“You can do whatever you want to do. The only limits are the ones you set yourself. You have all you need in you right now.”
When Atlanta theater impresario 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 I was first named artistic director, I got some beautiful letters of support, from all kinds of people. It was a great feeling.
I also received this one:
When we come to the theater, we come to support our own kind. Not some uppity coon.
It concluded with a death threat.
Carol and I were a bit nervous at first. But then we both quickly came up with the same reaction.
“This is just weakness, cowardice. A weak person hiding behind a letter.”
“Right. And all we’re doing is running a theater,” said Carol. “You’re not Dr. King. Can you imagine what his life was like?”
We laughed it off together. This was before social media so the impact was less striking. Still, it reminded me that our plans for the theater would meet resistance.
Samuel L. Jackson and Kenny Leon met while they were undergrads at Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University.
We focused on the positive and the support. At that time, there was nothing I would do that I wouldn’t talk to Sam Jackson about. He was kind of the reason I was doing theater. When I told him about the offer, he said, “Oh, my brother! Go and kill it, man! You can do it!” And when I told him about the hateful letter, he said, “Fuck that. Go run your theater. Many more people want you in that job than don’t. Do your thing.”
On Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Carter Center, Kenny Leon discusses his new memoir with Lois Reitzes of WABE Radio. An audience Q&A and book signing will follow.
This is a ticketed event. Tickets include a signed copy of Take You Wherever You Go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNTmcVt4BSM
A Cappella Books if the official bookseller for this event.
Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the co-founder of AtlantaFi.com and as an unofficial ambassador of the city, she's a lover of all things Atlanta. She writes about Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care (Wigs!) and Money.