Sheldon Epps facts for kids

Sheldon Epps, born on November 15, 1952, is a talented American director. He directs both TV shows and plays for the theater.

Sheldon Epps's Journey in Directing

Sheldon Epps was born in Los Angeles, California. When he was 11, his family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey. There, he went to public schools and first became interested in acting and plays at Teaneck High School. He later graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1973.

Sheldon Epps started his career as an actor. He studied at places like the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He also helped start a group called The Production Company. With this group, he began directing many plays.

Directing Plays and Musicals

In 1980, Epps directed his first play, an Off-Broadway musical called Blues in the Night. This musical was so popular that it was brought to Broadway in 1982.

After that, he directed many other stage shows. These included Scenes and Revelations, Play On!, Blue, and Purlie. He worked on Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.

Directing Popular TV Shows

In 1994, Sheldon Epps started directing for television. His first TV job was an episode of Evening Shade. He quickly became a well-known TV director.

He directed episodes for many popular shows that you might know. These include Smart Guy, Sister, Sister, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Friends. He also directed for Girlfriends and George Lopez.

Leading Theaters and Artistic Roles

In 1997, Sheldon Epps took on a big role. He became the artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. This theater had faced some money problems in the past. However, Epps worked hard to make it popular again. He helped bring many great plays and musicals to the stage there.

In 2020, he was named Senior Artistic Advisor at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.. This is a very important theater known for its history.

Sheldon Epps also wrote a book about his life and career. His memoir, MY OWN DIRECTIONS, was published in September 2022.

Sheldon Epps's Directing Work

Sheldon Epps has directed many different projects. Here are some of the TV shows and plays he has worked on.

Television Shows Directed

• Evening Shade (1994)
• Smart Guy (1997–1998)
• Sister, Sister (1997–1998)
• Frasier (1998–2004, 2024)
• Girlfriends (2000–2005)
• Friends (2001–2003)
• Everybody Loves Raymond (2002)
• George Lopez (2006–2007)
• Hannah Montana (2007)
• Raven's Home (2019)
• The Upshaws (2021)

Theater Productions Directed

• Blues in the Night (1980, 1982)
• Scenes and Revelations (1981)
• Play On! (1997)
• Blue (2000 and 2003)
• Showtune (2003)
• Purlie (2005)
• Unchain My Heart (2011)