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Take You Wherever You Go
From Tony Award-winning director and recipient of the prestigious Mr. Abbott Award, Kenny Leon, comes a powerful memoir of the lessons he has learned on his incredible life journey.
When Kenny Leon's grandmother told him to "take you wherever you go," she could hardly have anticipated that he would establish himself as one of Broadway's most exciting and acclaimed directors. But through years of hard work, Kenny would migrate from a small wooden house in rural Florida to the Tony Awards' stage, where he would win Best Direction of a Play for his 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun.
In Take You Wherever You Go , Leon reflects on the pillars of wisdom he learned every step of the way from the most important people in his life--from his grandmother's sagacious and encouraging motivations to the steady hand of his mother to the deep artistic and social influence of iconic American playwright August Wilson.
Take You Wherever You Go is a poignant, ruminative, and inspirational memoir that empowers you to be true to yourself as you navigate your own path.
When Kenny Leon's grandmother told him to "take you wherever you go," she could hardly have anticipated that he would establish himself as one of Broadway's most exciting and acclaimed directors. But through years of hard work, Kenny would migrate from a small wooden house in rural Florida to the Tony Awards' stage, where he would win Best Direction of a Play for his 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun.
In Take You Wherever You Go , Leon reflects on the pillars of wisdom he learned every step of the way from the most important people in his life--from his grandmother's sagacious and encouraging motivations to the steady hand of his mother to the deep artistic and social influence of iconic American playwright August Wilson.
Take You Wherever You Go is a poignant, ruminative, and inspirational memoir that empowers you to be true to yourself as you navigate your own path.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2018
18 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 12, 2018
The beginning of this was choppy. I started wondering if he had had a proper editor for his early story jumped around a lot. After we settled into Kenny's theatre life I was intrigued at his robust foray into theatre. As a avid theatre goer and current regional theatre judge I especially enjoyed his revealing time as Artistic Director of the Alliance Theatre, his Broadway shows, his relationship with August Wilson and the birth of True Colors theatre. There is a precious experience he gives about his grandmother coming to see one of his plays at the Alliance Theatre and she is speaking back to the characters on stage: "Uh uh baby, dont do that!". That had previously never happened before in theatre, one was reserved and quiet. After the intermission, more people felt free to engage as grandma did and become a part of the on stage experience. "It is an example of what happens when black sits next to white." ~Kenny Leon.
The Atlanta theatre scene is better for having been integrated and diversified by the likes of Kenny Leon, Carol Mitchell, Jasmine Guy, Pearl Cleage, August Wilson and Samuel L. Jackson. I enjoyed the stories but he probably could have benefited from a ghost writer to corral his thoughts. He's a great director but a writer he is not.
The Atlanta theatre scene is better for having been integrated and diversified by the likes of Kenny Leon, Carol Mitchell, Jasmine Guy, Pearl Cleage, August Wilson and Samuel L. Jackson. I enjoyed the stories but he probably could have benefited from a ghost writer to corral his thoughts. He's a great director but a writer he is not.
July 11, 2020
I believe in “sometimes you find a book right when you are supposed to read it”. Saw Mr. Leon in a zoom round table about recent race conflict. His spirit came through even in that medium. Looked him up to learn more which lead to his book. Reading it is like having a kitchen conversation with a new acquaintance that leaves you warm and joyful and encouraged and hopeful. Best compliment- I’m better for it.
January 13, 2019
Our friend Kenny looks so young that it's hard to reconcile that he's done so much great work for so long. He bops around in his sports shoes like he's a forty-something!
He has done some amazing things in his long and storied career. All fueled by the wisdom, prayers, love and encouragement of his Grandmother and his Mother. What a glorious relationship they shared. Kenny you have truly and beautifully honored them.
What luck or what providence that you were able to collaborate with August Wilson from the beginning. Theater goers have been greatly rewarded as a result of your work together.
Grandma Mamie's spirit flowed throughout the story. I was blown away by the scene where she is at the theater to see "Fences" and Kenny says:"Here she was, in this world she knew I would find without knowing about it herself." This is so wonderful. It says so much about her and her vision of what your life could be.
He has done some amazing things in his long and storied career. All fueled by the wisdom, prayers, love and encouragement of his Grandmother and his Mother. What a glorious relationship they shared. Kenny you have truly and beautifully honored them.
What luck or what providence that you were able to collaborate with August Wilson from the beginning. Theater goers have been greatly rewarded as a result of your work together.
Grandma Mamie's spirit flowed throughout the story. I was blown away by the scene where she is at the theater to see "Fences" and Kenny says:"Here she was, in this world she knew I would find without knowing about it herself." This is so wonderful. It says so much about her and her vision of what your life could be.
July 7, 2018
Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon's uplifting and inspirational memoir traces his success back to his Grandma Mamie (who raised 13 children) and his single mother (who gave birth to him when she was 15 years old). "I was raised by two amazing women," he writes, "and I live in the aftermath of their love, care, and wisdom." But his childhood was not idyllic. By 19, his mother had three children, so she left four-year-old Kenny with his grandmother and moved 300 miles away to start a new life with his sister and baby brother. He was reunited with them four years later.
After college, Leon dropped out of law school to follow his interest in theater--first as an actor, then a director. During his 11 years with Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, he directed the premieres of Disney's "Aida", Pearl Cleage's "Blues for an Alabama Sky" and Alfred Uhry's "The Last Night of Ballyhoo"--which all moved to Broadway. He forged a 20-year friendship with playwright August Wilson ("the most important professional influence of my career") and eloquently explains his love of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun"--which he directed twice on Broadway and once for TV. His directorial advice is equally applicable for life situations ("You must work to really understand people that are different from you. You don't learn a lot in your comfort zone.").
This motivational memoir will inspire readers to follow their dreams. And theater buffs will appreciate his astute takes on acting and directing.
Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon's inspiring and upbeat memoir offers sage advice for life and a career in the arts.
After college, Leon dropped out of law school to follow his interest in theater--first as an actor, then a director. During his 11 years with Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, he directed the premieres of Disney's "Aida", Pearl Cleage's "Blues for an Alabama Sky" and Alfred Uhry's "The Last Night of Ballyhoo"--which all moved to Broadway. He forged a 20-year friendship with playwright August Wilson ("the most important professional influence of my career") and eloquently explains his love of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun"--which he directed twice on Broadway and once for TV. His directorial advice is equally applicable for life situations ("You must work to really understand people that are different from you. You don't learn a lot in your comfort zone.").
This motivational memoir will inspire readers to follow their dreams. And theater buffs will appreciate his astute takes on acting and directing.
Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon's inspiring and upbeat memoir offers sage advice for life and a career in the arts.
June 22, 2018
Kenny Leon's memoir, Take You Wherever You Go, had a slow start, but was very interesting when he connected the early life of his family with the work of August Wilson and detailed his relationship with the esteemed playwright. Leon seems a very upbeat and positive person and his memoir was also very upbeat. I really was drawn into his explanations of how he works with actors and other collaborators. The chapter about Ariana Grande, who worked with him on Hairspray Live!, and her actions to turn the power of hate after the Manchester, England bombings into an act of love and determination, brought me to tears. He was very moving and open in expressing his pride in how she handled this horrifying situation. If you love to read about life in the theater, as I do, you will enjoy this book. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for sending me a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
December 20, 2018
Kenny Leon offers an insightful memoir and stories of acting and modern theater life. A native of Florida, he occasionally put me in mind of Andrew Gillum, who ran for and lost the 2018 governor's race, particularly in both men’s comments about the influence of a beloved grandmother.
As a northerner who has been exposed to the bruising inequality faced by black men and women in the south, I admire Mr. Leon’s courage, grace and perseverance. Some sweet day, racial prejudice must fade. It hasn’t yet.
I was happy to read how his St. Petersburg high school experience markedly changed the course of his life and how hard he worked to meet the requirements of programs offered. No one handed him anything, but he ran with his opportunities. His book contains many life lessons and interesting stories of theater greats, including the brilliant playwright August Wilson.
As a northerner who has been exposed to the bruising inequality faced by black men and women in the south, I admire Mr. Leon’s courage, grace and perseverance. Some sweet day, racial prejudice must fade. It hasn’t yet.
I was happy to read how his St. Petersburg high school experience markedly changed the course of his life and how hard he worked to meet the requirements of programs offered. No one handed him anything, but he ran with his opportunities. His book contains many life lessons and interesting stories of theater greats, including the brilliant playwright August Wilson.
June 29, 2018
His grandmother is the most important figure in his life and Kenny Leon honors her in Take You Wherever You Go. Memoirs and biographies are not 1 story but many stories of who a person is as no one's life can be confined in only one dimension. It's in 1960s Tallahassee, Florida, in Atlanta, Georgia, in Broadway and back. Reading Take You Wherever You Go will take you along in a mostly linear line with many sidesteps that can be either distracting or reinforcing the narrative, that's up to you. It's worth a read to understand a different view and life than your own.
April 30, 2020
A delightful and quick read of a fascinating and innovative man who took life lessons learned from his strong familial role models and used those lessons to project himself to the top of his profession. I am lucky enough to be on the perimeters of his success and to share some mutual friendships. Thank you Kenny for all you have done so far to advance culture in Atlanta for so many years. You are an Atlanta icon!
October 10, 2018
I lived in Atlanta when Kenny Leon worked for the Alliance Theatre. The Alliance was a wonderful community theatre and I loved Kenny's energy. I was attracted to this book because I wanted to know more about him. I enjoyed reading take You Wherever You Go. You can feel Kenny's positive energy and enthusiasm in his writing. It helped me appreciate his talent even more.
October 22, 2018
Memoirs are a black, ugly, velvet things,
the memoir is a transparent ode to self,
audacious is the conceit, which allows an author,
to have printed, the utter dizzying, dragging minutiae,
of a life lived grasping for metaphors.
Memory sanitized is self-history perverted.
Chris Roberts, God in Real Time
the memoir is a transparent ode to self,
audacious is the conceit, which allows an author,
to have printed, the utter dizzying, dragging minutiae,
of a life lived grasping for metaphors.
Memory sanitized is self-history perverted.
Chris Roberts, God in Real Time
December 16, 2020
An inspirational read for theater makers
I’d heard of this book a few years ago, and in seeking professional theater advice, finally got to read it. As someone who aspires to a similar goal as Mr. Leon—diversifying and changing the entertainment and theater worlds—it was a wonderfully inspiring read.
I’d heard of this book a few years ago, and in seeking professional theater advice, finally got to read it. As someone who aspires to a similar goal as Mr. Leon—diversifying and changing the entertainment and theater worlds—it was a wonderfully inspiring read.
April 7, 2019
It's bits and pieces from Leon's upbringing, how he made his career in theater and other personal experiences. It's a light and easy read and good for fans of Leon's who would like to know more about him.
March 30, 2020
I loved this book. I am a young theater director and Kenny Leon has always been inspiration to me through his work. Reading his story and life experiences has made me want to work even harder. I encourage anyone who wants a career in theater to read this one.
August 14, 2018
Always stay true to yourself. That is the take away from this book.
September 19, 2018
3.5. A few good insights, an interesting career and family history, but not enough theatre how to for me.
January 27, 2019
I loved the journey of this book. It’s an honest, authentic look at Kenny Leon’s life path and enjoyed it so very much.
December 21, 2020
Great motivatational read from a pioneering theatre great.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews