Biography
Darryl Maximilian Robinson is a veteran and award-winning American stage actor, play director and private acting instructor best known for touring performances of his original one-man show of Shakespeare and time-travel comedy, "A Bit of the Bard", and his 15 years of work as the Founder, Artistic Director, Producer and Principal Actor of the non-Equity professional, multiracial chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago. Born in The Windy City in 1960 and celebrating more than 50 years as a public performing artist with more than 250 public performance and literary arts events productions around the country to his credit, Mr. Robinson moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, CA. in 2005 to pursue work as an actor and emerging screenwriter. 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. His local and regional awards for his theatre work include: the 1981 Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Award as Outstanding Thespian of the Season for his performances in professional summer stock ( most particularly as Fagin in Lionel Bart's "Oliver!" ) at northern Indiana's Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse; a 1992 St. Louis Area Certificate of Honourary Membership Award from The Harpooners of the Sea Unicorn for his performance as 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 as Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play and a 1997 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance Award Nomination as Best Leading Actor In A Play for his noted dramatic performance as Sam Semela ( opposite skilled actors Kevin Heckman as Hally and Gregory Christopher Armstrong as Willie Malopo ) in The ESC's Jeff Citation Nominated Best Production of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold And The Boys" at The Heartland Café Studio Theatre of Rogers Park; a 1998 WKKC Radio Chicago Critic's Corner Fine Arts Award as Outstanding Director Of A Play for The ESC's revival staging of "Waiting for Godot" ( in which he appeared as Vladimir ) at The Heartland; a 1999 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award Nomination for Best Direction Of An Ensemble for The ESC's revival staging of Athol Fugard's "The Blood Knot" ( in which he appeared as Zachariah ) at The Heartland; a 2001 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award Nomination ( The Lloyd Richards Award ) for Best Direction Of A Theatrical Production for The ESC's revival staging of LeRoi Jones' ( Immamu Amiri Baraka's ) "The Dutchman" at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, IL. ; a 2013 Los Angeles Marcom Masque Theatre Award Nomination as Best Actor In A Major Supporting Role for his portrayal of the historic black educator and orator Booker T. Washington in the Kentwood Players' revival of the musical "Ragtime" at The Westchester Playhouse; and a 2015 / 2016 Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Award Nomination as Best Actor for his performance as the debonair, but aging leading man Ernest ( opposite talented fellow performers Casey Krubiner as Winnifred, Joey Trezise as Tony and Lucy Krubiner as Lora ) in Tad Mosel's "Impromptu" as part of The Emmanuel Lutheran Actors' Theatre Ensemble - Elate evening of one acts entitled "Just 4 Fun". A classically-trained stage performer, Mr. Robinson has played leading and featured roles with The 1982 20th Anniversary National Shakespeare Company Tour of New York, The 1985 Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival at Garfield Park Amphitheatre ( where he earned fine notices for his performance as Master Ford in the Bard's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" ), and The StagePlayers of Northeastern Illinois University of Chicago ( where in 1984 while serving as A Guest Professional Actor he played the title role in Director Dr. James Barushok's revival of Shakespeare's "Othello" ). Having appeared frequently on local and regional radio and television programs ( including literary guest performance / interviews on PBS and National Public Radio ) during the course of his career, Mr. Robinson was thrilled to appear and discuss his life-long involvement in The Performing Arts on the Monday September 19, 2016 Rmc on air television edition of "The Actor's Choice" hosted by Ron Brewington. Mr. Robinson's other stage roles in LA also include: Major-General Stanley ( opposite skilled musical theatre performers Jennifer Sperry as Mabel Stanley and Drew Fitzsimmons as The Pirate King ) in The San Pedro Theatre Club 2014 135th Anniversary Revival Production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance"; The Narrator and The Mysterious Man in The Burbank Community Theatre 2014 revival of Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's "Into The Woods" at The Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles; The Butler John Lawless in the 2011 Glendale Centre Theatre 55th Anniversary Revival Production of Kyle Crichton's "The Happiest Millionaire"; and the old Shakespearean actor Henry Albertson in The Tribe Productions' 2010 Hollywood Fringe Festival 50th Anniversary Revival Production of Tom Jones' and Harvey Schmidt's "The Fantasticks" at The Complex Theatre. Recently, Mr. Robinson returned to his hometown of Chicago for an extended visit and earned fine critical praise for his performance in the dual roles of The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright and Mayor Thomas Sapsea in the Saint Sebastian Players 2018 revival of Rupert Holmes' Tony award-winning Best Musical whodunit "The Mystery of Edwin Drood". In addition to critical praise, Darryl Maximilian Robinson's performance as Mr. William Cartwright, Your Chairman of The Music Hall Royale and The Mayor Thomas Sapsea of Cloisterham, England in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" has been documented by Wikipedia, highlighted by a Youtube.com video entitled "Darryl Maximilian Robinson as The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright & Cast Go Off To The Races," and in November of 2019: The Year of Chicago Theatre, he received a 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nomination for Best Performer In A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for his work in Rupert Holmes' brilliant, but seldom performed musical masterpiece, which was one of Seven 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nominations that The 2018 Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago revival of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" received. Most recently, Darryl Maximilian Robinson was named a winner of a 2022 Making The World Happening Award for his numerous online theatre-related offerings at Allevents.in. Darryl Maximilian Robinson also appeared recently in the comedic supporting role of Chicago Tribune Newspaper Reporter Roy V. Bensinger in the Culver City Public Theatre 2024 outdoor revival production of Ben Hecht's and Charles MacArthur's "The Front Page" at The Carlson Memorial Park in Culver City, California for which he won a 2024 Broadwayworld Los Angeles Award nomination for Best Supporting Performer In A Play. Mr. Robinson currently resides near Downtown LA where he continues to seek employment and opportunities to work in stage, radio, television and film. And, as always, he thanks God, family and friends for their love and support.
