Broadway Legend André De Shields Finally Gets His Flowers

advocate.com:

Broadway, would have only a nominal effect on one's career. When André De Shields won in 2019 for his role of Hermes in the musical, Hadestown, he'd already originated roles in iconic Broadway shows like Ain't Misbehavin', The Full Monty, and The Wiz.

Shields had created a career that was revered. Yet receiving a Tony, he says, "legitimized" his career."Prior to Hadestown, I played The Magical Negro.

I have no regrets about that. But that was the mold out of which I was creating a career. But all the while...and this is going to sound corny, but it's true.

All the while I'm saying, "Why doesn't someone cast me for my mind? For my intellect? Am I really just another pretty face?" And it came together in Hadestown."Shields recently left Hadestown and will return to Broadway this fall in the newest revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.On this week's episode of the LGBTQ&A podcast, Shields talks about the five decades he's spent working on Broadway, being a long-term survivor of HIV, and his life mission of spreading BlackManMajesty.You can listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts or read excerpts below.Jeffrey Masters: The first Broadway show you acted in, Warp!, closed after 12 performances.