André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Happy birthday to André De Shields, who turns 70 today. The two-time Tony nominee is currently starring in Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy based on the 2008 documentary by Dori Berinstein which tells the story of professional basketball’s first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, which has performances at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago) through January 17, 2016.
Gotta Dance, produced by Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke, is helmed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots), with co-choreography by Nick Kenkel. Gotta Dance is slated to bow on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Click here for tickets and more information.
Gotta Dance stars André Robin De Shields and Stefanie Powers on New Year’s Eve at JW Marriott Chicago on December 31, 2015. Photo: @RachelHeimerman/RachelMariePhoto
André De Shields at the opening night party of Victory Gardens Theater’s 2015 IGNITION Festival of New Plays in Chicago on July 16, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
In a career spanning forty-six years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director, choreographer and educator. He is the recipient of three Jeff Awards, one as Director for Victory Gardens’ 1987 production of The Colored Museum, and two as Featured Performer in a Musical for the Goodman Theatre productions of Play On! (1998) and Mary Zimmerman’s The Jungle Book (2013). In fact De Shields’ professional career began at Chicago’s Shubert Theatre, now the Bank of America Theatre, in the 1969 production of Hair. From there he moved on to The Me Nobody Knows at the Civic Opera House, and ultimately became a member of The Organic Theatre Company, where he created the role of Xander the Unconquerable, Ruler of the Sixth Dimension in the cult sensation Warp. A multiple Tony Award nominee, he is best known for his show-stopping performances in four legendary Broadway musicals: The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Play On! and The Full Monty. His numerous accolades include an Emmy Award for the NBC Special based on Ain’t Misbehavin’, the 2015 Award for Excellence in the Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University, the National Black Theatre Festival’s Living Legend Award, the Village Voice OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance and two Doctor of Fine Arts degrees honoris causa one each from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the State University of New York-College at Buffalo. A triple Capricorn, Mr. De Shields is the ninth of eleven children born and reared in Baltimore, Maryland. www.andredeshields.com
André De Shields and Georgia Engel in GOTTA DANCE. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Alexander Aguilar, Lori Tan Chinn, André De Shields Stefanie Powers, Nancy Ticotin and Georgia Engel in GOTTA DANCE. Photo by Matthew Murphy
André De Shields and the cast of GOTTA DANCE. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Photos: André De Shields, Joe Mantegna, Jerry Mitchell, Lillias White, Lori Tan Chinn, Haven Burton and More celebrate ‘Gotta Dance’ Opening in Chicago
Playbill.com: Lillias White, André De Shields and Cast Gotta Dance! Broadway-Bound Musical Celebrates Opening in Chicago
Broadwayworld.com: Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Broadway-Bound GOTTA DANCE in Chicago!
‘Gotta Dance’ starring André De Shields, Lillias White, Georgia Engel, Stefanie Powers, Lori Tan Chinn and more opens at Broadway in Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre
‘Gotta Dance’ starring André De Shields, Lillias White, Georgia Engel, Stefanie Powers, Lori Tan Chinn at Broadway in Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre through Jan. 17
Video: Getting to Know Tony Award Winner Lillias White, Star of the Broadway-Bound World Premiere of ‘Gotta Dance’
Video: Lori Tan Chinn as Mae in the Broadway-Bound World Premiere of ‘Gotta Dance’ at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre Video: André De Shields Talked THE WIZ and GOTTA DANCE on News 4 NY with NBC-TV’s Janice Huff
GOTTA DANCE Star André De Shields receives 2015 Award for Excellence in the Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University
Broadwayworld.com: Photo Flash: The Theatre School at DePaul Honors GOTTA DANCE Star Andre De Shields in Chicago
Theatermania.com: Broadway-Bound Gotta Dance Star André Robin De Shields Honored at DePaul University
Two-time Tony nominee and Emmy winner André De Shields and Broadway in Chicago President Lou Raizin to be honored at DePaul University theatre gala on Nov. 9
Full Cast Announced for GOTTA DANCE starring André De Shields, Lillias White, Georgia Engel, Stefanie Powers, Lori Tan Chinn and More
Multimedia: CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P. Opening Night with André De Shields
Two-Time Tony nominee André De Shields, Tony Winner Lillias White, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK’s Lori Tan Chinn, Stephanie Powers, Georgia Engel & More Will Lead Broadway-Bound Musical GOTTA DANCE in Chicago
Photos and Video: Behind the Scenes with THE WIZ’s André De Shields at The Wiz is 40 at #Summerstage30
Click here for more articles on André De Shields.
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Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Examiner.com, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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