Akin’ Babatunde’

Mr. Babatunde’ is an accomplished director, actor, writer, lecturer 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 has served as 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 is the theater specialist consultant for Dallas Independent School District and has served as acting coach for popular recording artists such as Regina Belle, David Peaston 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, Teen Pregnancy of Broward County, Florida Humanities Council, La Mama Theater, Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Arts Council of Cuney, Texas, Brown University, Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Documentary Arts, and Core Ensemble (an internationally celebrated chamber ensemble. His one-man show he wrote along with his brother, celebrated actor Obba Babatunde, entitled Before the Second Set- a visit with Satchmo received critical acclaim and tours extensively at theaters across the USA.

His direction of Blind Lemon – Prince of Country Blues at Addison Center Theater, garnered him a best director nomination, and along with co-writer Alan Govenar, the 2001 Leon Rabin Award for best new play. Their new version Blind Lemon Blues continues to tour 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 and he received the 2010 NY Audelco Award for best direction of a musical.
Mr. Babatunde’ has served as writer and director of the “2007-2010-2011 God’s Leading Ladies Event” for First Lady Sarita Jakes at the world renown Potters House in Dallas, Texas.

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), 1991 and 2004 Dallas Critics Forum Award, KRLD community service award, 2004 Legacy of Success – Alvin Ailey Performing Arts Award. He has been the recipient of the prestigious Individual Artists Grant and 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.

Mr. Babatunde’ holds a Masters of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas and is currently a lecturer there and a faculty member at Mountain View Community College. Mr. Babatunde is honored to serve as the director and musical director of Black Pearl Sings! here in Vienna.