Photos: André De Shields Receives 2026 Legend Award at Live Out Loud's 25th Anniversary Gala

Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner, Broadway Icon and CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL star André De Shields was honored recently with the 2026 Live Out Loud Legend Award at Live Out Loud’s 25th Anniversary Gala at The Lighthouse, Pier 61 Chelsea Piers. Check out the photos below!

He was joined by actors Amber Iman, Shereen Ahmed, John-Andrew Morrison, Madge Dietrich, Jason Veasey, Music Director Drew Wutke, Violinist and Composer Dr. Edward W. Hardy, Fashion Designer Patrick Cupid, and Multi-media Content Producer Lia Chang.

André was nominated for a 2026 Drama League Distinguished Performance Award and garnered a fourth Tony nomination for his role as Old Deuteronomy in the critically-acclaimed revival of CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL, currently running on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. The show has been nominated for 9 Tony Awards.

At eighty Earth years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor/activist, educator, iconic philanthropist and Broadway Deity. As Actor, Mr. De Shields’ mission is to fill intimate spaces with enormous beauty. He defines intimate spaces as the hearts of humanity. As Activist, he endeavors to restore majesty, elegance and literacy to the Black Thespian’s toolbox, to advocate for long term survivors of HIV and AIDS, and to champion the legacy of the Wellderly (elderly individuals who continue to kick butt). His idiosyncratic career has resulted in a treasure trove of accolades, among them an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has founded The André De Shields Fund. His other markers of esteem include being declared the triple crown winner of the 2019 awards season, having garnered Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Grammy Awards for his universally acclaimed role in HADESTOWN as Hermes, messenger to the gods. Perennially renowned for his show-stopping performances in four legendary Broadway productions –THE WIZ (title role), AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ (Emmy Award), PLAY ON! (Tony nom), and THE FULL MONTY (Tony nom); his portrayal of Old Deuteronomy in the radically re-imagined CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL was rewarded with the 2024 A.U.D.E.L.C.O. Award, the 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical, the 2025 Dorian Theater Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in an Off-Broadway Production, and the 2025 LGBTQ Theater Trailblazer Award. In addition to special citations from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Obie Awards, he also received, nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical from the Drama Desk and for Distinguished Performance Award by The Drama League. Mr. De Shields reigned as The Grand Marshal of the 51st Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, achieving the sui generis reputation as one of the ten wonders of New York City. SAWUBONA! www.goatman.vip

Photo Credit: Lia Chang