Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
Jun 19, 2022
In-Person Tickets (2 PM & 7 PM): $40/$30 Members & Seniors/$20 Students/$10 Children (under 12)
2PM SHOW IS SOLD OUT.
Buy early! The first 100 ticket buyers will get an exclusive pin of Frederick Douglas. Celebrate black history and adorn your favorite jacket, bag, or other accessory with the pin!
All individuals must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and matching identification to attend this event. If you are interested in attending this event in person, please read the full COVID Safety Policy carefully before purchasing tickets.
In commemoration of Juneteenth, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner and Hadestown star André De Shields performs an excerpt from his self-crafted solo work “Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.” The one-man show explores the life and achievements of the great emancipator Frederick Douglass.
“Though Douglass began his life as a slave, through heroic effort, he became one of America’s most important and historically influential icons,” said De Shields. “Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” tells a story about brutality and deliverance that is implausible yet historically accurate. De Shields portrays the Great Black Emancipator with a performance that is as filled with hope and achievement as it is darkness and anger.
"André De Shields is a Broadway Deity." - New York Magazine
"André De Shields is a national treasure." - The New Yorker
The show opens with a Gospel Juneteenth Presentation by Chuk Fowler and Company. With images, words, and songs such as "Lift Every Voice and Sing", Fowler and company invite audiences to reflect on Juneteenth. Chuk Fowler and Company are presented with support by Cross Cultural Council.
(cover photos by Lia Chang)
In a career spanning more than half a century, André De Shields has acquired a number of sobriquets, among them--"Broadway Deity," "Professional Charmer" and "Papa Dré." A showstopper at age 76, André was the triple-crown winner of the 2019 award season, garnering Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Grammy Awards for his universally praised role as Hermes, Messenger to the Gods, in Hadestown. De Shields has also distinguished himself as director, philanthropist and educator. His defining theatrical performances include roles in the original Broadway productions of The Full Monty (Tony Award nomination), Play On! (Tony Award nomination), Ain't Misbehavin' (Emmy Award) and the titular role in The Wiz. Currently, De Shields is experiencing growing pains as he prepares for his next adventure as Actor/Activist, eradicating the inauthentic while elevating the inexplicable. Ubuntu! www.andredeshields.com.
Chuk Fowler, born in Harlem, NY at the close of the Harlem Renaissance, delivered flowers at age 14 to his neighbor Langston Hughes. He took formal classical music lessons with Edward Boatner, a prolific composer who was the father of renowned jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt. After winning amateur night at the Apollo two nights in a row, he was congratulated for days by local neighborhood legends who included Art Blakey, Clark Terry, Billy Higgins, and Mary Lou Williams and many others. His journey was set in motion. Inspired by his mentors' encouragement, Fowler performed regularly at Harlem’s famous nightclubs, theaters, and posh hotels throughout New York City. Live performances with the United States military connected his music to European and Japanese audiences. Upon returning to the USA, he dedicated 30 years to directing and teaching music in the NYC public schools while maintaining an active performance schedule with his group, Higher Energy. “His (Chuk Fowler's) groove is authentic and honest which accounts for his appeal to cross-generational audiences" - New York Beacon
This program is presented as part of Queens Rising, the month-long celebration of arts and culture in Queens. Click HERE to learn more about the Queens Rising events at Flushing Town Hall.
In-Person Tickets (2 PM & 7 PM): $40/$30 Members & Seniors/$20 Students/$10 Children (under 12)
2PM SHOW IS SOLD OUT.
Buy early! The first 100 ticket buyers will get an exclusive pin of Frederick Douglas. Celebrate black history and adorn your favorite jacket, bag, or other accessory with the pin!
All individuals must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and matching identification to attend this event. If you are interested in attending this event in person, please read the full COVID Safety Policy carefully before purchasing tickets.
In commemoration of Juneteenth, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner and Hadestown star André De Shields performs an excerpt from his self-crafted solo work “Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.” The one-man show explores the life and achievements of the great emancipator Frederick Douglass.
“Though Douglass began his life as a slave, through heroic effort, he became one of America’s most important and historically influential icons,” said De Shields. “Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” tells a story about brutality and deliverance that is implausible yet historically accurate. De Shields portrays the Great Black Emancipator with a performance that is as filled with hope and achievement as it is darkness and anger.
"André De Shields is a Broadway Deity." - New York Magazine
"André De Shields is a national treasure." - The New Yorker
The show opens with a Gospel Juneteenth Presentation by Chuk Fowler and Company. With images, words, and songs such as "Lift Every Voice and Sing", Fowler and company invite audiences to reflect on Juneteenth. Chuk Fowler and Company are presented with support by Cross Cultural Council.
(cover photos by Lia Chang)
In a career spanning more than half a century, André De Shields has acquired a number of sobriquets, among them--"Broadway Deity," "Professional Charmer" and "Papa Dré." A showstopper at age 76, André was the triple-crown winner of the 2019 award season, garnering Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Grammy Awards for his universally praised role as Hermes, Messenger to the Gods, in Hadestown. De Shields has also distinguished himself as director, philanthropist and educator. His defining theatrical performances include roles in the original Broadway productions of The Full Monty (Tony Award nomination), Play On! (Tony Award nomination), Ain't Misbehavin' (Emmy Award) and the titular role in The Wiz. Currently, De Shields is experiencing growing pains as he prepares for his next adventure as Actor/Activist, eradicating the inauthentic while elevating the inexplicable. Ubuntu! www.andredeshields.com.Chuk Fowler, born in Harlem, NY at the close of the Harlem Renaissance, delivered flowers at age 14 to his neighbor Langston Hughes. He took formal classical music lessons with Edward Boatner, a prolific composer who was the father of renowned jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt. After winning amateur night at the Apollo two nights in a row, he was congratulated for days by local neighborhood legends who included Art Blakey, Clark Terry, Billy Higgins, and Mary Lou Williams and many others. His journey was set in motion. Inspired by his mentors' encouragement, Fowler performed regularly at Harlem’s famous nightclubs, theaters, and posh hotels throughout New York City. Live performances with the United States military connected his music to European and Japanese audiences. Upon returning to the USA, he dedicated 30 years to directing and teaching music in the NYC public schools while maintaining an active performance schedule with his group, Higher Energy. “His (Chuk Fowler's) groove is authentic and honest which accounts for his appeal to cross-generational audiences" - New York Beacon
This program is presented as part of Queens Rising, the month-long celebration of arts and culture in Queens. Click HERE to learn more about the Queens Rising events at Flushing Town Hall.
