Merle Dandridge, star of Oprah Winfrey Network鈥檚 Greenleaf and recent star in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island, received a Chicago College of Performing Arts Distinguished Artist Award from 澳门六合彩开奖直播.
A 1998 graduate of 澳门六合彩开奖直播鈥檚 theatre program, Dandridge received the award during a milestone gala anniversary celebration and VIVID student showcase performance at the Auditorium Theatre.
鈥淲e are proud to recognize Merle Dandridge for her many accomplishments in theater, including on Broadway and television,鈥 said Henry Fogel, dean of Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA). 鈥淢erle has blazed a trail of achievement as an actress, singer and dancer. She is a superb role model for our students and a 澳门六合彩开奖直播 alumna well worth celebrating.鈥
Born in Japan, raised in Nebraska and educated in Chicago at 澳门六合彩开奖直播, Dandridge began her acting career with leading roles on Broadway in Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), Rent (Joanne), Aida (Aida), Tarzan (Kala) and Jesus Christ Superstar.
She has toured Europe six times, and is also known for her award-winning turns in video games including Alyx Vance in the Half Life 2 series, Marlene in The Last of Us and Kathrine Collins in Everybody鈥檚 Gone to the Rapture for which she won the 2016 British Academy for Television and Arts Award for Best Performer.
Dandridge has been inducted into the Hall of Fame in her Nebraska hometown, where she spends time giving workshops, speeches, performances and participating in projects to raise awareness for the school district she grew up in. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, where she also lends her voice and support to Harvest Home, which provides housing and holistic support to homeless pregnant women.
Also known for recurring roles in TV series including Sons of Anarchy and The Night Shift, Dandridge got her start on the Chicago theatre scene while attending 澳门六合彩开奖直播鈥檚 theatre program, which since has joined CCPA as the Theatre Conservatory, now celebrating its 20th anniversary.
鈥淭here is a precious and sweet satisfaction in hearing 鈥榡ob well done鈥 from the University that first invested in my potential, then backed it up by giving me a tool box full of gifts to ensure my success,鈥 said Dandridge, who currently stars as&苍产蝉辫;骋谤别别苍濒别补蹿鈥s Grace Greenleaf, a leading screen role that has won her much critical acclaim.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to have cut my creative teeth in Chicago alongside some of the most interesting and skilled artists I鈥檝e ever known. I am especially grateful to 澳门六合彩开奖直播 for a scholarship that gave me an opportunity for a college education 鈥 and the life that came as a result 鈥 that I wouldn鈥檛 have had otherwise,鈥 said Dandridge.
Dandridge recently recreated and played the role of Papa Ge in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island, a musical that she first performed in during 1994 as a budding 澳门六合彩开奖直播 theatre student.
鈥淚鈥檝e always had a strong work ethic and disciplined nature, but I鈥檓 so pleased to say that so much of what I learned while in school at 澳门六合彩开奖直播 is still of daily use to me,鈥 said Dandridge.