Darryl Maximilian Robinson Notes American Comedy Legend Rick Crom's 1975 Musical THE MALTESE WABEENO

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2024 BROADWAYWORLD LOS ANGELES AWARD NOMINEE AND 1997 CHICAGO JOSEPH JEFFERSON CITATION AWARD WINNER DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S 1975 LANE TECH HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC THEATRE OF CHICAGO STAGE FLASHBACK!:

"Who's the man with the touch of a king,

With the fancy shirts and the diamond rings,

Who can make make an art out of anything?

The name of the man of whom I sing is Zak, Zak, Zak, Stanley Zak, Zak, Zak!

Stanley Zak's an artist, and he's really quite a master.

From the ceilings he hangs little stars and paints murals on the plaster.

Stanley Zak's a funny guy, he makes us roll with laughter.

He's really just a rebel, and it's freedom what's he's after.

Stanley Zak, Superstar, do you think you're what they say you are?

Stanley Zak, Stanley Zak, do you think you're really where it's at?"

-- Lyric To "Stanley Zak, Superstar" from "The Maltese Wabeeno" by Rick Crom.

Theatre Lovers and Supporters,

There's Nothing Like A Good Role On Stage In A Musical Mystery!:

One of the true pleasures of having spent over 50 years in The Arts your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, has had 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 ( over a span of 250 productions and presentations at multiple locations around the country ) in which this stage actor played A Principal Role In A MUSICAL MYSTERY. Including one on stage in high school.

REMEMBERING THE 1975 ALBERT G. LANE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC THEATRE PRESENTATION OF RICK CROM'S "THE MALTESE WABEENO"

The very first musical mystery role this actor played was that of Detective Sam Spaced, at the tender age of 14 years old, as a Freshman Student Actor, in a satirical, high school life lampooned, musical send-up of Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" musically adapted, written and sketch comedy composed by the multitalented, lifelong actor, composer, lyricist and stand-up comedian Rick Crom ( a future three-time New York Drama Desk Award Nominee for Best Lyricist of A Musical and then high school Senior playing in this production Principal Norman Silber under the capable direction of high school Senior Steven Lundquist ) which was entitled "The Maltese Wabeeno," a production under the Orchestra and Music Direction of the late and truly skilled Faculty Member and former Broadway Show Music Director John C. Cina.

"The Maltese Wabeeno" was performed for two, back-to-back performances as the 1975 Spring musical mystery offering presented by The Albert G. Lane Tech High School Music Theatre on the stage of the school's truly massive, truly multi-thousand-seat auditorium on the North Side of Chicago.

The role of Sam Spaced ( a hardnose sleuth grilling faculty suspects and student witnesses in search of the illusive "Wabeeno" - and there was a song entitled "What The Hell's A Wabeeno?" ) in gifted Rick Crom's musical mystery parody of HIGH SCHOOL LIFE AT LANE TECH HIGH SCHOOL 1975's "The Maltese Wabeeno" was an exciting and challenging and fun way to do A WHODUNIT, and working with that talented young cast, crew, orchestra and the late, great conductor and master musician John C. Cina helped sharpen my skills and expanded my knowledge and talents.

Included above is a show photo of your humble servant in The Theatre, High School Freshman Darryl Maximilian Robinson, as Detective Sam Spaced ( standing far left ) joined on the boards by fellow talented young Chicago Student Actors Dave Ladner as School Assistant Principal Mr. Mazukuras, Ignacio Torres as Indian Chief Wabeeno, the late John Bliss as School Disciplinarian Mr. Pauley and versatile scriptwriter, composer, lyricist and future comedy legend Rick Crom as School Principal Norman Silber in Mr. Crom's 1975 Albert G. Lane Tech High School musical mystery satire "The Maltese Wabeeno."

Now some 50 years since his high school stage career beginnings, after stints performing as an actor, singer and comedian on Broadway, off-Broadway, in tv, in films and in hundreds and hundreds of night club gigs around this country as a skilled stand-up comedian, singer, lyricist and writer, Rick Crom is currently regarded as one of the best teachers and instructors of The Art of Stand-Up in the United States.

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1138...

Currently, a 2024 Broadwayworld Los Angeles Award Nominee for Best Supporting Performer In Play for his performance as Roy V. Bensinger in The Culver City Public Theatre of Culver City, California revival production of Ben Hecht's and Charles MacArthur's "The Front Page," your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, continues to appear in modest local and regional stage productions around the country, including The Windy City where in 2018 he played the dual roles of The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright and The Mayor Thomas Sapsea in The Saint Sebastian Players revival of Rupert Holmes' "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at the more than a century old St Bonaventure Church for which he received a 2019 Broadwayworld Chicago Award nomination for Best Performer In A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ).

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1975 "Maltese Wabeeno" production photos courtesy of Rick Crom.

The part of Sam Spaced in the skilled and talented young Rick Crom's 1975's "The Maltese Wabeeno" really was this 50-year-long stage performer's very first role in A MUSICAL COMEDY MYSTERY.