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Leslie R. Urdang Tenney (born February 20, 1956) is an American film producer and theatre executive.
Urdang attendedForest Hills High School in New York City, where she was Chairman ofSeniorSING! 1972 during her senior year,[1] and at which she was the graduation speaker in 2016.[2] She originally aspired to become a US senator, earning a B.A. in political science from theUniversity of Pennsylvania.[3] In 1977, after her graduation, Urdang interned for U.S. SenatorJohn A. Durkin (D-N.H.), assisting with constituent communications and issue research.
In 1978, Urdang decided not to apply to theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government and instead sought and won entry to theYale School of Drama,[4] graduating in 1981. Her thesis there explored integrating the development of plays and films, which inspired her professional work.[5]
Urdang began dancing professionally as a child inGeorge Balanchine's staging ofThe Nutcracker, a chapter of her life documented in the 2006 filmThe Nutcracker Family: Behind the Magic.[6]
After graduating from Yale's drama school in 1981, she,Mark Linn-Baker andMax Mayer co-foundedNew York Stage and Film as an institution for professional playwrights, directors, actors, and designers, as well apprentices, to live and work together to move their plays to Broadway and theaters throughout the nation.[7][8] Projects have included theTony Award-winning playsSide Man andTru,John Patrick Shanley'sPulitzer Prize forDrama and Tony Award winningDoubt, and most notably the epochal, multiple-award-winning musicalHamilton.[9] Urdang continues to be a Producing Director of the institution.[citation needed]
Urdang was a producer forRobert Redford's company Wildwood Enterprises and forGary Ross' Larger Than Life Productions. At both companies she developed several projects including theWalter Salles directedThe Motorcycle Diaries. WithMichael Nozik andMichael Hoffman, Urdang founded Serenade Films as an independent film company designed to produce a slate of low budget production. Serenade producedMichael Cuesta'sTwelve and Holding (2006Independent Spirit Awards nominee),The Great New Wonderful withMaggie Gyllenhaal,Tony Shalhoub,Edie Falco, andStephen Colbert, Michael Hoffman'sGame 6 withMichael Keaton andRobert Downey, Jr., andThe Narrows.[citation needed]
Some of her other producing credits includeA Midsummer Night's Dream starringMichelle Pfeiffer andKevin Kline,Me and Veronica starringElizabeth McGovern andPatricia Wettig,People I Know starringAl Pacino, and Olympus Pictures'Adam starringHugh Dancy andRose Byrne. In March 2009, Urdang became president of Olympus Pictures,[10] producing such films asRabbit Hole,Beginners,Thanks for Sharing,The Oranges, andMr. Pip.[citation needed] She is now[as of?] President of Mar-Key Pictures and most recently producedThe Family Fang andThe Seagull.[citation needed]
In the early 1990s, Urdang shared a New York City brownstone with then-boyfriend actorRob Morrow, during the years in which he was seen on television as the protagonist of the seriesNorthern Exposure.[11] In June 2012, Urdang married actorJon Tenney.[citation needed]
