Posted: 1/31/18 at 5:16pm
Spoke with Andre De Shields (he's directing and choreographing Ain't Misbehavin' for its 40th anniversary at NJPAC this weekend - and at 72, was doing so while acting in an off-Broadway world premiere play at night!)
"I’m a traditionalist when it comes to perfect art," he said. "And 'Ain't Misbehavin' " is an expression of perfect art," in many ways, he said.
"So when I come to 'Ain't Misbehavin' ' as the director and choreographer, I go right back to the source. Because that’s what we want to teach the current and future generations. You want to teach the miracle. We don’t need to improve 'Ain’t Misbehavin.’ "
Do you agree with his thoughts on the show?
Full interview, if anyone's interested (he has some great thoughts about diversity, ethnic casting and inclusion here, too):
https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/theater/2018/01/31/andre-de-shields-returns-his-roots-40-years-later/1055630001/
