Held in Winston-Salem, NC, the National Black Theatre Festival unites professional black theatre companies from across the U.S. for the week-long celebration that runs through Aug. 8. De Shields will be honored during the opening night gala commemorating the festival's 20th year. Earlier this year De Shields headlined the Classical Theatre of Harlem production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe Off-Broadway and appeared in the Broadway production of Impressionism. He has earned Tony nominations for his work in The Full Monty and Play On. His additional Broadway credits include Prymate, Ain't Misbehavin', The Wiz and André De Shields' Harlem Nocturne.

De Shields is set to co-star in the Public Theater Shakespeare in the Park production of The Bacchae, beginning Aug. 11. In September the actor will perform his solo work-in-progress Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance on Martha's Vineyard, prior to his starring role in the Alliance Theatre production of David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre.

For further information, visit NBTF.