Steven Levenson (born May 1984) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Dear Evan Hansen.
Early life Levenson was raised in Bethesda, Maryland. He was raised in a Reform Jewish family. He attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School and Brown University. He originally studied theater and English but then turned to playwriting. In discussing his interests in writing, he said: "...it does seem that a lot of my work tends to move in that [family] direction. I do find the dynamics in the family to be fascinating and endlessly variable. Family is, obviously, among the most universal experiences."Traiger, Lisa."Questions & answers with … Steven Levenson" washingtonjewishweek, July 29, 2015 Although he writes for television as well as the stage, he said: "Theater will always be my first love."
Career Stage Levenson wrote the book for the musical Dear Evan Hansen which opened on Broadway in December 2016, after premiering at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC in 2015.
His stage playwriting credits include The Language of Trees (2008, Roundabout Theatre Company Black Box Theatre) and Seven Minutes in Heaven (2009).Amatenstein, Sherry (March 24, 2017). "Steven Levenson on Writing 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'If I Forget'" Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2017.Bacalzo, Dan. "Review. 'The Language of Trees'" theatermania.com, October 29, 2008
The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin was produced Off-Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company at the Laura Pels Theatre, opening in June 2013. The play was produced under the Roundabout Theatre's New Play Initiative."Roundabout Opens 'The Unavoidable Disappearance Of Tom Durnin' Tonight" broadwayworld.com, June 26, 2013The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin broadwayworld.com, retrieved May 7, 2018
His play If I Forget opened Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre on February 22, 2017 and closed on April 30, 2017. Directed by Daniel Sullivan the cast featured Jeremy Shamos, Kate Walsh and Maria Dizzia.If I Forget lortel.org, retrieved May 7, 2018
His play Days of Rage opened at the Off-Broadway Second Stage Theater's Tony Kiser Theatre on October 2, 2018 with direction by Trip Cullman. The play concerns activists in the late 1960s.McPhee, Ryan. "Kate Baldwin and Bryce Pinkham to Star in World Premiere of Tom Kitt and John Logan’s 'Superhero' for Second Stage" Playbill, May 9, 2018 Days of Rage was earlier presented at the Hartford Stage Brand New Play Festival in a reading in November 2011, directed by Darko Tresnjak.Days of Rage adamwgreen.com, retrieved May 9, 2018"Hartford Stage's Brand:NEW 2011 Runs 11/3-6" broadwayworld.com, November 3, 2011
Television He was a writer for the Showtime series Masters of Sex, which ran for four seasons, from 2013 to 2016.
He served as showrunner for the FX biographical miniseries Fosse/Verdon about the lives of director-choreographer Bob Fosse and actor-singer Gwen Verdon. The series premiered in 2019.
Filmography +YearTitleDirected byNotes2021 tick, tick... BOOM! Lin Manuel Miranda Released to Netflix & select theaters, also executive producer Dear Evan Hansen Stephen Chbosky Based on his and Pasek & Paul's musical, also executive producer 2028Untitled Fred Astaire BiopicPaul KingCo-written with King, based on the book The Astaires: Fred & AdeleTBAUntitled Labubu FilmPaul KingCo-written with King TBA Fiddler on the Roof Thomas KailRemake of the 1971 film adaptation of the musical
Personal life Levenson is married to Whitney May, who has worked in art history and design history. They have a daughter, born in 2015.Klug, Lisa. "This nice Jewish boy just nabbed 9 Tony nominations" Times of Israel, May 3, 2017
Awards and nominations Year Work Award Category Result Ref. The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin Outer Critics Circle Awards John Gassner Award Dear Evan Hansen Obie Awards Musical Theatre Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Tony Awards Best Book of a Musical If I Forget Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Play Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Fosse/Verdon Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited Series Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special tick, tick ... BOOM!HCA Film AwardsBest Adapted ScreenplayWriters Guild of America AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay
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