The Working Theater kicked off Black History Month last night with a limited two week run of Andre De Shields' solo work-in-progress Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance at The Abingdon Theatre. Andre De Shields as Mau Mau Bett in The Working Theater's production of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance at the June Havoc Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in New York. Photo: Lia Chang
In Mine Eyes, De Shields weaves a narrative in story, song and dance, portraying an African woman, a slave, JB and Martin Luther King, to tell the story of the great emancipator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Andre De Shields as The Slave Photo: Lia Chang
Created and performed by De Shields, and helmed by frequent collaborator director Alfred Preisser, Mine Eyes runs through February 14th, 2010 at the Abingdon Theater, 312 West 36th Street in New York. Mark Plesent, producing director, The Working Theater, Andre De Shields, Mercedes Ellington, and director Alfred Preisser at the opening night party of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance, at the Houndstooth Pub on February 4, 2010 in New York. Photo: Lia Chang
Choreographer Mercedes Ellington and playwright Paul Carter Harrison were among the well wishers at the opening night party at the Houndstooth Pub in New York. Andre De Shields as JB Photo: Lia Chang
Founded in 1985, The Working Theater's mission is to produce plays for and about working people. "We believe theater should not be a privilege or a luxury, but a staple," says Mark Plesent. "We want working people who may not be able to afford commercial theater or who feel that it does not resonate with their lives and experience, to make play-going a regular part of their cultural activities." Andre De Shields as Frederick Douglass in The Working Theater's production of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance at the June Havoc Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in New York. Photo: Lia Chang
Over the years, the company has commissioned and produced more than 70 world premieres of culturally diverse new plays; garnered widespread recognition and critical acclaim for writing, acting, directing, as well as their pioneering efforts in audience development.
The performance schedule for Mine Eyes is Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm with matinees on Wednesday, February 10th at 2pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. All tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. For special group discounts call (212) 244-3300. www.theworkingtheater.org.
Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex, June Havoc Theatre
312 W. 36th Street (btwn 8th 9th Aves)
Director Alfred Preisser and Andre De Shields at the opening night party of Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance, at the Houndstooth Pub in New York on February 4, 2010. Photo: Lia Chang www.andredeshields.com
Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer and an award-winning multimedia journalist. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog. As a photographer and videographer, Lia is frequently tapped to collaborate with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.
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