Andre De Shields News

THE BEAUTIFUL LADY – a new musical work by the Tony nominated composer Elizabeth Swados (RUNAWAYS in 1978), with text translated by Paul Schmidt – will have its NYC debut at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre this spring.

Grippo Stage Company presents the world premiere of Shaw vs. Tunney, written by Douglas Post and directed by Nick Sandys, based on the book “The Prizefighter and The Playwright” by Jay R. Tunney, May 25 - July 8, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.

Andre De Shields, Lear DeBessonet, Drama Book Shop & Darin Oduyoye will be honored at 89th Annual Drama League Awards. See when the awards ceremony will be taking place!

RADIO 477!, a new theatrical production about the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in 1929 and today –  in collaboration with the prominent Ukrainian literary figure Serhiy Zhadan – will debut at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St. in Manhattan), with performances beginning March 10 through March 19, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's artistic director.

Playwright Lee Edward Colston II’s The First Deep Breath is receiving its west coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse through March 5, 2023. Steve H. Broadnax III directs a most uniformly stellar cast of: Opa Adeyemo, playwright Lee Edward Colston II, Brandon Mendez Homer, Ella Joyce, Herb Newsome, Deanna Reed-Foster, Candace Thomas and Keith A. Wallace. Steve managed to find some off-time between rehearsals and shows to answer a few of my queries.

As the theater community in NYC continues to get back on its feet following the pandemic, two new theaters have just been added to the mix as La MaMa re-opened its landmark theaters at 74A E. 4 St. – following a 3-year, $24 million renovation.

LA MAMA ETC will celebrate the re-opening of its landmark home 74A with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the refurbished building (open free to the public) on Thursday, February 9 at 11 a.m. at La MaMa.

Death of a Salesman stars Sharon D. Clarke and Wendell Pierce recently were honored with portraits at the iconic Sardi's. BroadwayWorld was there for the unveiling and you can check out photos here!

BroadwayWorld congratulates McKinley Belcher III on his wedding to longtime boyfriend Blake Fox!

 Andre De Shields, the Tony Award winning legendary actor celebrated his lucky 77th Birthday on stage at yesterday's curtain call of the hit Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Check out photos and video from the celebration here!

GMHC will honor Broadway legend and award-winning performer André De Shields with the 2023 Howard Ashman Award for his advocacy and activism for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as LGBTQ+ communities.

See photos from opening night of At The Illusionist’s Table, an intimate experience where magic and mentalism intertwine with fine dining, at The McKittrick Hotel.

This is not a “Best Of” list because it isn’t for me to say what is best, only what resonated with me, but after a lot, a lot, a lot of shows, this New Year's Eve, these shows are still on my mind.

Uzo Aduba, Norm Lewis and Ben Vereen were the latest celebrities catching the acclaimed Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” at the Hudson Theatre.  Check out photos of the stars backstage with the cast here!

Native Son - the leading organization championing Black gay and queer men – has unveiled its illustrious, annual year-end Native Son 101 List highlighting Black gay and queer men who made an impact in 2022. Created by Native Son Founder Emil Wilbekin, the 101 List recognizes leaders in the Black gay and queer community who have made significant contributions, achieved culture-making milestones, and those who are using their platforms to break through glass ceilings in their respective roles, professions, and areas of expertise.

See photos of Tony, Emmy, and GRAMMY Award-winning performing artist André De Shields and more at The Loft at City Winery for 'Unscripted Live,' an interview series that spotlights the stories of legendary artists, their resilience, and their creative regeneration.

Yes, the Holiday Season is once again upon us. Time for merriment, gathering with friends, family, chosen family, and what have you to enjoy the sights, the sounds, and the food of the season. Amidst all of the hustle and bustle of the times, the Straz Center’s Carol Morsani Hall brings a different fable and tale of love, hope, and the courage to survive against all odds to its patrons following the close of Thanksgiving weekend, and ushering in the first week of December. Unlike Ghosts of both Past, and Present, patrons of the Straz Center are plunged head-first into a dark tale based on figures found in Greek Mythology, and the tale itself seems all too relevant and perfectly placed in our current climate. The Broadway Smash Hadestown takes the stage by storm and leaves no prisoners in its wake. I for one am thankful for this time, the time to sit in a sacred space and experience the undeniably beautiful event that is live theatre, and the Straz Center is the Gift that keeps on giving, not only during the holiday season but all year long. Their 2022/2023 Bank of America Broadway Season is one of the absolute best yet!

The gritty folk-opera sensation isn't the second coming of Hamilton, it's the second coming of RENT.

BroadwayWorld has learned that Andre De Shields will host the 2022 Theater Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The 2022 Gala Induction and Dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 7:00 PM at The Gershwin Theatre in New York City.

Earlier this week, The Nederlander Organization unveiled the new Lena Horne Theatre in honor of the iconic entertainer and civil rights activist. This is the first Broadway theatre in history to be named for a Black woman. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the ceremony here!