More About ESC's Darryl Maximilian Robinson On 1989 Title Role in THE WIZ
ESC'S DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON RECALLS PLAYING THE TITLE ROLE OF "THE WIZ" IN A 1989 BLACK HISTORY MONTH REVIVAL PRODUCTION IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA!:
"C'mon and Ease On Down,
Ease On Down The Road!
Why don't you, Ease On Down,
Ease On Down The Road?
Don't you carry nothing that
Might be a load!
Ease On Down,
Ease On Down,
Ease On Down,
Ease On Down The Road!" - The Four Friends in Charlie Smalls' and William F. Brown's "The Wiz."
"...Darryl Maximilian Robinson as "The Wiz," stands tallest in sheer stage presence." -- Dale Sandusky, Critic Finds 'The Wiz' Has Heart, The Tribune of New Albany, Ind., Friday February 17, 1989.
"Mark Lawrence as the Cowardly Lion and Darryl Maximilian Robinson as the bombastic Wizard of Oz also do yeoman service." -- John Pillow, The Wiz Theater Review, The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday February 18, 1989.
The title role of The Wiz in the 1989 Derby Dinner Playhouse production in Clarksville, Indiana was played by Darryl Maximilian Robinson. He delivered a memorable performance under the direction of Bekki Jo Schneider, alongside Shirese Hursey as Dorothy.
37 years ago, Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award Winner, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Award Winner, Chicago WKKC Radio Critic Corner Fine Arts Award Winner, Four-Time Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award Nominee, Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Award Nominee and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder Darryl Maximilian Robinson played the title role in William F. Brown's and Charlie Smalls' Tony Award-winning Best Musical "The Wiz" at The Derby Dinner Playhouse of Clarksville, Indiana ( just outside of Louisville, Ky. ) in 1989.
During the late 70s, and throughout the 80s, there were many successful and well-received productions of the Tony Award-winning best musical "The Wiz' staged around the United States in regional theatres and on tours. One revival of "The Wiz" that is of interest was one staged in the winter of 1989 with a multicultural cast by director / producer Bekki Jo Schneider at The Derby Dinner Playhouse.
Schneider's cast included Shirese Hursey as Dorothy, K. Bartholomew Ray as The Scarecrow, Stanley White as The Tin Man, Mark Lawrence as The Cowardly Lion, and 1981 Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Outstanding Thespian of the Season Award Winner and future 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Outstanding Actor Award Winner Darryl Maximilian Robinson as The Wiz.
The 1989 Derby Dinner Playhouse revival of "The Wiz" was performed in-the-round and featured choreography by Barbara Cullen-Bauer.
Considered a break-through Broadway show for African-American performers of musical theatre, alongside Purlie and Raisin, Charlie Smalls' and William F. Brown's "The Wiz" ( recently celebrating the 50th anniversary as its original 1975 Broadway production ) continues to serve as a wonderful, creative example of black artistic history in the U.S.
Happy Juneteenth 2026!
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"C'mon and Ease On Down,
Ease On Down The Road!
Why don't you, Ease On Down,
Ease On Down The Road?
Don't you carry nothing that
Might be a load!
Ease On Down,
Ease On Down,
Ease On Down,
Ease On Down The Road!" - The Four Friends in Charlie Smalls' and William F. Brown's "The Wiz."
"...Darryl Maximilian Robinson as "The Wiz," stands tallest in sheer stage presence." -- Dale Sandusky, Critic Finds 'The Wiz' Has Heart, The Tribune of New Albany, Ind., Friday February 17, 1989.
"Mark Lawrence as the Cowardly Lion and Darryl Maximilian Robinson as the bombastic Wizard of Oz also do yeoman service." -- John Pillow, The Wiz Theater Review, The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday February 18, 1989.
The title role of The Wiz in the 1989 Derby Dinner Playhouse production in Clarksville, Indiana was played by Darryl Maximilian Robinson. He delivered a memorable performance under the direction of Bekki Jo Schneider, alongside Shirese Hursey as Dorothy.
37 years ago, Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award Winner, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Award Winner, Chicago WKKC Radio Critic Corner Fine Arts Award Winner, Four-Time Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award Nominee, Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Award Nominee and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder Darryl Maximilian Robinson played the title role in William F. Brown's and Charlie Smalls' Tony Award-winning Best Musical "The Wiz" at The Derby Dinner Playhouse of Clarksville, Indiana ( just outside of Louisville, Ky. ) in 1989.
During the late 70s, and throughout the 80s, there were many successful and well-received productions of the Tony Award-winning best musical "The Wiz' staged around the United States in regional theatres and on tours. One revival of "The Wiz" that is of interest was one staged in the winter of 1989 with a multicultural cast by director / producer Bekki Jo Schneider at The Derby Dinner Playhouse.
Schneider's cast included Shirese Hursey as Dorothy, K. Bartholomew Ray as The Scarecrow, Stanley White as The Tin Man, Mark Lawrence as The Cowardly Lion, and 1981 Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Outstanding Thespian of the Season Award Winner and future 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Outstanding Actor Award Winner Darryl Maximilian Robinson as The Wiz.
The 1989 Derby Dinner Playhouse revival of "The Wiz" was performed in-the-round and featured choreography by Barbara Cullen-Bauer.
Considered a break-through Broadway show for African-American performers of musical theatre, alongside Purlie and Raisin, Charlie Smalls' and William F. Brown's "The Wiz" ( recently celebrating the 50th anniversary as its original 1975 Broadway production ) continues to serve as a wonderful, creative example of black artistic history in the U.S.
Happy Juneteenth 2026!
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Date & Time
July 1, 2026
10:00am - 10:00pm
Additional Dates
This event also occurs on:
07/02/2026, 07/03/2026, 07/04/2026, 07/05/2026 and 24 other dates
Location
Online Event.
N0A
Los Angeles, CA 90065
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