The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage Theatre
New Haven, CT
February 7 – April 6, 1997
Director
Seeking the Genesis
Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre Stage Two
Chicago, IL
1996 – 1997
Director
Seven Guitars
World premiere
Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
Chicago, IL
January 13 – February 18, 1995
Director
The Amen Corner
CENTERSTAGE
Baltimore, MD
1981 – 1982
Filmography
Writer (1 credit)
2002 Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Documentary) (Narration)
Miscellaneous Crew (1 credit)
2002 Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Documentary) (narration consultant)
Self (2 credits)
2006 Backstage on the Black Stage (TV Movie documentary) Himself
1987 Working in the Theatre (TV Series documentary) Himself
– Playwright & Director (1987) … Himself
Awards
2010
Nomination:
Barrymore Award: Outstanding Direction of a Play
Blue Door — director
Award
Austin Film Festival
2002
Winner Audience Award
Best Documentary Showcase Film Standing in the Shadows of Motown(2002)
Shared with:
Ntozake Shange(writer)
Paul Justman(director)
Other Works
(July 2002) : Directed “Master Harold… and the Boys” play by Athol Fugard (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, USA).
Paul Robeson, The Arts Bank, Philadelphia 2008
Lazarus, Unstoned, (gospel opera), New Freedom Theatre, Philadelphia 2004
The Bluest Eye, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, San Francisco 2007 (named one of top ten productions of 2007)
The Piano Lesson, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia 2008
(September 8 to October 27, 1996) He directed Emily Mann’s adaptation of Sara L. Delaney, A. Elizabeth Delaney, and Amy Hill Hearth’s book, “Having Our Say,” at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California with Frances Foster and Lynne Thigpen in the cast. Edward E. Jones was the scenic designer. D. Martyn Bookwalter was the lighting designer. Dana R. Woods was the costume designer.
(1996-1997 season) He directed John Henry Redwood’s play, “The Old Settler,” in a world premiere at the Long Wharf Theatre (Mainstage) in New Haven, Connecticut. Loren Sherman was the set designer. David Murin was the costume designer. Frances Aronson was the lighting designer.
Back in the 80s, as Artistic Director of Freedom Theatre and training program of 700 students in Philly, I got permission from Orion Pictures to do a stage version of Cooley High. It was an experiment to combine traditional, Black theatre, (my audience) and Tyler Perry style theatre (of the 80s) to bring those two diff audiences together and hope that both would be pleased. August Wilson and Woodie King came to bear witness to my audience Dev experiment. It was a smash! The theatre won a National award from Audelco in NYC. Next, I did Sparkle: The Musical with Warner Brothers’ blessings. Again, another smash hit combining the two worlds. My 3rd experiment was going to be Claudine, but I left for the theatre for an Univ residency before it could happen. PS: The original cast of Cooley saw the show and wanted to support a national tour.
Thanks. Both studios responded much as you did. They wished me well and charged me nothing! I got permission by making one phone call. I wanted to capture more of the women’s POV in Sparkle, so I asked my friend Ntozake Shange to help me with tweaks to the script. We had fun!
ARCHIVIST, 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. 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 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. degree from Ohio University.
