About
BIO
LeLand Gantt is writer and performer of RHAPSODY IN BLACK, an autobiographical solo show developed at The Actors Studio with Estelle Parsons as Directorial Consultant. LeLand self-produced RHAPSODY at the United Solo Festival in 2014, earning a “Best Storyteller” award for himself and a “Best Director” award for Estelle. Since then LeLand has toured RHAPSODY nationally (Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Nebraska, Tennessee, Kansas) and internationally (Canada and Sweden), using it’s “Prismatic reflections on blackness” to ignite and expand conversations about race and identity. 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 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: AMERICAN ROT (La Mama) RHAPSODY IN BLACK (The WorkShop Theater), SLIPPERY WHEN WET (La Mama), ANOTHER MAN’S POISON (Peter Jay Sharpe Theater), Marion McClinton’s POLICE BOYS; Oyamo's KILLA DILLA and LET ME LIVE (Drama Desk and Audelco award nominee - Featured Actor), and the revival of MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (u/s Rock Dutton). Film and Television credits include: Another Year Together, 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.