Menu
Tony-winning 'Hamilton' actor Leslie Odom Jr. coming to DePauw for Sept. 20 Ubben Lecture
Leslie Odom Jr., whose portrayal of Aaron Burr in the smash hit "Hamilton" earned him the 2016 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor, is coming to DePauw University.
The multifaceted performer will discuss his life and career in a Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture, "Finding Your Personal Spotlight," on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium, located within DePauw's Green Center for the Performing Arts (605 S. College Ave.).
Odom's 7:30 p.m. free public address will be followed by a question-and-answer session and a brief musical performance.
Odom also won a Grammy Award as a principal soloist on the original "Hamilton" Broadway cast recording, which was honored for Best Musical Theater Album.
He originated the role of "Burr" in a sold-out run at New York's Public Theater in 2015, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. He left the show on July 9 to pursue other interests.
"Nothing lasts forever in my profession," Odom told Forbes last month. "I've been involved with Hamilton for about two and a half years. I've learned so much. I came into it a young man. Now I've dropped the 'young.'"
A native of New York, Odom was raised in Philadelphia. He made his Broadway debut at the age of 17 in "Rent," before heading to Carnegie Mellon University's prestigious School of Drama, where he graduated with honors. He received a 2002 Princess Grace Award for Acting, which is dedicated to identifying emerging talent in theater, dance and film.
In 2003, Odom began a recurring role as Joseph Kayle on "CSI: Miami," then appeared in 10 episodes of "Vanished" playing Maliko Christo. He also had roles on "Big Day" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Person of Interest" and "Smash" and has made guest appearances on "Gilmore Girls," "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Good Wife."
On the big screen he starred in the 2012 film "Red Tails" opposite Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr. and David Oyelowo.
Additional theatre credits include "Leap of Faith" on Broadway, for which Odom won the 2012 Astaire Award for Outstanding Male Dancer and was nominated for a Drama League Award; the 2014 musical "Venice, "which also played at The Public Theater; and the Encores! Off-Center production of "Tick, Tick ... Boom!" which was his first time working with "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
This summer, Odom reissued an updated version of his self-titled debut album, which was originally released in 2014. He appeared on NBC's "Today" earlier this month to sing "Brazil."
An NPR story on Odom notes that "just a few years ago (he) grew so discouraged with his performing career that he started applying for jobs as a hotel clerk. After more than 15 years spent mostly under the radar, he's now something of a theater-world rock star, thanks to the buzz around 'Hamilton' and his performance as Aaron Burr."
New York Times critic Michael Paulson wrote, "Night after night, re-enacting the most famous duel in American history, he slays the show's title character ... His performance, as a strategic striver, a jealous rival and a doting father, is magnetic."
The actor noted, "It is a profoundly healing experience to be a part of an original cast of anything, but especially of something this successful. For most of your career, what you're trying to do is to step into other people's shoes. Until you make a name for yourself, they're like, 'Be a little more Denzel,' 'Be a little more Wesley Snipes.' And so, an original cast, something like this, is where I've never heard so much 'yes' in all my life."
Established in 1986 through the generous support of 1958 DePauw graduates Timothy H. and Sharon Williams Ubben, the Ubben Lecture Series was designed to "bring the world to Greencastle" and has now presented 104 programs,including such notables as Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Peyton Manning, Mike Krzyzewski and Jimmy Kimmel.