André De Shields to Star in Classical Theatre of Harlem’s King Lear

André De Shields will take on the title role in the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear, which will play the company’s home base, the HSA Theater on West 145th Street, from September 9-November 5. The show will then move to Miami’s Carnival Center, November 15-18, and the Folger Theatre in Washington D.C., January 11-February 18. The Folger is a co-producer of the show, which will be directed by Alfred Preisser.

The CTH’s season will continue with Peter Weiss’ Marat./Sade, February 2-March 11, and Preisser’s original adaptation of Sophocles’ Elektra next spring. In addition, the company’s productions of Medea and Macbeth will tour the northeast.

De Shields is a two-time Tony Award nominee for the musicals Play On! and The Full Monty. He also received Drama Desk Award nominations for those shows as well as Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Prymate. His other Broadway credits include The Wiz and Stardust. De Shields appeared in the title role of CTH’s Caligula to great acclaim.

King Lear, considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, is having a huge renaissance this year. It has already been performed by the Actors Shakespeare Project of Boston, with Alvin Epstein in the lead; that production transferred to La Mama earlier this summer. Meanwhile, Kevin Kline will star in a new Public Theater production this fall, to be directed by James Lapine, and Stacy Keach will tackle the role in September at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

For more information, visit www.classicaltheatreofharlem.org