Sep 23, 2024 By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read

To call Leslie Odom Jr. a modern-day Renaissance man is anything but hyperbolic. Actor, singer, songwriter, director, author are all hats he’s worn at one time or another. The multi-faceted Odom holds himself to a high standard of excellence, as evidenced by the awards he’s racked up along the way.

Odom, who studied drama in Pittsburgh, returns to the area on Monday at 7:30 p.m. to share insight into what it’s like to be a performer whose passion is connecting with people. The one-night-only special engagement presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Carnegie Mellon University, is titled Behind the Scenes: A Conversation with Leslie Odom, Jr. and will be held at the O’Reilly Theater in Pittsburgh’s cultural District.

A Pittsburgh Connection

Odom, who began acting on Broadway at age 17 in “Rent,” said that he was fortunate in that he was never afraid to get up in front of a room full of people.

“I was fearless about that,” he said. His fearlessness led him to the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University where he graduated with honors.

Odom was steered to the school by Michael McElroy, a Carnegie Mellon graduate who acted with him in “Rent.”

“McElroy was my hero, a pro-so talented. At the time he had done four or five shows,” said Odom, adding that McElroy is now a professor and coordinator of musical theater at Howard University.

Odom said he is looking forward to returning to the area.

“I love the change of seasons and the fact that it’s such a great college town. There was enough to do there that we were never bored, but not so much that we neglected our studies because it was just the right size,” he said.

Earning Accolades

With the success of “Hamilton,” Odom earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (as Aaron Burr) and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 1998.

“Lin-Manuel Miranda is a generational talent, and he married it with dedication and perseverance. It was so well done, but being well done doesn’t always equate to being super successful, so it’s sometimes inexplainable,” said Odom, adding that his favorite part of “Hamilton” was being a part of what he deems a championship team. “I made it a point to strive to be there when called to support and lift up other artists on stage,” he said.

This year, he was honored by Time as part of its 100 most influential people.

“It is shocking, and I have to admit that it’s deeply gratifying considering that they made the decision to add me to the list while I was in “Purlie Victorius,” a play that I had fought for seven years to get to the stage. It shows that they valued my contribution to the arts in my own way,” he said.

Odom also received a Tony nomination as a producer in the “Best Revival of a Play” category where he is known for his leading role as Purlie Victorious Judson, originally played by Ossie Davis in the early 1960s.

Odom is making his mark on the music world as well and recently released his fifth full-length studio album titled, “When a Crooner Dies.” The album was written and recorded over the course of the last few years and features a collection of 10 newly penned, original tracks that mark Odom’s most personal body of music to date.

Odom’s been an inspiration to many over the years.

Ashley Smith is just one.

“As a businesswoman, I’ve followed Odom’s career closely, admiring his hardworking nature and multifaceted talents. His portrayal of Adam Burr in ‘Hamilton’ was not only exceptional, but also inspiring-a testament to his dedication and refined craft,” said the Pennsylvania entrepreneur, adding that she admires Odom’s active involvement in advocating for racial equality.

“It resonates with my businesses at Batan Babe — a small, BIPOC-owned family business that is ethically committed to uplifting communities. He inspires me to use my business as a tool for positive social impact,” she said.

Odom’s body of work certainly is impressive for someone born in 1981, and one gets the sense that his prolificity knows no bounds. When asked to pick a favorite medium, however, he demurs.

“My favorite thing to do is to connect with people. I’m in it for the conversation, and I am also an avid theater goer, so I view it from both sides as an audience member,” he said.

To purchase tickets to the show, visit https://trustarts.org/production/97211/performance/97211/seat_selection.