In the Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center

Written & Performed by Robert Townsend
Co-Produced with Don Reed

Living the Shuffle is the amazing journey of actor, writer, director, and filmmaker, Robert Townsend. Townsend, a natural-born storyteller, takes you on a show biz rollercoaster ride of ups and downs from the dangerous streets of Chicago, to performing Julius Caesar at a pimp convention in New York City. He also takes you behind the scenes of giving birth to his first film Hollywood Shuffle done with a miracle and a credit card. Townsend gives you a front-row seat, sharing life lessons he has learned along the way.

This one-man show returns Townsend to his roots in the theater, where he showcases his uncanny ability with impressions and performs a cast of characters like you’ve never seen before. This edgy, vulnerable, and hilarious show will inspire and give hope to the dreamer in anyone.

Artist Bio:
Robert Townsend transcends any medium he touches whether he’s performing stand up, acting, writing, directing, producing, or running a television network. A Chicago native, Townsend is often referred to as one of the “Godfathers” of the Independent Film World. With over 30 years in the business, he has made an indelible mark in Hollywood with an extensive list of credits. Robert’s genius first revealed itself in elementary school. As a kid Robert was always fascinated with television, watching and studying it tirelessly, he began to practice acting out scenes and impersonating famous characters.

At his school during a reading of Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, he dazzled the class with his ability to transform effortlessly into character. As a result, Robert’s remarkably versatile talent as a young actor was born and caught the attention of Chicago’s Experimental Bag Theatre. Robert made an unforgettable mark in his hometown of Chicago then went onto New York’s renowned comedy club, The Improvisation, and initiated his career as a stand-up comedian.

Then for Robert, it was on to Hollywood. There he dabbled in a mixture of industries and found that with his versatile talent, he was able to adapt quickly from being a comedian to a full-screen actor. Robert’s first film appearance was (uncredited) in the popular urban classic, Cooley High (1975). His break came while performing on various television comedy specials including Rodney Dangerfield: It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me (1986) and Uptown Comedy Express (1987). Although comedy had been his forte during the early part of his career, he knew he was destined to be on the big screen. He landed the role of a lifetime co-starring opposite Denzel Washington in A Soldier’s Story (1984) and appeared with Diane Lane in Streets of Fire (1984) and Kevin Costner in American Flyers (1985).

Don Reed – Co-Producer Don Reed, (East 14th/Snap Judgment/The Kipling Hotel) a TBA: Theatre Bay Area Award WINNER and four-time nominee and 2024 BroadwayWorld Nominee for Best Play, Best Solo Performance, and Best Director for The DMV. He is currently the host/creator/and producer of Redwood Nights: Storytelling Under the Stars in Marin. This NAACP Triple Nominee for Best Actor & Best Playwright, is the actor/writer/director of the The Never Too Late Show – a solo show on the importance of never giving up while battling up the Hollywood gauntlet to late night televison’s "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. Reed was also one of the lead actors in the Amazon Prime comedy series :Bartlett: co-financed and recurring role starring composer/creator of Broadway smash HAMILTON – Lin Manuel Miranda. Don has performed, written and directed for film, television, and theater. A memorable performance on Robert Townsend’s HBO Partners in Crime Special years ago bonded a union between the two multi-hyphenates. You may have heard his voice on Spiderman, Johnny Quest, SNL and most recently as the voice of the cat on CBS’s “2 Broke Girls.”