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What happens when theater becomes more than entertainment—and turns into a tool for activism, healing, and social change?

In this powerful episode of R.E.A.L. Roots & Resilience, we sit down with Tony Award-winning director, educator, and activist Zhailon Levingston, one of the most influential voices redefining American theater today. Raised in Louisiana and celebrated as the youngest Black director on Broadway, Zhailon is helping transform some of the nation’s most historic cultural institutions while amplifying stories that have too often been left unheard.

From his groundbreaking work as co-director of Cats: The Jellicle Ball to his leadership with the Tony Award-winning Broadway Advocacy Coalition, Zhailon shares how art can challenge systems, reclaim narratives, and create space for communities seeking visibility, belonging, and liberation.

Together, we explore the power of storytelling as resistance, the importance of representation in shaping identity, and how ancestry, activism, and artistry continue to influence his work on and off the stage. We also discuss the cultural impact of centering Black, queer, and marginalized voices in spaces that have historically excluded them—and why the future of theater depends on whose stories get told.

Whether you’re passionate about the arts, social justice, leadership, or the transformative power of culture, this conversation offers a thought-provoking look at how creative expression can inspire change far beyond the stage.

Join us for an unforgettable conversation with Zhailon Levingston—a visionary director using art not only to entertain, but to challenge, heal, and transform the world around us.

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