LOS ANGELES, CA (April 15, 2014) – Ebony Repertory
Theatre (ERT - Founder/Producer
Wren T. Brown) announced today that Phillip Hayes Dean’s (Drama Desk-winner for The Sty of the Blind
Pig) powerful and moving play Paul Robeson has been extended by popular demand for three more
performances and will now play
through Sun., April 27, 2014 at 3 p.m.
The production, directed by
Mr. Dean, stars two-time Emmy
Award-winner Keith David (Fox’s new series Enlisted) with accompaniment by pianist/musical director Byron J.
Smith (working with numerous
artists including Wynton Marsalis, Barbra Streisand, BeBe Winans). Paul Robeson plays at the Nate Holden
Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles.
“The immensely likable Keith David plays Robeson…charming
the audience with the humanizing
wit of his delivery, as well as his voice, which approaches the resonance of Robeson’s own,” said
Margaret Gray of the Los Angeles Times.
Recommended by Stage Raw, its critic Lovell Estell,
III said, “Dean’s script whirls
through Robeson’s fascinating life, from his college days at Rutgers and Columbia Law School, through a brief
stint as a ‘token’ at a law firm, to his
steady rise to theatrical stardom and international acclaim in the
company of such luminaries as
George Bernard Shaw and Sergei Eisenstein. Splendid
performance and singing…when David breaks out into a rendition of ‘Ol’
Man River,’ you’d swear you were
again listening to that long-silenced, unique basso profundo. Smith’s
musical accompaniment is flawless.”
"The production values here are high in quality, but minimal in
terms of the scenic design (by
Edward E. Haynes Jr.). It is the
lighting (by Dan Weingarten) that
provides the focus of this staging, effortlessly guiding our eyes from one scene to the next. Further, the
costuming (by Wendell C. Carmichael) is formal but timeless tuxedo-wear, fitting the proceedings
perfectly," said Ben Miles,
ShowMag.com. Cristofer Gross of TheaterTimes.org said, "Kudos to
Ebony Repertory Theatre for
bringing this dramatic reminder of greatness Los Angeles. As was the case with with its memorable revival of
A Raisin in the Sun in 2011, it's
something that benefits the entire Los Angeles community, and is
another reminder that the Nate
Holden Theatre on Washington may be this city's best space to see a play."
A powerful chronicle of the life of Paul Robeson, Phillip
Hayes Dean’s play takes us from
his childhood in New Jersey to his adult life around the world. An All-American athlete and a lawyer with
Columbia Law School credentials, Robeson
faces the racism prevalent in society in the early part of the
twentieth century. He strives to
rise above, and it is his triumph in that struggle that turns Robeson into a modern day
hero. Realizing the racist system
would not allow him to practice as a lawyer, Robeson turns to singing, something he had learned well in the
church choir. His singing leads to
acting and his acting, with all the accolades due a master, leads him around the world. But every place he
visits he sees the strains of racism in its many forms. The more he sees, the more he speaks out, using
his influence and stature to try
and enlighten those around him. After some time in Europe, he returns to the United States to perform
and speak out about the injustices in
the country he loves. Confronting racism again, he sticks to his
values, adhering to no party line,
but is accused of being a Communist, an agitator and much more. He is blacklisted and his passport is revoked,
but he goes on speaking out
whenever he can. For eight years
Robeson fights to clear his name. Finally, the social climate begins to change and toward the end of
his life, Robeson's passport is
reinstated along with some of the glory and respect he earned along the
way. There is still far to go, but
Paul Robeson remains a beacon to those struggling to make this world a better place.
In addition to director Phillip Hayes Dean, the creative
team for PAUL ROBESON includes
scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr., costume design by Wendell C. Carmichael, lighting design by Dan
Weingarten, sound design by Bob Blackburn and choreography by Keith Young. The production stage manager is
David Blackwell. Phillip Hayes
Dean’s PAUL ROBESON originally opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1978, later
transferring to the Booth Theatre, starring James Earl Jones and directed by Lloyd Richards with
original staging by Charles Nelson
Reilly.
The one-man play had two revivals on Broadway – 1988 at the John Golden Theatre and in 1995 at the
Longacre Theatre. Both productions starred Avery Brooks and were directed by Harold Scott. Ebony Repertory Theatre, now in
its sixth year, is the resident company and operator of the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, which is
located at 4718 West Washington
Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016.
Paul Robeson runs now through April 27, 2014. The remaining schedule is: Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 19 at 8 p.m.;
Sunday, April 20 at 7 p.m; Friday, April 25 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m. and Sunday,
April 27 at 3 p.m. (final
performance). Tickets range from
$30 - $60. Single tickets are
available online at ebonyrep.org or by phone at 323-964-9766. Groups of
10 or more are available via email
at groups@ebonyrep.org
or 323-964-9766.
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