Leslie Odom, Jr. with The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

Leslie Odom, Jr. is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominated songwriter, actor, and a New York Times bestselling author. Well known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom made the season’s most highly anticipated return to his award-winning role in September 2025. During his limited engagement run, which came nine years after his final bow, Hamilton hit its highest ever gross in its ten years on Broadway. Odom’s long-awaited return to Broadway following his original Hamilton run came in 2023 as a producer, alongside his beloved Nicolette Robinson and the gracious Jeffrey Richards, with the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch written by the legendary Ossie Davis. The revival opened to widespread critical acclaim. Odom was Tony-nominated for his performance, and the production received six nominations and one win. Purlie Victorious was recorded and aired as part of PBS’ Great Performances. Odom has continued to captivate audiences across film and television including his star turn as legendary soul singer Sam Cooke in the Amazon film adaptation of One Night in Miami…, directed by Regina King. His lauded portrayal of the soul icon and musical performance of original song “Speak Now” earned him multiple awards and nominations. Additional film and television credits include Rian Johnson’s record-breaking 2022 Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, for Netflix, The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to David Chase’s award-winning HBO series The Sopranos, Apple TV+’s Central Park (2020 Emmy nomination), Hamilton on Disney+ (2021 Emmy nomination), host of “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!” on CBS (2022 Emmy nomination), Abbott Elementary, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Harriet, and many more. In March 2018, Odom added the title of author to his resume with the release of his book – Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher and Never Stop Learning, which was recently released in paperback in March 2025. Co-written with Nicolette Robinson, Odom’s first children’s book, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, was published by Feiwel & Friends in March 2023. The book debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #7 in its first week. Odom has released six full-length albums. His sixth and first-ever live album, An Offering: Live at Speakeasy Studios, was released on October 17, 2025. 

Sponsored by The Beth and Lawton Langford Endowment for the Arts