Join us for Ten Chimneys Presents A Conversation with Sheldon Epps,
Director and Author
on Sunday, December 11th, at 3:30 pm
at the Milwaukee County Historical Society
From directing great hit shows of the 1990s and 2000s (Everyone Loves Raymond, Frasier, Friends, Sister, Sister, and Girlfriends among others) and the current Netflix success, The Upshaws, to his new book, My Own Directions, A Black Man's Journey in American Theatre, Sheldon Epps will join us for this free event to discuss his life and journey. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions of the prominent Director. Sheldon has directed numerous plays on Broadway, and served as Artistic Director of the Pasadena Playhouse for two decades. He is currently Senior Artistic Advisor for Ford's Theatre in Washington DC.
Life in the theatre is often a rollercoaster ride, with all the excitement and occasional anguish that come with the highs and lows. Sheldon's journey in the American theatre has been amplified by his experience as a black man who has frequently been "one of the few," "the first" or even "the only." His directing career has been full of rewards and opportunities as well as huge challenges and frustrations, along with the anger that has come from being "chased by race" for so many years. Much of the his experience comes from two decades Artistic Director of Pasadena Playhouse, one of the oldest and well-known theatres in America, and for a time early in his career, one of the whitest. This is the story of how Sheldon came into leadership at Pasadena Playhouse after a successful career directing on Broadway, in London and all over the world. It relates how the theatre was radically changed and reignited by his leadership, including his insistence on making diversity a priority onstage and off. This is the very personal story of a person who wanted his race to be recognized, but never used as a reason to be less than fully respected. In many ways, this memoir tells the story of what people of color in America must face repeatedly to make their lives matter.
This event will provide an immense opportunity to speak with Sheldon directly and learn of his unique experience as one of the first black Artistic Directors in the country. His book will be on hand for purchase and he will be available for book signings after the event.
We would like to thank the Milwaukee County Historical Society for hosting this event. Their address is 910 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee.
This is a FREE EVENT but space will be limited -
call Ten Chimneys Foundation at 262-968-4110 for reservations.