ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia. Here's a summary of his background and achievements: Early Life and Family: Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio. His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers. He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King. Education: Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970. Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University. Career and Contributions Theatre Professional: Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films. Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre. Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman. Educator: Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam. Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988. Artistic Activist and Historian: Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook. Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011. Awards and Recognition: The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017. Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation). AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017. Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017. Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022. ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024. Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor. The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress. Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.
Dale Ricardo Shields
New York City
Author's posts
Dr. Alphine Jefferson – HISTORIAN
Dr. Alphine Jefferson Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History Renowned oral historian, his work emphasizes lived experience as a foundation for scholarship, particularly within American colonial, Southern, and African diasporic history. Former director of Black Studies at Randolph-Macon College. “he is often cited for his expertise in “giving voice to the voiceless” and …
The Orangeburg Massacre
THE ORANGEBURG MASSACRE by DALE RICARDO SHIELDS “One of the deadliest yet least acknowledged acts of state violence of the Civil Rights Movement.“ In 1968, police opened fire on students at South Carolina State …
Dale Ricardo Shields
DALE RICARDO SHIELDS Artistic Practitioner and Archivist/ Scholar Theatrical Director, Educator, Historian, and Artistic Activist Dale Ricardo Shields is a highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia. He is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to …
The Civil Radical Battles of the Black American Soldier
The Civil Radical Wars of the Black American Soldier by DALE RICARDO SHIELDS For my Father, Brother, Uncles and Cousins… Thank you for your service. “Throughout America’s history, from the Battle of Lexington to the Battle of Fallujah, Black Soldiers have honorably answered the call to duty, serving with great valor and distinction in America’s …
Antone Pagán
Antone Pagán Actor*Director*Producer*Writer by Dale Ricardo Shields Antone Pagán was raised in Harlem, New York. He has been a member of the famed Actors Studio since the late 1980s and was recently appointed to the studio’s membership committee. He listed among his Actors Studio mentors, Paul Calderon, Frank Corsaro, Lee Grant, Harvey Keitel, Elizabeth …