| Thomas Kail | |
|---|---|
| Born | Birth date missing Alexandria, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film and theatre director |
| Awards | SSDC Joseph A. Callaway Award (for In the Heights) |
Thomas Kail (born in Alexandria, Virginia) is an American film and theatre director, known for directing the Broadway and Off-Broadway productions of the musical In the Heights.[1]
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Kail grew up in Alexandria, Virginia[2] and graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999.[3][4] He remains good friends with Lin-Manuel Miranda, whom he met at Wesleyan and with whom he co-created the freestyle hip-hop dance group "Freestyle Love Supreme".[5][6]
After graduating from Wesleyan University, Kail became assistant stage manager at New Jersey's American Stage Company.[7]
Kail directed the 24 Hour Plays benefit performances in 2007 and 2008, where "6 short plays are written, rehearsed, directed, and performed in 24 hours."[8] In 2007, he directed Julia Jordan's A Bus Stop Play, and Beau Willimon's Zusammenbruch in 2008. Both shows played at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway.[9]
Kail directed the hit Broadway musical In the Heights, which garnered him a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Musical.[10] The musical premiered on Broadway, starting in previews on February 14, 2008, with an official opening on March 9, 2008 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.[11]
Kail directed Broke-ology, which played from October 5, 2009 to November 22, 2009, at the Lincoln Center Theatre off-Broadway. This play garnered Kail an AUDELCO Award nomination for Best Director of a Dramatic Production.[12] Kail also staged the world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.[13]
Also in 2009, Kail directed the New York City Center's Encores! production of the musical The Wiz.[14][15][16]
Kail also directed Eric Simonson's play Lombardi, based on Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi through a week in the 1965 season, as he attempts to lead his team to the championship.[17][18][19] Lombardi officially premiered on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre on October 21, 2010.[20]
He then directed the off-Broadway run of Nathan Louis Jackson's When I Come To Die, which ran in January and February 2011.[21][13]
With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kail wrote the closing rap for the 65th Tony Awards telecast on June 12, 2011, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.[22]
Kail will reunite with Lombardi playwright Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new play chronicling the intertwined life stories of basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin"Magic" Johnson. "The play, with a six-character cast, will premiere at a Broadway theatre TBA in Spring 2012."[23]
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Episode of PBS' Great Performances | |
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Talk show episode |
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Nominated |