About
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia. Dale Ricardo Shields represents the powerful convergence of artistry, pedagogy, activism, and archival legacy.
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. Shields created iforcolor.org to archive and share information about Black history, theatre, and arts, researching and sharing information on Black, Latinx, and Indigenous American art forms.
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.
Dale Ricardo Shields is a 2017 winner of The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award®, 2017 and 2015 Tony® award nominee for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, the 2017 AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award, the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024 ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund and the winner of the 2022 EBN Legend Award (Ohio University).
He is the 2021 winner of The Paul Robeson Award presented jointly by the Actors Equity Association and Actors Equity Foundation. In 2024, Shields was interviewed, filmed, and included in The HistoryMakers archives, which are housed permanently in the Library of Congress.
He is the 2021 winner of the Paul Robeson Award, presented (jointly) by the Actors Equity Association and the Actors Equity Foundation.
Paul Robeson Awards 2023. - Actors Equity Foundation / Actors Equity Association
https://youtu.be/kzXse8FM-gU?si=v6x9lMVaG5ZUlxGA
Because of Professor Shields' significance of his life, work, and accomplishments, he will be interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, which are housed permanently in the Library of Congress. for permanent safekeeping, where it will become part of our nation’s prestigious patrimony. (2024).
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) and Karamu House. He is on the board of directors of AUDELCO.
He was the assistant director to Lloyd Richards for the New Federal Theatre premiere production of Ossie Davis' play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman at the New Federal Theatre. As an actor he has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Cosby Show, and the ITV television series Special Needs and commercials and film. He studied at The Negro Ensemble Company 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 at the York Theatre Company, 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).
He taught workshops 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 ASSITEJ 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. He has taught classes and workshops at Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University, and SUNY Potsdam.
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.
Iforcolor [RESEARCH]
Iforcolor.org
He is a member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Musical Artists performance unions and an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
He holds a BFA and MFA [Summa Cum Laude} degree from Ohio University.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Ricardo_Shields
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. Shields created iforcolor.org to archive and share information about Black history, theatre, and arts, researching and sharing information on Black, Latinx, and Indigenous American art forms.
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.
Dale Ricardo Shields is a 2017 winner of The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award®, 2017 and 2015 Tony® award nominee for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, the 2017 AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award, the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024 ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund and the winner of the 2022 EBN Legend Award (Ohio University).
He is the 2021 winner of The Paul Robeson Award presented jointly by the Actors Equity Association and Actors Equity Foundation. In 2024, Shields was interviewed, filmed, and included in The HistoryMakers archives, which are housed permanently in the Library of Congress.
He is the 2021 winner of the Paul Robeson Award, presented (jointly) by the Actors Equity Association and the Actors Equity Foundation.
Paul Robeson Awards 2023. - Actors Equity Foundation / Actors Equity Association
https://youtu.be/kzXse8FM-gU?si=v6x9lMVaG5ZUlxGA
Because of Professor Shields' significance of his life, work, and accomplishments, he will be interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, which are housed permanently in the Library of Congress. for permanent safekeeping, where it will become part of our nation’s prestigious patrimony. (2024).
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) and Karamu House. He is on the board of directors of AUDELCO.
He was the assistant director to Lloyd Richards for the New Federal Theatre premiere production of Ossie Davis' play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman at the New Federal Theatre. As an actor he has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Cosby Show, and the ITV television series Special Needs and commercials and film. He studied at The Negro Ensemble Company 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 at the York Theatre Company, 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).
He taught workshops 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 ASSITEJ 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. He has taught classes and workshops at Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University, and SUNY Potsdam.
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.
Iforcolor [RESEARCH]
Iforcolor.org
He is a member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Musical Artists performance unions and an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
He holds a BFA and MFA [Summa Cum Laude} degree from Ohio University.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Ricardo_Shields
