Years active 1981-present Name Sheldon Epps | Role Television Director | |
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Nominations Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Director, Resident Musical Similar People Floyd Mutrux, Charles Randolph‑Wright, Beth Leavel, Andre De Shields, Phylicia Rashad | ||
A life in the theatres with sheldon epps
Sheldon Epps (born November 15, 1952) is an American television and theatre director.
Contents
Interview with Director Sheldon Epps (Part 1)
Career
Sheldon Epps was born in Los Angeles, California. He moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, when he was 11 years old, where he attended the local public schools, and was first drawn to the stage while at Teaneck High School. Epps graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1973.
He began his career as an actor studying at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Indiana Repertory Company, the Alley Theatre, Civic Light Opera of Pittsburgh and The Production Company which he co-founded and for which he directed a number of plays.
In 1980, Epps made his theater directorial debut with the Off Broadway musical Blues in the Night. It was revived in 1982, this time on Broadway. Since then he has directed a number of other stage productions on Broadway and in regional theaters namely Scenes and Revelations, Play On!, Blue and Purlie.
In 1994, Epps moved to television, directing an episode of Evening Shade. His other television credits include Smart Guy, Sister, Sister, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, Girlfriends and George Lopez.
In 1997, Epps became artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. Despite the financial trouble the Playhouse has endured since the 1980s, Epps has continued his role in bringing back the popularity of theater to the venue.