Michael LeLand

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Michael LeLand's Bio

Michael LeLand has worked as an actor, singer, writer, theater educator, producer, choreographer and director in New York City and in his hometown of Philadelphia for over fifteen years.

Mr. LeLand’s work as a director has received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Village Voice, New York Amsterdam News, Back Stage, The Off-Off Broadway Review, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia City Paper, and Canales Magazine. His directing venues in New York City include Chasama on 42 Street , Here Performance Art Cafe, Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab, The Nuyorican Poet’s Café, and West Bank Downstairs Theatre. His Philadelphia venues include The Walnut Street Studio Theatre, Movement Theatre International(Iron Gate Theater), Painted Bride Arts Center , Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center , Brick Playhouse, Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts and Freedom Theatre.

Mr. LeLand has produced over forty theatrical productions and ran Theatre Double’s two-theatre complex on Walnut Street in Philadelphia for four years Mr. LeLand has helped developed a dozen new plays that have received professional productions, including Langston Hughes: An American Celebration ,Theatre Double’s Just The Boys, Theatre Double’s Jason and Medea, Theatre Double's . . .And The Sky Can Still Fall on Our Heads, Slipping by Yvonne Delet, Gypsy Wagon by Ed Shockley. He also developed and, wrote lyrics for, and the full length children’s musicals The Witch and the Magic Mountain , Nsume Namlou: The Stories of My People, ,Magic Bookshop: The Snow Queen and The Magic BookshopInside the World of Jack and the Beanstalk. Mr. LeLand helped create Just the Boys, a Theatre Double collaboration published by Simon and Schuster in Action: the Nuyorican Poet’s Café Theatre Festival. Portions of his production, The Witch and the Magic Mountain, produced by Freedom Theatre, were performed at the Barrymore Awards and for former Mayor of Philadelphia, Edward Rendell.

In April 1998, Lincoln Center Theatre named Mr. LeLand to the Directors Lab. He was also one of only twelve directors selected by the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab to be showcased at Here Center for Contemporary Arts in the American Living Room Series.

Mr. LeLand had the honor of directed Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award Winner, and Academy Award nominee Jason Miller in his one man play Barrymore’s Ghost.

His production of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf on Times Square in New York City garnered favorable reviews from The New York Times, Village Voice, among others and inspired the New York Amsterdam News to write:

The fresh organic staging results in a profoundly thrilling new work. The director Michael LeLand usually ignores old stage directions and creates scenes that are totally new and vividly compelling. It is the dynamic craft of the actors in tune with the unique direction that sends this performance into a class by itself beyond the average Broadway revival.

As a theatre educator Mr. LeLand has taught at Friend’s Select School, People’s Light and Theater Company, Friend’s Central School, Freedom Theatre and the Russell Byers Charter School.

At Freedom Theatre as director of acting curriculum Mr. LeLand helped develop the programs curricula goals and measures for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels for classes for students 3 years old through Adults. Also at Freedom Theater he directed and helped develop two full length musicals performed by children.

At Russell Byers Charter School he helped create and administer a Saturday arts program and taught Theatre arts to Students in grades one through five.

He was Associate producer and artistic consultant on the documentary Unfit? For Paradox productions and recently worked as creative consultant on A Matter of Family, a prostate cancer awareness video produced by the State of New Jersey Department of Health. Mr. LeLand continues to work as a consultant for several not-for profit arts and cultural organizations.

Currently Mr. LeLand has several projects in different stages of development. In November his play Faded Corsage will be present as part of Sticky A one act theatre festival featuring short plays set in bars, produced by BlueBox Productions at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. In December he will be directing Theatre Double’s Black Nativity in Philadelphia.

Michael LeLand-Directing review quotes

New York Times-D.J.H Bruckner, Theatre Double’s Jason and Medea Concept and additional Material Michael LeLand

Many Gratifying Moments. Those Moments owe to the director Michael LeLand and this disciplined troupe... There are those moments when Creon and his troops let us feel the threat Medea felt; when the Corinthian women reflect with sardonic humor on women’s lives in the ancient world; above all, when the final slaughter is described in a choked scream, then You think this company can do almost anything well…

Curtain Up .Com – Jenny Sandman
For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by ntozake shange

The choreography is mesmerizing; each of the women is perfectly aware of her own body and its relation to the stage and the other women. Theatre Double is just beginning to come into its own; this small but impressive production should mark their triumphant arrival onto the New York scene.

New York Times-Anita Gates
for girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by ntozake shange

Michael LeLand , the director and chorographer has given the work a properly poetic staging that the material calls for, the production looks good…many fine moments.

Canales Magazine-Brad Bradley
Theatre Double’s Jason and Medea Concept and additional Material Michael LeLand

Director Michael LeLand has fashioned a new work that reaches contemporary ears with both sharpness and strength. LeLand creates remarkably powerful stage pictures, the script fluid and dynamic.


New York Amsterdam News
for girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by ntozake shange

The fresh organic staging results in a profoundly thrilling new work. The director Michael LeLand usually ignores old stage directions and creates scenes that are totally new and vividly compelling. It is the dynamic craft of the actors in tune with the unique direction that sends this performance into a class by itself beyond the average Broadway revival.

Philadelphia Tribune- Christina Crews
for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by ntozake shange

‘Michael LeLand’s ‘ interpretation of Shange's choreopoem is nothing less than brilliant. Using no props, just words, music and passion, the cast forces you to identify with at least one story or sheds more light on the story of someone you may know. To borrow from the words one woman in the audience after dabbing at tears in her eyes at the plays' end, "THIS IS DEEP

Backstage –David Sherward, President of Drama Desk
Theatre Double’s Just the Boys co-written by Michael LeLand

Michael LeLand's direction of "Boys" is inventive and fun. He opens the play with a series of rapid-fire fade-ins, catching Gerry and his gals and pals in telling poses. In another clever stroke, Leland has the four women taking out their anger at Gerry in their own individual ways (shopping, jogging, etc.) to the strains of Alanis Morrisette's outraged ode to rejection "You Oughta Know. A funny comedy of manners, much like HBO's "Sex in the City", from a male perspective.

Off-Off Broadway Review by Andres Wrath
Theatre Double’s Just the Boys co-written by Michael LeLand

An audience walking into HERE's Dorothy Williams theatre might not have wanted its ideas of theatre jarred in such an unconventional fashion. As the lights faded, Elliot Levin entered with a saxophone and flute in hand. From then on, he played throughout Dennis Moritz's double bill. Displaying the same moody quality, the production swept in in an unexpected and inventive fashion that may have left viewers elated or frustrated. Regardless, a production this bold - and which broke as many rules as this did - should not go unnoticed…

Michael LeLand superbly directed his actors - as if he were the conductor and they were instruments in a band, hitting the most amazing notes.

Backstage-Victor Gluck
Theatre Double’s Just the Boys co-written by Michael LeLand

LeLand's dazzling production with spine-tingling saxophone music by Elliot Levin…riveting theatre…By turns poetic, dramatic, raunchy, sexy, and humorous this is a rich theatrical experience.

Philadelphia Inquirer –Douglas J. Keating
Theatre Double’s Just the Boys co-written by Michael LeLand

What is interesting about Just the Boys is Michael LeLand’s unconventional approach to Theatre and directorial staging. LeLand represents off beat entertainment with a humorous theatrical flair… enjoyable

Philadelphia Inquirer –Douglas J. Keating
Barrymore’s Ghost written and performed by Tony and Pulitzer Prize Award winner Jason Miller

Miller has written a vivid script that is both lyrically brooding and tartly humorous. Under the direction of Michael LeLand, Miller delivers a strong read...I don’t pretend to an expert on spirits, but it seems that is just the Barrymore his ghost would reflect.

Michael LeLand Director- Choreographer
447 Earlham Terrace, PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA 19144
Phone: 267-575-4888 E-Mail:Michael@Theatredouble.org & nbsp;
National TYA Tour
Our Black Journey- written By Don Kersay
Director ,choreographed several numbers Including , jazz, Broadway and African dance
New York Stage
*-denotes World Premiere
for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by ntozke shange
(Favorable Review New York Times, Village Voice, New York Amsterdam News )
Chashama on Forty-Second Street Time Square
Nuyorican Poet's Café
*Jason and Medea (Favorable Review New York Times, Cannels ,HI Drama, Village Voice Critic’s Choice, Developed script from original concept, wrote additional material )
Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe
*Theatre Double's Just The Boys (Developed script from two previously published plays, Wrote additional material, Play Published, favorable Review, Backstage and The Off-Off Broadway Review)
Performance Space NBC
Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab/Here American Living Room Series
Nuyorican Poets Café (twice)
Laurie Beechman Theater on Forty-Second Street
*And The Sky Can Still Fall On Our Heads
(Developed Script From original concept, Co-wrote script, Production Moved to Philadelphia for successful three week run)
Nuyorican Poets Café
Quick Fast and in a Hurry Nuyorican Poet’s Café Here Performance Art Center
*Slipping by Yvonne Delet Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Langston Hughes: An American Celebration Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe
Regional Stage (A partial list of Philadelphia Venues and Productions)
Venues
Theatre Double Mainstage
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts
Movement Theatre International ( Iron Gate )
Painted Bride Arts Center
Walnut Street Theatre Studio 3 (Independence Studio)
The Zellerbach Theatre @ The Annenberg Center
Freedom Theater
Productions (a partial list)
for colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by ntozake shange
(Production ran 11 weeks and was favorably reviewed by Philadelphia Tribune and Philadelphia Weekly)
Barrymore's Ghost written and performed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Winner and Academy Award nominee Jason Miller
Agnes of God by John Peilmier (production ran for 7 weeks)
*The Witch And The Magic Mountain (original full length Musical performed entirely by children, experts performed for Mayor Edward Rendell and at 1997 Barrymore Awards )
Langston Hughes: An American Celebration, Musical combining writings of Langston Hughes with music of Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and spirituals.
From Good Evening to Good Night Richard and Jimi by J. Rufus Caleb
*The Ballad of Mistah Jack by J. Rufus Caleb (favorably reviewed Philadelphia City Paper)
Gypsy Wagon by Ed Shockley
Portrait of a Madonna by Tennessee Williams
Publications
Action: Nuyorican Poets Café Theatre Festival - Co-author Just the Boys
Related Experience
1998-2001 Executive Director of Theatre Double Repertory Company, a not for profit company specializing in the development of new plays in Philadelphia and New York City .Administrates two Theaters in Center City Philadelphia a 199 seat Mainstage and a 99 seat Studio Theatre
Named to Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab June 1998
References
Anne Cattaneo , Lincoln Center Theatre, 212.362.7600
Miguel Algairn, Nuyorican Poet’s Café, 212.780.9386
J. Rufus Caleb , Playwright/Professor of English Community College Philadelphia , 215.751.8000
Interests Rugby Football, Pre-History, Professional Actor, Singer.