VIDEO: Legendary Andre De Shields in CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P. at Victory Gardens Theater

The dynamic actor, singer and dancer André De Shields opens tonight at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Avenue) in his own new play, CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P., directed by Samuel G. Roberson and Dennis Zacek.

The play tells the story of Jelly Belly, taking audiences from the heat of urban insurrection in Baltimore, Maryland to the incandescent glare of New York's Great White Way.

The cast also includes Kim Lawson and Donica Lynn. Performances of CONFESSIONS OF A P.I.M.P. are tonight, August 26th and the 27th and 28th at 8pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at victorygardens.org or by calling the box office at 773-871-3000.

Check out the legendary star in rehearsal:.

In a career spanning forty-six years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director, choreographer and educator. He is the recipient of three Jeff Awards, one as Director for Victory Gardens' 1987 production of THE COLORED MUSEUM, and two as Featured Performer in a Musical for the Goodman Theatre productions of PLAY ON! (1998) and Mary Zimmerman's THE JUNGLE BOOK (2013). His professional career began at Chicago's Shubert Theatre, now the Bank of America Theatre, in the 1969 production of HAIR. From there he moved on to THE ME NOBODY KNOWS at the Civic Opera House, and ultimately became a member of The Organic Theatre Company, where he created the role of Xander the Unconquerable, Ruler of the Sixth Dimension in the cult sensation WARP. A multiple Tony Award nominee, he is best known for his show-stopping performances in four Broadway musicals: THE WIZ!, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', PLAY ON! and THE FULL MONTY. His numerous accolades include an Emmy Award for the NBC Special based on AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', the National Black Theatre Festival's Living Legend Award, the Village Voice OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance.