In my 52 years as a Black performer, the question I’m asked by casting directors more often than not is, “Can you sing and dance?” Well, yeah, because I grew up doing doo-wop under the street lamps in the drizzling rain with my brothers, went to house parties to learn the latest moves. I don’t have formal training as a singer and dancer, but it’s in my blood. We’ve been taught if you see something, say something. I believe if you know something, share something.When I won the Tony, the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Is Baltimore in the house?” It was the first time I had a captive audience of millions; to speak to that many people from the living stage, I’d have to work for hundreds of years. This was my opportunity. And what I said was, “… Click below to read the full story from Esquire
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What I’ve Learned: André De Shields
