Dale R. Shields
Encyclopedia
Dale Ricardo Shields, born in Cleveland, Ohio
, is an African American actor, archivist, director, educator and stage manager. He is a member of AEA
, SAG
, AFTRA
, AGMA
and SSDC
. Dale has been active in the theatre since 1974.
. He attained additional graduate study at Wayne State University
(The Hilberry Company) where he founded the Lloyd Richards’ Society at Wayne State University. Additional Study: Negro Ensemble Company, Henry Street Settlement, and The National Improvisational Theatre. He attended John F. Kennedy High School where he received an Honor of Merit award from the Exchange Club of Cleveland for service to his community, co-authored the John F. Kennedy High School Alma Mater and was commencement class speaker at the 1970 graduation ceremony. He was inducted into the George E. Mills Gallery of Excellence after graduation. He was inducted into the academic honor society Phi Kappa Phi for academic excellence upon graduation from Ohio University.
Born the youngest of two sons in Cleveland, Ohio, his grandfather and father were founding members of the famed Shields Brother Gospel Quartet of Ohio, his mother was a member of the Turner Gospel Singers directed by the gospel giant, Arthur Turner. He is the cousin of legendary fight promoter Don King.
, his directing credits include: Fires in The Mirror, Laughter on the Twenty Third Floor, Driving Miss Daisy, Quatermaines’ Terms, Of Mice and Men, Godspell, Miricles Same Time Next Year, A Streetcar Named Desire, Three Ways Home, The Real Ma Rainey, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, Rumors, The Brownsville Raid, Man of La Mancha, Jesus is Alive, Before It Hits Home, An Evening With Featherstone, Love Story of The Century, The Right Type, The Shirt, Golden Boy and The Me Nobody Knows. He most recently conceived and directed a two-year series of original plays for the Center for Families and Children Rap Arts Youth Fellowship Program. Additional recent directorial assignments include: A Day with Duke for the Tri C Jazz Festival, Crowns at the Weathervane Playhouse and Top Dog/Under Dog at the Beck Center for The Performing Arts. He has directed productions at the Karamu House Theatre, Beck Center for the Performing Arts, Weathervane Summer Playhouse, Weathervane Community Theatre, Columbus Stage Center, The Cleveland Public Theatre and The Cleveland Playhouse. He most recently directed "Trouble in Mind" for the Project1voice national inaugural Black Theatre event in Ohio.
He was the assistant director to Lloyd Richards and Ed Smith for the New Federal Theatre premiere production of Ossie Davis’ new play A Last Dance With Sybil staring Ruby Dee
and Earl Hyman at the St. Clements Theatre. He was also assistant director to Roger Danforth for the premiere of Jungle Rot and The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Cleveland Playhouse.
His extensive professional credits as a Director, Stage manager and Actor (Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and Regional) include various projects and assignments at Lincoln Center (State Theatre), The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, The Joseph Papp Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival), City Center (NY), Upward Bound, The Hilberry Repertory Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Playwrights Horizon, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Actors Studio, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The York Players, South Bronx Action Theatre, The Dobama Theatre and Columbus Stage Center.
,the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
and the American Guild of Musical Artists
performance unions.
He studied at The Negro Ensemble Company with Anderson Johnson and The Henry Street Settlement House with Hal Scott and Dick Anthony Williams.
He appeared as Martin in the New York City revival of Any One Can Whistle directed by Fran Soder at the York Theatre Company and the Lincoln Center world premiere of Lily based on Saul Bellow’s Henderson the Rain King directed by Tom O’ Horgan at Lincoln Center (State Theatre).
For Telelvision he was featured in The ITV television series Special Needs in the major role of Gregg with Esai Morales
.
He was a member of the theatre ensemble of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre with Dianne Harvey.
He appeared on television on The Bill Cosby Show
, Another World
, Guiding Light
, Saturday Night Live
, and Ann Margaret’s Salute to Radio City Music Hall with Ben Vereen
, Gregory Peck
and Beverly Sills
.
He performed with the Saint Paul Civic Symphony at The Saint Paul Landmark Center as the Narrator in Aaron Copland's A Lincoln Portrait.
He also appeared as a member of the Fun Bunch promotional team with the Cleveland Indians Baseball Team.
Additional credits include various commercials (McDonalds, Burger King and Bufferin), documentaries and film.
Black Nativity at Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II’s (Reverend Ike) United Palace with Freddie Jackson
, Marva Hicks
, Stephanie Mills
, Phylicia Rashad
and Be Be Winans.
The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Ebony
Life Sea Treasures at the South Street Seaport,
De Obeah Mon at The Actors Studio,
Martin Luther King’s Birthday Celebration at Studio 54
(1986) with Eartha Kitt
and Ruth Warwick.
He also worked for ArtsConnection of New York as a Production Supervisor.
He was most recently the Production Assistant for American Idols’ Debra Byrd’s Star School Live Master Classes at The House of Blues (Cleveland) and Cleveland State University.
in St. Paul, Minnesota and The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. As an Visiting Assistant Professor/Vail Guest artist he conducted theatre workshops and directed Fires in the Mirror at Denison University
in Grandville, Ohio. He was also visiting artist in residence at Randolph-Macon College
in Ashland, Virginia
, where he conducted workshops in diversity, leadership and multicultural education. He has taught courses at an adjunct faculty member at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio
and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He taught for the Youngstown Early Prevention Program for five years on the campus of the College of Wooster. For legendary producer Joseph Papp
, He conducted workshops at the Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival
) with the Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITTS) for six seasons. During his six year teaching tenure at the Public Theatre he represented the United States of America at the ASSITIJ Theatre Festival in London, England in 1988 with Playwright and mentor, Arthur T. Wilson.
As a University Professor, he has received two Outstanding Professor Awards and three Educational Program of the Year awards.
In 2009 he created and become the creator and archivist for Black Theatre/African American Voices web site on Facebook and "I For Color" on the web.
Guest Visiting Artist, Denison University 2011.
Payne Costing Professor of the Arts, Randolph-Macon College 2012.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, is an African American actor, archivist, director, educator and stage manager. He is a member of AEA
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
, SAG
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
, AFTRA
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
, AGMA
American Guild of Musical Artists
The American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO is the American labor union that represents 8,000 current and retired opera singers, ballet and other dancers, opera Directors, backstage production personnel at opera and dance companies, and figure skaters.-Jurisdiction:According to its website it...
and SSDC
Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers
The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society , formerly known as Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers , is an independent national labor union established in 1959, representing theatrical directors and choreographers, working on Broadway and on National tours, Off-Broadway, and in...
. Dale has been active in the theatre since 1974.
Early life
Dale Ricardo Shields received his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees (summa cum laude) from Ohio UniversityOhio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
. He attained additional graduate study at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
(The Hilberry Company) where he founded the Lloyd Richards’ Society at Wayne State University. Additional Study: Negro Ensemble Company, Henry Street Settlement, and The National Improvisational Theatre. He attended John F. Kennedy High School where he received an Honor of Merit award from the Exchange Club of Cleveland for service to his community, co-authored the John F. Kennedy High School Alma Mater and was commencement class speaker at the 1970 graduation ceremony. He was inducted into the George E. Mills Gallery of Excellence after graduation. He was inducted into the academic honor society Phi Kappa Phi for academic excellence upon graduation from Ohio University.
Born the youngest of two sons in Cleveland, Ohio, his grandfather and father were founding members of the famed Shields Brother Gospel Quartet of Ohio, his mother was a member of the Turner Gospel Singers directed by the gospel giant, Arthur Turner. He is the cousin of legendary fight promoter Don King.
Director
As an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and ChoreographersSociety of Stage Directors and Choreographers
The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society , formerly known as Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers , is an independent national labor union established in 1959, representing theatrical directors and choreographers, working on Broadway and on National tours, Off-Broadway, and in...
, his directing credits include: Fires in The Mirror, Laughter on the Twenty Third Floor, Driving Miss Daisy, Quatermaines’ Terms, Of Mice and Men, Godspell, Miricles Same Time Next Year, A Streetcar Named Desire, Three Ways Home, The Real Ma Rainey, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, Rumors, The Brownsville Raid, Man of La Mancha, Jesus is Alive, Before It Hits Home, An Evening With Featherstone, Love Story of The Century, The Right Type, The Shirt, Golden Boy and The Me Nobody Knows. He most recently conceived and directed a two-year series of original plays for the Center for Families and Children Rap Arts Youth Fellowship Program. Additional recent directorial assignments include: A Day with Duke for the Tri C Jazz Festival, Crowns at the Weathervane Playhouse and Top Dog/Under Dog at the Beck Center for The Performing Arts. He has directed productions at the Karamu House Theatre, Beck Center for the Performing Arts, Weathervane Summer Playhouse, Weathervane Community Theatre, Columbus Stage Center, The Cleveland Public Theatre and The Cleveland Playhouse. He most recently directed "Trouble in Mind" for the Project1voice national inaugural Black Theatre event in Ohio.
He was the assistant director to Lloyd Richards and Ed Smith for the New Federal Theatre premiere production of Ossie Davis’ new play A Last Dance With Sybil staring Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee is an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and activist, perhaps best known for co-starring in the film A Raisin in the Sun and the film American Gangster for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Early years:Dee was born Ruby...
and Earl Hyman at the St. Clements Theatre. He was also assistant director to Roger Danforth for the premiere of Jungle Rot and The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Cleveland Playhouse.
His extensive professional credits as a Director, Stage manager and Actor (Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and Regional) include various projects and assignments at Lincoln Center (State Theatre), The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, The Joseph Papp Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival), City Center (NY), Upward Bound, The Hilberry Repertory Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Playwrights Horizon, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Actors Studio, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The York Players, South Bronx Action Theatre, The Dobama Theatre and Columbus Stage Center.
Actor
As an actor, he is a member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors GuildScreen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
,the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
and the American Guild of Musical Artists
American Guild of Musical Artists
The American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO is the American labor union that represents 8,000 current and retired opera singers, ballet and other dancers, opera Directors, backstage production personnel at opera and dance companies, and figure skaters.-Jurisdiction:According to its website it...
performance unions.
He studied at The Negro Ensemble Company with Anderson Johnson and The Henry Street Settlement House with Hal Scott and Dick Anthony Williams.
He appeared as Martin in the New York City revival of Any One Can Whistle directed by Fran Soder at the York Theatre Company and the Lincoln Center world premiere of Lily based on Saul Bellow’s Henderson the Rain King directed by Tom O’ Horgan at Lincoln Center (State Theatre).
For Telelvision he was featured in The ITV television series Special Needs in the major role of Gregg with Esai Morales
Esai Morales
Esai Manuel Morales is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Bob Morales in the 1987 biopic La Bamba. He also appeared in the PBS drama American Family and in the Showtime series Resurrection Blvd.. However, he is best known for his roles as Lt...
.
He was a member of the theatre ensemble of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre with Dianne Harvey.
He appeared on television on The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show is an American situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Cosby's first solo foray in television, after his co-starring role with...
, Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
, Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
, Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, and Ann Margaret’s Salute to Radio City Music Hall with Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen is an American actor, dancer, and singer who has appeared in numerous Broadway theatre shows. Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts.- Early years :...
, Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Eldred Gregory Peck was an American actor.One of 20th Century Fox's most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1960s, Peck continued to play important roles well into the 1980s. His notable performances include that of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which he won an...
and Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills was an American operatic soprano whose peak career was between the 1950s and 1970s. In her prime she was the only real rival to Joan Sutherland as the leading bel canto stylist...
.
He performed with the Saint Paul Civic Symphony at The Saint Paul Landmark Center as the Narrator in Aaron Copland's A Lincoln Portrait.
He also appeared as a member of the Fun Bunch promotional team with the Cleveland Indians Baseball Team.
Additional credits include various commercials (McDonalds, Burger King and Bufferin), documentaries and film.
Stage Management
His Production Stage Manager credits include:Black Nativity at Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II’s (Reverend Ike) United Palace with Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson
Frederick Anthony "Freddie" Jackson is an American soul singer. He was an important figure in R&B during the 1980s and early 1990s...
, Marva Hicks
Marva Hicks
Marva Hicks is an R&B singer and actress who signed with Polydor in the late '80s and her debut LP, Marva Hicks, followed in 1991.She scored her biggest chart hit with the single "Never Been in Love Before" which peaked at number seven, while two singles followed.-External links:Chang, Lia.*,...
, Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
, Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashād is an American Tony Award winning actress and singer, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
and Be Be Winans.
The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Ebony
Life Sea Treasures at the South Street Seaport,
De Obeah Mon at The Actors Studio,
Martin Luther King’s Birthday Celebration at Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
(1986) with Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...
and Ruth Warwick.
He also worked for ArtsConnection of New York as a Production Supervisor.
He was most recently the Production Assistant for American Idols’ Debra Byrd’s Star School Live Master Classes at The House of Blues (Cleveland) and Cleveland State University.
Academic
As a Associate Professor of Acting,Directing, African American Theatre History and Stage Management, he has held faculty appointments at Macalester CollegeMacalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
in St. Paul, Minnesota and The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. As an Visiting Assistant Professor/Vail Guest artist he conducted theatre workshops and directed Fires in the Mirror at Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
in Grandville, Ohio. He was also visiting artist in residence at Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
in Ashland, Virginia
Ashland, Virginia
Originally known as Slash Cottage, Ashland is located on the Old Washington Highway U.S. Route One and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, a busy north-south route now owned by CSX Transportation...
, where he conducted workshops in diversity, leadership and multicultural education. He has taught courses at an adjunct faculty member at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He taught for the Youngstown Early Prevention Program for five years on the campus of the College of Wooster. For legendary producer Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
, He conducted workshops at the Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival
New York Shakespeare Festival
New York Shakespeare Festival is the previous name of the New York City theatrical producing organization now known as the Public Theater. The Festival produced shows at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, as part of its free Shakespeare in the Park series, at the Public Theatre near Astor Place...
) with the Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITTS) for six seasons. During his six year teaching tenure at the Public Theatre he represented the United States of America at the ASSITIJ Theatre Festival in London, England in 1988 with Playwright and mentor, Arthur T. Wilson.
As a University Professor, he has received two Outstanding Professor Awards and three Educational Program of the Year awards.
In 2009 he created and become the creator and archivist for Black Theatre/African American Voices web site on Facebook and "I For Color" on the web.
Guest Visiting Artist, Denison University 2011.
Payne Costing Professor of the Arts, Randolph-Macon College 2012.
Other Accomplishments
- Founding member of The Unit production company with Obie award winner actor, Reyno Crayton and Wayne Elbert. Together they produced Ted Shine’s Contributions and Shoe/String with Lawrence Fishburne, Arthur FrenchArthur FrenchArthur French may refer to:* Arthur French, American actor* Arthur French , MP for the Irish constituency of Roscommon 1801–1821...
and Barbara MontgomeryBarbara MontgomeryBarbara Montgomery is an American television and film actress. Montgomery is best known for her role as Cassietta Hetebrink on the sitcom, Amen, Montgomery played the role for four years, and left in 1990...
at the St. Marks Theatre in New York City.
- Authored, conceived, and directed In Time, an HIV/AIDS awareness play for TYA audiences. In Time has toured and received grants from the State of New York and State of Ohio. He also conceived and directed How To Slam A Revolving Door (A Word Jam)at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre - New York Shakespeare FestivalNew York Shakespeare FestivalNew York Shakespeare Festival is the previous name of the New York City theatrical producing organization now known as the Public Theater. The Festival produced shows at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, as part of its free Shakespeare in the Park series, at the Public Theatre near Astor Place...
and Because It's Me That's Why! and Fairy Tale Fantasia Follies at the KUTZ Hebrew Congregations. Something Wanted at the South Bronx Community Theatre. Most recently he conceived and directed Who am I and a six productions series of original plays for the Center for Families and Children in Cleveland, Ohio.
- In 2010 he became a member of the Advisory Board of AUDELCO (Audience Development Committee) in New York City.
Reference Links
- TV.com
- Shields/ Broadway World
- Daryl’s Tribe Vibe Radio
- Center For Families and Children "Who Am I ?
- The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide "Anyone Can Whistle"
- The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide "Anyone Can Whistle" song list
- FANDANGO.com “The Bill Cosby Show - Adventures in Babysitting”
- Tomaca Govan - An interview with the actor and artist Dale Ricardo Shields
- Denison Theatre Presents Story of Crown Heights Riots
- Black Theatre / African American Voices Slide Show Presentation
- African American Artists of Cleveland.com
- Ohio University
- The Lakewood Observer
- (TOPDOG/ UNDERDOG)The Beck Center
- (TOPDOG/ UNDERDOG)The Beck Center
- http://mailman.listserve.com/pipermail/neohiopal/Week.../msg00065.html
- NEW FEDERAL THEATRE
- Dale Shields quotes
- NEW FEDERAL THEATRE
- WEATHERVANE THEATRE - `Crowns' has pros offstage: Artistic team has lots of theater experience
- Denison University - (FIRES IN THE MIRROR)
- The Psychology of Being Black in the Twenty-First Century America: Third Annual African American Studies Conference
- The Bill Cosby Show
- http://www.zoominfo.com/people/FullProfile.aspx?PersonID=885832699
- The Shields Brothers
- The Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet
- The Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet
- LILY - The New York State Theatre LINCOLN CENTER'
- i for color
- BLACK THEATRE / African American Voices
- Denison University