Akin Babatunde
Mr. Babatunde’ is an accomplished actor, director, writer whose theatrical career spans the regional-off- broadway- to international stages of the world-film and T.V. He has been a resident company member of several prestigious theatrical institutions throughout the country Trinity Repertory Company-Providence, R.I., Alley Theater-Houston, Texas, La Mama Theater- N.Y. and the Dallas Theater Center. He was the founder and artistic director of Vivid Theater Ensemble of Dallas and presently founder of Ebony Emeralds Classic Theater Company. Mr. Babatunde’ is a native of Brooklyn, New York. Although Mr. Babatunde’ has a national presence he chooses Dallas as his artistic base and continues to mentor aspiring artists throughout the metroplex. He served as theater specialist consultant for Dallas Independent School District and acting coach for celebrated recording artists such as Regina Belle, David Peaston, Allyson Williams and the late great Phyllis Hyman.
He was the first African- American to direct for the Dallas Shakespeare Festival in the celebrated diverse production of “Taming of the Shrew” in 1993. As a writer Mr. Babatunde’s work has been commissioned by Florida Stage and Teen Pregnancy of Broward County- Florida Humanities Council-La Mama Theater- Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs-Arts Council; Cuney, Texas-Brown University-Black Academy of Arts and Letters- Documentary Arts- Core Ensemble (internationally celebrated chamber ensemble) His work “Shakespeare-Midnight Echoes” tours throughout the Dallas metroplex paying homage to black performing artists who mastered the bard (Shakespeare) from slavery to the present. In the South Florida area, he has performed at Florida Stage, Caldwell Theater, and Duncan Theater and toured extensively with Core Ensemble in his one man show “Of Ebony Embers-vignettes of the Harlem renaissance.” His one-man show he wrote along with his brother celebrated Emmy award winning actor Obba Babatunde entitled “Before the Second Set- a visit with Satchmo” had its world premiere at TBAAL and received critical acclaim at theaters across the country.
His direction of “Blind Lemon-Prince of Country Blues” at Addison Center Watertower Theater, starring national recording artist the late David Peaston, garnered him a best director nomination, and along with co-writer Dr. Alan Govenar, the 2001 Leon Rabin Award for best new play. Their new version “Blind Lemon Blues” toured successfully throughout Europe in Paris, Switzerland, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Mount Jolie. “Blind Lemon Blues” received rave notices in its New York premiere at Central Park’s Summer Stage and off-Broadway at the York Theater for which he won the 2010 Audelco award for “Best Director of a Musical” and was nominated for a 2015 Audelco for his direction of “Texas in Paris” at the York starring Tony award winner Lillias White. Mr. Babatunde’ had the honor of directing the “2006, 2007 and 2010” God’s Leading Ladies Graduation event” for First Lady Sarita Jakes at the Potters House.
His work has been awarded with a D’ magazine citation, Providence Journal, Dallas Observer Best of the Best- best actor award (the first African-American to receive this distinction), the KRLD community service award, 2004 Legacy of Success-Alvin Ailey Performing Arts Award and the 2008 Jubilee Theater Mendie Award for his production of “Blue”. He has been the recipient of the Irma P. Hall for Theater Excellence and the prestigious Individual Artists Grant Award from the Palm Beach Cultural Council to create a new works “Harvest of Voices” based on the quaint and diverse Florida towns in Lake Worth, Belle Glades, Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach. He is the recipient of Dallas Critics Forum Award 1991(outstanding actor), 2004, 2015 (outstanding direction) and more recently the 2016 (for his outstanding direction of “Mountaintop” at the Dallas Theater Center and “Bootycandy” at Stagewest Theater).
Mr. Babatunde’ holds a Masters of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas and was honored with the 2012 distinguished alumni award. Mr. Babatunde serves as adjunct professor at Mountain View College, Eastfield Community College, lecturer at UTD and in the spring of 2016 the inaugural recipient of the Theodore U. Holger distinguished artist in residence for the school of visual and performing arts at Lehigh University. He is the coordinator/stage director for seven seasons of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters Sunday staged readings and early Spring will direct starring Liz Mikels “The Life and Music of Fannie Lou Hamer” a collaboration of Teco Theater and The Dallas Theater Center.