Darryl Maximilian Robinson Remembers His 1989 Title Role As 'The Wiz'

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 11:00 AM
to Thursday, March 06, 2025 - 12:00 PM

Virtual Event

View Event Website »

1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award Winner for Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play for his performance as Sam Semela in The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago revival production of Athol Fugard's Master Harold And The Boys at The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre of the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, and 2024 Broadwayworld Los Angeles Award Nominee for Best Supporting Performer In A Play for his performance as Roy V. Bensinger in The Culver City Public Theatre outdoor revival production of Ben Hecht's and Charles MacArthur's The Front Page at Carlson Memorial Park, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, has appeared in more than 250 stage productions and literary arts presentations around the country during his 51-year-long

Here are notes on a memorable production.

PLAYING THE TITLE ROLE OF "THE WIZ" IN A 1989 BLACK HISTORY MONTH REVIVAL PRODUCTION IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA!:

"...Darryl Maximilian Robinson as "The Wiz," stands tallest in sheer stage presence." -- Dale Sandusky, Critic Finds 'The Wiz' Has Heart, The Tribune of New Albany, Ind., Friday February 17, 1989.

"Mark Lawrence as the Cowardly Lion and Darryl Maximilian Robinson as the bombastic Wizard of Oz also do yeoman service." -- John Pillow, The Wiz Theater Review, The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday February 18, 1989.

36 years ago this very month, Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award Winner, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Award Winner, Chicago WKKC Radio Critic Corner Fine Arts Award Winner, Four-Time Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award Nominee, Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Award Nominee and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder Darryl Maximilian Robinson played the title role in William F. Brown's and Charlie Smalls' Tony Award-winning Best Musical The Wiz at The Derby Dinner Playhouse of Clarksville, Indiana ( just outside of Louisville, Ky. ) in 1989.

During the late 70s, and throughout the 80s, there were many successful and well-received productions of the Tony Award-winning best musical The Wiz staged around the United States in regional theatres and on tours.

One revival of The Wiz that is of interest was one staged in the winter of 1989 with a multicultural cast by skilled director / producer Bekki Jo Schneider at The Derby Dinner Playhouse.

Schneider's talented and versatile cast included Shirese Hursey as Dorothy, K. Bartholomew Ray as The Scarecrow, Stanley White as The Tin Man, Mark Lawrence as The Cowardly Lion, and 1981 Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Outstanding Thespian of the Season Award Winner and future 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Outstanding Actor Award Winner Darryl Maximilian Robinson as The Wiz.

The 1989 Derby Dinner Playhouse revival of The Wiz was performed in-the-round and featured choreography by Barbara Cullen-Bauer.

Considered a break-through Broadway show for African-American performers of musical theatre, alongside Purlie and Raisin, Charlie Smalls' and William F. Brown's The Wiz ( currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of its original 1975 Broadway production ) continues to serve as a wonderful, creative example of black artistic history in the U.S.