De Shields' MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY Comes To TWN 7/12

Kim Vasquez/Gray Lady Entertainment, Theatre Workshop of Nantucket (John Shea, Artistic Director), The Nantucket Historical Association, African Meeting House and The Nantucket Atheneum are pleased to present ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS in MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY: FROM DOUGLASS TO DELIVERANCE inspired by Frederick Douglass, the great American abolitionist. Opening Night Gala & Performance - including a Q&A with Mr. De Shields, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres begins at 6 P.M., Monday, July 12, at the NHA Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. Tickets are $150 and $100. On Tuesday, July 13 at 4 P.M. in the Nantucket Atheneum Garden, the public is invited to a free Q&A with Mr. De Shields. A second performance will play at 6:30 PM in the NHA's Whaling Museum. Tickets are $25. Tickets to all paid events are available at the TWN box office, www.theatreworkshop.com, and by calling (508) 228-4305.

Directed by Alfred Preisser, choreographed by Tracy Jack, costume design by KATJA ANDREIEV, production management by ROBERT Michael JohnsON and stage management by JENNIFER AHLBORN.

ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS is the recipient of the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival Living Legend Award, and the 2007 Village Voice OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance. In a career that has spanned over forty years, he is best known for his show-stopping performances in the original Broadway productions of four legendary musicals: The Full Monty, Play On!, Ain't Misbehavin', and The Wiz.

Kim Vasquez/GRAY LADY ENTERTAINMENT (Executive Artistic Producer) is a theatrical producing and consulting company, which brings to the stage, adaptations of classical drama and literature along with original plays and musicals. Producer and General Manager of new musicals in development include: Therapy Rocks, Speargrove, Plagued - a love story, Max and the Truffle Pig, Such Good Friends (multiple award-winner) and Emerald Man (award-winner) which was chosen for the 2007 ASCAP/Disney workshops in Los Angeles. Co-Producer: Pterodactyl Island 2008, Fools and Lovers 2006 (an original Shakespeare musical comedy) and the widely-praised Julius Caesar in 2005. Her directing credits include: the first-female version of Fully! Committed by Becky Mode with the role of "Sam" played by Amy Stiller and Alan Bowne's Beirut. She received her B.F.A in Acting from the University of Minnesota, is also a graduate from The National Shakespeare Conservatory (post-graduate program) and The Commercial Theatre Institute. Kim is a Founding Producer for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, an Adjunct member of The Broadway League and a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.