Multimedia: Tony and Emmy Award Winner André De Shields Receives Key to the City of Baltimore and is Honored by Arena Players and Central Scholarship
Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia Chang
On Monday, August 19, 2019, Tony and Emmy Award winning actor André De Shields took the Amtrak Acela to Baltimore for a day of celebration.
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
11:00 a.m.
Mr. De Shields, impeccably clad in a slim suit of Claret Red, black suede boots with harlequin tipped toes, a navy and red floral tie, and a navy and white polka dot patterned pocket square, visited with Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room of Baltimore City Hall. Mr. De Shields is best known for his roles in “The Wiz,” “Ain’t Misbehavin,’” “Play On” and “The Full Monty.”
André De Shields receives the Key to the City of Baltimore from Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields receives the Key to the City of Baltimore from Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields receives the Key to the City of Baltimore from Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields receives the Key to the City of Baltimore from Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields shares his Tony Award with Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields with his Tony Award in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia Chang
In the Rotunda on the main floor of Baltimore City Hall, Mayor Young presented him with a Key to the City and a mayoral salute just two months after receiving his first Tony Award for “Best Featured Actor in a Musical” for his turn as Hermes in Anais Mitchell’s Hadestown.
Mayor Jack Young, André De Shields, Comptroller Joan Pratt in the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia ChangAnd the crowd goes wild for André De Shields in the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia ChangCouncilwoman, Sharon Middleton, City Council President, Brandon Scott, Mayor Jack Young, André De Shields, Comptroller Joan Pratt in the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia ChangCity Council President, Brandon Scott, Mayor Jack Young, André De Shields, Comptroller Joan Pratt in the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia ChangComptroller Joan Pratt, André De Shields with his Tony Award, City Council President, Brandon Scott in the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia ChangKey to the City of Baltimore. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields’ Mayoral Salute. Photo by Lia Chang
In a career spanning fifty years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director and educator. Mr. De Shields is the triple crown winner of the 2019 Awards Season, having won the prestigious Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Tony Awards in the category of Best Actor in a Featured Role for Hadestown, which won as Best Musical. His other numerous accolades include the 2019 Actors’ Equity Foundation’s Richard Seff Award, honoring best performances by a veteran male and female actor, the 2019 Harlem Pride 50 Award, the 2018 Off Broadway Alliance Legend Award, the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival’s Living Legend Award, the 2007 Village Voice OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance, and eight AUDELCO Awards for Outstanding Performance, Direction and Choreography.
André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAl Robinson, Board Member Baltimore City College Alumni Association, Cinese Caldwell, Board Member Baltimore City College Alumni Association, Bob Manekin, Board Chair Baltimore City College Foundation, André De Shields, Neil Bernstein, Ex-Official Board Member Baltimore City College Alumni Association, Jacob Howard, Board President Baltimore City College Alumni Association. Photo by Lia ChangMichael Medeiros and André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangJ. Wynn Rousuck and André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangTonya R. Miller Hall, Executive Director of Cable and Communications and Senior Director of Public Affairs, Steph Rusinko-Flowers, Gil Flowers, Khali Deshields, André De Shields, Mayor Jack Young, Robert A. Manekin in the Mayor’s office. Photo by Lia ChangKen Melamed, Liza Streb Melamed, André De Shields, Mayor Jack Young in the Mayor’s office. Photo by Lia ChangMayor Jack Young and André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields in the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall. Photo by Lia Chang
12:30 p.m.
Mr. De Shields was honored by The Arena Players at a special luncheon at Arena Playhouse, located at 801 McCulloh St. in West Baltimore, the nation’s only continuously running black theater company founded by African-Americans.
André De Shields’ posters of THE WIZ, HAARLEM NOCTURNE AND AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. Photo by Lia Chang
Senator Larry Young, Chairman of Arena Players Board of Directors, introduced the program which featured remarks from Chapman Roberts and a performance of “Home” from “The Wiz” by Gabrielle Goodman.
Senator Larry Young, André De Shields, Travis Winkey and David Alan Bunn. Photo by Lia ChangDavid Alan Bunn, Gabrielle Goodman. Photo by Lia ChangDavid Alan Bunn, Gabrielle Goodman. Photo by Lia Chang
Travis Winkey, Executive Director, One Step Further, presented Mr. De Shields with the 14 Carat Gold Achievement Award for outstanding achievement in the fields of acting, singing and directing. Arena Players’ Youth Theater Director Catherine Orange and Artistic Director Donald Owens presented him with the Theatre Ambassador Award. After talking about his path in the arts over a half a century, Mr. De Shields sang “Believe in Yourself,” accompanied by music director David Alan Bunn.
Arena Players’ Artistic Director Donald Owens, André De Shields and Youth Theater Director Carol Orange. Photo by Lia ChangDavid Alan Bunn and André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangChapman Roberts, André De Shields and David Alan Bunn. Photo by Lia ChangGordon Parks, André De Shields, Gabrielle Goodman and David Alan Bunn. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields, Beverly Cooper, David Alan Bunn. Photo by Lia ChangChapman Roberts, Toni Isreal, André De Shields , Cherine E.Anderson and David Alan Bunn. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields and Lenora Howze, Executive Director/Assistant to the Publisher, AFRO. Photo by Lia ChangTravis Winkey, Michael Eugene Johnson, André De Shields, Sharon Alford, Kelly Ward. Photo by Lia ChangThe Arena Players celebrate André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
3:00 p.m.
Mr. De Shields took a trip down memory lane as he drove by his Junior High School, Booker T. Washington; stopped on Division Street, the street where he spent his youth; and circled his high school, Baltimore City College, nicknamed “The Castle on the Hill.” A graduate of Baltimore City College, Mr. De Shields is a proud member of the class of 1964 and a member of the City College Hall of Fame.
Booker T. Washington Junior High School. Photo by Lia ChangBaltimore City College. Photo by Lia Chang
The Central Scholarship celebration of André De Shields at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church featured performances by Baltimore Symphony musicians Rene Shapiro (Trumpet), Lior Willinger (Piano), and Morgan State University Choir Members Dezmond Covington (Tenor and Central Scholarship Recipient) and Taylor Jackson (Piano).
Mount Lebanon Baptist Church. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangJan Moylan Wagner, Central Scholarship President and André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangCentral Scholarship Alumnus Award 2019. Photo by Lia Chang
As Mr. De Shields stepped up to the lectern to receive the inaugural Central Scholarship Alumnus Award 2019, he pulled out his Tony Award and his Emmy Award as the results of what $300 gets you. This was a direct nod to receiving $300 from Central Scholarship, enabling him to attend college.
Central Scholarship Alumnus Award 2019 Recipient André De Shields with his Tony Award and his Emmy Award. Photo by Lia ChangBooker T. Washington Junior High School classmates Lillian Wright and André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields with Baltimore Symphony musicians Rene Shapiro and Michael Lisicky. Photo by Lia ChangDezmond Convington, Central Scholarship Recipient, Taylor Jackson, André De Shields, and Lior Willinger. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields with fellow Baltimore City College Alum Al Robinson, Board Member Baltimore City College Alumni Association, Arnold Fruman and Larry Kamanitz. Photo by Lia ChangJerry Focas, Central Scholarship Board Chair, Nancy Fenton, Central Scholarship Director of Development, André De Shields and Abby Case, Stewardship and Annual Fund Manager. Photo by Lia ChangBack Row from Left: Kayla Bettenhauser, Tim Redmond, Jerry Focas, Arnold Fruman, Princess Agha, Abby Case, Kim Haley Front Row from Left: Michele Waxman Johnson, Nancy Fenton, Molly Shock, Jan Moylan Wagner, André De Shields, Margot Heller, Larry Kamanitz, Angela Harrison. Photo by Lia Chang
5:00 p.m.
Mr. De Shields headed to Owings Mills to share the Tony Award and the Key to the City with his sister, Mary before traveling back to New York.
André De Shields with his sister, Mary. Photo by Lia Chang
Garth Kravits, André De Shields, Lia Chang. Photo by Liza Streb MelamedLia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the filmsWolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang 