Christian Victor Levatino
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Christian Victor Levatino is a visionary force in contemporary theater, celebrated for his uncompromising approach as a playwright, director, and actor. As the founder and artistic director of Gangbusters Theatre Company, he has built a reputation for creating works that are both intellectually provocative and emotionally intense. Levatino's productions, including those directed under his alias Leon Shanglebee, are characterized by their unflinching exploration of human nature, often pushing the boundaries of conventional theater to deliver visceral, immersive experiences.
His critically acclaimed play Sunny Afternoon exemplifies his unique ability to blend historical events with bold, speculative storytelling. The dramatization of the 48 hours Lee Harvey Oswald spent in police custody following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the play masterfully weaves fact and conspiracy, offering a deeply human portrait of Oswald that forces audiences to grapple with the complexities of history, truth, and morality.
Levatino's directorial work under the Shanglebee persona is equally lauded for its raw intensity and emotional depth. His revival of Tracers, a harrowing exploration of soldiers confronting the trauma of the Vietnam War, was praised for its dynamic staging and visceral emotional weight. The production was named a Backstage Critic's Pick and garnered a Backstage Garland Best Director nomination, with additional nominations for Best Ensemble from both the Backstage Garland Awards and the Ovation Awards. Shanglebee's direction heightened the tension between moments of stillness and explosive action, emphasizing the psychological toll of war and the fragile bonds between comrades, leaving audiences emotionally overwhelmed.
In his stage adaptation of Night of the Living Dead, Levatino once again demonstrated his remarkable ability to transform genre material into powerful social commentary. This adaptation was nominated for an NAACP Award, turning a cult horror classic into an exploration of fear, survival, and trust-a meditation on human behavior under duress.
Levatino's work is defined by its exploration of chaos, masculinity, war, and the fragility of the human psyche. His productions often place characters in extreme, life-altering circumstances, eliciting performances that push the boundaries of emotional authenticity. Whether dissecting the ravages of war, the emotional wreckage of trauma, or the volatility of youth, Levatino's works resonate deeply with audiences, leaving them shaken, challenged, and introspective.
Levatino's career is marked by numerous accolades. His production of Streamers earned him an NAACP Best Director nomination and was named a Backstage West Critic's Pick. As an actor, Levatino was nominated for an LA Weekly Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dopey in Balm in Gilead, a production for which he also directed and produced a cast of 28 actors, musicians, and a dog, earning him a nomination for LA Weekly's Best Producer award. Additionally, Levatino was nominated for a Backstage Garland Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Hamlet in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
His play King Dick was selected as one of the Top 18 plays in the country in 2016 by The Great Plains Theatre Commons in Omaha, Nebraska, further solidifying his place as one of the most distinctive voices in American theater.
At the heart of his artistic vision is his philosophy of "staging the imagined truth with speed and violence." Levatino's productions refuse to offer easy answers, instead embracing the unpredictability of the human condition. As both Christian Victor Levatino and Leon Bertram Shanglebee, he consistently delivers theater that challenges societal norms, provokes deep reflection, and expands the possibilities of storytelling.
Levatino's fearless commitment to innovation and his ability to balance intellectual rigor with emotional rawness make him a singular talent in the world of theater. His work, both as a playwright and director, transcends the stage, engaging audiences in a profound exploration of what it means to be human in the face of chaos, conflict, and uncertainty.
His critically acclaimed play Sunny Afternoon exemplifies his unique ability to blend historical events with bold, speculative storytelling. The dramatization of the 48 hours Lee Harvey Oswald spent in police custody following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the play masterfully weaves fact and conspiracy, offering a deeply human portrait of Oswald that forces audiences to grapple with the complexities of history, truth, and morality.
Levatino's directorial work under the Shanglebee persona is equally lauded for its raw intensity and emotional depth. His revival of Tracers, a harrowing exploration of soldiers confronting the trauma of the Vietnam War, was praised for its dynamic staging and visceral emotional weight. The production was named a Backstage Critic's Pick and garnered a Backstage Garland Best Director nomination, with additional nominations for Best Ensemble from both the Backstage Garland Awards and the Ovation Awards. Shanglebee's direction heightened the tension between moments of stillness and explosive action, emphasizing the psychological toll of war and the fragile bonds between comrades, leaving audiences emotionally overwhelmed.
In his stage adaptation of Night of the Living Dead, Levatino once again demonstrated his remarkable ability to transform genre material into powerful social commentary. This adaptation was nominated for an NAACP Award, turning a cult horror classic into an exploration of fear, survival, and trust-a meditation on human behavior under duress.
Levatino's work is defined by its exploration of chaos, masculinity, war, and the fragility of the human psyche. His productions often place characters in extreme, life-altering circumstances, eliciting performances that push the boundaries of emotional authenticity. Whether dissecting the ravages of war, the emotional wreckage of trauma, or the volatility of youth, Levatino's works resonate deeply with audiences, leaving them shaken, challenged, and introspective.
Levatino's career is marked by numerous accolades. His production of Streamers earned him an NAACP Best Director nomination and was named a Backstage West Critic's Pick. As an actor, Levatino was nominated for an LA Weekly Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dopey in Balm in Gilead, a production for which he also directed and produced a cast of 28 actors, musicians, and a dog, earning him a nomination for LA Weekly's Best Producer award. Additionally, Levatino was nominated for a Backstage Garland Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Hamlet in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
His play King Dick was selected as one of the Top 18 plays in the country in 2016 by The Great Plains Theatre Commons in Omaha, Nebraska, further solidifying his place as one of the most distinctive voices in American theater.
At the heart of his artistic vision is his philosophy of "staging the imagined truth with speed and violence." Levatino's productions refuse to offer easy answers, instead embracing the unpredictability of the human condition. As both Christian Victor Levatino and Leon Bertram Shanglebee, he consistently delivers theater that challenges societal norms, provokes deep reflection, and expands the possibilities of storytelling.
Levatino's fearless commitment to innovation and his ability to balance intellectual rigor with emotional rawness make him a singular talent in the world of theater. His work, both as a playwright and director, transcends the stage, engaging audiences in a profound exploration of what it means to be human in the face of chaos, conflict, and uncertainty.
