Venida Evans

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Evans told The Detroit News, “Baby, it’s a roller coaster ride. But I’m having a lot of fun… There have been a lot of ups and downs. But suddenly I’m experiencing a real up-kick, which is scary but exciting.”

On May 21, 2009, she also appeared on ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire winning $8000.

Evans referred to herself as a “flavor of the month” in a 2009 interview with The Detroit News.  She was referring specifically to the sudden interest in her career after working as an actress for more than thirty years.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: Actress Venida Evans attends the “Airline Highway” broadway opening night pre-party at Bourbon Street on April 23, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

 

AIRLINE HIGHWAY 

 

Airline Highway is an American play written by Lisa D’Amour.
The story is set in the parking lot of the Hummingbird Motel, a once-glamorous motel off the famous Airline Highway in New Orleans.
The plot centers on a group of misfits—strippers, hustlers, and philosophers—who gather to hold a “living funeral” for Miss Ruby, a beloved burlesque queen who is nearing the end of her life.
The play was commissioned by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago before making its Broadway debut.
Broadway production details
Theater: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
Run: It ran from April to June 2015.
Nominations: The production received four Tony Award nominations, including Best Featured Actor for K. Todd Freeman and Best Featured Actress for Julie White. 

 

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: Actors Caroline Neff, Venida Evans, Scott Jaeck, K. Todd Freeman, Julie White, Ken Marks, Tim Edward Rhoze Leslie Hendrix, Joe Tippett, Judith Roberts, Todd d’Amour, and Carolyn Braver attend the “Airline Highway” broadway opening night – arrivals & curtain call at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on April 23, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

 

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: Actors Venida Evans, Julie White, Shannon Eagen, and cast parade in the street for the “Airline Highway” Broadway opening night pre-party at Bourbon Street on April 23, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

 

“Airline Highway” Cast Photo Call
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 17: Venida Evans, Toni Martin, Joe Forbich, Shannon Eagen, Todd d’Amour, Sekou Laidlow and Leslie Hendrix attend the photo call for the Manhattan Theatre Club’s presentation of ‘Airline Highway‘ at the MTC Theatre rehearsal hall on March 17, 2015 in New York City (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage)

 

I ORGINS 

I Origins (2014) / Directed by Mike Cahill

The Cast includes: Michael Pitt as Ian Gray Brit Marling as Karen Astrid Berges-Frisbey as Sofi Steven Yeun as Kenny Archie Panjabi as Priya Varma Cara Seymour as Dr. Jane Simmons Venida Evans as Margaret Dairy William Mapother as Darryl Mackenzie Kashish as Salomina Crystal Anne Dickinson as Julie Dairy

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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.