Lia Chang Multimedia: Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance Opening Night Photos: André De Shields, Mercedes Ellington and Alfred Preisser

The Working Theater kicked off Black History Month last night with a limited two week run of André De Shields’ solo work-in-progress Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance at The Abingdon Theatre.

André De Shields as Mau Mau Bett in The Working Theater’s production of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance at the June Havoc Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in New York. © Lia Chang

In Mine Eyes, De Shields weaves a narrative in story, song and dance, portraying a praise singer, a slave, JB and Martin Luther King, to tell the story of the great emancipator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

André De Shields as The Slave © Lia Chang

Created and performed by De Shields, and helmed by frequent collaborator director Alfred Preisser, Mine Eyes runs through February 14th, 2010 at the Abingdon Theater, 312 West 36th Street in New York.

Mark Plesent, producing director, The Working Theater, André De Shields, Mercedes Ellington, and director Alfred Preisser at the opening night party of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance, at the Houndstooth Pub on February 4, 2010 in New York. © Lia Chang

Choreographer Mercedes Ellington and playwright Paul Carter Harrison were among the well wishers at the opening night party at the Houndstooth Pub in New York.

André De Shields as JB © Lia Chang

Founded in 1985, The Working Theater’s mission is to produce plays for and about working people. “We believe theater should not be a privilege or a luxury, but a staple,” says Mark Plesent. “We want working people who may not be able to afford commercial theater or who feel that it does not resonate with their lives and experience, to make play-going a regular part of their cultural activities.”

Director Alfred Preisser and André De Shields at the opening night party of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance, at the Houndstooth Pub in New York on February 4, 2010. © Lia Chang

Over the years, the company has commissioned and produced more than 70 world premieres of culturally diverse new plays; garnered widespread recognition and critical acclaim for writing, acting, directing, as well as their pioneering efforts in audience development.

The performance schedule for Mine Eyes is Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm with matinees on Friday, February 12th at 2pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. All tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. For special group discounts call (212) 244-3300. www.theworkingtheater.org.

Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex, June Havoc Theatre
312 W. 36th Street (btwn 8th & 9th Aves)
www.andredeshields.com

André De Shields as Frederick Douglass in The Working Theater’s production of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance at the June Havoc Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in New York. © Lia Chang

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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:
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
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.