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'''"It is a rare occasion when I am genuinely moved by a theatrical production. I am often delighted or intrigued, but rarely moved. I was moved when I heard Richard Harris' final speech in "Camelot," and when I saw Sir Lawrence Olivier last year as King Lear. But Thursday night I was moved by a slightly lesser known actor. Darryl Robinson truly moved me in his role as Sir Thomas More, hero of "A Man For All Seasons"...Robinson's strong stage presence and command of Bolt's words, and John Grassilli's direction combined to produce a character so realistic and inspiring that I was left with the feeling I had just been through a religious experience."''' -- '''Steve Givens''', 'A Man For All Seasons' a success, Theatre Review, '''The UMSL Current''', Nov. 1, 1984. |
'''"It is a rare occasion when I am genuinely moved by a theatrical production. I am often delighted or intrigued, but rarely moved. I was moved when I heard Richard Harris' final speech in "Camelot," and when I saw Sir Lawrence Olivier last year as King Lear. But Thursday night I was moved by a slightly lesser known actor. Darryl Robinson truly moved me in his role as Sir Thomas More, hero of "A Man For All Seasons"...Robinson's strong stage presence and command of Bolt's words, and John Grassilli's direction combined to produce a character so realistic and inspiring that I was left with the feeling I had just been through a religious experience."''' -- '''Steve Givens''', 'A Man For All Seasons' a success, Theatre Review, '''The UMSL Current''', Nov. 1, 1984. |
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− | Great historical figures do not always translate into great drama upon the stage or screen unless an extraordinary writer steps forward to brilliantly share the story of such a figure. '''Robert Bolt''' is such a playwright and screenwriter. His moving 1962 Tony Award and 1966 Oscar-winning retelling of the conflict between doomed ( and devout Catholic ) Lord Chancellor of England, '''Sir Thomas More''', and the opposing forces that serve the will ( however unethical ) of his monarch, '''King Henry VIII''', has been shared multiple times upon the stage and screen with many skilled actors and directors interpreting his dramatic masterpiece '''''A Man For All Seasons'''''. And without question, the magnificent originator of the role of Sir Thomas More onstage ( in London and on Broadway ) and on screen, the late, great, 1962 Tony Award and 1966 Oscar-winning actor '''Sir Paul Scofield''' cannot and will not ever be forgotten for his creation of the part. That said, part of the magic of The Theatre, particularly when stage artists are working upon a fine, established script, is the new and different, and sometimes, courageous choices actors and directors make in presenting revivals of classics. In the fall of 1984, while serving as a Guest Professional Director and Instructor for''' The University Players of The University of Missouri-St.Louis'''-'''UMSL''', skilled, '''AEA veteran actor and Theatre Project Company of St. Louis Member''' '''John Grassilli''' needed a strong dramatic actor that could handle the rich, lush language of Bolt's greatest script and the leading role of Sir Thomas More for his revival staging of '''''A Man For All Seasons'''''. During his audition process, the actor who met the demands of the role, the actor who proved best suited for the part, was a then 23-year-old, African-American, classically-trained, professional stage performer named '''Darryl Maximilian Robinson''' |
+ | Great historical figures do not always translate into great drama upon the stage or screen unless an extraordinary writer steps forward to brilliantly share the story of such a figure. '''Robert Bolt''' is such a playwright and screenwriter. His moving 1962 Tony Award and 1966 Oscar-winning retelling of the conflict between doomed ( and devout Catholic ) Lord Chancellor of England, '''Sir Thomas More''', and the opposing forces that serve the will ( however unethical ) of his monarch, '''King Henry VIII''', has been shared multiple times upon the stage and screen with many skilled actors and directors interpreting his dramatic masterpiece '''''A Man For All Seasons'''''. And without question, the magnificent originator of the role of Sir Thomas More onstage ( in London and on Broadway ) and on screen, the late, great, 1962 Tony Award and 1966 Oscar-winning actor '''Sir Paul Scofield''' cannot and will not ever be forgotten for his creation of the part. That said, part of the magic of The Theatre, particularly when stage artists are working upon a fine, established script, is the new and different, and sometimes, courageous choices actors and directors make in presenting revivals of classics. In the fall of 1984, while serving as a Guest Professional Director and Instructor for''' The University Players of The University of Missouri-St.Louis'''-'''UMSL''', skilled, '''AEA veteran actor and Theatre Project Company of St. Louis Member''' '''John Grassilli''' needed a strong dramatic actor that could handle the rich, lush language of Bolt's greatest script and the leading role of Sir Thomas More for his revival staging of '''''A Man For All Seasons'''''. During his audition process, the actor who met the demands of the role, the actor who proved best suited for the part, was a then 23-year-old, African-American, classically-trained, professional stage performer named '''Darryl Maximilian Robinson''' ( a Chicago native who just appeared earlier in the year as a Guest Professional Actor playing the title role in Director '''Dr. James Barushok's''' revival staging of''' Shakespeare's''' '''''Othello''''' with '''The Stageplayers of Northeastern Illinois University of Chicago''', who had just completed a second full season of critically-praised professional summer stock performances at '''The Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana''', and who currently was touring under a theatre-for-young-audiences contract with '''The MUNY / Student Theatre Project Company based at The Theatre of The New City School in the Central West End of St. Louis''' ). Call it grit, call it guts, call it nerve, CALL IT COURAGE, but Director Grassilli chose to put talent and skill above of the issue of race, and he cast Robinson as the first documented African-American professional stage performer in the role of Sir Thomas More in '''Robert Bolt's''' '''''A Man For All Seasons.''''' |
The rest is '''UMSL''' Theatre History. |
The rest is '''UMSL''' Theatre History. |
Revision as of 15:51, 15 October 2019
"Darryl Maximillion Robinson leads the play in the role of Sir Thomas More. Robinson is an extroverted craftsman who constantly displays his talents. A well-spoken man of experience, Robinson said this role is the most desirable." -- Phillip H. Dennis, 'A Man For All Seasons' opens UMSL theatre season, The UMSL Current, Oct. 18, 1984
"It is a rare occasion when I am genuinely moved by a theatrical production. I am often delighted or intrigued, but rarely moved. I was moved when I heard Richard Harris' final speech in "Camelot," and when I saw Sir Lawrence Olivier last year as King Lear. But Thursday night I was moved by a slightly lesser known actor. Darryl Robinson truly moved me in his role as Sir Thomas More, hero of "A Man For All Seasons"...Robinson's strong stage presence and command of Bolt's words, and John Grassilli's direction combined to produce a character so realistic and inspiring that I was left with the feeling I had just been through a religious experience." -- Steve Givens, 'A Man For All Seasons' a success, Theatre Review, The UMSL Current, Nov. 1, 1984.
Great historical figures do not always translate into great drama upon the stage or screen unless an extraordinary writer steps forward to brilliantly share the story of such a figure. Robert Bolt is such a playwright and screenwriter. His moving 1962 Tony Award and 1966 Oscar-winning retelling of the conflict between doomed ( and devout Catholic ) Lord Chancellor of England, Sir Thomas More, and the opposing forces that serve the will ( however unethical ) of his monarch, King Henry VIII, has been shared multiple times upon the stage and screen with many skilled actors and directors interpreting his dramatic masterpiece A Man For All Seasons. And without question, the magnificent originator of the role of Sir Thomas More onstage ( in London and on Broadway ) and on screen, the late, great, 1962 Tony Award and 1966 Oscar-winning actor Sir Paul Scofield cannot and will not ever be forgotten for his creation of the part. That said, part of the magic of The Theatre, particularly when stage artists are working upon a fine, established script, is the new and different, and sometimes, courageous choices actors and directors make in presenting revivals of classics. In the fall of 1984, while serving as a Guest Professional Director and Instructor for The University Players of The University of Missouri-St.Louis-UMSL, skilled, AEA veteran actor and Theatre Project Company of St. Louis Member John Grassilli needed a strong dramatic actor that could handle the rich, lush language of Bolt's greatest script and the leading role of Sir Thomas More for his revival staging of A Man For All Seasons. During his audition process, the actor who met the demands of the role, the actor who proved best suited for the part, was a then 23-year-old, African-American, classically-trained, professional stage performer named Darryl Maximilian Robinson ( a Chicago native who just appeared earlier in the year as a Guest Professional Actor playing the title role in Director Dr. James Barushok's revival staging of Shakespeare's Othello with The Stageplayers of Northeastern Illinois University of Chicago, who had just completed a second full season of critically-praised professional summer stock performances at The Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana, and who currently was touring under a theatre-for-young-audiences contract with The MUNY / Student Theatre Project Company based at The Theatre of The New City School in the Central West End of St. Louis ). Call it grit, call it guts, call it nerve, CALL IT COURAGE, but Director Grassilli chose to put talent and skill above of the issue of race, and he cast Robinson as the first documented African-American professional stage performer in the role of Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's A Man For All Seasons.
The rest is UMSL Theatre History.
https://en.everybodywiki.com/Darryl_Maximilian_Robinson
https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/bio/Darryl-Maximilian-Robinson/
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/igotcast-darryl-maximilian-robinson-6756/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10967118/