Darryl Maximilian Robinson's Mayor George Shinn In 'The Music Man' Pix

CHICAGO-BORN AND STAGE-TRAINED ACTOR DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON SHARES HIS WEST COAST PHOTO SHOOT AS MAYOR GEORGE SHINN IN A REVIVAL OF MEREDITH WILLSON'S "THE MUSIC MAN" PROVIDED BY THE VERY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER / VIDEOGRAPHER AND PERFORMER ERIC MICHAEL HERNANDEZ OF CIRQUELIFE!

Greetings Chicago Theatre Lovers and Supporters, And Happy Holidays.

Sometimes things don't always go as planned in the course of a stage career.

Especially during this period of the Covid-19 pandemic, where a performer or a crew member has to weigh their health and wellbeing against success in playing a great role or executing the tech of a classic show on stage.

An artist's good physical, spiritual and emotional health must take precedent in many different situations where it is clear that what's best for a show is not always what's best or safe for an artist.

In this age of Covid, each artist must decide what is most safe for them and what is worth sacrificing just to appear in a show.

How an artist is treated during the creative process, therefore, is a great indicator of how an artist should proceed.

Earlier this year, your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, was cast in the plum comedic stage role of Mayor George Shinn in a revival of Meredith Willson's classic American musical comedy "The Music Man" staged at The Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena, CA.

But due to creative differences, this Chicago-born and stage-trained actor ( who has played leading and featured roles in musical revivals throughout this country ) would ultimately not appear in the run of the show.

However, prior to departing the show, your humble servant, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, had the great joy of working with the gifted character actress Tamarah Ashton, who appeared as Mayor Shinn's imperious wife, Eulalie Mackenie Shinn, and who provided a highly-effective costume design for "The Music Man," including some wonderful 1912 period attire for The Mayor of River City, Iowa.

As a memento of his experience of playing Mayor George Shinn in this revival of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man," Darryl Maximilian Robinson is pleased to share some photos from the show which were captured by talented fellow cast member Eric Michael Hernandez, who is noted as Performer, Photographer and Videographer for the popular performing arts channel Cirquelife on YouTube.

Videos of Darryl Maximilian Robinson promoting his appearance as Mayor George Shinn ( in Ms. Ashton's fine costumes ) shot by Eric Michael Hernandez can also be found at Mr. Robinson's YouTube channel.

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.