De Shields 1984
1974
De Shields rehearsing for The Wiz in 1974
De Shields in the Madison Civic Rep’s 1969 production of The Fantasticks.
De Shields in A Hill On Which to Drown, a solo show written by Kevin R. Free that imagines the gay character that August Wilson never wrote.
On accepting his Tony for Hadestown, Andre De Shields explained his 3 rules of longevity: “1: Surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you coming. 2: slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be. 3: the top of one mountain is the bottom of the next so keep climbing.”
Andre De Shields performing “The Viper’s Drag” in a scene from the Broadway revival of the musical “Ain’t Misbehavin'”. 1988
Actor Andre De Shields (C) w. cast in a scene fr. the Broadway musical “The Wiz”.
Andre De Shields commands the stage in Hadestown from the get-go. The show begins in complete silence as the rest of the cast watches Hermes, in his elegant, grey silk suit, slide across the stage, pause, and open a button to show a loud and splendid vest, before trombone player Briane Drye lets out a blast from jazz heaven and De Shields launches into the get-down “Road to Hell.” It’s the quietest, and most mesmerizing, opening of any show on Broadway.
On the occasion of 74-year-old André De Shields’ lifetime achievement Audelco award, I resurrect this speech by the long-time Broadway veteran from a decade ago, before his newfound acclaim and 2019 Tony Award for his performance in Hadestown, when he explained how he kept going.
You are blessed!