{{short description|American television and theatre director|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox person | name = Sheldon Epps | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|11|15}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | occupation = Television director, theatre director | years_active = 1981–present | spouse = }}
'''Sheldon Epps''' (born November 15, 1952) is an American television and theatre director.
==Career== Sheldon Epps was born in Los Angeles, California.<ref name="Sheldon Epps Biography">[http://www.filmreference.com/film/61/Sheldon-Epps.html Sheldon Epps Biography at FilmReference.com]</ref> 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.<ref>Klein, Alvin. [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/30/nyregion/the-duke-and-i.html?pagewanted=all "The Duke and I"], ''The New York Times'', March 30, 1997. Accessed October 17, 2011. "BORN 44 years ago to St. Paul (a minister who ''always found someplace to preach'') and Kathryn Epps (who taught home economics in Thomas Jefferson Junior High School in Teaneck), Sheldon Epps lived in Los Angeles until he was 11. ''We moved to Teaneck when I was in the seventh grade, and there I stayed through junior high school and through college,'' he said.... He discovered theater when he performed in a summer musical program at Teaneck High School."</ref>
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<ref name="Sheldon Epps Biography"/> and The Production Company which he co-founded and for which he directed a number of plays.<ref name="caltech">{{cite web |title=A Conversation with Sheldon Epps: Michelin Distinguished Visitors Lecture |url=http://events.caltech.edu/calendar/a-conversation-with-sheldon-epps-michelin-distinguished-visitors-lecture |website=CaltechLive! |publisher=California Institute of Technology |accessdate=13 September 2020 |language=en |date=19 March 2007}}</ref>
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.<ref name="caltech"/> 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.<ref>Patt Morrison, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-26-la-oe-morrison27-2010feb27-story.html "Sheldon Epps: Play it again"], ''Los Angeles Times'', February 26, 2010</ref>
In 2020 Epps was appointed Senior Artistic Advisor at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.
His best selling memoir MY OWN DIRECTIONS was published in September 2022 by McFarland Books.
==Directing work== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Television''' * ''Evening Shade'' (1 episode, 1994) * ''Smart Guy'' (3 episodes, 1997–1998) * ''Sister, Sister'' (3 episodes, 1997–1998) * ''Encore! Encore!'' (1997) * ''Frasier'' (22 episodes, 1998–2004) * ''Stark Raving Mad'' (2 episodes, 2000) * ''Veronica's Closet'' (1 episode, 2000) * ''Girlfriends'' (59 episodes, 2000–2005, also producer) * ''Friends'' (3 episodes, 2001–2003) * ''My Wife and Kids'' (1 episode, 2002) * ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' (1 episode, 2002) * ''In-Laws'' (4 episodes, 2002) * ''What I Like About You'' (2 episodes, 2003) * ''The Tracy Morgan Show'' (1 episode, 2003) * ''The Soluna Project'' (TV film, 2004) * ''Joey'' (3 episodes, 2004–2005) * ''Life on a Stick'' (1 episode, 2005) * ''Bow'' (TV film, 2005) * ''Talk Show Diaries'' (TV film, 2005) * ''Out of Practice'' (5 episodes, 2005) * ''Love, Inc.'' (3 episodes 2005–2006) * ''George Lopez'' (6 episodes, 2006–2007) * ''Stacked'' (1 episode, 2006) * ''The Game'' (2 episodes, 2006) * ''Hannah Montana'' (1 episode, 2007) * ''Sherri'' (2 episodes, 2009) * ''True Jackson, VP'' (2 episodes, 2010) * ''Reed Between the Lines'' (6 episodes, 2011) * ''How to Rock'' (3 episodes, 2012) * ''Instant Mom'' (4 episodes, 2015) * ''Raven's Home'' (2 episodes, 2019) * ''The Upshaws'' (4 episodes, 2021) {{col-2}} "Frasier" (2 episodes, 2024)
'''Theater''' * ''Blues in the Night'' (1980, 1982 revival) * ''Scenes and Revelations'' (1981) * ''Play On!'' (1997) * ''Blue'' (2000 and 2003) * ''Showtune'' (2003) * ''Purlie'' (2005) * ''Unchain My Heart'' (2011)<ref> * " My Lord What A Night" (2021) * " Miss Maude" (2022) * " Personality" (2023) [http://broadwayworld.com/people/Sheldon_Epps/ Sheldon Epps at Broadway World]</ref> {{col-end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0258405}} *{{IBDB name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Epps, Sheldon}} Category:1952 births Category:African-American television directors Category:African-American theatre directors Category:American television directors Category:Television producers from California Category:American theatre directors Category:Carnegie Mellon University alumni Category:Living people Category:Mass media people from Los Angeles Category:Teaneck High School alumni