Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Neighbor

DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON is a veteran and award-winning American and Chicago-born and stage-trained actor and play director. A classically-trained African-American theatre artist celebrating 50 years as an American Stage Performer, he is best known for regional touring performance engagements of his original one-man show of Shakespeare and time-travel comedy "A Bit of the Bard" ( in which he appeared presenting numerous speeches from the works of William Shakespeare as His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean ) and for his 15 seasons of work as The Founder, Artistic Director, Producer and Principal Actor of the multiracial, non-Equity professional chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago ( which was active 1987-2001 ).

Darryl Maximilian Robinson has become noted as the very first black actor in American Theatre History to portray on stage a trio of classic dramatic roles including: Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's "A Man For All Seasons" ( in a 1984 revival presented by The University Players of The University of Missouri-St. Louis and directed by AEA Member John Grassilli at The Benton Hall Theater ); King Henry II in a 1992 multiracial cast revival of James Goldman's "The Lion In Winter" ( directed by Mr. Robinson for his chamber theatre Excaliber Productions, Ltd in St. Louis and staged at The Wabash Triangle Cafe ); and Andrew Wyke ( opposite the talented actor Sean Nix as Milo Tindle ) in a 2000, 30th Anniversary, all-black cast revival of Anthony Shaffer's "Sleuth" presented under Mr. Robinson's direction by his chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, Illinois.

He is the winner of numerous theatre awards, nominations and honors including a 1981 Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Award for Outstanding Thespian of the Season for his professional summer stock performances ( including most notably as Fagin in Lionel Bart's "Oliver! ) at The Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana; a 1992 St. Louis / St. Charles, Missouri Area Harpooners of the Sea Unicorn Certificate of Honorary Membership Award for his staging and performance as The Great Detective Sherlock Holmes in The Excaliber Productions, Ltd. staging of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Problem!" at The Midtown Arts Center of St. Louis; both a 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award for Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play and a 1997 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance Award Nomination for Best Leading Actor In A Play for his performance as Sam Semela in the ESC's revival of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold And The Boys" presented at The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre of Rogers Park ; a 1998 WKKC Radio Chicago Critic's Corner Fine Arts Award for Outstanding Director of a Play for his staging of the ESC's revival of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" at The Heartland ( in which he appeared as Vladimir ); a 1999 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award Nomination for Best Direction of An Ensemble for his staging of Athol Fugard's "The Blood Knot" at The Heartland ( in which he appeared as Zachariah ); a 2001 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance / Lloyd Richards Award Nomination for Best Direction for his revival staging of Le Roi Jones' "The Dutchman" at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, Illinois; a 2013 Los Angeles Marcom Masque Theatre Award Nomination for Best Actor In A Major Supporting Role for his performance as the historic black educator and orator Booker T. Washington in The Kentwood Players' revival of the acclaimed musical "Ragtime" at The Westchester Playhouse; and a 2015 / 2016 Los Angeles ELATE Season Ticket Holder Award Nomination for Best Actor for his performance as the debonair, but aging leading man Ernest in Tad Mosel's "Impromptu" as part of an evening of one-acts entitled "Just 4 Fun" which was presented at The Lincoln Stegman Theatre in North Hollywood, Ca.

Most recently, he has been nominated for a 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award for Best Performer In A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for his performance of the dual roles of Your Chairman of The Music Hall Royale, Mr. William Cartwright and The Mayor Thomas Sapsea of Cloisterham, England in skilled Director Robert-Eric West's 2018 Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago revival staging of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical whodunit "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" which was presented at the lovely, more than a century old St. Bonaventure Church in the Windy City's West Lakeview area.

On Sept. 19, 2016, in a Los Angeles, California recorded internet edition of the entertainment and arts program "The Actor's Choice" Episode 2.37 hosted by Ron Brewington and presented by Roscoe Media Center on-the-air, Mr. Robinson, during the second and final half-hour of the Youtube streaming show, discusses his life and career in The Theatre and his Chicago stage roots and early training ( including four seasons of Musical Theatre Performance Education under the guidance of J. J. Stamm, Nick Jason, John Cina, Lena McLin, Gerald H. Bailey, Errol Perlman, Irving M. Stein, Geraldine Johnson, June Rold, Randy Toelke and other staff of THE CHICAGOLAND HIGH SCHOOL THEATRICAL TROUPE from 1975-1979 ). On December 30, 2019, Darryl Maximilian Robinson returned for a second visit on "The Actor's Choice" Episode 5.52, to discuss his most recent theatrical endeavors. And on May 3, 2021, he made a third appearance to "The Actors Choice," Episode 7.18, to discuss our current political climate and the issue of racism in The Theatre. On Monday April 18, 2022 Darryl Maximilian Robinson returned for a fourth time, arriving at the UBNGO Burbank radio and television studio in Hollywood to discuss the life and many contributions of the late, great film legend and Broadway star Sir Sidney Poitier on 'The Actor's Choice' Episode 8.16. On July 8, 2024, Darryl Maximilian Robinson made his fifth appearance as a Guest Professional Actor on Episode 10.28 of "The Actor's Choice" with Host Ron Brewington to discuss his 50th anniversary as an American Stage Performer.

On May 9, 2022, Darryl Maximilian Robinson was named a winner of a 'Making The World Happening' Award for his numerous online theatre-related offerings at Allevents.in during the two-year period of time of the catastrophic Covid-19 Pandemic.

A performing artist who is celebrating 50 years as an actor, Mr. Robinson has appeared in numerous productions in multiple cities and regions around the country, and examples of Mr. Robinson's work and credentials can be found at numerous sites online. As always, Mr. Robinson thanks God, family, friends and his fellow artists in The Theatre for their love and support!

Photo Credit: 2017 Headshot Photo of Darryl Maximilian Robinson with his 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award for Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play by Jesse Livingston Watt.