Beloved (and Tony-winning) director Kenny Leon was honored with a Sardi's caricature September 28.
Leon was joined by the stars of his current Broadway play, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through The Cotton Patch, with leading lady Kara Young reading a special statement from the unable-to-attend Audra McDonald, and speeches given by Suzan-Lori Parks and Leslie Odom Jr.
Ossie Davis' Purlie Victorious has returned to Broadway for its first-ever revival at The Music Box Theatre with Leon at the helm, officially opening September 27 after beginning previews September 7.
The work follows a traveling preacher, Purlie, who returns to his Georgia hometown to save the local church and the cotton pickers working on Ol' Cap'n Cotchiepee's plantation. Davis both wrote and starred in the 1961 original Broadway production, appearing alongside his wife, Ruby Dee. Davis and Dee would go on to reprise their performances in a 1963 film adaptation titled Gone Are the Days!
Check out photos from Leon's special evening below:
Suzan-Lori Parks
Kara Young
Leslie Odom, Jr.
Kenny Leon and Max Klimavicius
Kenny Leon
Kenny Leon
Kenny Leon and Max Klimavicius
Kenny Leon
Samuel L. Jackson and Kenny Leon
Samuel L. Jackson, Kenny Leon, and Leslie Odom, Jr.
Samuel L. Jackson, Kenny Leon, and Leslie Odom, Jr.
Willa Bost and Kenny Leon
Derek McLane and Kenny Leon
Kenny Leon and members of Shubert Theatre security
Irene Gandy, Kenny Leon, and Joe Machota
Irene Gandy, Jonathan McCrory, Derek McLane, Kenny Leon, Suzan-Lori Parks, Sade Lythcott, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeffrey Richards, and company of Purlie Victorious
Kenny Leon and Purlie Victorious cast and creative team
Kenny Leon and Suzan-Lori Parks
Kenny Leon and Neil Meron
Kenny Leon and Kara Young
Kenny Leon and Jeffery Richards
Heather Alicia Simms and Kenny Leon
