Thursday, April 15, 2010

THANK YOU!


THE ROBEY THEATRE COMPANY & CAST OF THE EMPEROR'S LAST PERFORMANCE

WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR AUDIENCE AND ALL OUR SUPPORTERS FOR MAKING THE EMPEROR'S LAST PERFORMANCE AN IMPORTANT SUCCESS FOR THE ROBEY PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM!!!

Friday, April 2, 2010

LA TIMES REVIEW

Theater review: 'The Emperor’s Last Performance' at Los Angeles Theatre Centre
April 1, 2010 7:30 pm

An unjustly forgotten chapter in American theatrical and racial history is the raison d'ĂȘtre of "The Emperor's Last Performance," which ends its limited Los Angeles Theatre Center run on Sunday. This respectable Robey Theatre Company staging of Melvin Ishmael Johnson's drama about the first star of Eugene O'Neill's "The Emperor Jones" merges the techniques of stage fantasia and social document.Once the cast files in to sit on either side of designer Victoria Bello's fragmented backstage set, manager Nacirema Naibun (Robert Clements) welcomes us. Charles Gilpin (Dwain A. Perry), an international sensation in O'Neill's drama in 1920, is appearing one last time as the Emperor Jones.With a dressing room shift, we follow Gilpin's 11-year passage from stardom to alcoholic obscurity – replaced by the emerging Paul Robeson (Jah Shams) after clashing with O'Neill (Jonathan Palmer) over his script's use of the N-word. Throughout, the action revisits a key scene from "Jones," which accrues wider relevance by the eulogizing ending.Director Ben Guillory has some bright ideas: a pool hall depicted solely by lighting designer Phil Kong and sound designer Eric Butler; an overhead solo of "Nobody" from Bert Williams (Ted Wynn); various onlooker reactions.The actors, smartly attired in costumer Naila A. Sanders' period wear, are capable, with Perry's commitment self-evident, his colleagues all on the same page. Michael Kass, Kellie Roberts, Ibrahim Saba and Peter Trencher complete their competent ranks.Johnson's writing is technically proficient, albeit a shade over-compressed and academically explicated. The work's brevity almost impedes the larger statement of Gilpin's story. Even so, "The Emperor's Last Performance" is hardly inconsiderable, and not just for its historical significance.– David C. Nichols

"The Emperor’s Last Performance," Los Angeles Theatre Centre, Theatre 4, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 pm. Saturday, 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Ends Sunday. $30. (213) 489-0994, Ext. 107, or www.thelatc.org. Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Photo: Jonathan Palmer, left, and Dwain A. Perry. Credit: Ed Krieger.

(source)

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

More Photos!


The Cast of THE EMPEROR'S LAST PERFORMANCE


Actors Dwain A. Perry and Robert Clements



Actors Robert Clements and Dwain A. Perry




Where the Emperor's Performs!


Stage Manager Sherrie Lofton

Photo Credit: Victoria Bellocq

Friday, March 26, 2010

SOLD OUT OPENING NIGHT! TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!


Actor Dwain A. Perry and Actress Kellie Roberts!
(photo credit Ed Krieger)

Make sure to get your tickets!
https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/714515

Thursday, March 25, 2010

$15 Dollar Previews Tonight!




****TONIGHT ONLY****

There will be a preview tonight of The Emperor's Last Performance for half price! $15! Get your tickets now -- limited seating is available!
www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/714515

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

The Emperor's Last Performance is only 4 Days away!!!!


Actors ( L to R ) Dwain A. Perry and Jonathan Palmer


Actors ( L to R ) Jah Shams, Kellie Roberts, and Dwain A. Perry
Photo Credit: Ed Krieger


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Emperor's Last Performance Rehearsal photos!


Actors (l to r) Ted Wynn, Dwain A. Perry, Ibrahim Saba,
Michael Kass, and Peter Trencher take notes from the
director during a rehearsal.


Director Ben Guillory, observe a scene with actors (l to r)
Jah Shams and Jonathan Palmer.



A scene involving actors (l to r) Dwain A Perry, Michael Kass
and Robert Clements.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Video Promo Shoot!


Actors Dwain A. Perry and Jonathan Palmer.


Director Ben Guillory position Actors Dwain A. Perry and
Jonathan Palmer.

Actors Working during a table read!


Playwright Melvin Ishamel Johnson. Actors Jonathan Palmer
and Ibrahim Saba

photocredit: John Freeland Jr.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Welcome! The Emperor's Last Performance!


Tune back in soon to find out all information about THE EMPERORS LAST PERFORMANCE!
Developed through the Robey Theatre Company's Playwrights Program
Written by Melvin Ishmael Johnson and Directed by Ben Guillory