The Robey Theatre Company Celebrates 30 Years of Black Storytelling – Los Angeles Sentinel
In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, The Robey Theatre Company stands alone as the cultural epicenter for the development, exploration, and production of plays written about the global Black experience.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, the Company will celebrate 30 years of executing this mission by hosting a soiree at the Los Angeles Theatre Center at 7 p.m., a landmark event featuring a screening of A Constant Rage, food, drinks, and an all-encompassing expression of gratitude to the community that has supported the theater's mission for three decades.
At the heart of The Robey Theatre Company are its two founders, Ben Guillory and Danny Glover, who met decades ago in San Francisco.
"We made a pact to have a theater program almost 15 years before we created one. Whenever we need [Danny], including to fund a production, he's there. For the first 7 years, he was the person responsible for our budget," Guillory shared in an exclusive interview with the Sentinel.
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Co-founder and producing artistic director Ben Guillory is a seasoned Los Angeles actor, producer, and director, who is fundamental to the continued success of The Robey Theatre Company. Besides handling day-to-day operations, he also directs most of the productions and leads multiple programs, including the Advanced Scene Study courses for Los Angeles actors looking to hone their skills.
Growing up in Appaloosa, Louisiana, Guillory developed a love for the arts early on and soon found himself drawn to theater. The immediacy and visceral impact of live performance became the perfect vehicle for his storytelling vision.
"What you see is what you get," he says. "The influence is dynamic; in this theater, you're about 10 feet from the audience at most. The impact is visceral."
The Robey Theatre Company, named in honor of pioneering Black actor and activist Paul Robeson, has remained true to its mission to bring Black stories to the forefront. Guillory's artistic vision is rooted in a Black consciousness and cultural identity that remains relevant and essential in today's theater landscape.
"We're Black people in America and we have a Black consciousness," he explains. "Even up till now, there have been great changes and steps forward—but not really that much."
The company's commitment to developing, producing, and reinterpreting Black classics fills a gap in mainstream and regional theater, where Black stories have historically struggled for both funding and representation.
The Robey Theatre's focus on cultivating and elevating Black talent is underscored by its structured training programs, including the rigorous 10-week Advanced Scene Study program. Actors work through scenes with assigned partners, presenting them twice and rehearsing weekly, giving them a safe space to grow and refine their craft.
Another offering is the Playwrights Laboratory, a selective program where writers can develop their work with a dramaturg.
"It's a place for playwrights to come and have a community," he notes, underscoring the lab's impact. As their plays develop and solidify, there is an opportunity for them to be chosen by Guillory to move into rehearsal and production with the Company.
One of Guillory's own memorable roles was that of Paul Robeson himself, a man he deeply admires. Robeson, a talented artist and civil rights advocate, made enormous sacrifices for his principles.
"When I started to read about him, who he was, what he gave up to speak truth to power, I had great respect for him," Guilloiry shared.
"All he had to do was keep his mouth shut, and he could have lived a full life as one of the most famous people in the world, but he didn't," Guillory said with adoration.
Playing Robeson was a profound experience, giving him the chance to channel the integrity and conviction that defined Robeson's life. This commitment to purpose has shaped both Guillory's personal path and the mission of The Robey Theatre Company.
Looking to the future, The Robey Theatre Company aims to continue its mission, presenting plays that reflect the depth and breadth of the Black experience. The upcoming 2025 season will feature "Last Night at Mikell's" by Larry Muhammad, a production that promises to highlight the company's dedication to telling compelling, socially conscious stories. Each production is guided by an unwavering respect for the craft and a responsibility to reflect Black culture authentically.
The 30th anniversary celebration will be a vibrant gathering of actors, directors, producers, playwrights, stage managers, volunteers, and community members, each of whom has played a role in shaping The Robey Theatre Company's legacy. In honoring the village that has watered and grown this Company, Guillory acknowledged that "it truly is not a one-person show."
The screening of "A Constant Rage" will serve as a tribute to the community's ongoing support and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. As the company moves forward, its purpose remains clear: to foster Black stories and cultivate a space where Black artists can thrive, honor their heritage, and inspire future generations.
In the words of its founder, this theater isn't "Eurocentric" or "token"—it's a place of belonging, created for and by Black artists, where the true essence of Black culture and aesthetic can be shared with everyone who walks through its doors.
