Florida State University’s Student Government Association, in collaboration with Union Productions and the Office of Student Agencies and Institutes, welcomed songwriter, actor and author Leslie Odom, Jr. for the annual Golden Torch Lecture Series Tuesday, Jan. 20, as part of the university community’s 38th MLK Week celebration.
Florida State University’s MLK Week has celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for more than three decades in an effort to bring the FSU and Tallahassee communities together to reflect on the past and support one another to build a better world for tomorrow. The weeklong celebration across campus aligns with Dr. King’s birthday on Jan. 15 and the federal holiday observed on the third Monday of the month.
“Bringing Leslie Odom, Jr. to campus through our MLK Program and the Golden Torch Lecture Series was a powerful reflection of this year’s theme, ‘Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers,’” said Felicia Williams, director of Student Engagement. “From the FSU School of Theatre Masterclass to the sold-out moderated conversation, the experience affirmed the arts as a vehicle for leadership, truth-telling and healing. Odom’s body of work, spanning Broadway, film, and music, models how storytelling can elevate voices and inspire collective responsibility. His closing performance was intentional and deeply moving; it reminded us of the power of shared humanity and left a lasting impact on our campus and the Tallahassee community that we will never forget.”
FSU’s Air Force ROTC kicked off the program with the presentation of colors, with DaSean Stokes singing the National Anthem and Lift Every Voice and Sing. The evening also featured performances by the FSU Gospel Choir and School of Dance student Jamora Lewis, recognition of the MLK Book Stipend awardees and concluded with Odom’s keynote conversation and surprise performance.
“Chances are you are not the first person to do anything — and that’s a wonderful thing — because even in the scariest moments, you can borrow from the courage of the people that have come before you.”
– Leslie Odom, Jr.
Odom is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominated songwriter, actor and New York Times bestselling author. Best known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton,” Odom has continued to captivate audiences across multiple platforms through six albums, two books, as well as television, film and stage roles.
Some of Odom’s film and television credits include Rian Johnson’s record-breaking 2022 Knives Out sequel, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” for Netflix, “Abbott Elementary,” “Harriet,” “The Many Saints of Newark,” a prequel to David Chase’s award-winning HBO series “The Sopranos,” Apple TV+’s “Central Park” (2020 Emmy nomination), “Hamilton” on Disney+ (2021 Emmy nomination), host of “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!” on CBS (2022 Emmy nomination), “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” and many more.
Odom’s inspiring Golden Torch Lecture conversation covered a wide array of themes including identity, artistry and the importance of building upon the legacy of those who came before us. The conversation was moderated by FSU School of Theatre Assistant Professor of Performance Jasmine Bracey.
“Chances are you are not the first person to do anything — and that’s a wonderful thing — because even in the scariest moments, you can borrow from the courage of the people that have come before you,” Odom shared. “You still gotta do it yourself, but you are not alone. The people that have succeed before you are rooting you on.”
He captivated the audience with anecdotes and lessons he has learned through his influential role as Aaron Burr in the original production “Hamilton,” as a father and artist and ultimately in life.
“My job is to run my leg of the race with everything I’ve got — is to pour it out, pour it out,” Odom said. “We must be cumulative in our time. I think we must fill ourselves up with as much as has come before as possible because we have to be all of that and. You have to be everything that has come before and.”
At the conclusion of the lecture, a handful of students were selected to ask Odom questions ranging from his favorite films to his personal experiences on Broadway.
The program also included honoring this year’s MLK Book Stipend awardees. Alexis Butum and Julia Pieri were the recipient of two of the awards sponsored by FSU’s Department of Student Engagement. Additionally, Joshua Francis and Leah Mungo were selected as recipients sponsored by FSU National Black Alumni.
Earlier in the day, Odom hosted an intimate Masterclass for FSU School of Theatre students. Six students across multiple performance disciplines had the opportunity to share their work and receive individualized feedback from the Tony Award winner.
For more information about FSU’s annual MLK Week Celebration, visit mlk.fsu.edu.