Dale Ricardo Shields


Reference Links

 

https://kids.kiddle.co/Dale_Ricardo_Shields

https://www.susqu.edu/live/news/236-students-to-present-play-on-race-relations

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. 

Shields has collaborated with key Cleveland theaters and institutions, bringing his wealth of experience to local productions. 
  • Karamu House

    : He served as a director and stage manager, as well as an acting teacher and director for the Youth Theatre Camp over a 10-year period. His work at

    Karamu

    includes directing a staged reading of Home for Project1voice in 2015 and a production of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enufin 2019.

  • Cleveland Play House

    : Shields has worked as a stage manager and director for productions at the

    Cleveland Play House

    , including Crowns in 2004. He also served as an assistant stage manager in 2024.

  • Beck Center for the Arts

    : In 2005, he directed the production of Topdog/Underdog.

  • Cleveland Public Theatre

    : From 2000 to 2010, he led leadership and improvisational workshops as a Workshop Artist. 

Promoting African American theater
Shields is a dedicated advocate for Black playwrights and theater, a passion he has exercised in the Cleveland area. 
  • Project1voice: As the former head of the Cleveland division of the non-profit organization Project1voice, Shields advocated for and promoted African American theater and playwrights.
  • iForColor.org: He is the founder and archivist of iForColor.org, a website that preserves and shares the history and cultural contributions of communities of color. This resource provides information on Black history, theater, and other topics to the public. 
Training the next generation
Through his educational work, Shields has cultivated new talent and nurtured a diverse, inclusive arts community in Cleveland. 
  • Cleveland School of the Arts

    : He has taught as a guest artist at the

    Cleveland School of the Arts

    , where he directed a production of A Raisin in the Sun and led Shakespeare workshops.

  • Theater workshops: Shields has held acting coach and workshop artist roles with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and local organizations, helping students develop their skills.
  • Fostering community: He frequently leads student-written productions at universities with the aim of bringing people of different backgrounds together, helping campuses become more cohesive communities. 
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 African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia. 

Background and achievements: 

Early Life and Family: 

Education: 

Career and Contributions: 

Theatre Professional: 

 

Educator: 

Artistic Activist and Historian: 

Awards and Recognition: 

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. 

TO BE CONTINUED …

TA-DA! 

Pages:

iforcolor

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.