Leland Gantt

Biography

Leland Gantt (Othello, actor) is writer and performer of RHAPSODY IN BLACK, an autobiographical solo play with Estelle Parsons as Directorial Consultant. Since earning a “Best Storyteller” award for himself and a “Best Director” award for Estelle at the United Solo Festival in 2014, LeLand has toured RHAPSODY, nationally and internationally, using it’s “Prismatic reflections on blackness” to ignite and expand conversations about race and identity. rhapsodyinblack.org

Currently LeLand is in collaboration with Estelle and 7 other Actors Studio colleagues, developing a completely improvised performance piece; Re-Entry: Actors playing jazz; centered around ex-felons participating in a theatre group to pursue their artistic muse and facilitate their re-entry into society.
A veteran of the stage, Mr. Gantt highlights playing both Iago and Othello, creating the roles of Benny the Jet in Keith Glovers’s IN WALKS ED, and Tempest Landry in Walter Mosley’s THE FALL OF HEAVEN (both world premiers at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) and most recently, playing Pontius Pilot in Stephen Adly Guirgus’ LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT at La Mama, ETC. Other regional credits include: TWO TRAINS RUNNING and RADIO GOLF (Syracuse Stage); GEM OF THE OCEAN (Arena Stage), JITNEY and SEVEN GUITARS (Pittsburgh Public Theater), and IN WALKS ED (Longwharf Theater). Off-Broadway/Broadway: RHAPSODY INBLACK (The WorkShop Theater), SLIPPERY WHEN WET (La Mama), ANOTHER MAN’S POISON (Peter Jay Sharpe Theater), CARSON MCCULLERS (Women’s Theater Project), Marion McClinton’s POLICE BOYS (Playwrights Horizons); Oyamo's KILLA DILLA and LET ME LIVE (Drama Desk/Audelco award nominee - Featured Actor), and the Broadway revival of MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (u/s Rock Dutton). Film and Television credits include: Miracle at St. Anna, Requiem for a Dream, Malcolm X, Presumed Innocent, Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, JAG and HBO's The Affair.