WESTERVILLE, Ohio– An Off-Broadway director and actor is making his mark at one Ohio university in the classroom and on stage. He’s hoping that his work will inspire the next generation of students to reach for the stars. 

  • Leibowitz has directed actors for Broadway, television, and film
  • He has been Directing since his 20’s
  • Looking to devote more of his energy towards younger generations 

College students from Otterbein University rehearsed scenes from the play, Radium Girls, recently to make sure they got their lines down pat just before opening night of the stage play. Professor Lenny Leibowitz squeezed in one last rehearsal before the start of the performance. It is based on a true story of a dial painter in the 1920’s who stood up for the rights of others after being poisoned by radium. 

During the rehearsal, the pressure was on for the Off-Broadway director and actor to produce a killer play. In a joking manner, he said: “Uhhh, pressure plus guilt is pretty much the formula that drives me.” On a serious note, he said even though he felt pressure, the most important thing for him was about producing the most ethical and integrity filled work he could. 

When Leibowitz isn’t directing plays, he’s in the classroom teaching college students the ropes of directing and acting. He’s been directing since his 20’s. Leaned fully forward and engaged, it’s easy to tell that students glean as much as they can what before class time runs out and its time to go. Just as he gives career advice in the classroom, he does the same with his lead actors in between scenes. It’s those moments that students say they appreciate, in addition to what Leibowitz is teaching them. Leibowitz says he loved directing and acting but wanted more. “I missed being...having that institutional support where I could be devoting more of my energy to the creating of the art and to working with the new generation.”

Leibowitz has directed several productions over the years and at regional theaters across the country. He’s also received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Revival of a Musical and performed in productions like Harvey and Much Ado About Nothing.