Background
Kail grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in 1995 and subsequently from Wesleyan University in 1999.
Kail grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in 1995 and subsequently from Wesleyan University in 1999.
Wesleyan University.
After graduating from Wesleyan University, Kail became assistant stage manager at New Jersey"s American Stage Company. Kail directed the 24 Hour Plays benefit performances in 2007 and 2008, where "6 short plays are written, rehearsed, directed, and performed in 24 hours." In 2007, he directed Julia Jordan"s A Business Stop Play, and Beau Willimon"s Zusammenbruch in 2008. Both shows played at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway.
The musical premiered on Broadway, starting in previews on February 14, 2008, with an official opening on March 9, 2008 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
Kail directed Broke-ology, which played from October 5, 2009 to November 22, 2009, at the Lincoln Center Theater Office-Broadway. This play garnered Kail an Audience Development Committee Award nomination for Best Director of a Dramatic Production.
Kail also staged the world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Also in 2009, Kail directed the New York City Center"s Encores! production of the musical The Wiz.
Kail also directed Eric Simonson"s play Lombardi, based on Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi through a week in the 1965 season, as he attempts to lead his team to the championship.
Lombardi officially premiered on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre on October 21, 2010. He then directed the Office-Broadway run of Nathan Louis Jackson"s When I Come To Die, which ran in January and February 2011. With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kail wrote the closing rap for the 65th Tony Awards telecast on June 12, 2011, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.
Kail reunited with Lombardi playwright Eric Simonson on Magic/Bird, a new play chronicling the intertwined life stories of basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
The play premiered on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on March 21, 2012 in previews, officially on April 11, 2012 and closed on May 12, 2012. Kail directed, with the cast that featured Kevin Daniels as "Magic" Johnson and Tug Coker as Larry Bird.
Kail continued his collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda, directing the musical Hamilton in 2015, both Office-Broadway and on Broadway. Kail directed Grease: Live for Paramount Television, screened live on Fox on Sunday January 31, 2016.