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Editors: Color and black-and-white headshots of De Shields are available for download at: www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/DESHIELDS_ANDRE.JPG.

The convocation will mark the 65th anniversary of the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University by uniting the students, staff and faculty from its six schools: Art, Comparative Arts, Dance, Film, Music and Theater.

"The convocation is an opportunity for everyone at Ohio University to celebrate the arts," said College of Fine Arts Dean Raymond Tymas-Jones. "It's important for each of us to realize the value of the arts and artistic expression in society, especially in light of our recent national tragedy."

De Shields, who will discuss "The Artist as Alchemist" at the convocation, is perhaps best known for originating the title role in the Broadway musical "The Wiz" in 1975. He won the 1997 Tony Award for his portrayal of Jester in "Play On!" He currently is appearing as Noah "Horse" T. Simmons in the Broadway production of "The Full Monty," for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Astaire Award nominations and won an Outer Critics' Circle Award in 2001. De Shields also won a 1982 Emmy for his performance in the NBC-TV special presentation of "Ain't Misbehavin'" in a role he created.

De Shields, also an accomplished concert performer, performed in "Mood Ellington," an original one-man tribute to Duke Ellington directed and choreographed by the composer's granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington. His film credits include "Extreme Measures" with Hugh Grant. He has appeared in numerous television programs, including several movies-of-the-week, two episodes of "Great Performances" on PBS and on NBC's "Law and Order."

Offstage, De Shields is adjunct professor of Shakespeare at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. During the 1992-93 academic year, he served as director of Carnegie Hall's Jazzed program, which seeks to restore the arts to public schools.

"Mr. De Shields is an enormously talented performer," Tymas-Jones said. "But he also has demonstrated his dedication to education, both as a teacher and as an advocate for arts education in our schools. We are unbelievably fortunate to have him join us for this occasion."

The College of Fine Arts Convocation, at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium, also will feature performances by Sarah Sass, an undergraduate in the School of Dance and the School of Music Wind Ensemble. Student speakers include Eunice Charlton, a master's candidate in the School of Film (invocation); Pedar Dalthorp, a master's candidate in the School of Art (student address); and Mary Kickle, an undergraduate in the School of Theater (benediction).

Awards will be presented to two outstanding teachers in the college, as well as to outstanding alumni from each school. Alumni awards will be given to:

• Art: Patty Mitchell, BFA '87, MFA '91, founder of the Athens-based PassionWorks organization, which brings together local and visiting artists and people with developmental disabilities.

• Comparative Arts: Ron Jones, Ph.D. '81, provost of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif.

• Dance: Deborah Riley, BFA '72, teacher, artist-in-residence and assistant director of Dance Place, a nonprofit theater, school and community resource in Washington, D.C.

• Film: Marlowe Taylor, MFA '96, owner of Studio 76, a private recording studio in Cleveland, with experience in sound recording and design for film, video and live performances.

• Music: Timothy Leasure, BMUS '90, assistant professor of trumpet at Ohio State University.

• Theater: David Sackeroff, BFA '66, set and production designer whose credits include "Seinfeld" and "Home Improvement," as well as work on stage and in film.