Thomas Kail
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:50:04 AM Wikipedia source
Thomas Kail (born January 20, 1977) is an American theatre director, television director, and producer. He is known for directing the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, garnering the 2016 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for the latter. Kail was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2018. He has also directed the television series Fosse/Verdon (2019), for which he was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Infobox
Born
(1977-01-20) January 20, 1977 (age 48)Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Occupations
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Years active
2005–present
Spouse
mw- Michelle Williams (m. 2020)
Children
3
Tables
· Filmography › Film
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
| 2016 | Grease Live! | Yes | Co-executive | TV film |
| 2020 | We Are Freestyle Love Supreme | No | Yes | |
| 2020 | Hamilton | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | World's Best | No | Yes | |
| 2026 | Moana | Yes | Executive | Post-production |
· Filmography › Television
2006
Critical Hours
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
2010
The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
| Year | Title | Director | ExecutiveProducer | Writer | Notes |
| 2006 | Critical Hours | Yes | Yes | Yes | TV pilot |
| 2009 | Storymakers | Yes | No | No | |
| The Electric Company | Yes | No | No | Musical director | |
| 2010 | The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special | Yes | No | No | |
| 2012 | 2 Broke Girls | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The Jack and Triumph Show | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Fosse/Verdon | Yes | Yes | No | 5 episodes |
| 2023 | Up Here | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | We Were the Lucky Ones | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes |
· Filmography › As himself
2009
In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams
Role(s)
Episode of PBS' Great Performances
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2008 | Roadtrip Nation | TV episode |
| 2009 | In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams | Episode of PBS' Great Performances |
· Filmography › Theater › Director
2007
37 Arts Theater
Role(s)
Off-Broadway
The 24 Hour Plays
Role(s)
American Airlines Theatre
Notes
Broadway
2008
In the Heights
Role(s)
Richard Rodgers Theatre
2009
Broke-ology
Role(s)
Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre
Notes
Off-Broadway
In the Heights
Role(s)
Various
Notes
US Tour
2011
When I Come to Die
Role(s)
Duke on 42nd Street
Notes
Off-Broadway
In the Heights
Role(s)
Various
Notes
US Tour
2016
Dry Powder
Daphne's Dive
Role(s)
Signature Center
2016–present
Role(s)
Hamilton
Notes
Richard Rodgers Theatre
Various
Role(s)
US Tour
2017–present
Role(s)
Hamilton
Notes
Victoria Palace Theatre
2018
Kings
Role(s)
The Public Theater
Notes
Off-Broadway
2019–2020
Role(s)
Freestyle Love Supreme (Also producer)
Notes
Greenwich House Theatre
2019
Derren Brown: Secret
Role(s)
Cort Theatre
Notes
Broadway
Freestyle Love Supreme
Role(s)
Booth Theatre
The Wrong Man
Role(s)
Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space
Notes
Off-Broadway
| Year | Title | Venue | Notes |
| 2005 | In the Heights | Eugene O'Neill Theater Center | Regional |
| 2007 | 37 Arts Theater | Off-Broadway | |
| The 24 Hour Plays | American Airlines Theatre | Broadway | |
| 2008 | In the Heights | Richard Rodgers Theatre | |
| 2009 | Broke-ology | Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre | Off-Broadway |
| In the Heights | Various | US Tour | |
| 2010 | Lombardi | Circle in the Square | Broadway |
| 2011 | When I Come to Die | Duke on 42nd Street | Off-Broadway |
| In the Heights | Various | US Tour | |
| 2012 | Magic/Bird | Longacre Theatre | Broadway |
| 2015 | Hamilton | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| 2016 | Dry Powder | ||
| Daphne's Dive | Signature Center | ||
| 2016–present | Hamilton | Richard Rodgers Theatre | Broadway |
| Various | US Tour | ||
| 2016 | Tiny Beautiful Things | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| 2017–present | Hamilton | Victoria Palace Theatre | West End |
| 2018 | Kings | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| 2019–2020 | Freestyle Love Supreme (Also producer) | Greenwich House Theatre | |
| 2019 | Derren Brown: Secret | Cort Theatre | Broadway |
| Freestyle Love Supreme | Booth Theatre | ||
| The Wrong Man | Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space | Off-Broadway | |
| 2023 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | Broadway |
| 2025 | Anna Christie | St. Ann's Warehouse | Off-Broadway |
· Filmography › Theater › Performer
2014
Faust: The Concert
Role(s)
City Center
| Year | Title | Venue |
| 2014 | Faust: The Concert | City Center |
· Accolades
2007
SDC Joseph A. Callaway Award
Role(s)
Best Director
Notes
Won
2011
NAACP Award
Role(s)
Best Director of a Musical
Notes
In the Heights
AUDELCO Award
Role(s)
Best Director of a Dramatic Production
Notes
When I Come To Die
2014
Drama Desk Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Director of a Play
Notes
Family Furniture
2015
Outer Critics Circle Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Notes
Nominated
Drama Desk Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Notes
Won
2016
Tony Award
Role(s)
Best Direction of a Musical
Notes
Won
Role(s)
Won
2018
2019
Primetime Emmy Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Limited Series
Notes
Fosse/Verdon
Role(s)
Fosse/Verdon(Episode: "Who's Got the Pain?")
Notes
Nominated
2020
Role(s)
Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film
Notes
Fosse/Verdon(Episode: "Nowadays")
Drama Desk Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Notes
The Wrong Man
2021
Directors Guild of America Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film
Notes
Hamilton
Primetime Emmy Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Notes
Won
Role(s)
Nominated
2023
Drama Desk Award
Role(s)
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Notes
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 2007 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | In the Heights | Nominated | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Nominated | |||
| SDC Joseph A. Callaway Award | Best Director | Won | |||
| 2008 | Tony Award | Best Director of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | AUDELCO Award | Best Director of a Dramatic Production | Broke-ology | Nominated | |
| 2011 | NAACP Award | Best Director of a Musical | In the Heights | Won | |
| AUDELCO Award | Best Director of a Dramatic Production | When I Come To Die | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Play | Family Furniture | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Director | Hamilton | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Won | |||
| 2016 | Tony Award | Best Direction of a Musical | Won | ||
| Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Special Class Program | Grease: Live | Won | ||
| Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Director | Hamilton | Nominated | |
| Kennedy Center Honors (shared with Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire and Lin-Manuel Miranda) | Honoree | ||||
| 2019 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Limited Series | Fosse/Verdon | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special | Fosse/Verdon(Episode: "Who's Got the Pain?") | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Grammy Awards | Best Music Film | We Are Freestyle Love Supreme | Nominated | |
| Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film | Fosse/Verdon(Episode: "Nowadays") | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | The Wrong Man | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film | Hamilton | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) | Won | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Nominated | ||||
| 2023 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Won | |
References
- “Thomas Kail”, Internet Broadway Database.http://www.ivdb.com/Broadway-cast-staff/thomas-jail-459890
- Bacalzo, Daniel. "In the Heights Director Thomas Kail Receives Martin E. Segal Award". Theatre Mania. May 10, 2010.https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/03-2008/in-the-heights-director-thomas-kail-receives-marti_13247.html
- "Thomas Kail" Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Lincoln Center Theater. July 31, 2009.http://www.lct.org/showBlog.htm?id=188&blogEntryId=133
- American Theatre Wing. "Biographies – Thomas Kail, Director" Archived May 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, June 2009.http://americantheatrewing.org/biography/detail/thomas_kail
- "Video: Thomas Kail '99 on directing Lombardi: A New American Play - Voices of Wesleyan - Wesleyan University"https://web.archive.org/web/20110521041142/http://www.wesleyan.edu/newsrel/media/voices/kail2.html
- "Playbill's Who's Who Biographies" Archived December 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machinehttp://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/16919
- Hetrick, Adam. "In the Heights Lin-Manuel Miranda Sets Freestyle Love Supreme Date at Irving Plaza" Archived January 8,http://www.playbill.com/news/article/146378-In-the-Heights-Lin-Manuel-Miranda-Sets-Freestyle-Love-Supreme-Date-at-Irving-Plaza
- "Hamilton Highlights Jewish Talent — Detroit Jewish News"https://thejewishnews.com/2019/02/27/hamilton-highlights-jewish-talent/
- "Thomas Kail" broadway.comhttp://www.broadway.com/buzz/6637/thomas-kail/
- The Broadway League. 24 Hour Plays (2007) | IBDB: The Official Source for Broadway Information. Internet Broadway Databahttp://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=471109
- The Broadway League. 24 Hour Plays (2008) | IBDB: The Official Source for Broadway Information. Internet Broadway Databahttp://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=484751
- Kennedy, Mark. "Thomas Kail Enjoying His 'Year of Transition'". ABC News. December 10, 2010.https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12362338
- Kenneth Jones. "In the Heights Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Starting February 2008" Archived September 30, 2007,http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109835.html
- Brokeology. Lortel Archives/Internet Off-Broadway Database.http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=5345
- Hetrick, Adam. Tony Nominee Kail and Jackson Will Collaborate for Upcoming LCT3 Season Archived June 16, 2010, at the Wahttp://www.playbill.com/news/article/140400-Tony-Nominee-Kail-and-Jackson-Will-Collaborate-for-Upcoming-LCT3-Season
- "Thomas Kail to Direct The Wiz for New York City Center" TheaterMania. February 24, 2009.https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/02-2009/thomas-kail-to-direct-the-wiz-for-new-york-city-ce_17742.html
- NY City Center's The Wiz listinghttp://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionnew.aspx?performancenumber=4343
- Gans, Andrew. "The Wiz Ends Limited City Center Engagement July 5", playbill.com, July 5, 2009.https://archive.today/20130105003713/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130810
- Lombardihttps://web.archive.org/web/20100824184135/http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/n-f-l-gets-behind-lombardi/
- Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth. "Heights Director Kail to Direct Football-Themed Lombardi at Broadway's Circle in the Shttp://www.playbill.com/news/article/138736-Heights-Kail-to-Direct-Football-Themed-Lombardi-at-Broadways-Circle-in-the-Square
- Lombardihttp://berkshireonstage.com/2010/05/18/713/
- Lombardihttp://ibdb.com/production.php?id=487855
- When I Come To Die. Lortel Archives/Internet Off-Broadway Database.http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=5620
- "Magic/Bird Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed September 26, 2015.http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/13868/Magic-Bird
- "Thomas Kail Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed September 25, 2015.http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/19902/Thomas-Kail
- "Grease:Live, About the Show" fox.com. Accessed February 2, 2016.http://www.fox.com/grease-live/article/about-the-show-1
- "The Verdict: What Do Critics Think of Dry Powder?" by Olivia Clement, Playbill, March 23, 2016.http://www.playbill.com/article/the-verdict-what-do-critics-think-of-dry-powder
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/moana-live-action-remake-director-thomas-kail-1235502170/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2020/05/fiddler-on-the-roof-mgm-movie-hamilton-director-thomas-kail-steven-levenson-dan-jinks-aaron-harnick-1202945586/
- Kvellerhttps://www.kveller.com/hulus-we-were-the-lucky-ones-director-thomas-kail-says-fiddler-inspires-all-his-work/
- "'We Are Freestyle Love Supreme' Is An Accidental 'Hamilton' Cast Origin Story"https://www.npr.org/2020/07/18/892548627/we-are-freestyle-love-supreme-is-an-accidental-hamilton-cast-origin-story
- "We Are Freestyle Love Supreme"https://www.sundance.org/projects/we-are-freestyle-love-supreme
- Broadway.comhttps://www.broadway.com/shows/heartbreak-house/photos/a-grand-opening-for-the-roundabouts-heartbreak-house/53530/photo-op-heartbreak-house-opening-night-thomas-kail-angela-christian
- BroadwayWorldhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2016-Tony-Awards-HeShe-Said-What-Relive-the-Acceptance-Speeches-Updating-LIVE-20160612
- UPIhttps://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/8e3892b422c914f220181dcdbb1ca87a/Hamilton-director-Thomas-Kail-arrives-for-Kennedy-Center-Honors-Gala-in-Washington-DC/
- People Magazinehttps://people.com/movies/michelle-williams-pregnant-engaged-thomas-kail/
- Harper's Bazaarhttps://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/celebrity/michelle-williams-gives-birth-20406
- Entertainment Tonighthttps://www.etonline.com/michelle-williams-gives-birth-to-baby-no-3-193650
- https://people.com/all-about-michelle-williams-kids-8406766https://people.com/all-about-michelle-williams-kids-8406766
- "Michelle Williams, who plays Steven Spielberg's mother in 'The Fabelmans,' says she plans to raise her children Jewish"https://www.jta.org/2022/11/25/culture/michelle-williams-who-plays-steven-spielbergs-mother-in-the-fabelmans-says-she-plans-to-raise-her-children-jewish
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2022/film/news/michelle-williams-pregnant-third-child-thomas-kail-1235262246/
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/person/thomas-kail-vault-0000019902
- "The Joe A. Callaway Award | Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation"https://sdcfoundation.org/recognition-advocacy/the-joe-a-callaway-award/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/theater/theaterspecial/16tonylist.html
- amsterdamnews.comhttp://amsterdamnews.com/news/2011/nov/02/audelco-nominations-are-out/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2015/legit/news/lucille-lortel-awards-2015-full-list-hamilton-1201492017/
- the Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/03/tony-awards-nominations-2016-in-full-hamilton-musical
- Television Academyhttps://www.emmys.com/bios/thomas-kail
- Contactmusic.comhttps://www.contactmusic.com/lin-manuel-miranda/news/hamilton-laurence-olivier-awards_6056942
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/hamilton-creators-lin-manuel-miranda-thomas-kail-andy-blankenbuehler-alex-lacamoire-will-receive-special-kennedy-center-honors
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2020/music/news/2021-grammys-nominations-list-1234838878/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2020/01/dga-awards-2020-winners-list-1202205819/
- GoldDerbyhttps://www.goldderby.com/feature/2021-dga-awards-winners-list-directors-guild-1204188229/