Beloved (and Tony-winning) director Kenny Leon was honored with a Sardi's caricature September 28.

Leon was joined by the stars of his current Broadway play, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through The Cotton Patch, with leading lady Kara Young reading a special statement from the unable-to-attend Audra McDonald, and speeches given by Suzan-Lori Parks and Leslie Odom Jr. 

Ossie Davis' Purlie Victorious has returned to Broadway for its first-ever revival at The Music Box Theatre with Leon at the helm, officially opening September 27 after beginning previews September 7. 

The work follows a traveling preacher, Purlie, who returns to his Georgia hometown to save the local church and the cotton pickers working on Ol' Cap'n Cotchiepee's plantation. Davis both wrote and starred in the 1961 original Broadway production, appearing alongside his wife, Ruby Dee. Davis and Dee would go on to reprise their performances in a 1963 film adaptation titled Gone Are the Days! 

Check out photos from Leon's special evening below:

close gallery

0 of

Photos: See Kenny Leon Receive Sardi's Portrait

Next Slide  

You may also like

• 
  Photos: Berkshire Theatre Group's Pipe Dream
• 
  Photos: Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
• 
  Photos: Aaron Tveit, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, and company of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Celebrate 5 Years on Broadway