Mr. Broadway December 2020: Hadestown's Andre De Shields

After the year we've had, what better way to celebrate its end than to honor a true Broadway legend as Mr. Broadway for December 2020? Of course, most Broadway fans know of his bigger accomplishments like being the original Wiz in The Wiz, being in the original cast of Ain't Misbehavin', his hilarious turn as "Horse" in The Full Monty, and, of course, his Tony-winning role in Hadestown. But like most performers, André De Shields, has had his share of less-than-successful credits on his resumé. His Broadway career got off to a rocky start with his debut in the short-lived Warp (he played Desi Arnez!), followed by the infamous Rachel Lily Rosenbloom and Don't You Ever Forget It, which never opened. He also choreographed both of Bette Midler's solo shows, and did just about everything for his own solo show, André De Shields' Haarlem Nocturne. (He starred, conceived, directed, wrote book, music and lyrics, and choreographed!) He's done it all, and we are all the better for it.

Mr. Broadway December 2020

Hadestown's

André De Shields 

GETTING TO KNOW ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS:

BIRTH DATE: January 12

BIRTHPLACE: Baltimore, MD

EDUCATION: Wilmington College, University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A.), NYU (Masters)

AWARDS: Emmy Award (for Ain't Misbehavin' telecast); 2019 Tony Award (for Hadestown)

SELECT THEATER CREDITS: BROADWAY: Hadestown (Tony Award winner), Impressionism, Prymate, The Full Monty (Tony nominee), Play On! (Tony nominee), Stardust, André DeShields' Haarlem Nocturne, Ain't Misbehavin' (original and revival), The Wiz, Warp!; WEST END: Hadestown; REGIONAL: Hair, Play On!, The Full Monty, The Jungle Book, Gotta Dance aka Half Time

REGIONAL

    

     

BROADWAY

   

   

   

   

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Mr. Broadway May 2020: Mrs. Doubtfire's Rob McClure

Like the rest of you, we get out laughs where and when we can these days. One of the really good great guys of the Broadway community has been using his down time to cheer the rest of us up. I'm talking about Mrs. Doubtfire himself, Rob McClure. In case you missed it, he's been a Twitter sensation with his ongoing series #conductorcam. Whether you've been in the pit yourself, on the stage looking at the conductor, or just in the audience of a big ol' Broadway show, you'll be able to understand and appreciate the hilarity of these videos. The man is a riot.

Mr. Broadway May 2020

Mrs. Doubtfire's

Rob McClure

If his selection as Mr. Broadway feels like deja vu, it's because he earned the same title way back in September of 2012, when he was headlining Chaplin. Since earning a Theatre World Award for that star turn, he's appeared on Broadway in Honeymoon in Vegas, Something Rotten, Noises Off and Beetlejuice. When Broadway reopens, he'll be playing the title character in Mrs. Doubtfire.

Thanks, Rob, for the much needed smiles you bring to us. Stay safe, stay healthy, and we'll see you soon! Find more by following him on Twitter: @RobMcClure and Instagram: @mcclurerob .

#conductorcam

Ladies and Gentleman...I give you the world premier of an ongoing series I’m calling... #conductorcam🎼#quarantinelife #werefinehere pic.twitter.com/7j9f6Mvpkn

— Rob McClure (@RobMcClure) May 4, 2020

#conductorcam🎼 Episode 2.#fermatafromheaven pic.twitter.com/qrkaWNauNk

— Rob McClure (@RobMcClure) May 5, 2020

Episode 3. #conductorcam🎼
Vamps and Diction. #Hurricanemedley pic.twitter.com/YTtwfasvkn

— Rob McClure (@RobMcClure) May 5, 2020

Honeymoon in Vegas

Something Rotten

Noises Off

Beetlejuice

Mrs. Doubtfire 

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Mr. Broadway March 2020: Diana's Zach Adkins

This month, we thought we'd highlight a relative newcomer to the theater scene. Including his current role, he's only been in two Broadway shows. But his rise to the male leading role in his first show proved a popular choice with fans, and Zach Adkins has many of them. Over the years, he has appeared in major regional productions and co-starred in a national tour. He may be new to the big leagues, but we have every reason to believe he has a long stage career ahead of him. Our expectations are always high for any Mr. Broadway!

Mr. Broadway March 2020:

Diana's Zach Adkins

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ZACH ADKINS

Birth Date: January 4

Birthplace: Ohio

Education: Baldwin Wallace University

Theater Credits: Broadway: Anastasia (Ensemble, Dmitry), Diana (Andrew Parker Bowles); National Tour: Kinky Boots; Regional: West Side Story (Tony - NC Theatre), Grease (Danny - Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera), Sweeney Todd (Anthony - Great Lakes), Murder Ballad (Tom - Baldwin Wallace), Dogfight (Boland - Beck Center), Spring Awakening (Melchior - Beck Arts)

REGIONAL

West Side Story

Grease

Sweeney Todd

Dogfight

Spring Awakening

Murder Ballad

BROADWAY

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Where Are They Now? Mr. Broadway Update: Jeremy Jordan

Back in October 2011, we highlighted an "up and coming" new talent, Jeremy Jordan as Mr. Broadway (HERE). He had already been in Rock of Ages and West Side Story, and was just finished headlining the regional productions of Disney's Newsies and Bonnie and Clyde. He's sure done a lot since then - on Broadway, TV and film. Both of his big TV series have Broadway connections - Supergirl starring Beautiful's Melissa Benoist, and Smash, which was pretty much Broadway on the small screen. On film, he starred in the film adaptation of The Last 5 Years with Tony-nominee Anna Kendrick, and most recently, the film version of the play American Son, in which he co-starred on Broadway. The film premieres on Netflix soon. But probably the biggest and best thing he's been up to is getting married to Ashley Spencer and starting his family with a brand new daughter, Clara. Congratulations, Jeremy and Ashley!

Where Are They Now?

Mr. Broadway Update:

JEREMY JORDAN

Smash (Jimmy Collins - NBC)

Supergirl (Winn Schott, Jr. - CBS, The CW)

The Last 5 Years (Jamie Wellerstein)

Bonnie and Clyde (Clyde Barrow - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre)

Winner: Theatre World Award

Disney's Newsies (Jack Kelly - Nederlander Theatre)

Nominee: Tony Award - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Nominee: Grammy Award - Best Musical Theatre Album (Principal Vocalist)

Finding Neverland (J.M. Barrie - A.R.T.)

American Son (Paul Larkin - Booth Theatre)

Waitress (Dr. Pomatter - Brooks Atkinson Theatre)

Here's to continued and long-term success with your family and career, Mr. Jordan!

#2182