"André de Shields: Black By Popular Demand" at Joe's Pub - Review of the whole night!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:22pm

Check my blog for this!

Any Hairspray fans, read it, too!

HAHAHA

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:24pm

haha. glad you got to see Mary. :)

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:25pm

So am I....lol

Always happy to see her!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:52pm

I think a lot of people don't know who he is.

He was the Wiz in the original, well, The Wiz.

He was also Horse in the OBC of The Full Monty.

He has received two tony noms (one for the full monty and one for Play On!)

He was in Ain't Misbehavin' and Prymate....

He choreographed some of Bette Midler's shows as well as had hsi own show...Haarlam Nocturne's (I think)....

He's alos been in a bunch of movies and TV shows, including the movie Extreme MEasures with Hugh Grant and Gene HAckman....

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 6:26pm

My blog isn't loading right now - may be my computer...so here's the review in full:

Last night (Feb 8 ), I saw André de Shields: Black By Popular
Demand at Joe’s Pub. I sat at table 31, in the corner, right up against the stage!

Let me say that for a 58 year old man (well, for a 20 year
old man) de Shields was still at the top of his game. He was so full of energy
and power – there was not a dull moment.

From the time he and his two back-ups walked out on stage in
red church robes, to the time de Shields strips down to his “fuchsia” suit and
then to his afro-tastic hippie costume (with long red beaded necklace, platform
shoes, and tight bell bottom pants (which he told someone after the show that Patrick
Wilson recommended them to him….HAHAHAHAHA!), the level of energy was high in
the audience.

Comedy, comedy, André comeDe Shields! He and his back up
singer Frieda at a small “sing off,” which ended with de Shields putting the mic
into his mouth and singing…. Take whatever meaning you want from that!

The show was full of soul but also had its deep,
full-of-feeling moments about AIDS. His monologue
about the disease (which ended in song) was done with great emotion. It definitely was a highlight of the show to
see de Shields act – and act well!

What else can be said? I could describe each song, which ranged
from all different songs. Everything
about the show was great – it was priceless. The worst part was, of course, the ending.

After the show, as you may know if you’ve been to Joe’s Pub,
the bathroom area is by the dressing rooms. I went back and bumped into the always
friendly (and one of my favorite actress) Mary Bond Davis, of Hairspray
acclaim. After talking to her a little
bit about her contract with Hairspray and her future plans, I went on to meet
André. He left the backstage area pretty
quickly. So, a bunch of people followed
him onto the stage ant into the restaurant. After a few minutes (OK, so about a half an
hour) I go to talk to him. I told him
how I drove home from school (2 hrs) to see the show. He could not have been friendly. He gives everyone a hug or handshake (even a
kiss to some). He asked me my name, my
parents’ names, etc. As we were trying to get a picture with him, he was
talking to us – so full of energy.

I had my Wiz (OBC)
booklet with me for him to sign. He said
he would be right back. Then he was, of
course, bombarded with people. Finally,
he turned around and started screaming my name, looking for me. When he saw me, he took the pen and booklet
from me and put it down in front of a candle. He began to write on the front of the second page of the booklet (even
though people were talking to him), “02-07-05 TO MY YOUNG …” then the candle
blew out. He let out a scream like “what
the hell just happened.” Quickly, he
went to the next table, stopping a waiter from taking the candle away. He then finished, “…BUDDY, LEE FROM MR. WIZ”
He then signed it. Afterwards, I talked
to him a little more about him getting back on Broadway.

What a great night and a great way to meet your favorite
actor!

Thanks for reading….

Pictures can be seen in my fan photos section! ~ But not quite yet~

-BSoBW2 Updated On: 2/8/05 at 06:26 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:08pm

Oh, no, I don't want this to die!

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:37pm

awww that is so great!! what an experience!! i'm jealous :P

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:22pm

indeed it was

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:23pm

and you met with mary too! im REALLY jealous!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:25pm

Mary is awesome!

Really nice and friendly all the time.

Andre asked if, if he made it back to Bway, i'd come to see him at the stage door. It was cool!


Here is the thing he signed for me! Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:25 PM

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:26pm

thats a keeper

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:28pm

YEs, and in my Wiz booklet...so it'll stay!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 1:57pm

bump

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:39am

Why not?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 7:30pm

I have to do this...

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:00pm

do what?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:01pm

I had to bump in...

Now I have to find out who this Molly is!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:03pm

BSoBW2, I know EXACTLY who André de Shields is
I saw ALL of him in The Full Monty and "he's the wiz and he lives in ooooooooooz"

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:05pm

haha YES!

Some one new posted here

REJOIcING REJOICING

yeah, FORTUNATLEY we didn't have to see all of him on monday...

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:07pm

well I say ALL OF HIM lightly
The lights were bright and I was kinda lookin at someone else

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:09pm

who else was there to look at?




HAHAHAHA no need to answer...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:18pm

I am gonna guess by saying patrick...

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:19pm

NC

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/13/05 at 11:23pm

nice choice or north carolina?

lol

this thread, at last, is getting some attention!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/14/05 at 3:08pm

n/m then