So you want to meet the Wizard? 

Well, André De Shields’ sass, style, and excellence in theatre will be honored at the 27th Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts on November 9, 2015 at DePaul University.

Known as a man who honored his parents’ deferred dreams of being entertainers by forging his own path to Broadway, André De Shields did more than just become an entertainer— he became a monument of creativity, spreading his talents to acting, directing, choreography and education. 

De Shields has been in the business for over forty-six years. He began his professional career in the 1969 Chicago production of Hair. He went on to join the Civic Opera House’s company of The Me Nobody Knows at the Civic Opera House. Finally, he became a member of The Organic Theatre Company’s Warp! as Xander the Unconquerable, Ruler of the Sixth Dimension.

Most notably, De Shields is known for originating the titular role of The Wiz on Broadway and for his work in Ain’t Misbehavin’, Play On! and The Full Monty. 

He is a two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award winner, and a recipient of the Village Voice OBIE Award. Mr. De Shields is currently rehearsing GOTTA DANCE, the new Broadway-bound musical about professional basketball’s first ever 60-and-older dance team.

The 27th Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts honors  artists and visionaries who have paved the way and left a legacy in the arts. All proceeds from the event directly benefit The Theatre School Scholarship Fund, supporting students from all over the nation to train at the school.

The post André De Shields Awarded for Excellence in the Arts appeared first on Broadway Black.

New cast members include Tracy Jai Edwards, Madeleine Doherty, Kay Walbye, Lenora Nemetz, Alexander Aguilar, Colby Lewis, Diane Findlay and Paula Caselton.

Gotta Dance, based on the 2008 documentary of the same name, will open on December 13 at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre. The production is headed to Broadway in the Spring of 2016. It tells the story of an amazing group of seniors who love to dance, their ambitious and overly zealous trainers and the art form that brings them together.

As described on the production’s website: From the director/choreographer of Kinky Boots comes the incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who audition to dance at half time for a major NBA team. They have three things in common: they love to dance, they have something to prove, and they are all over 60. It isn’t until they make the cut that they find out they won’t be dancing tap, salsa or swing—they are going to bring down the house with a style that’s entirely new to them: hip hop. Don’t miss this original Broadway-bound musical about a group of ordinary seniors with extraordinary dreams as they battle pain, prejudice, self-doubt and each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20 thousand screaming fans.

Take a look at rehearsals and the making of Broadway’s next musical sensation via Broadway Chicago’s YouTube Channel.

To purchase tickets, click HERE.

The post Broadway-Bound Musical, Gotta Dance, Adds New Cast Members appeared first on Broadway Black.

Proving that “age ain’t nothing but a number,” Gotta Dance tells the true story of a group of professional dancers who, in 2007, were tasked with getting a New Jersey basketball team’s senior citizen dance troupe performance-ready for their center court hip-hop debut. The tale proves that through an unlikely art form and a few cool moves, generation gaps can be crossed and friendships are formed.

Andre De Shields. Photo: Lia Chang

According to Broadway In Chicago;

This Broadway-bound musical brings together an all-star creative team that includes original music by the legendary Marvin Hamlisch (an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar winner), Tony Award-nominee Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer), lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), a book by Tony Award-nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), Tony Award-winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), and direction and choreography by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots). Gotta Dance is a heartwarming and hilarious story of triumph and joy that is sure to make you dance in the aisles.

The musical will begin performances on Dec. 13, 2015 at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre, where it will run until Jan. 10, 2016. Broadway dates and venue are still TBD.  Tickets for groups are on sale now by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets will be available soon. If you are in Chicago, this is the perfect chance to see the musical before it takes NYC by storm.

The post Lillias White & Andre De Shields Star In Broadway-Bound Gotta Dance appeared first on Broadway Black.