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Performances

Leslie Odom, JR.

Time: September 25 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Venue: Historic Academy Theatre
Cost: $57 – $107

Academy Member Presale begins Monday, July 22, 2024. Remaining tickets will be released to the public on Friday, July 26, 2024. All sales begin at 10 AM EST.

Leslie Odom, Jr. is a multifaceted, award-winning vocalist, songwriter, author, and actor. With a career that spans all performance genres, he has received recognition with Tony and Grammy Awards as well as multiple Emmy and Academy Award nominations for his excellence and achievements in Broadway, television, film, and music. Most recently, Odom made his long-awaited return to Broadway to star in, and co-produce, the new Broadway production of the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by the legendary Ossie Davis, which opened in September 2023 to widespread critical acclaim. Additionally, he stars in the highly anticipated sequel to the original iconic film The Exorcist for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures out October 6, 2023. Odom is a BMG recording artist and has released four full-length albums. 

In 2020, Odom starred in and performed the songs of legendary singer Sam Cooke in the critically acclaimed Amazon film adaptation of One Night in Miami…, directed by Regina King. His portrayal of the soul icon was met with widespread praise and critical acclaim, earning him nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, among others. King also enlisted Odom to write, compose, and perform the film’s original song, “Speak Now,” for which he was nominated for an Oscar and has since earned him a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Song as well as several other award nominations. 

In October 2021, he starred in The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to David Chase’s Award-winning HBO series The Sopranos that was released in theaters and on HBO Max. Recently, Odom starred in Rian Johnson’s 2022 Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which broke records for Netflix and is currently streaming worldwide. In December 2022, the film debuted as Netflix’s #1 movie in its premiere week and has already secured its position as the #5 most popular movie of all time on the platform. He can also be heard voicing the character of ‘Owen Tillerman’ in Season 3 of the Apple TV+ animated musical-comedy series Central Park, for which he received a 2020 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. In September 2021, Odom hosted “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!” on CBS, earning his third Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) in 2022. Throughout the live 2-hour special event, he performed various musical numbers with David Byrne, John Legend, Audra McDonald, and many others. Additional film and television credits include the Disney+ filmed musical performance of the original Broadway production of Hamilton (2021 Emmy nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie), the limited series Love in the Time of Corona, which he executive produced and co-starred opposite Nicolette Robinson, Abbott ElementaryThe Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+, HarrietMurder on the Orient ExpressOnlyRed Tails, Smash and many more. 

Well known for his breakout role as the original ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and a Grammy Award for his performance as a principal soloist on the original cast recording. He made his Broadway debut in RENT at the age of 17. He also starred opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo in a 2014 City Center Encores! revival of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick…Boom! In December 2017, Odom returned to the New York City stage in a solo concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The cabaret-style performance was crafted around signature songs and music that shaped this artist’s journey, all performed with a world-class band in front of a live audience. The show was filmed for broadcast as an hour-long PBS special as part of the 17-time Emmy Award-winning series, Live from Lincoln Center, and premiered in April 2018. 

A Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Odom’s self-titled debut album was part-funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign and released in 2014 by Borderlight Entertainment, Inc. His new label home, S-Curve, re-released an expanded version with additional material in June 2016, and the album reached #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts and charted in the Billboard Top 200. In winter 2017, Odom topped the charts once again with the re-release of his second album and first holiday album, Simply Christmas, as a deluxe edition with new arrangements and new songs. Simply Christmas hit #1 on iTunes and the Billboard Jazz charts, #4 on the Billboard Holiday chart, and #31 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Odom released his third full-length album and first of original material, Mr, in November 2019, and the following October teamed up with nine-time Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist Sia to debut a new version of standout track “Cold.” His critically acclaimed second holiday album, The Christmas Album, was released in November 2020. Released in November 2023, Odom’s fifth full-length album and his first of all-new original music since 2019, When A Crooner Dies, features a collection of 10 newly penned, original tracks that mark his most personal body of music to date. He has performed at the White House, Super Bowl, Oscars, Grammys, and on hallowed stages such as Lincoln Center, Rockefeller Center, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

In March 2018, Odom added the title of author to his resume with the release of his book – Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher and Never Stop Learning. Written in the style of a commencement speech, the book brings together what Odom has learned in life so far, tapping into universal themes of starting something new, following your passions, discovering your own potential, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Failing Up is about unlocking your true potential and making your dreams come true even when it seems impossible. The book was published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. Co-written with Nicolette Robinson, Odom’s first children’s book, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, was published by Feiwel & Friends on March 28, 2023. The book debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #7 in its first week. 

Related Links

Facebook Event Page: Coming Soon
Artist Website

On Sale Days/Times:

Academy Member Presale begins Monday, July 22, 2024. Remaining tickets will be released to the public on Friday, July 26, 2024. All sales begin at 10 AM EST.

Academy Members Level 5+ Pre-Sale: Monday, July 22, 2024
Academy Members Level 4+ Pre-Sale: Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Academy Members Level 3+ Pre-Sale: Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Academy Members Level 1+ Pre-Sale: Thursday, July 25, 2024
General Public On-Sale: Friday, July 26, 2024

Tickets:

Box Seat: $107*
Pit Seat: $97*
Premium Seat: $87*
Standard Seat: $77*
Value Seat: $67*
Obstructed Seat: $57*

*Plus taxes and fees

For more information or to purchase tickets to this performance, contact our Bank of the James Ticketing Office at (434) 846-8499.

Sponsored By:

The Sonny Merryman Family

 
 
National Endowment for the Arts

Know before you go:

Age Requirement

All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket for this event unless otherwise stated. All ages are welcome.

Camera Policy

Videography and audio recording during the performances are prohibited. Photography of the set on stage is allowed pre-show, post-show, and during intermission. But we do ask that you show our designers and visiting performers some love by crediting them (and by tagging us) in your social media posts.

Content Advisory

The Academy Center of the Arts offers a diverse selection of entertainment. Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every guest or for all ages. Ticket buyers should take responsibility for making informed decisions regarding their purchases. We recommend visiting the official show website of each show you are coming to see at the Academy. If you ever have questions about the content or appropriateness of a show, please contact us at boxoffice@academycenter.org.

Doors Open

Unless otherwise noted, our lobby doors open 60 minutes prior to show time and house doors open 30 minutes prior to show time for seating.

Parking & Directions

Parking is available on-site and throughout downtown Lynchburg. Our parking map (linked below) shows all of the free public and paid parking available. In addition, street parking is also available on most streets.

View Parking & Directions Information

Ticketing Policies

Ticketing purchases are non-refundable. By purchasing a ticket to an event at The Academy Center of the Arts, you are agreeing to our ticketing policy. View our full ticketing policy.

Volunteer

Want to volunteer and see this show for free? Contact Mele Thompson, mthompson@academycenter.org, for more information.