Veteran and Award-winning Chicago-born and Los Angeles-based Theatre Artist and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson shares information and insights regarding his more than five decades of involvement in The Performing Arts.
Darryl Maximilian Robinson Details Sammy Davis, Jr.'s Early Roles On Broadway!
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REMEMBERING SAMMY DAVIS, JR.!
Let's face it. It is impossible in a single, short article to encapsulate a genius in the performing arts whose career spanned more than six decades. Born in 1925, by the time he was 7 years old, he was acting, singing and dancing away in his screen debut in a film called "Rufus Jones for President" in 1933.
Therefore, this commentator will attempt to confine his observations to a less-than-a-decade period of time when this beloved actor, singer, dancer, comedian, musician and caring human being was involved in shows on Broadway ( 1956-1965 )
He was incomparable. He was a great. He was an Entertainment Industry Giant. And he was truly unforgettable.
But due to his career-long ties to Frank Sinatra, Las Vegas, The Rat Pack movies and concert commitments, and a relentless touring solo night club engagement schedule, many theatre lovers are unaware that the late, great Sammy Davis, Jr. graced the Broadway musical stage for more than for a few performances.
As night club performer Charlie Welsh in the 1956 musical "Mr. Wonderful" ( which received numerous negative notices due to a weak book ), it was a couple of hit songs in the score and Sammy Davis Jr.'s huge promotional skills and energetic star power that kept that musical afloat for nearly 400 performances on The Great White Way.
Critics were far more pleased and impressed with Mr. Davis, Jr.'s second foray on Broadway.
As boxer Joe Wellington in the 1964 musical adaptation of Clifford Odetts' 1937 acclaimed drama, "Golden Boy," Davis, Jr. ( working from an effective book by playwright William Gibson that worked such issues as race, civil rights and an interracial romance into its story ), demonstrated definitively that not only could he move audiences with his polished singing, dancing and comedic skills, but that he was a solid romantic lead and fine dramatic actor as well, especially in the scenes of his doomed romance with the gifted and talented actress and singer Paula Wayne as his love interest, Lorna.
Jazz great Billy Daniels also did fine work in "Golden Boy" as a wealthy and villainous figure that Joe Wellington strikes a Faustian deal with. Daniels pleased his fans with his number "While The City Sleeps."
And, Davis, Jr.'s co-star and co-hort, young comedic actor and scene-stealer, Johnny Brown, joined him onstage to help stop the show every night with "Don't Forget 127th Street". ( A highlight of the score by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams ). And talented and athletic Latino American actor Jaime Sanchez proved an excellent opponent in the ring for Mr. Davis, Jr..
But ultimately it was the power and strength of Sammy Davis Jr.'s wonderful and engaging performance as boxer Joe Wellington in "Golden Boy" that kept audiences coming for more than 500 performances on Broadway!
For his work in "Golden Boy", SAMMY DAVIS, JR. earned a 1965 Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor In A Musical On Broadway.
And that Tony Award nomination must have been a true thrill for Mr. Davis, Jr., as he was the very first Black Male American performer to be honored on Broadway in that category.
Robert Hooks would be the second talented Black actor to enter this category with a 1968 Best Actor In A Musical nomination for his well-received work in the 1967 musical "Hallelujah, Baby."
And, it wasn't until Cleavon Little received a Best Actor In A Musical nod for his critically-praised title role portrayal in the musical "Purlie" ( adapted by the great Ossie Davis from his comedy "Purlie Victorious" ) that, in 1970, a Black Male performer would finally win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor In A Musical.
But it was Sammy Davis, Jr. winning that 1965 Best Actor In A Musical nomination for his fine performance as Joe Wellington in "Golden Boy" that opened the door for all African-American nominees and winners that followed him. He was the trailblazer in the category!
Sammy Davis, Jr. was ( and thanks to his hundreds of recordings ), still is the epitome of The Great American Artist.
ON THE WEST COAST, theatregoers have seen veteran and award-winning Chicago-born and stage-trained actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson appear in numerous roles onstage during his 14 years as a City of Angels thespian. He has garnered critical praise for his performances as Major-General Stanley in "The Pirates of Penzance," District Attorney Flint in "Night of January 16th," Booker T. Washington in "Ragtime," Butler John Lawless in "The Happiest Millionaire" and Henry Albertson in "The Fantasticks." But usually he has performed his work in small and intimate venues. However, this past summer, he shared his talents in a somewhat larger forum. Darryl Maximilian Robinson, who received 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 / Ira Aldridge Award nomination for Best Leading Actor In A Play for his critically-praised performance as Sam ...
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