Anjali Bhimani, André De Shields, NIkka Graff Lanzarone, Monique Haley, Geoff Packard, Akash Chopra, Ed Kross and Govind Kumar in The Jungle Book at The Huntington Theatre in Boston on September 5, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang
Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman, is up for four Elliot Norton Award nominations, including André De Shields for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor, Mary Zimmerman for Outstanding Director, Large Theater, Scenic design by Daniel Ostling, costumes by Mara Blumenfeld, lighting by T.J. Gerckens, sound by Joshua Horvath, Ray Nardelli, and Andre J. Pluess for Outstanding Design, Large Theater, and Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater.
The awards are presented annually by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) (Don Aucoin, Jared Bowen, Terry Byrne, Carolyn Clay, Nick Dussault, Iris Fanger, Joyce Kulhawik, Kilian Melloy, Bob Nesti, and Ed Siegel) to honor the outstanding productions, directors, designers, and performers audiences see on Greater Boston stages all year long. The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) will hand out the Elliot Norton Awards, celebrating its 32nd anniversary, on Monday, May 19 at the Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway Boston, MA 02215. Ceremony highlights include musical performances, The Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence, a guest of honor, who is a theater artist who has enriched the cultural life of our region, and post-ceremony party.
In the past, that distinguished list of honorees has included, among others: Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Al Pacino, Edward Albee, Brian Dennehy, August Wilson, Julie Harris, Sir Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, and Jason Robards.
What the critics are saying about André De Shields as King Louie in The Jungle Book.
Entertainment Weekly: The Jungle Book Reviewed by Thom Geier (Jul 12, 2013)
“The Act 1 finale, the raucously swinging show-stopper ”I Wanna Be Like You.” In that spirited number, the commanding Andre De Shields leads a chorus of mischievous apes and squeezes every drop of juice out of the delightfully jazzy tune by Disney tunesmiths Richard and Robert Sherman (the brothers who wrote most of the original movie’s songs).”
Variety: Theater Review: ‘The Jungle Book’ by Steven Oxman (Jul. 1, 2013)
“All of this comes together to put the audience on true highs, particularly at the end of Act I with the number “I Wanna Be Like You.” Andre De Shields plays the monkey King Louie with incomparable showmanship; Gattelli’s choreography is rich and buoyant; and Peck’s arrangements bring layers of additional interest and verve.”
Chicagomag.com: Jungle Book Review BY CATEY SULLIVAN (JUL. 2, 2013)
“Here, the fiercely elegant Andre De Shields absolutely owns the role of the King of the Swingers, stopping the show cold with his roof-raising, infectiously celebratory rendition of a song expressing Louie’s desire to obtain the secrets of fire. The ultra-high energy number left me with two uncontrollably tapping feet and a grin… De Shields sings, swings and scats with a regal, red-hot cool that leaves no doubt: With all due respect to the Shere Khan and Bagheera, Louie is the coolest cat in the jungle.”
Chicago Sun-Times.com: Goodman Theatre’s ‘Jungle Book’ a wonderful new musical By Hedy Weiss (July 1, 2013)
“Along the way there is the raucous royalty of the monkey kingdom, with Andre De Shields as King Louie, driving the joint to jumping and beyond in “I Wanna Be Like You,” the song that suggests the difference between man and beast is man’s ability to create fire.”
Theatermania.com: The Jungle Book Review By Sandy MacDonald (Oct 7, 2013)
“A spirited cast — notably André De Shields as a Louis Armstrong-inspired orangutan King Louie…”
BWW REVIEW: ‘THE JUNGLE BOOK’ SWINGS IN BOSTON by Jan Nargi (Oct. 13, 2013)
“King Louie (André De Shields), the flamboyant orangutan who leads his swingin’ troop of mischievous monkeys in a roof-raising “I Wanna Be Like You”… The intended show stealer is André De Shields as King Louie, the character created by Disney in 1967 for jazz great Louis Prima. De Shields belts, riffs and scats with the best of them….De Shields builds the number joyously and exults in swingin’ and swayin’ like a Zoot-suited Cab Calloway.”
The Boston Globe: ‘Jungle Book’ is lush yet temperate By Don Aucoin (SEPTEMBER 19, 2013)
“When longtime Broadway veteran Andre De Shields seizes the stage, though, the temperature of “The Jungle Book’’ measurably rises. He plays King Louie, an orangutan and leader of a band of monkeys who kidnap young Mowgli (enthusiastically portrayed by Akash Chopra), intent on eliciting from him the secret of fire. Toward that end, De Shields performs “I Wanna Be Like You,’’ while the monkeys shake and twirl and hurl things about, the action rising to a state of pandemonium until De Shields finally faces the audience, points a finger at them, and sings: “I want to be like you.’’
The Elliot Norton Awards are named for the eminent Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who remained an active supporter of the drama, both locally and nationally, until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. The Boston theater community carries on his legacy and can be proud of its remarkable growth at a time in our nation’s history when the arts are truly struggling to survive.
Tickets are $30 ($10 off discount “norton2014” is good through April 30, 2014) For tickets and information visit www.nortonawardsboston.com or by calling Wheelock Family Theatre 617-879-2300.
The 32nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards Nominations
Elliot Norton Lifetime Achievement Award:
Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence:
Outstanding Visiting Production
Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Theater
Outstanding Production by a Midsize Theater
Outstanding Production by a Small Theater
Outstanding Production by a Fringe Theater
Outstanding Design, Large Theater
Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater
Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater
Outstanding Musical Production by a Midsize, Small or Fringe Company
Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress
Outstanding New Script
Outstanding Director, Large Theater
Outstanding Director, Midsize Theater
Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater
Outstanding Actor, Large Theater
Outstanding Actress, Large Theater
Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater
Outstanding Actress, Midsize Theater
Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater
Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater
Outstanding Ensemble, Large Theater
Outstanding Ensemble, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater
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Other articles on Andre De Shields:
André De Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kyle Beltran, Kevin Mambo and More Set for DTC’s World Premiere Musical The Fortress of Solitude, A Co-Production with The Public Theater
André De Shields to receive 2014 Making Waves Award; will perform “Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” at Florida Atlantic University
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Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
André De Shields Delivers Keynote at the International Conference of Fine Arts Deans in New Orleans
Photos: André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Akash Chopra, Richard M. Sherman, Kevin Carolan, Larry Yando, Nehal Joshi and More Celebrate The Jungle Book Opening Night at Huntington Theatre in Boston
Click here for more articles on André De Shields.
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia will make her jazz vocalist debut on March 1, 2014, in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York.
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