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Sheldon Epps

Sheldon Epps (born November 15, 1952) is an American theatre and television director renowned for his pioneering leadership in regional theatre and his contributions to diversity in the performing arts. As the first African American artistic director of a major Southern California theatre, he served at the Pasadena Playhouse from 1997 to 2017, overseeing a renaissance that emphasized inclusive programming and attracted diverse audiences and artists during his 20-year tenure. Epps, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, began his career as an actor before transitioning to directing, co-founding the off-Broadway Production Company and serving as its associate artistic director. Epps gained early acclaim for conceiving and directing the revue Blues in the Night (1980), which earned Tony and Olivier Award nominations and enjoyed a West End run exceeding one year. He later conceived and directed the Duke Ellington-inspired musical Play On! (1997), which received three Tony Award nominations and six Joseph Jefferson Awards. His directorial portfolio spans Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theatres including the Guthrie Theater, Old Globe Theatre—where he was associate artistic director for four years—and Seattle Repertory Theatre, with notable productions such as August Wilson's Fences (2006) starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, the world premiere of Sister Act: The Musical (2006), Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel (2012), and a diverse-cast revival of Twelve Angry Men in response to the Trayvon Martin case. In television, Epps directed episodes of popular series including Frasier, Friends, and George Lopez, blending his theatre expertise with broadcast work. A two-time recipient of the Theatre Communications Group/Pew Charitable Trusts National Theatre Artist Residency Grant, he has held leadership roles such as executive board member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and board president of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. Since 2021, he has served as Senior Artistic Advisor at in . Epps chronicled his experiences navigating racial inequities in theatre in his 2022 memoir, My Own Directions: A Black Man's Journey in the American Theatre, which highlights his advocacy for parity and systemic change inspired by events like the protests.

Early life and education

Early years

Sheldon Epps was born on November 15, 1952, at Compton Hospital in , , in the Compton neighborhood. He was the son of St. Paul Epps, a Presbyterian minister, and Kathryn Epps, a teacher. Growing up in an all-Black neighborhood in Compton, Epps experienced a close-knit community shaped by his father's religious leadership, which included attending church services from a young age. At the age of 11, Epps' family relocated to , when his father was transferred for work, moving from the familiar all-Black environment of Compton to a predominantly white and Jewish suburb. This transition brought cultural challenges and excitement, as Epps navigated a new social landscape that tested his adaptability but also opened doors to broader opportunities. The move profoundly influenced his development, providing proximity to and fostering a sense of exploration amid the adjustments. Epps' initial interest in theater emerged during his childhood, with his first exposure to a live performance at the before the relocation. After moving to Teaneck, his mother introduced him to musicals, and by age 11, he began attending shows independently, drawn to productions featuring Shakespeare and contemporary plays that offered an escape and sense of belonging. He joined his high school's drama club, where he performed in roles such as Henry Higgins in and the Stage Manager in , gaining early hands-on experience in acting. Inspirations from Black performers like and on reinforced his aspirations, demonstrating pathways for success in the arts and igniting his passion for both acting and directing before college. This foundation led him to pursue formal training at .

Education

Epps enrolled in the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 at the age of 16 and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater. During his time at Carnegie Mellon, Epps underwent rigorous training in the classics as part of the program's intensive, focused, and wide-ranging curriculum in acting and theater craft, which emphasized preparation for professional company life in American theater. This classical foundation, combined with the era's lack of color-conscious casting, limited his opportunities to perform in student roles reflective of his experiences as a Black actor, fostering early frustrations that influenced his career trajectory. A key mentor was his classmate Norman René, a renowned director who later encouraged Epps to explore directing during their post-graduation collaborations. These experiences at Carnegie Mellon prompted Epps' gradual shift from acting to directing, as the constraints on available roles highlighted the need for greater creative control in storytelling.

Theater career

Acting beginnings

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 1973 with a degree in acting, Sheldon Epps launched his professional career in regional theaters across the United States during the 1970s. He made multiple appearances at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, where he honed his skills in various productions, and also performed at institutions such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and the Indiana Repertory Company in Indianapolis. In , Epps pursued stage work in the vibrant scene before 1980, supplementing his theater roles with appearances in commercials and a recurring part in a . A notable early credit was his performance in a production of at the venue he co-founded, The Production Company, established in a 75-seat loft space in in the late 1970s alongside fellow Carnegie Mellon alumni, including director Norman Rene. These experiences underscored the systemic challenges Epps encountered as a classically trained actor in an industry dominated by limited opportunities for performers of color, often confining them to stereotypical "urban" or race-specific roles while excluding them from classical repertoire. Frustrated by the scarcity of diverse parts available to peers his age, Epps co-founded The Production Company to generate his own and creative outlets, which ultimately seeded his pivot toward directing as a means to expand possibilities in theater.

Directing achievements

Epps made his directorial debut with the musical revue , which he conceived and staged in 1980 before transferring to in 1982. The production, featuring classic blues songs from the and , interwove stories of three women and a man navigating love, loss, and resilience in a train station, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical and critical praise for its emotional depth and vocal arrangements. Its significance lay in revitalizing the blues genre on stage, blending raw musicality with narrative vignettes that highlighted the human struggles embedded in African American musical traditions. In 1997, Epps conceived and directed the Broadway musical Play On!, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night set in 1940s Harlem and scored with Duke Ellington's jazz compositions. The production received Tony Award nominations for Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical, along with acclaim for its innovative fusion of with swing-era rhythms, running for 61 performances while showcasing themes of amid racial and of the era. Earlier, at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in 1996, it won four Joseph Jefferson Awards, including Best Musical, underscoring Epps' skill in reimagining classic works through a cultural . Epps also helmed significant revivals and premieres, including the 2005 production of the musical at the Goodman Theatre and , which aimed for a Broadway transfer. Adapted from Ossie Davis's , the show satirized Southern racism and civil rights struggles through the story of a preacher reclaiming his church from a segregationist, earning positive reviews for its energetic ensemble and timely commentary on racial injustice. Additionally, as co-founder of The Production Company, Epps directed its New York premiere Off-Broadway in 1981, later bringing it to Broadway's , where it explored family bonds and personal transformation among four sisters confronting change in late-19th-century America. Throughout his directing career, Epps frequently incorporated themes of , , and American history, drawing from his acting to infuse productions with authentic emotional layers. In Blues in the Night, jazz-infused blues songs evoked the racial and economic hardships of the era, while Play On! used Ellington's music to examine interracial romance and cultural vibrancy in during . 's revival highlighted ongoing fights against , mirroring mid-20th-century civil rights battles, and Scenes and Revelations reflected broader American narratives of westward expansion, family resilience, and individual reinvention in a post-Civil War context.

Leadership roles

In the late 1970s, Epps co-founded The Production Company, an theater ensemble, where he served as associate through the 1980s, helping to launch new works by emerging playwrights. Epps' most prominent leadership tenure began in 1997 when he became artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse, the first Black person to lead a major Southern California theater, a position he held until 2017. Under his guidance, the institution underwent a significant financial and artistic revival, emerging from near to achieve stability through innovative programming that broadened its audience base and attracted regional acclaim. To promote , Epps prioritized staging works by playwrights of color, hiring inclusive casts, and engaging community groups and schools to diversify audiences, countering resistance from some subscribers who objected to the increased representation of Black stories. In 2020, Epps joined as senior artistic advisor, a role he continues to hold, contributing to its programming by emphasizing inclusive narratives tied to American history. His efforts there include leading the Ford's Theatre Legacy Commissions, an initiative that commissions new plays from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) playwrights, culminating in free public festivals of staged readings to foster emerging voices in historical theater.

Television and film career

Television directing

Epps made his television directing debut in 1994 with an episode of the CBS sitcom Evening Shade. This marked his transition from stage work to episodic television, where he quickly established himself as a reliable director for multi-camera comedies. Throughout his television career, Epps directed notable episodes of several popular sitcoms, including Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, and Everybody Hates Chris. On the original run of Frasier, he helmed 22 episodes between 1997 and 2004, contributing to the show's signature blend of witty dialogue and character-driven humor. He returned for the 2023 revival, directing episodes such as "Cape Cod" and "Murder Most Finch" in 2024. His work extended to other series like Girlfriends, where he served as a producer-director for multiple seasons, and The George Lopez Show, on which he directed six episodes in seasons 5 and 6. He also directed episodes of The Ms. Pat Show in 2024. Overall, Epps has directed over 100 episodes across more than 20 television series, focusing primarily on ensemble-driven comedies. Epps' directing style in television drew from his extensive theater experience, particularly in managing large ensemble casts and precise comedic timing essential for live-audience shoots. This approach allowed him to maintain a rhythmic pace in scenes, adapting stage blocking techniques to the constraints of studio sets and multi-camera setups. For his television contributions, Epps received a 2005 BET Comedy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for his work on Girlfriends. This recognition highlighted his impact on Black-led sitcoms during the early 2000s.

Film and other media

In addition to his extensive television episode directing, Sheldon Epps has helmed several television movies and specials, expanding his narrative storytelling into longer-form media. His early ventures in this area include the 2005 TV movie Bow, a family-oriented comedy-drama starring Shad Moss (Lil' Bow Wow) and , which follows a young rapper navigating challenges in the music industry. That same year, Epps directed Talk Show Diaries, a satirical exploring the behind-the-scenes chaos of a daytime , featuring and in lead roles. These projects marked Epps' initial forays into feature-length television formats, drawing on his theater-honed skills in character-driven ensemble dynamics. Post-2017, following his tenure as artistic director of the , Epps continued to broaden his media footprint with the 2022 BET+ original TV movie Christmas Party Crashers. This holiday comedy, which he directed, centers on two grifters (played by and Jaime M. Callica) who team up after infiltrating a wealthy family's celebration, blending humor with themes of and romance. The film received positive audience reception for its lighthearted tone and festive energy, underscoring Epps' versatility in adapting theatrical pacing to screen narratives. Epps has also contributed to the preservation of live theater through filmed productions of his stage works. He oversaw the video recording of the musical Play On!, a jazz-infused adaptation of Shakespeare's that he conceived and directed in 1997, capturing its Tony-nominated performances for archival and broadcast purposes. Similarly, he directed the filmed version of , his 1980 hit that earned multiple Tony nominations, ensuring these innovative musicals reached wider audiences via digital distribution. These efforts highlight Epps' commitment to bridging live performance with accessible media, leveraging his theater expertise to enhance cultural documentation.

Personal life and legacy

Memoir and writings

In 2022, Sheldon Epps published his My Own Directions: A Black Man's in the American Theatre with McFarland Books, chronicling his experiences as a pioneering navigating the challenges of the U.S. theater industry. The book details his career trajectory, from early work to his transformative 20-year tenure as artistic of the , where he prioritized diverse casting and programming to counter the field's historical whiteness. Central themes in the memoir include the persistent barriers faced by Black artists, such as unconscious bias, limited opportunities beyond tokenized productions like those tied to Black History Month, and the intense scrutiny Epps encountered as the first Black leader of a major Southern California theater in 1997. Epps reflects on resistance from patrons and board members at the Pasadena Playhouse, including instances of exclusion, yet highlights successes like directing August Wilson's Fences in 2006 and premiering Sister Act, which helped revitalize the institution through inclusive storytelling. He also offers practical advice for emerging artists, urging Black theater professionals to pursue directing and producing roles, build skills through rigorous training, and persist despite setbacks, emphasizing that they are part of a larger movement for change. Beyond the memoir, Epps has contributed articles advocating for diversity in theater, notably a 2022 piece in American Theatre magazine titled "Making the Case for Diversity in All Directions," where he argues that inclusive practices are essential for the art form's survival and artistic integrity, drawing from his career-long efforts to integrate people of color in leadership and creative positions. The received positive reception for its candid insights into racial dynamics in theater, with reviewers praising its inspirational tone and timeliness amid post-2020 reckonings on equity, though Epps expressed cautious optimism about sustained progress amid ongoing industry financial pressures. Interviews in outlets like and highlighted its role in pulling back the curtain on systemic issues, while Epps promoted it through podcasts and panels into , influencing discussions on ; as of 2024, it continued to be recommended in cultural circles for its relevance to aspiring directors.

Awards and recognition

Sheldon Epps received Tony Award nominations for his work on the musical revue Blues in the Night, which he conceived and originally directed; the 1982 Broadway production was nominated for Best Musical at the 37th . For Play On!, another musical he conceived and directed, the 1997 Broadway production earned three Tony Award nominations: Best Orchestrations (Luther Henderson), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (), and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Andre De Shields). The London transfer of Play On! under Epps's direction was nominated for two , including Best New Musical. Epps has been honored for his leadership in promoting diversity in theater, receiving the NAACP Community Service Award from the Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch in 2009 for his contributions as of the . That year, he was also recognized at the Theatre Awards alongside figures like and . In acknowledgment of his transformative tenure at the , where he became the first Black of a major regional theater in 1997, Epps was awarded the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for fostering inclusivity and artistic excellence. Epps's pioneering efforts in diversifying American theater have been widely profiled in recent years, including features in American Theatre magazine in 2022 highlighting his career-long advocacy for racial equity on stage and in leadership roles. A 2023 Los Angeles Times article credited him with breaking barriers and influencing institutional change at venues like the Pasadena Playhouse and Ford's Theatre, where he serves as senior artistic advisor. His 2022 memoir, My Own Directions: A Black Man's Journey in the American Theatre, further amplified this recognition by documenting his experiences and inspiring ongoing conversations about equity in the field. Epps's legacy endures as a mentor and trailblazer, shaping future generations of theater artists through his emphasis on diverse programming and inclusive hiring practices, as noted in his 2019 induction into Carnegie Mellon University's Alumni Hall of Honor (Alumni Achievement Award). The Pasadena Playhouse's 2023 acknowledged the foundational impact of his two-decade leadership in revitalizing the institution. Epps continues his influence as Senior Artistic Advisor at since 2020, and in 2025 directed Pearl's in the House at and contributed to Signature Theatre's revival of Play On! in its 2025–2026 season.

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