The Green Room

(Photo by Lia Chang)

On a cold day in New York City in February 2020, Wisconsin Union team members and University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni had the opportunity to meet actor, singer, and writer André De Shields ’70 during a talk-back after attending “Hadestown” in New York City. 

Before attending “Hadestown” and meeting André, Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass had long contemplated the Theater’s priorities, particularly how to help provide equitable access in the Theater’s programming. As she considered how to change programming and processes to work on these priorities, Elizabeth was also learning about André and the discrimination he experienced during his professional journey that included studying at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and that ultimately led him to Broadway. 

Long before Broadway, André had an early love for the performing arts, attending a theater near his home in Baltimore. There, he came to the realization in 1954 as he watched John “Bubbles” Sublett sing, act and dance in “Cabin in the Sky” that he would one day have a career in the performing arts. Despite his parents’ urging to pursue other careers, the dream of being a performer stayed with André, leading him to play Walter Lee Younger in a production of “Raisin in the Sun” at Wilmington College. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison he played roles in Stuart Gordon's "Peter Pan" and "The Fantasticks".

However, he was denied many parts over and over again, leading him to seek opportunities away from campus, eventually landing a role in “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” in Chicago. André, ultimately, achieved his career dreams, playing roles in “The Wiz,” “Ain’t Misbehavin,’” “Hadestown,” “Play On” and “The Full Monty" as well as earning degrees in English literature from UW–Madison and a master’s degree in African American studies from New York University. 

The professional trials that he endured inspired Elizabeth and other Wisconsin Union and Wisconsin Union Theater team members to create a new initiative: the André De Shields Fund. 

When approached about this effort and having the fund be named for him, André shared his excitement and agreed to lend his name to this effort as well as to helping the Theater in raising awareness of the Fund, acknowledging it is like passing the baton to new generations of future artists, producers, directors, writers, and more. He is a passionate advocate for helping others achieve their dreams and for breaking down the barriers he faced in his rise to stardom. He speaks emphatically about wanting his own success to benefit others. 

“We have to stand up when the opportunity calls,” André said. “This Fund is a vital illustration of what needs to be done.”

André has expressed hope that in opening doors in his own career that he has opened the doors for others and that he inspires others to blaze their own trails. This passion aligned perfectly with the vision for the Fund. 

“We are immeasurably grateful to André De Shields for lending his name to this effort,” Elizabeth said. “The obstacles he faced in his career are unfortunately still not uncommon, and, with his help, we want to do our part to change that.”

The performing arts dreams and work of artists can be supported through the André De Shields Fund. Click here to give to the André De Shields Fund.