Tony, Grammy and Emmy winning Hadestown star André De Shields is currently reigning supreme in St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s production of King Lear in Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park through June 27, 2021.
King Lear opened last Friday and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones presented a proclamation naming June 4, 2021 as King Lear/André De Shields Day.
André asked St. Louis Shakespeare Festival Associate Producer Colin O’Brien for a late night dining suggestion and we were fortunate that Louie on DeMun offered to stay open for us on Saturday night.
We were joined by his King Lear castmate Allen Gilmore and Gretchen Eugere, Dr. Zorba Paster and his wife Penny.
What a luxury and a treat to have the restaurant to ourselves with Jordan VanZandt overseeing our meal. Below are a few of the divine and delicious dishes we noshed on:
Brussel Sprouts, Lemon, Caper, Pecorino
Charred Eggplant Dip, Pickled Vegetables, Chili Oil, Hearth Bread
Cauliflower Fritto, Dill Aioli
Roman Gnocco, Pork Ragu, Bechamel, Pecorino
Roast Chicken, Rapini, Chicken Jus
Chilean Sea bass on Couscous
Ice Cream Sandwich, chocolate macaron, frozen strawberry mousse, chocolate
When asked to sign a plate for the wall, De Shields wrote:
Sunday, June 6, 2021
Louie,
The place to chill, to revivify your soul, to chat and chew and totally renew that part of you that dedicates inself to the balance of beauty and great food, all under the impeccable direction of Master Jordan!
Gratitude…”
André De Shields
“King Lear”
The Saint Louis Shakespeare Festival
The King’s Retinue…
Myron, the Roving Intellectual aka “Fool”, Gretchen Eugere, Zorba Paster, Penny Paster and Lia Chang.
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Penny Paster, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Allen Gilmore signs the plate. Photo by Lia Chang
Dr. Zorba Paster signs the plate. Photo by Lia Chang
Penny Paster signs the plate. Photo by Lia Chang
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival Communications Director Allie Magee, André De Shields and Associate Producer Colin O’Brien. Photo by Lia Chang
Louie
706 DeMun Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
Fun Fact: André De Shields also played King Louie in The Jungle Book in 2013 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and Huntington Theatre in Boston.
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 films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young (2021 DisOrient Film Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative). She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs.
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2021 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang 