Thomas Kail

Biography

Thomas Kail is an American theatre and television director and producer, widely celebrated for his groundbreaking work in contemporary musical theatre, most notably for the Broadway sensations In the Heights and Hamilton. Born on January 20, 1977, in Alexandria, Virginia, Kail has become a dominant force in the entertainment industry, earning numerous accolades for his innovative vision.

Early Life and Education: Kail grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in 1995. He then attended Wesleyan University, graduating in 1999. During his time at Wesleyan, he developed a strong interest in theatre. He is also a co-creator, along with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Veneziale, of the freestyle hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme.

Career Highlights:

Thomas Kail's career is marked by a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful productions.

Broadway and Off-Broadway Dominance: Kail rose to prominence through his collaborations with Lin-Manuel Miranda. He directed the Off-Broadway and then Broadway productions of Miranda's first major musical, In the Heights. His work on In the Heights earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Musical in 2008.

However, it was his direction of Hamilton that cemented his status as a theatrical powerhouse. He directed both the Off-Broadway premiere at The Public Theater and the subsequent Broadway transfer of Hamilton. His direction of Hamilton earned him the 2016 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, and the show went on to win 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Other notable Broadway directing credits include Lombardi (2010), Magic/Bird (2012), and Freestyle Love Supreme (2019). He has also directed numerous Off-Broadway shows such as Broke-ology (2009) and When I Come to Die (2011). In 2023, he won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Television and Producing Work: Beyond the stage, Kail has also made a significant impact in television. He directed and co-executive produced the live television musical Grease: Live for Fox in 2016, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards. He also directed and executive produced the acclaimed FX limited series Fosse/Verdon (2019), receiving two Primetime Emmy nominations for his work on the series. He also directed the filmed version of Hamilton for Disney+, released in 2020, which garnered him another Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded).

Kail has also set up his own production company, Old 320 Sycamore, focusing on developing television projects.

Awards and Recognition: Kail's exceptional directorial talent has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Tony Award, multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and the Lucille Lortel Award. In 2018, he was honored with a Kennedy Center Honor, alongside his Hamilton collaborators.