Lillias White

 

 LILLIAS WHITE     

by Dale Ricardo Shields

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James Edward Alexander [ Sneakpeek photography ]      

Tony winner Lillias White, is known for her performances in Fela!, The Life, Romance in Hard Times, Cats, Carrie, Once on This Island, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Chicago.

 

Career highlights

Lillias White has a distinguished career spanning Broadway, film, television, and music.

Broadway: She has appeared in numerous Broadway productions, including “Dreamgirls,” “Cats,” “Once on This Island,” and “Chicago”.

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Awards: White has received several prestigious awards, including a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for her role in “The Life”. She also earned an Obie Award for “Romance in Hard Times” and a Daytime Emmy for her work on “Sesame Street”.

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Film & Television: Her screen credits include voicing Calliope in Disney’s “Hercules” and roles in “Sesame Street,” “Pieces of April,” and “The Get Down”. She has also appeared in various television shows and films.

Concerts & Cabaret: White is also known for her cabaret performances at venues like The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Her debut solo album is Get Yourself Some Happy!.

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Recent projects

Recently, White took on the role of Hermes in the Broadway production of “Hadestown,” making her the first woman to play the part. Her solo album, Get Yourself Some Happy!, features a mix of musical styles.

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Lillias White continues to captivate audiences with her exceptional talent and diverse range of performances.

 

“Lillias White is a singer who makes the most challenging vocal feats look almost easy. Endowed with endless stamina and exuberance, she marches jubilantly across stylistic borders like Napoleon’s army sweeping through Europe.”

 

For Broadway veteran Lillias White, it all began as a child in Brooklyn, N.Y., when relatives encouraged her to dance and sing on her grandmother’s dining room table. The 71-year-old actress, who won a Tony Award for “The Life,” is now starring in the Broadway musical “Hadestown.” She talks with correspondent Mo Rocca about her role models growing up; her relationship with the audience; and setting the standard for singing standards.

 

 

Hadestown – Walter Kerr Theatre (NYC)

Lillias White (born July 21, 1951)

American singer and actress on stage, television, and film who is particularly admired for her performances in Broadway musicals. In 1989 she won an Obie Award for her performance in the Off-Broadway musical Romance in Hard Times. In 1997 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for portraying Sonja in Cy Coleman’s The Life. She was nominated for a Tony Award again in 2010 for her work as Funmilayo in Fela Kuti’s Fela! 

 

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Summer Stage 2015 Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem.

White is also known for voicing Calliope on the Disney animated series Hercules, portraying Evette in the film Pieces of April, and for her work as Fat Annie (Cadillac’s mother) in the Netflix series The Get Down. She has also starred as Bloody Mary in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific on PBS’ Great Performances with Reba McEntire and in the PBS documentary In Performance at the White House. She is also an active cabaret singer and has appeared in concert with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall.

 

Timothy Graphenreed and Lillias White at Carnegie Hall.

 

“I AM BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED!“

 

Lillias White’s caricature unveiling at Sardi’s

New York City – December 3, 2022

Susan Davison and Andre De Shields

 

Lilias White singing Come Sunday

The Riverside Church Service September 2001

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 14: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Lillias White attends Amateur Night at the Apollo: Broadway! at The Apollo Theater on March 14, 2012, in New York City. (Photo by Shahar Azran/WireImage)

 


Billy Stritch and Lilias White


WBGO’s Champions of Jazz 2019 Gala

 

Carol Maillard, Marva Hicks, KiKi Shepard, George Faison, Dr. Glory Van Scott, Chita Rivera, Eartha Robinson, David Robertson, Maurice Hines Jr, and Lillias White at Symphony Space.

KiKi Shepard, Eartha Robinson, George Faison, Dr. Glory Van Scott, Chita Rivera, David Robertson, Maurice Hines Jr, Alyson Williams, and Lillias White at Symphony Space.

July 2019     

Dinah Was “I Want to Be Loved” Lillias White, Rosie O’Donnell Show 1998

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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.