CHICAGO-BORN STAGE ACTOR AND PLAY DIRECTOR DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON PROVIDES NOTES ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS NOTED ROLE IN A LOCAL REVIVAL OF RUPERT HOLMES' TONY AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL WHODUNIT "THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD"!
There's Nothing Like A Good Role On Stage In A Musical Mystery!:
One of the true pleasures of having spent some 50 years in The Arts is looking back on some of one's favorite stage roles. Though this stage actor, play director, intimate house producer and classics text adaptor has been blessed to appear in established comedies and dramas and musicals and original new works and several noted classics, there were only three occasions ( in span of 250 productions and presentations at multiple locations around the country ) in which this stage actor played A Great Principal Role in A MUSICAL MYSTERY.
Here is info on the third and most significant one of them.
THE 2018 SAINT SEBASTIAN PL
AYERS OF CHICAGO REVIVAL PRODUCTION OF RUPERT HOLMES' TONY AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL WHODUNIT "THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD"!
Returning To His Hometown Of Chicago In A Classic Musical Whodunit, Veteran Los Angeles Stage Performer Darryl Maximilian Robinson Had An Actor's Field Day And Received A 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nomination for Best Performer In A Musical or Revue (Resident Non-Equity) For His Work In The 2018 Saint Sebastian Players Chicago Revival of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' At The More Than A Century Old St. Bonaventure Church In The West Lakeview Neighborhood Of The Windy City!
"But the real ringer is Darryl Maximilian Robinson, as the Chairman of the Music Hall Royale. It's a huge part that demands not just talent, but also charm during his frequent interactions with the audience in a show that looks for a joke at every turn and has no respect for the fourth wall." -- Art Gets Out, Theatre Review of The Mystery of Edwin Drood - The St. Sebastian Players Nov. 9, 2018. Posted Nov. 10, 2018.
"The entire production is overseen by Mr. William Cartwright ( Darryl Maximilian Robinson ), the chairman of the music hall. When Edwin Drood goes missing, everyone is a suspect. But the musical doesn't have an ending, so the audience has to decide. I thought this was a fun show. It had some good performances and an interesting concept." -- Ada Grey, Review of St. Sebastian Players' The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Ada Grey Reviews for You Nov. 2, 2018.
"Equally as impressive is the man keeping our cast in order the Chairman and Mr. William Cartwright, Darryl Maximilian Robinson. He has the audience rolling in their seats with his penchant for flair and mastery of comedic timing - including some very well timed pointed stares and slow blinks." -- Alexis Bugajski, Picture This Post Saint Sebastian Players The Mystery of Edwin Drood Review Oct. 28, 2018.
"I attended a preview performance of The Mystery of Edwin Drood last night at the Saint Sebastian Players. This is a wonderful production led by long time Chicago theatre veteran Darryl Maximilian Robinson. Everything was top notch, from the direction, the choreography, the vocal performances, the costumes, the set, projections and props. This rarely mounted musical is a production you don't want to miss, all at a reasonable price." -- Gerald H. Bailey, Artistic Director, Genesis Theatrical Productions at Visitor Posts of The Saint Sebastian Players Theatre Company Facebook Page Oct. 26, 2018.
Every once in a while an actor ( especially one who has been blessed to have played in not only noted comedies and dramas but also classic roles in musicals ) gets the opportunity to play what can only be called a dream role! A rare role in an even more rarely produced or performed work. And sometimes "The Rare Role" becomes a set of "Double Roles." This proved to be the case in the fall of 2018 for your humble servant in The Theatre, veteran and award-winning stage actor and play director, Darryl Maximilian Robinson. During his most recent and extended visit to his original hometown of Chicago in 2018 from his recently adopted hometown of Los Angeles, Mr. Robinson made one public stage appearance.
With the wonderful Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago at the lovely 100-year-old-plus St. Bonaventure Church, Mr. Robinson, The Founder of the multiracial non-Equity professional chamber theatres The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago & The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project ( and a 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play Award Winner as well as a 1997 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance Best Leading Actor In A Play Award Nominee for his performance as Sam Semela in The ESC's revival of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold And The Boys" at The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre in The Windy City's Rogers Park neighborhood ) was cast ( and had a ball on the stage ) in the wonderful, comedic, song-and-dance dual roles of Mr. William Cartwright, Chairman of The Music Hall Royale and The Honorable Mayor Thomas Sapsea of Cloisterham in The SSP's October and November 2018 revival of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning Best Musical Whodunit 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood'.
One year later, in November of 2019: The Year of Chicago Theatre, The 2018 Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago Revival of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" captured Seven 2019 Broadwayworld Chicago Award Nominations including Best Performer In A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for Darryl Maximilian Robinson for his critically-praised portrayal of the dual roles of Mr. William Cartwright, Your Chairman of The Music Hall Royale and The Mayor Thomas Sapsea of Cloisterham; Best Performer In A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for Sarah Myers for her fine portrayal of the dual roles of Edwin Drood and Miss Alice Nutting; Best Direction of A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for skilled Director / Music Director Robert-Eric West; Best Choreography ( Resident Non-Equity ) for Tamara Drew; Best Costume Design ( Resident Non-Equity ) for Sandra Leander; Best Set Design ( Resident Non-Equity ) for Emil Zbella; and Best Ensemble of A Musical ( Resident Non-Equity ) for THE ENTIRE CAST!
'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' at St. Bonaventure Church marked Darryl Maximilian Robinson's first appearance on a Chicago stage in 17 years.
It was a great homecoming to experience. And sometimes an actor really can go home.
The award-nominated dual parts of The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright and Mayor Thomas Sapsea in this 2018 Chicago revival of Rupert Holmes's "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" constitute what is this actor's Third of Three Great Principal Roles In A Musical Mystery.
Here's are links to both a short 2018 regular musical number revival clip and a full 2018 final dress / tech video of a number from "Drood" as well as some photos of the show.
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