Brian
Leonard
Brian is a writer, director, creative director, actor and stand-up comedian.
Or, as his mother would say, “He’s unemployed in many fields.”
Brian’s currently focused on his solo show, “Therapist Zero”, which has played to sold-out houses at the San Francisco Fringe Festival and will be touring the UK and the US this spring and summer.
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What does Brian do?
Therapist Zero
“Unflinching honesty, warmth, and wit”
Therapist Zero is a raw, darkly comic solo performance written and performed by Brian Leonard and directed by acclaimed theater artist Ken Sonkin. This deeply personal one-man show explores the complexities of parenting a brilliant but emotionally explosive daughter through two decades, 28 therapists, and a mental healthcare system that often felt more confounding than supportive.
The story unfolds in sharply observed vignettes—some heartbreaking, others hilarious—as Leonard weaves together his daughter's journey with searing memories of his own unconventional childhood. Raised in a chaotic, often neglectful home, Leonard slept on the couch until high school, started smoking at age seven, and was once forgotten during a family trip to Niagara Falls. These formative experiences surface in surprising and poignant ways as he tries to parent differently—but finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about love, responsibility, and repair.
Creative Director
What exactly do I do?
Jack of all trades, master of none? I don't know about that, I think I've mastered a few along the way. But, I would consider myself more of a generalist than a specialist.
Before execution let's determine the 'Big Idea” that captures audience interest, influences their emotional response, and inspires them to take action.
Words. I have all the
best words.
Directing
Writing
What I enjoy most is directing talent: Actors, executives, and people on the street. That's really fun. And, I’m kinda good at it..
Creative Concepting
The challenge: create a short film that explains how our universe was created. It needs to pass the scrutiny of MIT astrophysicists but also be understandable and compelling enough for 11-year old kids. This is the first exhibit visitors see as they enter the new Dallas Museum of Nature and Science. I worked on this for over a year, reading and studying Stephen Hawking and meeting with said astrophysicists from MIT. The exhibits (I was Creative Director for a total of 5 exhibits at the museum) got great reviews from NY Times, Dallas Times, National Geographic, and others. Narrated by Owen Wilson.
Dallas Museum of Science
Video Director
“I See You”
I See You is the story of a most remarkable person, Erin Partridge, an art therapist who connects and communicates with elders suffering from dementia and Alzheimers through art.
LinkedIn - “Job Interviews”
A recruiter tries to make sense of the job interviewing process to 4th graders.
Writer
Brian Leonard’s career has hit just about every corner of comedy and storytelling. After more than a decade on the road as a stand-up - appearing on Evening at the Improv, Comic Strip Live, and Comedy Central - he started writing for other people. He wrote the words that came out of A-list celebrities’ mouths, including Jason Sudeikis, Mindy Kaling, Ellen DeGeneres, Bob Costas, Harrison Ford, Owen Wilson, among others. He also wrote comedy for
BBC Radio 4’s “The Treatment.”
He’s written and directed projects for dozens of Fortune 500 companies, including keynote speeches for executives, campaigns, and scripts. His work has been honored by The Webbys, earned Telly and Communicator Awards, and even a Gold Plaque from the Chicago Film Festival. The San Jose Mercury News once called him “…one of San Francisco’s most intelligent and funniest comedians.”
Brian also had an animated series (Silicon Valley) optioned by Universal Television and served as a story consultant for Pixar. His latest project is his solo performance Therapist Zero, a painfully funny, deeply personal story that’s played to sold-out houses in San Francisco and New York.
