André De Shields plays the title character in The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe by Alfred Preisser & Randy Weiner, which has performances through July 19 at The Clurman @ Theatre Row in New York. (l-r) Gina Marie Rivera, Tyrone Davis, Charletta Rozzell, André De Shields, Rejinald Woods and Jennifer Akabue. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Ted Lange and Kim Brockington are featured in The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe by Alfred Preisser & Randy Weiner, at The Clurman @ Theatre Row in New York through July 19, 2009. Opening night is June 25.
(l-r) Kim Brockington, Ted Lange and André De Shields in The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe.Photo by Lia Chang
Set within a fabulously theatrical Harlem Renaissance-era “church,” Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe is an original play with music inspired by Moliere’s great comic classic and informed by the gloriously unorthodox ministries of Reverend Ike, Daddy Grace and Rasputin.
Fresh from his recent turn on Broadway in Michael Jacob’s new play Impressionism with Jeremy Irons and Joan Allen, two-time Tony nominee André De Shields explores the outrageously creative criminal mind of the title character with a wildly talented cast, through songs, dances, sermons and feats of divine inspiration.
Lawrence Street, Soneela Nankani, Kim Brockington, Jabari Brisport in a scene from The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe. Photo by Lia Chang
Helmed by Alfred Preisser, the cast also features Lawrence Street, Reji Woods, Tyrone Davis, Jennifer Akabue, Gina Marie Rivera, Kisa Willis, Charletta Rozzell, Soneela Nankani, Jabari Brisport and Gerron Atkinson.
(l-r) Charletta Rozzell, Gina Marie Rivera, Andre DeShields, Rejinald Woods, Kisa Willis and Jennifer Akabue in a scene from The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe by Alfred Preisser & Randy Weiner. Photo by Lia Chang
Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe has performances Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm & 7pm. Tickets are $51.25 (including restoration fee) and can be purchased at http://www.TicketCentral.com or by calling 212.279.4200. The Clurman Theatre is located at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St., between 9th and 10th Aves. Click here to purchase or 212.279.4200
Group Rates & Reservations Email: info@Classicaltheatreofharlem.org Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and a multimedia journalist. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. 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. She is currently working on several botanical portrait commissions for the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation Art Collection and on a book of portraits of her favorite Asian American men in the arts and space.
André De Shields plays the title character in the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe by Alfred Preisser & Randy Weiner, at The Clurman @ Theatre Row in New York, from June 12 – July 19, 2009. Opening night is June 25.
Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe is an original play with music, inspired by Moliere’s great comic classic and informed by the gloriously unorthodox ministries of Reverend Ike, Daddy Grace and Rasputin. Set within a fabulously theatrical Harlem Renaissance-era “church,” the play explores the outrageously creative criminal mind of the title character through a series of songs, dances, sermons and feats of divine inspiration. Helmed by Alfred Preisser, the cast also stars Ted Lange and Kim Brockington, and features Lawrence Street, Reji Woods, Tyrone Davis, Jennifer Akabue, Gina Marie Rivera, Kisa Willis, Charletta Rozzell, Soneelea Nankani, Jabari Brisport and Gerron Atkinson.
The multiple Tony Award nominee has appeared in numerous Broadway, Off Broadway and regional productions as well as television and film, and just completed a run on Broadway in Michael Jacobs’ Impressionism, starring Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons. On Broadway, he appeared in the original casts of The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Emmy Award), Play On!, The Full Monty and Prymate. He also conceived, co-wrote, directed, and starred in Haarlem Nocturne. In 2007, he won the coveted OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance. His television credits include Cosby, Sex and the City, Law & Order, Lipstick Jungle and Life on Mars.
Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe will play Tuesdays 7pm, Wednesday through Friday evenings at 8pm, Saturdays st 3pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm & 7pm. Tickets will be $51.25 (including restoration fee) and can be purchased at http://www.TicketCentral.com or by calling 212.279.4200. The Clurman Theatre is located at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St., between 9th and 10th Aves. Click here to purchase or 212.279.4200
From the Classical Theatre of Harlem stage, De Shields heads outdoors to the Delacorte Theater, where he’ll portrays Teiresias in The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of The Bacchae from August 11-30, with an opening on August 24. Joanne Akalaitis will direct.
Presented in a translation by Nichoas Rudall, and featuring original music by Philip Glass, the production re-imagines the classic story about what happens when a government attempts to outlaw desire.
The cast will feature George Bartenieff as Cadmus, Jonathan Groff as Dionysus, Karen Kandel as Chorus Leader, Joan MacIntosh as Agave, Steven Rishard as Cowherd, and Rocco Sisto as Messenger. The Greek chorus will include Marisa Echeverria, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Ikeda, Jennifer Nikki Kidwell, Alexa Kryzaniwsky, Vella Lovell, Nana Mensah, Ereni Sevasti, Elena Shaddow, Han Tang, and Idara Victor.
André De Shields as Frederick Douglass (Photo by Lia Chang)
Over the Labor Day weekend, De Shields will embody Frederick Douglass in his solo show Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance, at the Yard in Chilmark, Martha’s Vineyard on September 4, 5, and 7.
Conceived, researched and written by De Shields, in Mine Eyes, he explores the life and achievements of the Great Emancipator, Frederick Douglass. Douglass began his life as a slave, and through heroic efforts, became one of America’s most important and historically influential African American leaders.
Click on the arrow below for an excerpt of Andre as Frederick Douglass.
From October 28-November 15, De Shields will star in David Mamet’s two-hander A Life in the Theatre, directed by Robert O’Hara at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.
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 in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.
