Theater Kid: In Conversation with Jeffrey Seller and Leslie Odom, Jr.
Trustees Theater
216 E Broughton St
Savannah, GA 31401
United States
Theater Kid: In Conversation with Jeffrey Seller and Leslie Odom, Jr.
SCAD welcomes one of the most influential figures in modern American theater, Jeffrey Seller - the only producer to have shepherded two Pulitzer Prize-winning musicals (Hamilton and Rent) to the stage - for a lively and insightful conversation about his new memoir, Theater Kid. Joining him is Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer Leslie Odom, Jr., star of Hamilton and longtime collaborator, as the two reflect on their shared journey, the evolution of Broadway, and the passion, grit, and transformative experiences that define a life in the arts. From high school auditoriums to center stage, this candid discussion charts the making of a modern theater legend and the power of storytelling to inspire a generation to chase their dreams. No "theater kid" will want to miss this riveting look inside all things Broadway.
Tickets are $30 and include a signed hardcover edition of Theater Kid. SCAD Card holders may also purchase tickets to the event for $8. Please note that the SCAD Card holder tickets do not include a copy of the book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Before he was producing the musical hits of our generation, Jeffrey was just a kid coming to terms with his adoption, trying to understand his sexuality, and determined to escape his dysfunctional household in a poor neighborhood just outside Detroit. We see him find his voice through musical theater and move to New York, where he is determined to shed his past and make a name for himself on Broadway.
But moving to the big city is never easy - especially not at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis - and Jeffrey learns to survive and thrive in the colorful and cutthroat world of commercial theatre. From his early days as an office assistant, to meeting Jonathan Larson and experiencing the triumph and tragedy of Rent, to working with Lin-Manuel Miranda on In the Heights and Hamilton, Jeffrey completely pulls back the curtain on the joyous and gut-wrenching process of making new musicals, finding new audiences, and winning a Tony Award - all the while finding himself.
Told with Jeffreys candid and captivating voice, Theater Kid is a gripping memoir about fighting through a hardscrabble childhood to make art on ones own terms, chasing a dream against many odds, and finding acceptance and community.
About Jeffrey Seller
Jeffrey Seller is one of the most successful American producers of our time. He produced the Tony Awardwinning musicals Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, and Hamilton. His shows have garnered twenty-two Tony Awards, including four for Best Musical, and his Broadway productions and tours have grossed over $4.6 billion and reached more than 43 million attendees. Jeffrey is the only producer to have mounted two Pulitzer Prizewinning musicals - Hamilton and Rent. He also revolutionized theater accessibility with the $20 ticket lottery for Rent, making theater affordable for all.
About Leslie Odom, Jr.
Leslie Odom Jr. is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Emmy- and Oscar-nominated actor, singer, and author best known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. His acclaimed career spans Broadway, film, television, and music, with recent highlights including Purlie Victorious on Broadway, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Exorcist: Believer, and his Oscar-nominated turn as Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami . Odom is also a bestselling author and has released five studio albums.
