Thomas Kail
Artistic Director
Back House Productions
New York, NY USA
“If there's something that you're interested in, go at it with everything you have.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationThomas Kail
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
He went to Wesleyan University, where he met his collaborator Anthony Veneziale.
Anthony invited him to help write the humor section of the campus newspaper.
The two of them worked on that together for six months, then they wrote a piece that was so bad that they got fired.
He graduated with a degree in American history, but he was really interested in producing shows through the theater department.
After school, he struck a deal with his parents: he'd pursue his theater dreams for one year, and if it didn't work out, he'd come home.
He moved to New Jersey to be closer to New York City, and he subsisted mostly off of tomato soup and tuna fish.
The two eventually synced back up to open Back House Productions, which later produced Tony-award winner, In the Heights.
Says you'll never know if you're truly on the right path, but if you feel a spark, you're probably in the right place.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Artistic Director
I produce and direct theatre shows including the musical "Hamilton."
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Acting & Theatre
Art
Being Creative
Interviewed By
New York City - Boston
The Roadtrip Nation team spends time in New York, interviewing graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister. Then they head across town to meet with Thomas Kale and Anthony Veneziale of theatre company Backhouse Productions and get to freestyle rap. In Boston, sportswriter Joe Haggerty reminds the team that paying your dues plays a big role in getting to do what you love.
