Lia Chang Photos: De Shields, McClendon, Elisa, Glasco, Phillips, Thompson in The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy

Frequent collaborators André De Shields and playwright Lonnie Carter. Photo by Lia Chang

The Negro Ensemble Company presented a one night only staged reading of Lonnie Carter’s The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy, directed by and starring Carter’s frequent collaborator and multiple Tony nominee André De Shields (The Full Monty, Play On!, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Wiz), on Valentine’s Day in the June Havoc Theatre, at the Abingdon Theatre Complex in New York.

Forrest McClendon as Nebuchadnezzar. Photo by Lia Chang

The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy cast also featured Forrest McClendon (Scottsboro Boys), Gillian Glasco (New Federal Theatre’s hit Knock Me A Kiss), Sean Phillips (New Federal Theatre’s hit Knock Me A Kiss), Alexander Elisa (The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Black Nativity) and Roenia Thompson (Blues in the Night ).

Lonnie Carter‘s play The Romance of Magno Rubio won 8 Obies for its Ma-Yi Theater production in 2003. A recent work The Lost Boys of Sudan was produced at the Childrens’ Theater Company in 2007 and Victory Gardens in Chicago in 2010. He teaches in the Dramatic Writing Program in the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, twice a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts, an alumnus of New Dramatists and The Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis and one of the founding members of the Victory Gardens Playwrights’ Ensemble. In a much earlier version The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy was read at the NEC with Douglas Turner Ward reading the role of Shadrach. It was subsequently produced at Victory Gardens and then Woodie King, Jr’s New Federal Theater with André De Shields playing the role of Nebuchadnezzar.

(L-R) André De Shields, Roenia Thompson, Gillian Glasco, Sean Phillips, Lonnie Carter, Forrest McClendon and Alexander Elisa Photo by Lia Chang

In a career spanning more than forty years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director, writer and educator. He 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. Mr. De Shields is a multiple Tony Award nominee, and the author of the solo performance, MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY: Frederick Douglass. He is best known for his show stopping performances in the original Broadway productions of four legendary musicals: The Full Monty (Noah “Horse” T. Simmons), Play On! (Jester), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (The Viper) and the title role in The Wiz. A triple Capricorn, he is the ninth of eleven children born and reared in Baltimore, Maryland. www.andredeshields.com.

Alec Nemser and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang

The mission of the Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) is to provide African-American, African and Caribbean professional artists with an opportunity to learn, to work, to grow and to be nurtured in the performing arts. The overall mission of the NEC is to present live theatre performances by and about black people to a culturally diverse audience that is often underserved by the theatrical community.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

André and I have collaborated together since 1993, after acting together in Lonnie Carter’s Gulliver at La MaMa. Photo by Merle Frimark

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

This year, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Other Articles on Andre De Shields:
Spend Valentine’s Day with André De Shields in The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy at the Abingdon Theatre
playbill.com: Andre De Shields Will Direct and Star in Reading of The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy
Theatermania.com: André De Shields to Direct and Star in Reading of The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy
André De Shields and Charlayne Woodard are featured in Red Bull Theater’s Off Broadway Production of The Witch of Edmonton
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
Andre Dé Shields is having a Devilishly Good Time in Damn Yankees at The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport
Photos of André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance
Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life
André De Shields Celebrates Black History Month Starring in The Working Theater’s Production of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory at The Abingdon in February 2010
Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, MTC’s Ruined are Top Winners at 2009 Audelcos
Multimedia: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe Opening Night Party Photos
Multimedia: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe
André De Shields and Reg E. Cathey Star in Cato at The Flea

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Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
New York Blizzard of 2010
Snow in New York City’s Central Park
Kevin Anderson, Catherine Dent, Tracee Chimo, John Earl Jelks in Neil La Bute’s The Break of Noon at the Geffen 1/25-3/6
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Jarlath Conroy Leads Cast of Pinter’s The Homecoming at CENTERSTAGE in Baltimore, 1/26-2/20/11
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
The Dish on Susur Lee and Shang Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang: Spend Valentine’s Day with André De Shields in The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy, written by Lonnie Carter at the Abingdon Theatre

(L-R) Sean Phillips, André De Shields and Alexander Elisa in The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy. Imagine an episode of Law & Dis-Order: SV eeeeew! Double lippin' and entenDRÉ flippin' with Flavor Flav, Judge Judy, Angela Davis and the Mad Hatter. Photo by Lia Chang

Spend Valentine’s Day with multiple Tony nominee André De Shields (The Full Monty, Play On!, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Wiz) in The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy.

Imagine an episode of Law & Dis-Order SV EWWWW! Double Lippin’ and entenDRÉ flippin’ with Flavor Flav, Judge Judy, Angela Davis and the Mad Hatter! You’ll experience this and more on Monday, February 14, when the Negro Ensemble presents a one-time only reading of The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy, written by Lonnie Carter, at 7:00 PM, in the June Havoc Theatre, at the Abingdon Theatre Complex, 312 West 36 Street, 2nd floor in New York. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling 212-582-5860.

Helmed by and featuring Mr. De Shields, The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy cast also includes Forrest McClendon (Scottsboro Boys), Gillian Glasco (New Federal Theatre’s hit Knock Me A Kiss), Sean Phillips (New Federal Theatre’s hit Knock Me A Kiss), Alexander Elisa (The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Black Nativity) and Roenia Thompson (Blues in the Night ).

Playwright Lonnie Carter, André De Shields and Lia Chang

Lonnie Carter‘s play The Romance of Magno Rubio won 8 Obies for its Ma-Yi Theater production in 2003. A recent work The Lost Boys of Sudan was produced at the Childrens’ Theater Company in 2007 and Victory Gardens in Chicago in 2010. He teaches in the Dramatic Writing Program in the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, twice a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts, an alumnus of New Dramatists and The Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis and one of the founding members of the Victory Gardens Playwrights’ Ensemble. In a much earlier version The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy was read at the NEC with Douglas Turner Ward reading the role of Shadrach. It was subsequently produced at Victory Gardens and then Woodie King, Jr’s New Federal Theater with André De Shields playing the role of Nebuchadnezzar.

Castmembers Charlayne Woodard and André De Shields at their opening night benefit party for the Red Bull Theater’s Production of The Witch of Edmonton, at the Theatre at St. Clement’s in New York on January 30, 2011. Photo by Lia Chang

In a career spanning more than forty years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director, writer and educator. He 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. Mr. De Shields is a multiple Tony Award nominee, and the author of the solo performance, MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY: Frederick Douglass. He is best known for his show stopping performances in the original Broadway productions of four legendary musicals: The Full Monty (Noah “Horse” T. Simmons), Play On! (Jester), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (The Viper) and the title role in The Wiz. He is currently appearing as the farmer Old Banks, in the critically acclaimed Red Bull Theater’s Off-Broadway production of The Witch of Edmonton, at the Theatre at St. Clement’s, which has been extended through February 20, 2011. A triple Capricorn, he is the ninth of eleven children born and reared in Baltimore, Maryland. www.andredeshields.com.

Billie Allen, Jennifer Ikeda and John Douglas Thompson were among the guests who came out to celebrate opening night with The Witch of Edmonton castmembers André De Shields, Christopher McCann and Charlayne Woodard, at the Theatre at St. Clement’s in New York on January 30, 2011. Check out the slideshow of photos from The Witch of Edmonton opening night party.

The mission of the Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) is to provide African-American, African and Caribbean professional artists with an opportunity to learn, to work, to grow and to be nurtured in the performing arts. The overall mission of the NEC is to present live theatre performances by and about black people to a culturally diverse audience that is often underserved by the theatrical community.

Monday, February 14, 2011
The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: June Havoc Theatre
Abingdon Theatre Complex
312 West 36 Street, 2nd floor
New York
Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling 212-582-5860



Other Articles on Andre De Shields:
playbill.com: Andre De Shields Will Direct and Star in Reading of The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy
Theatermania.com: André De Shields to Direct and Star in Reading of The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy
André De Shields and Charlayne Woodard are featured in Red Bull Theater’s Off Broadway Production of The Witch of Edmonton
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
Andre Dé Shields is having a Devilishly Good Time in Damn Yankees at The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport
Photos of André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance
Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life
André De Shields Celebrates Black History Month Starring in The Working Theater’s Production of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory at The Abingdon in February 2010
Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, MTC’s Ruined are Top Winners at 2009 Audelcos
Multimedia: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe Opening Night Party Photos
Multimedia: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe
André De Shields and Reg E. Cathey Star in Cato at The Flea

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
New York Blizzard of 2010
Snow in New York City’s Central Park
Kevin Anderson, Catherine Dent, Tracee Chimo, John Earl Jelks in Neil La Bute’s The Break of Noon at the Geffen 1/25-3/6
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Jarlath Conroy Leads Cast of Pinter’s The Homecoming at CENTERSTAGE in Baltimore, 1/26-2/20/11
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

This year, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang Multimedia: West Indian American Junior Carnival

© Lia Chang

I am in the midst of photographing a series of botanical portraits for the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation Art Collection, and yesterday was a glorious summer day to photograph at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

West Indian American Day Carnival on 9/5/09 in Brooklyn, NY. © Lia Chang

As I entered the Garden from the Eastern Parkway entrance, the strains of steel pan drums and calypso beckoned me to the parking lot of the Brooklyn Museum, where the 42nd annual West Indian American Day Carnival Festival, a celebration of the music, ethnic heritage and cultural pride of those from Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada and other Caribbean nations, was in full swing.

West Indian American Day Carnival on 9 5 09 in Brooklyn, NY. © Lia Chang

Brought to the Caribbean by French settlers in the 1700’s, Carnival migrated with immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago to New York in the 1920’s. The celebration is a time of jubilation and wild abandon. After an afternoon spent photographing at the gardens, I passed through the gates to the Festival, which was jammed packed with revelers enjoying the beautiful weather.

Vendor were selling flags, pins, masks, clothing and jewelry of the Caribbean, but I was starving, so I made a beeline for the booths offering Caribbean favorites like Jamaican jerk chicken, Bajan fried flying fish, roti, curried goat and other soul-satisfying treats. Stew ox-tails, a double helping of macaroni and cheese and a peach-pineapple-strawberry fruit smoothie were just the ticket for me, before I went backstage to photograph the wee ones in the West Indian American Day Kiddie Carnival and Costume competition.

Aquarium, whose theme this year is Asia: Looking for Carmen San Diego, onstage at the 42nd annual West Indian American Day Kiddie Carnival and costume competition In Brooklyn, NY on September 5, 2009. Photo by Lia Chang

Splendors of the Amazon, Children of the Empire and Asia: Looking for Carmen San Diego, were among the themes this year jumpstarting the creativity of the children who have a hand in creating their own elaborate and intricate costumes. Jasawn Pryce, age 12, as part of the group Aquarium, whose theme this year is Asia: Looking for Carmen San Diego, chose to make a “dragon slayer” costume.

Children of the Empire theme at the West Indian American Day Carnival on 9/5/09 in Brooklyn, NY. (c) Lia Chang

The weekend long party continues with a Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday) celebration; an early Monday morning (starting around 3AM) J’Ouvert parade, a celebration of steel pan drums that kicks off the 2009 Labor Day Carnival Parade on Eastern Parkway in Flatbush, Brooklyn, on Monday, September 7.

Splendor of the Amazon theme at the West Indian American Day Carnival on 9/5/09 in Brooklyn, NY. (c) Lia Chang

Grand Marshals for the 2009 Labor Day Carnival Parade include New York State Governor David A. Paterson, General Colin L. Powell (Ret), Mark Cornell, CEO-Moet Hennessy USA, Hon. Yvette D. Clarke, US Congresswoman, NY Senator John Sampson and Joseph J. Esposito and NYPD Chief of the Department. WIADCA’s president, Yolanda Lezama-Clark will join New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David A. Paterson and Grand Marshals to cut the symbolic ribbon at Utica Ave & Eastern Parkway at 11am. The line up will feature over 70 Floats and thousands of colorful masqueraders depicting spectacular and breathtaking creations.

The West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, Inc. (WIADCA) is a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization established in 1967 and is the driving force behind the West Indian Carnival Festival Parade in Brooklyn. While WIADCA is most known for the affectionately named, “Labor Day Parade,” its main focus is to develop, teach and promote Caribbean arts and culture in the New York Metropolitan Area.

For more information go to www.wiadca.com For general information, call: 718-467-1797.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Juicy Buns at Ollie’s
The Dish on Susur Lee and Shang
A night out with Gordana Rashovich, Flora Goforth in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
André De Shields Set for World Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Indiana Rep, 3/22-4/10
Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
My Empire State Building at Dusk on view in HHC’s “Art and Healing-Healthy for the Holidays” Art Exhibit
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
<Lunch at The Modern, A Stroll Through The Conservatory Garden in Central Park
Cherry Blossoms, Magnolias, Tulips and Narcissus at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Spring in New York is a Veritable Color Riot
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.