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Productions

Play On!Play On!
 
[West End, 2025]
Director
Breaking ThroughBreaking Through
 
[Los Angeles, 2015]
Director
Baby It's You!Baby It's You!
 
[Broadway, 2011]
Director
Purlie
 
[Regional (US), 2005]
Director
Purlie
 
[Off-Broadway, 2005]
Director
110 in the Shade
 
[Los Angeles, 2004]
Producer
Blue
 
[Milburn, NJ (Regional), 2003]
Director
Blue
 
[Off-Broadway, 2001]
Director
Blue
 
[Regional (US), 2000]
Director
Play On!
 
[Broadway, 1997]
Director
Blues in the Night
 
[Off-Broadway, 1988]
Director
Young Playwrights Festival (1987)
 
[Off-Broadway, 1987]
Director
Blues in the Night
 
[Broadway, 1982]
Director
Scenes and Revelations
 
[Broadway, 1981]
Director
Blues in the Night
 
[Off-Broadway, 1980]
Choreographer
Director
Director

Writing

Play On!
Conceiver

Awards and Nominations

Helen Hayes Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical

Sheldon EppsPlay On!

Olivier Awards - 1987 - Musical of the Year

Sheldon Epps, Blues In The Night

Videos

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News


THE AMERICAN FIVE WORLD PREMIERE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL & More Set For Ford's 2025-2026 S Photo
THE AMERICAN FIVE WORLD PREMIERE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL & More Set For Ford's 2025-2026 Season
by Joshua Wright - Apr 9, 2025

Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault today announced the Ford's Theatre 2025-2026 season, featuring the world premiere of Chess Jakobs's The American Five, from The Ford's Theatre Legacy Commissions, directed by Aaron Posner; the beloved holiday musical of A Christmas Carol with Craig Wallace reprising the role of Ebenezer Scrooge; and in commemoration of our nation's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the musical 1776, directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado.
FAT HAM South Florida Premiere to be Presented at Island City Stage Photo
FAT HAM South Florida Premiere to be Presented at Island City Stage
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 28, 2025

Island City Stage will present their collaborative production of Fat Ham, the 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James Ijames, this spring. Learn more!
Review: BLUES IN THE NIGHT at Arizona Theatre Company Photo
Review: BLUES IN THE NIGHT at Arizona Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - Feb 23, 2025

ATC's BLUES IN THE NIGHT: It’s about feeling - pure, raw, and undeniable...if you’re looking to be wrapped up in a night of sensational voices and music that hums in your bones, this is a show to get lost in.
José Luis Valenzuela Awarded SDCF Gordon Davidson Award for Lifetime Achievement and Photo
José Luis Valenzuela Awarded SDCF Gordon Davidson Award for Lifetime Achievement and Distinguished Service in the American Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Feb 20, 2025

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation has announced that director José Luis Valenzuela has received its 2024 Gordon Davidson Award. Named in honor of the founding artistic director of Los Angeles’s Center Theatre Group .
Review: Sultry, Soulful, and Spectacular: BLUES IN THE NIGHT Delivers at Arizona Thea Photo
Review: Sultry, Soulful, and Spectacular: BLUES IN THE NIGHT Delivers at Arizona Theatre Company
by Robert Encila-Celdran - Feb 3, 2025

Curated in collaboration with musical director Sy Johnson, acclaimed director Sheldon Epps first staged BLUES IN THE NIGHT in 1980 as a musical revue. The show follows three women and one man, each offering a different take on love and loss. Structured around legendary songs by Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, et al., it debuted on Broadway in 1982 and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical.
Review: PLAY ON!, Lyric Hammersmith Photo
Review: PLAY ON!, Lyric Hammersmith
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Feb 3, 2025

During these dark and cold nights, something magical is happening on stage at the Lyric Hammersmith. Play On! was originally created by director Sheldon Epps and writer Cheryl L. West back in 1997, transferring from San Diego to Broadway. Talawa theatre company have stripped the show back and have created a truly joyful production to delight the most curmudgeonly of audiences.
BLUES IN THE NIGHT to Open at Arizona Theatre Company in January Photo
BLUES IN THE NIGHT to Open at Arizona Theatre Company in January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 13, 2025

Arizona Theatre Company will welcome in 2025 with the Tony Award- nominated musical Blues in the Night by Sheldon Epps. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
THE FORD'S THEATRE LEGACY COMMISSIONS: A FIRST LOOK to Take Place in January Photo
THE FORD'S THEATRE LEGACY COMMISSIONS: A FIRST LOOK to Take Place in January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 4, 2024

Ford's Theatre will present The Ford's Theatre Legacy Commissions: A First Look, designed to serve as an artistic incubator for stories about unsung heroes responsible for changing the course of civil rights and equality in American life. Learn more!
John O’Hurley, Rachael Harris & More Join Wayne Brady Led TO SIR, WITH LOVE Photo
John O’Hurley, Rachael Harris & More Join Wayne Brady Led TO SIR, WITH LOVE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 28, 2024

The cast is complete for the concert reading of the new musical To Sir, with Love starring Wayne Brady at the Garry Marshall Theatre. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
Wayne Brady Will Lead Concert Production of TO SIR, WITH LOVE Photo
Wayne Brady Will Lead Concert Production of TO SIR, WITH LOVE
by Stephi Wild - Sep 26, 2024

Wayne Brady, the five-time Emmy Award winner and Grammy nominee, and star of Broadway's The Wiz, will take on the role of Rick Braithwaite in a special concert adaptation of To Sir, With Love, set to be performed at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank.
Review: BLUES IN THE NIGHT at The Black Rep Photo
Review: BLUES IN THE NIGHT at The Black Rep
by Steve Callahan - Sep 9, 2024

Ron Himes’ amazing Black Rep company is opening its 48th season with a piece of pure delight.  It’s called Blues in the Night, and it’s a glorious musical revue of the history of that genre.  And such a vastly diverse history that is, with vaudeville songs, deeply moving songs of love and loss, lush and lonely excursions into real jazz, and comic novelty songs that get seriously, hilariously bawdy. 
Photos: In Rehearsal for the UK Premiere of New Shakespeare-Inspired Musical, PLAY ON Photo
Photos: In Rehearsal for the UK Premiere of New Shakespeare-Inspired Musical, PLAY ON!
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 7, 2024

See photos from inside rehearsal for the UK premiere of Play On!, the jazz-fuelled, Twelfth Night-inspired musical that will tour the UK from September 2024 – February 2025.
PERSONALITY �" THE LLOYD PRICE MUSICAL Will Have a UK Premiere Showcase in London Th Photo
PERSONALITY �" THE LLOYD PRICE MUSICAL Will Have a UK Premiere Showcase in London This October
by Stephi Wild - Sep 5, 2024

Following a critically acclaimed run at Studebaker Theatre in Chicago in 2023, producer B. Jeffrey Madoff will present a closed showcase of Personality – The Lloyd Price Musical this October in London.
Full Cast Set For PLAY ON! Opening At Coventry's Belgrade Theatre In September Photo
Full Cast Set For PLAY ON! Opening At Coventry's Belgrade Theatre In September
by Stephi Wild - Jun 20, 2024

Casting has been announced for Play On!, a co-production with Talawa Theatre Company, that will open at the Belgrade Theatre 23 September – 5 October, with a national press night on Thursday 26 September, ahead of a UK tour.  
Cast Set For UK Tour of PLAY ON! Photo
Cast Set For UK Tour of PLAY ON!
by Stephi Wild - Jun 18, 2024

The cast has been announced for the UK premiere of Play On!, the jazz-fuelled, Twelfth Night-inspired musical that will tour the UK from September 2024 – February 2025, including a winter run at Lyric Hammersmith. 
MISTER LINCOLN, SISTER ACT & More Set for Ford's Theatre Society 2024-2025 Season Photo
MISTER LINCOLN, SISTER ACT & More Set for Ford's Theatre Society 2024-2025 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 21, 2024

Ford’s Theatre Society reveals its 2024-2025 season lineup, featuring a diverse range of productions and events. Discover the upcoming shows and special performances at this historic Washington, D.C. venue.
Liz Callaway, Hugh Panaro & More to Join Amas Musical Theatre Benefit Concert Photo
Liz Callaway, Hugh Panaro & More to Join Amas Musical Theatre Benefit Concert
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 2, 2024

Amas Musical Theatre has revealed the line-up of talent that will be on hand to celebrate the company's 55th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit Concert. Learn more about the gala and see how to purchase tickets.
Arizona Theatre Company to Hold General Auditions For 24/25 Season Photo
Arizona Theatre Company to Hold General Auditions For 24/25 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 14, 2024

Arizona Theatre Company will hold general auditions for Equity and Non-Equity performers for the 2024/2025 Season. Learn audition details!
DIAL M FOR MURDER & More Set for Arizona Theatre Company 2024/2025 Season Photo
DIAL M FOR MURDER & More Set for Arizona Theatre Company 2024/2025 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 12, 2024

Arizona Theatre Company has unveiled its 57th season. See the full lineup and learn how to purchase tickets.
Anne Bogart to be Honored by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Photo
Anne Bogart to be Honored by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 7, 2024

Director and theatre visionary Anne Bogart will receive Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's 2023 Gordon Davidson Award. Learn more about Board and about the award!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Sheldon Epps written?

Sheldon Epps has written 2 shows including Blues in the Night (Conceiver), Play On! (Conceiver).

What awards has Sheldon Epps been nominated for?

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical (Helen Hayes Awards) for Play On! and Musical of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Blues In The Night.

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