Leslie Odom, Jr.

Michael Krajewski, Conductor

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for Performing Arts

300 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

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Sep 28-30, 2018

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Featuring

Leslie Odom Jr., vocalist

Leslie Odom, Jr. rocketed to stardom with his Grammy and Tony-award winning portrayal of Aaron Burr in Hamilton. Since then, he’s released two albums. His elegant interpretation of the classics of the American Songbook make him the perfect performer to kick off the POPS 40th Anniversary Celebration. He’s said that he wants to make the kind of music Nat King Cole would make today — and he’ll do that with us. The Philly POPS backs him up in a show that spans from “Autumn Leaves” to “Unforgettable” and “Mona Lisa” right on up to tunes from that Broadway show that made him famous. He pays homage to his Broadway debut in Rent with a POPS orchestra-centric, all-strings version of “Without You”, also featuring his guitarist, Steven Walker.

Helpful Information

This program, including intermission, is approximately two hours in length. Artists and program are subject to change without notice.

Discounted parking passes are available from select garages. For more information, please call 215.893.1999 or add a parking pass during checkout when purchasing your tickets.

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Enjoy the show!

Guest Artist

Leslie Odom, Jr. , vocalist

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Multifaceted performer Leslie Odom, Jr. has most recently been seen in the blockbuster Broadway musical Hamilton, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for the role of “Aaron Burr.”

He is a Grammy Award winner as a principal soloist on Hamilton’s Original Broadway Cast Recording, which won the 2015 award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Odom, Jr. originated the role of Burr in a sold-out run at The Public Theater in 2015, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical.

Odom, Jr. made his Broadway debut at the age of 17 in Rent, before heading to Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama, where he graduated with honors. He is the recipient of a 2002 Princess Grace Award for Acting, which is dedicated to identifying emerging talent in theater, dance and film.

Additional theater credits include Leap of Faith on Broadway, for which he won the 2012 Astaire Award for Outstanding Male Dancer on Broadway and was nominated for a Drama League Award; the 2014 musical Venice, which also played at The Public Theater; and the Encores! Off-Center production of Tick, Tick... Boom! which was his first time working with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

On the small screen, Odom, Jr. is best-known for his portrayal of “Sam Strickland” in the NBC musical series Smash, and his recurring role as Reverend Curtis Scott on Law & Order: SVU. He’s also appeared in episodes of Gotham, Person of Interest, Grey’s Anatomy, House of Lies, Vanished and CSI: Miami. On the big screen he starred in the 2012 film Red Tails opposite Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and David Oyelowo.

As a recording artist, his self-titled debut album was part-funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign which raised $40,971. The album was released in 2014 by Borderlight Entertainment, Inc.

Odom, Jr. was raised in Philadelphia, and currently resides in New York City.

Leslie Odom, Jr. specializes in elegant, modern interpretations of the standards including a number of Jerome Kern hits, most notably “Look for the Silver Lining”. In January 1985, the POPS presented a “Happy Birthday to Jerome Kern and Mozart” concert series.

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