André De Shields

André De Shields is an African-American actor, singer, director, dancer, novelist, choreographer, lyricist, composer, and professor.

De Shields began his professional career at the 1969 Chicago production of HAIR, which led to a role in " The Me Nobody Knows, and participation in Chicago's Organic Theater Company. He performed in a number of off-off-Broadway productions at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club in the East Village of Manhattan during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. He made his Broadway debut as, Um, Stuart Gordon's in 1973 and was Nominated! and next appeared in Paul Jabara's 1973 and Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It), which closed during previews. He then appeared in the title role of The Wiz, Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown's 1975 musical directed by Geoffrey Holder.