Venida Evans

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TREME 

The HBO drama series Treme. Created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer, also known for The Wire, the show chronicles life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The title is taken from the city’s historic Tremé neighborhood. 
– Treme is a drama series that explores the challenges of rebuilding lives and a city’s unique culture.
It premiered on HBO in 2010 and ran for four seasons, concluding in 2013.
The series features an ensemble cast of fictional characters from various walks of life, including musicians, chefs, and civil rights lawyers. The spirit of New Orleans: The show celebrates the city’s unique culture, particularly its music, food, and Mardi Gras Indian traditions.
Post-Katrina struggle: It depicts the human toll of the 2005 hurricane, including the devastation, government incompetence, and struggles with insurance and rebuilding.
Political corruption: Like Simon’s previous work, the series explores institutional failures, such as political corruption, the public housing crisis, and dysfunction in the criminal justice system. Realistic portrayal: Treme is celebrated for its realistic and detailed depiction of New Orleans life and its recovery.
Musical performances: Real-life New Orleans musicians frequently appear in the series, adding to its authenticity. The soundtracks for each season received critical acclaim.
Acclaimed cast: The ensemble includes performers like Khandi Alexander, Wendell Pierce, Melissa Leo, and Steve Zahn.

Venida in the role of Mrs. Brooks on the HBO drama “Treme.“

About the character:
  • Role: Evans’ character, Mrs. Brooks, was a neighbor of Creighton and Toni Bernette.
  • Seasons: She appeared in seasons 1, 2, and 4.
  • First and last appearance: Her character was first seen in the episode “Meet De Boys on the Battlefront” and last appeared in “Dippermouth Blues”. 

 

David Simon, creator of 'The Wire' and 'Generation Kill,' and Eric Overmyer, writer-producer of 'Homicide' and 'Law & Order,'  'Treme' is set in post-Katrina New Orleans. It chronicles the struggles of a diverse group of residents as they rebuild their lives and their city. ‘Treme,' pronounced Truh-may, takes its title from the name of one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, an historically important source of African-American music and culture. Season 1 began in fall of 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina.

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire‘ and ‘Generation Kill,’ and Eric Overmyer, writer-producer of ‘Homicide‘ and ‘Law & Order,‘  ‘Treme‘ is set in post-Katrina New Orleans. It chronicles the struggles of a diverse group of residents as they rebuild their lives and their city. ‘Treme,’ pronounced Truh-may, takes its title from the name of one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, a historically important source of African-American music and culture. 
Season 1 began in the fall of 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina.

 

“TREME” (HBO) With Khandi Alexander.

“Treme: The Complete First Season” Cast Signing
(L-R) Actors Venida Evans, Rob Brown, Melissa Leo, Wendell Pierce, promotes “Treme” The Complete First Season” at Best Buy Union Square on March 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage)

“Treme: The Complete First Season” Cast Signing
(L-R) Actors Venida Evans, Rob Brown, Melissa Leo, Wendell Pierce, and Clark Peters promotes “Treme” The Complete First Season” at Best Buy Union Square on March 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage)

 

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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.