“I believe we are all artists. We have the ability to transform ourselves, create our lives, and inspire others to design their own paths. I’m a big dreamer and I hope to inspire more people to dream big and outside the limits we create for ourselves. All things are possible with God!”
One of my life-long dreams was to have the chance to meet and perform with David Foster, one of the most prolific music producers of our time.
My dream came true in ’09 when he picked me as a semi-finalist for his vocal competition.
KEEP DREAMING AND BELIEVING!
DREAMS DO COME TRUE!
“Whether in the recording studio, featured on national stages, or crafting a poignant song, Mariama Whyte has the secret recipe that is certain to satisfy even the most discerning palette. She was hand-picked by mega-producer David Foster for… his national talent search where she emerged as a favorite and semi-finalist in the competition. She has played leading roles in the Broadway national tours of The Color Purple (“Celie” and “Nettie”) and The Lion King (“Rafiki” and “Shenzi.”)”
ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Shields is a professor of theatre, director, and actor (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and Regional).
Research Accomplishments:
The 2017 winner of The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award®, 2017 and 2015 Tony® award nominee for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, and the winner of the 2017 AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award. In 2020 He was also awarded The Actors Fund / Encore Award
On the web, he is the archivist and historian of Iforcolor.org and Black Theatre/African American Voices [Facebook] (theatre, music, and art). He has taught classes and workshops at SUNY Potsdam, Susquehanna University, Denison University, Randolph-Macon College, Macalester College, The College of Wooster, Ohio University, Wayne State University, and the Joseph Papp Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival).
Education
B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Ohio University.