James Leonardi

Hello there! My name is James Leonardi and I grew up in River Forest, Illinois. Growing up, I always felt pulled toward my piano. I started playing when I was seven years old. I strive to create inclusive stories that use music as an emotional compass. I grew up performing in regional shows, commercials, and TV in the Chicagoland area. From a young age, I fell in love with theater and how it brought communities together. 

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At Fenwick High School, I invested all of my energy, time, and love into the Black Friars Guild, their theatrical arts program. I performed in many classic plays, musicals, and concerts. In my senior year, I wrote, composed, produced, and starred in a musical called The Good Ones. This project raised over $10,000 for INTI-NEST, a Bolivian non-profit organization I grew up working with. This project helped me realize that I could create for something larger than myself. It's where I began telling my own stories through music. That's when I started writing and composing.

Soon after, I had the life-changing opportunity of studying Drama at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. During my time at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, I cultivated and refined my artistic vision, identity, and discovered what theater-making means to me. I was a part of many original student works, developmental staged readings, and performed original songs in the Playwrights MainStage Fall 2025 devised production titled "Because we Dream". In my final semester at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, I created and starred in an original musical called Joyland. It was the highlight of my time at NYU and I'm currently working on developing it into a full-length. Working with artists from all over the world at NYU changed my perspective on what theater-making can be, and how I want to move forward through the world as an artist who creates. I recently graduated in three years with a BFA in Drama with a double minor in BEMT (Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology) and Producing. 

Aside from my life's journey as an artist, I have other interests. I really admire cooking and baking. I always love to make something I've never made before and challenge myself. However, some of my favorite things I've made have to be Sticky Toffee Pudding or Tres Leches. Another fun fact about me is that I've always been a roller coaster enthusiast, ever since I was 7 years old. I used to vlog YouTube videos at my home park Six Flags Great America. If you tell me where you live, I bet I can guess which amusement park is closest to you. I love blending immersive experiences with the element of thrill. I'm always down for any live experience whether that's mini golf, themed-restaurants, haunted houses, pop-ups, or theme parks, you'll find me there. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve learned that I want to tell imaginative stories that spark wonder, joy, and bring people together.