2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award recipients André De Shields and Marcia Pendleton at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
In Chicago on August 9, 2016, two-time Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner André De Shields was honored by the Black Theatre Network with the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award for Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Black Theatre.
BTN President kb saine presents André De Shields with the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Walk Tall Girl Productions Founder and President Marcia Pendleton (Winona Lee Fletcher Award), playwright Dominique Morisseau (BTN Presidential Pathfinder Award), Gregory J. Horton (Lifetime Membership Award) and Dr. Hely Perez (Lifetime Membership Award) were also honored at Black Theatre: Future Forward, the Black Theatre Network’s 30th anniversary bruncheon, which was held in the Honore Room at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Scroll down for photos!
2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN President kb saine and André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields accepts the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcia Pendleton at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Erich McMillan-McCall snaps Marcia Pendleton at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcia Pendleton accepts the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcia Pendleton accepts the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcia Pendleton accepts the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN President kb saine presented Marcia Pendleton with the 2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN President kb saine presents Gregory J. Horton with the 2016 BTN Lifetime Membership Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN President kb saine presents Dr. Hely Perez with the 2016 BTN Lifetime Membership Award at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
2016 Winona Lee Fletcher Award recipients André De Shields and Marcia Pendleton at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Black Theatre Network (BTN) is the nation’s preeminent organization of scholars, artists, students, and educators dedicated to the study and promulgation of black theatre.
André De Shields and Ntozake Shange at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
The Winona Lee Fletcher Award for Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Black Theatre was established in 1994 and named after the leading theatre educator Dr. Winona Lee Fletcher. Past illustrious recipients include Ed Burbridge, Vinnie Burrows, Vinnette Carroll, Pearl Cleage, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, Lloyd Richards, Philip Rose, Ntozake Shange and Glynn Turman.
André De Shields leads Theatre Church at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields leads Theatre Church at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields leads Theatre Church at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Mr. De Shields kicked off the morning by leading Theatre Church in the Chicago Room.
André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Double Bassist Anthony J. Mhoon and André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields performs ‘Smile’ at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields performs ‘Smile’, accompanied by Tony J. Mhoon on double bass at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields performs ‘Smile’, accompanied by Tony J. Mhoon on double bass at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields performs ‘Smile’ at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Double Bassist Anthony J. Mhoon at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
He closed out the bruncheon with his rendition of ‘Smile’ from his self-penned CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P., accompanied on double bass by Anthony J. Mhoon.
After the bruncheon, he met with students for a Q & A session in the Wilson Room.
André De Shields during a Q & A at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields during a Q & A at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields during a Q & A at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields during a Q & A at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields with BTN volunteers at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields with Santino Craven, Antonia LaChe McCain, Ernest Bentley and Breayre Shaunice Tender at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields with students at BTN’s 30th Anniversary conference at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Mr. De Shields is currently in Chicago rehearsing CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P., which has performances on Friday, August 26th at 8:00P.M., Saturday, August 27th at 8:00P.M. and Sunday, August 28th at 7:30P.M. in the Začek McVay Theater at Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago.
BTN Vice President Dr. John Shévin Foster, André De Shields and Michael Dinwiddie at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Dr. Sandra Adell with André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Presented by Dennis Začek and Grippo Stage Co., Inc., CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P., is written and performed by Mr. De Shields, and directed by Samuel G. Roberson and Dennis Začek. The cast also includes Kimberly Lawson and Donica Lynn.
Donica Lynn as Mau Mau Bett and André De Shields as Baba Femi. Photo by Lia Chang
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.victorygardens.org or by calling the box office at 773-871-3000.
André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
From the heat of urban insurrection in Baltimore, Maryland to the incandescent glare of New York’s Great White Way, “Jelly Belly” has many stories to tell. Through song, dance, and spoken word, join Victory Gardens Theater’s Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellow André De Shields in this riveting solo-performance as we follow this adventure from inner city impoverishment to self-actualization.
The creative team for CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P. includes Doug Peck (musical direction), Jake Huppert (sound design), Brandon Moorhead (lighting design), Austin Pettinger (costume design) and Charles Smith (dramaturge). The band includes Tony Mhoon (bass) and Robert Reddrick (percussion). Tina Jach is the stage manager.
Robert Reddrick, Doug Peck, André De Shields, Tony Mhoon, Kimberly Lawson and Donica Lynn at the curtain call for CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P. in Victory Gardens’ 2015 IGNITION Festival of New Plays in Chicago on July 16, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P. originally premiered as part of Victory Gardens’ 2015 IGNITION Festival of New Plays.
André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
In a career spanning forty-seven 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 Mr. 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 National Black Theatre Festival’s Living Legend Award, a 2015 Award for Excellence in Theatre from the Theatre School at DePaul University, 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
Highlights of the bruncheon.
BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Dinwiddie at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
The Past Presidents: Revue! – featuring Ethel Pitts-Walker, Rhonnie Washington, Addell Austin-Anderson, Kathryn Ervin, Mikell Pinkney, Eileen Morris, Gregory J. Horton, Sandra Shannon, Luther Wells and Michael Dinwiddie at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
The Past Presidents: Revue! – featuring Ethel Pitts-Walker, Rhonnie Washington, Addell Austin-Anderson, Kathryn Ervin, Mikell Pinkney, Eileen Morris, Gregory J. Horton, Sandra Shannon, Luther Wells and Michael Dinwiddie at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
The Past Presidents: Revue! – featuring Ethel Pitts-Walker, Rhonnie Washington, Addell Austin-Anderson, Kathryn Ervin, Mikell Pinkney, Eileen Morris, Gregory J. Horton, Sandra Shannon, Luther Wells and Michael Dinwiddie at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Dr. Hely Perez in The Past Presidents: Revue! at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Dinwiddie in The Past Presidents: Revue! at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
The Past Presidents: Revue! – featuring Ethel Pitts-Walker, Rhonnie Washington, Addell Austin-Anderson, Kathryn Ervin, Mikell Pinkney, Eileen Morris, Gregory J. Horton, Sandra Shannon, Luther Wells and Michael Dinwiddie at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Dinwiddie in The Past Presidents: Revue! at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony J. Mhoon, Cassandra Mhoon and André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Richards Abrams and André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Donald Sutton, Ntozake Shange and André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Ron Hymes at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Cassandra and Anthony J. Mhoon at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields at BTN’s 30th Anniversary Bruncheon at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on August 9, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
Lia Chang_photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the filmsWolf, 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.
Lia Chang Photography 