Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon is stepping into a new role: author.
His new book, titled Direction: Making the Most of the Performance of Your Life, will be published this winter by Regalo Press.
Leon is known for directing big Broadway shows like “Our Town,” “Top Dog/Underdog,” and “A Raisin in the Sun.” In his new book, he shares 20 life lessons he’s learned over his career, focused on purpose, courage, and connecting with others.
The book tells the story of Leon’s life, starting with how he was raised by his mother and grandmother in Florida. He once left law school to become an actor before finding his true path as a director. He went on to lead Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre and helped start programs like the August Wilson Monologue Competition.
In the book, Leon also talks about working with well-known artists like Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson, along with people who influenced him personally, especially his grandmother. Tom Hanks wrote the foreword for the book.
Leon also said the lessons in the book come from what he’s learned by simply being in a rehearsal room, things like listening well, telling the truth, and making sure everyone feels seen.
“A rehearsal room can teach you everything you need to know about life: listen closely, tell the truth, take the risk, do the work and make space for everyone to be seen,” Leon says in a statement shared with People. “Direction is my way of passing along the lessons that carried me from my grandmother’s porch in Florida to Broadway.”
“We all have a role to play in shaping what comes next, and I hope this book encourages readers to step fully into theirs,” Leon added.
Leon was recently chosen to lead the board of the American Theatre Wing. He also wrote another book back in 2018 called Take You Wherever You Go.
The new book comes out December 1.
About The Author
