
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Cast Performs Flashy Dance Number on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 21, 2026

Watch the cast of Cats: The Jellicle Ball perform from the reimagined new production on Good Morning America, showing off the ballroom-inspired choreography from Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles.
2026 Drama League Awards Nominations- The Full List
by Stephi Wild - Apr 20, 2026

The Drama League has announced the 2026 Drama League Awards Nominees, which include Chess, Heathers, Ragtime, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Titanique, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and more. Check out the full list here!

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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Videos


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