Today, Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, announced that visionary Tony Award®-winning director, producer, and industry leader Kenny Leon has been elected Chair of the American Theatre Wing’s Board of Trustees.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Leon has become one of the defining artistic voices in American theatre. His work spans Broadway, regional theatres, television, and film, and he has consistently championed new voices while bringing fresh perspective to classic works. Widely respected as both an artist, mentor and industry leader, Leon has helped shape the careers of countless theatre-makers and has been a passionate advocate for expanding access, representation, and opportunity throughout the industry. A Wing Board member and vitally engaged member of the Tony Administration Committee, Leon has been a longtime committed supporter of the American Theatre Wing and its missions.
“Welcoming Kenny Leon as Chair marks an exciting new chapter for the organization. His extraordinary artistry, his decades of leadership across the American theatre, and his unwavering commitment to investing in artists make him the ideal partner as we build on the Wing’s remarkable progress,” said Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing. “His vision for our field aligns deeply with the Wing’s mission, and I look forward to partnering with him as we continue expanding opportunities for theatre artists at every stage of their careers.”
“I’ve always admired the American Theatre Wing because it has never been just about celebrating theatre—it has been about serving the people who make theatre possible,” said Kenny Leon. “From its beginnings, founded by women whose activism and belief in community shaped its mission, the Wing has understood that supporting artists and art, strengthens our culture. I’m honored to serve as Chair and to partner with Heather, the Board, and the staff as we continue creating opportunities for artists, nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers, and ensuring our industry continues to grow more vibrant, welcoming, and accessible for generations to come.”
Leon becomes Chair following a comprehensive governance review undertaken by the Board of Trustees to strengthen the organization’s leadership structure and position the American Theatre Wing for its next era of growth. Led by Interim Chair Ted Chapin, the process examined Board governance, policies, and long-term organizational strategy, culminating in the election of a new Chair and Board leadership to partner with Hitchens and the staff team.
“It was a great joy to serve as Chair when Heather was hired, and more recently to help guide this important governance process,” said Ted Chapin. “The American Theatre Wing has evolved into an even stronger, more impactful organization under Heather’s leadership. Kenny Leon is an inspiring choice to lead the Board into its next chapter, and I’m excited to see what Heather and Kenny will accomplish together.”
Leon assumes the role at a pivotal moment for the organization. Under Hitchens’ leadership, the Wing has experienced extraordinary growth, tripling its operating budget while significantly expanding its grantmaking, educational initiatives, and professional development programs to serve artists nationwide. The organization has broadened its impact by integrating the OBIE Awards into its portfolio—formally welcoming Off- and Off-Off-Broadway into the Wing’s ecosystem—while continuing to strengthen and grow the Tony Awards in partnership with the Broadway League. The Wing has also reimagined its signature Working in the Theatre and National Theatre Company Grants programs while launching transformative initiatives—including the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative and the Gavin Creel Fellowships—that expand opportunity and support for theatre artists across the country.
The Board recently reaffirmed its confidence in Hitchens’ leadership by renewing her contract for an additional five years, providing continuity as the organization enters this exciting new chapter under Leon’s Board leadership.
To support the Wing’s continued growth, Hitchens recently announced the promotions of longtime team members Ian Weiss to Vice President and Ann Marie Gong to Chief of Staff. Weiss plays a central role in expanding the Wing’s digital presence and award-winning storytelling, while Gong has been instrumental in strengthening internal operations, supporting Board and staff leadership, and helping guide the organization through a period of significant growth. Together, their promotions underscore the Wing’s commitment to investing in strong internal leadership as it looks toward the future.
Together, these developments underscore a moment of continuity, confidence, and forward momentum for the American Theatre Wing as it enters its next chapter—guided by exceptional artistic leadership, a strong organizational foundation, and an unwavering commitment to supporting theatre and theatre artists across the country.
BIOS:
KENNY LEON (ATW Board Chair) is a Tony Award-winning director. His Broadway credits include The Balusters; Othello; Our Town; HOME; Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch; Topdog/Underdog; Ohio State Murders; A Soldier’s Play; American Son; Children of a Lesser God; Holler If Ya Hear Me; A Raisin in the Sun; The Mountaintop; Stick Fly; and August Wilson’s Fences, Gem of the Ocean, and Radio Golf. His Off-Broadway credits include This World of Tomorrow (The Shed); King James; The Underlying Chris; Everybody’s Ruby; Emergence-See! (The Public Theater); and Smart People (Second Stage). His opera credits include Amahl and the Night Visitors and Margaret Garner. His television work includes Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia; Colin in Black & White; 4400; Amend: The Fight for America; American Son (adapted for Netflix); Hairspray Live!; The Wiz Live!; Steel Magnolias; Dynasty; and In My Dreams. He is the author of Take You Wherever You Go.
Leon is the Artistic Director Emeritus of Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, serves as Vice President of the Board of Trustees of The Public Theater, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Entertainment Community Fund. His honors include a Tony Award, an Obie Award, the Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor, the George Abbott Lifetime Achievement Award for American Theatre, and the Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre.
HEATHER HITCHENS (President & CEO) is a nationally recognized arts leader with 30 years of performing arts administration, policy, and program development experience. As President & CEO of the American Theatre Wing (ATW), she is charged with maintaining the brand excellence of the Tony Awards (founded by ATW in 1947), as well as overseeing and shaping the organization’s other vital grant-making, professional development, educational, and media programs. Since starting her work at ATW in 2011, she has tripled the organization’s budget, and overseen an expansion of its programs that has resulted in a more than triple increase in investment. Highlights include bringing the OBIE Awards into the Wing’s portfolio — ensuring Off and Off-Off Broadway are recognized for the crucial role they play in the theatre ecology — and creating and launching the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative, a multi-tiered initiative to advance diversity in the theatre. In addition, Hitchens reconceived ATW’s much beloved “Working in the Theatre” public access television show, into a thrice Emmy-nominated docuseries. A seasoned leader, ATW is Hitchens’ fourth CEO post. Prior to ATW, she was appointed by the Governor of the State of New York to serve as Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), where she oversaw the distribution of over $123 million in grants to more than 2,000 New York State arts organizations in every artistic discipline. Prior to NYSCA, Hitchens served as the President of the renowned national service organization Meet The Composer, and as CEO of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. Hitchens holds a Bachelor of Music/Percussion from DePauw University, and a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University.
IAN WEISS (Vice President) currently serves as Vice President of the American Theatre Wing, overseeing the production of Digital Content, Marketing Strategy, and Grant Making Programs for the Wing, Tony Awards, and Obie Awards. While he loves all the work equally, he is particularly proud of his work on the six time Emmy nominated documentary series, Working in the Theatre, for which he serves as Director, Producer, and often Editor. He is partial to working with theatre companies around the country, celebrating both new and revived work regionally, and supporting artists as they journey from school to careers in the industry. Weiss has developed digital strategy and content for Broadway, off-Broadway, and Live Entertainment over the last 18 years at the American Theatre Wing, Serino Coyne, Art Meets Commerce, and MJS Live. He has won two Webby Awards for his social strategy on the 2015 Tony Awards and a 2022 Webby Honoree for his work on the Tony Awards First Impressions Cam. In addition, he was nominated for four Daytime Emmys, two Webby Awards, and won several Anthem Awards for producing the long running documentary series, Working in the Theatre. Weiss is a member of the Producers Guild of America, Television Academy, The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (Webbys), and The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts. Currently in his 16th year developing and running digital marketing strategy for the Tony Awards, he has helped to launch live streaming, near live, and shareable content on social media platforms, websites, and on the telecast. Weiss produced the documentary Up Heartbreak Hill which premiered on PBS’s Point-of-View series in 2011. He has also worked as a Producer and Casting Director for hundreds of television and radio spots. Weiss is a graduate of New York University.
ANN MARIE GONG (Chief of Staff) brings more than 25 years of experience in administration, human resources, development, board relations, and project management across a range of art, cultural, and educational organizations. She has worked in higher education at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), LIM College and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art. Ann Marie has also worked at several art and cultural institutions – The Art Directors Club, The New York Botanical Garden, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Shed and The Public Theater. She graduated, with honors, from the School of Visual Arts. She began working at ATW in August of 2023 as Executive Support Manager and is thrilled to continue working at a place where she can use her cumulative experience and abilities to help achieve the mission of the organization.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN THEATRE WING:
The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President and CEO) invests in brave work, supports creative growth, and celebrates excellence in bringing inclusive stories to our national culture through theatre. Founded by seven suffragists in 1917, on the eve of America’s entry into World War I, the American Theatre Wing has spent a century honoring theatrical achievements and fostering artistry, by providing a platform for strong and fearless voices in the American theatre.
In addition to being the founder and co-presenter of the Tony Awards®, and the home of the OBIE Awards, the American Theatre Wing offers a powerful suite of programs that address all aspects of the national theatre ecology. Venerable programs like The Gavin Creel Fellowships and Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative nurture the work of young artists by providing access to theatre through education; esteemed annual prizes like the Jonathan Larson Grants and National Theatre Company Grants create essential pathways to success for emerging professionals; and unique resources like Master Class, The Playreaders Club, and the Emmy-nominated Working in the Theatre series, offer artists with unparalleled opportunities to connect and learn from industry luminaries. To learn more about the extensive programming and grant opportunities for students, theatre professionals, and audiences, visit AmericanTheatreWing.org. For the latest updates and news, follow the Wing on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
