Guide to the Robey Theatre Company production files CEMA 192
Finding aid prepared by Salvador Güereña and Zachary Liebhaber, January 16, 2020. Additions processed by Kylie Hamuel, and
finding aid updated by Rebecca Vasquez, May 2024.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
January 2020; May 2024
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Robey Theatre Company production files
Creator:
Robey Theatre Company
source:
Guillory, Bennet, 1949-
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 192
Physical Description:
18 Linear Feet;
(18 cartons, 1 oversized flat folder)
Date (inclusive): 1999-2019
Abstract: Production files and administrative records of the Robey Theatre Company of Los Angeles, California.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Language of Material:
English.
Historical Note
The Robey Theatre Company is led by Co-founder and Producing Artistic Director, Ben Guillory. The organization was founded
in 1994 to offer theater training along with playwriting workshops and readings in order to create opportunities for Black
theater artists. Artists of color and audiences alike have had insufficient opportunities to hear these voices and to experience
their unique expression of culture. Robey was founded to help fill that gap.
For the past 12 years, Robey has operated out of the Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles. A non-equity house,
the organization offers limited-run productions and the occasional equity production with theater partners. This model allows
the organization to offer classical theater as well as serve as an incubator for new and experimental original works. In addition
to theatrical productions, the organization offers workshops and labs using Robey's intensive creative process that is designed
to support the work of artists.
Programs created by and available through the organization – Playwrights Lab, Advanced Scene Study Workshop, Staged Readings,
and The Paul Robeson Theatre Festival – are the heart and soul of The Robey Theatre Company and represent what the organization
is about.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by topic into two series:
- Series 1: Production files
- Series 2: Administrative materials
Scope and Content
This collection contains production files and administrative records produced by the Robey Theatre Company of Los Angeles,
California.
Materials may include contracts, scripts, cast and crew sheets, financial documents, promotional materials, reviews, set and
prop lists, newsletters, board materials, event planning documents, and grant proposals.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research. Portions of this collection are unprocessed and may contain restricted materials. Please
contact the Department of Special Research Collections in advance to request access.
Use Restrictions
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through
the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to
the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and may be retained by the
creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department
of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University
of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and
is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or their assignees for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Robey Theatre Company production files, CEMA 192. Department of Special Research Collections, UC
Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Ben Guillory, 2019 and 2024.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Performing arts -- California -- Los Angeles
Theater -- California -- Los Angeles
Theater -- Production and direction
Reviews (documents)
Scripts (documents)
Guillory, Bennet (Ben) Guillory
Series 1: Production files
Scope and Contents
This series contains production files produced by the Robey Theatre Company of Los Angeles, California.
Production files for each play were originally organized within production binders, which have been deconstructed and re-housed
into folders and are listed under each production title. Production files may include contracts, cue scripts, cast and crew
sheets, financial and marketing materials, reviews, set and prop lists, and press items.
box 1
A House with No Walls
2006
Language of Material: English.
A Medley of One Act Plays
box 2
A Medley of One Act Plays
2007
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 1-4
A Medley of One Act Plays production materials
2007
- A Medley of One Act Plays, Folders 1-2
- A Medley of One Act Plays: Extra Info, Folders 3-4
box 5, folder 6-11
Anna Lucasta production materials
2012
- Anna Lucasta: Cue Book, Folder 6
- Anna Lucasta: Script, Folder 7
- Anna Lucasta: Extra Info, Folders 8-11
box 5, folder 14
Anna Lucasta opening night
2012
oversize-folder 15
Anna Lucasta lighting and set design plots
box 5, folder 15-17
Bee-luter-hatchee production materials
1999
- Bee-luther-hatchee, Folder 15
- Bee-luther-hatchee: Script, Folders 16-17
box 5, folder 18-21
Birdland Blue production materials
2019
Scope and Contents
Birdland Blue production book, Folder 18-21
oversize-folder 15
Birdland Blue set designs
box 2
Bronzeville
2008
Language of Material: English.
box 3
Bronzeville
2009
Language of Material: English.
box 3
Bronzeville
2011
Language of Material: English.
box 5, folder 22
Bronzeville notes
2003-2009
box 6, folder 1-5
Bronzeville production materials
2009-2013
- Bronzeville production, Folders 1-2
- Bronzeville/Manzanar production, Folders 3-5
box 6, folder 6-12
Camp Logan production materials
2012-2018
- Camp Logan extra info, Folders 6-9
- Camp Logan production book, Folders 10-12
For the Love of Freedom, Parts 1-3
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials from a three-part play series,
For the Love of Freedom.
For the Love of Freedom is a trilogy about Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe. The plays depict the development
of the Haitian Revolution in 1789, to the death of King Henri Christophe in 1820. Part One – "Toussaint - the Soul - Rise
and Revolution" – is devoted to the beginning of the Haitian Revolution and, Toussaint L'Ouverture; Part Two – "Dessalines
- the Heart - Blood and Liberation" – is about the liberation of Haiti and their fight with Napoleon, and the rule of Jean
Jacques Dessalines; and Part Three – "Christophe - the Spirit - Passion and Glory" – is about the rise of Haiti to a world
power under King Henri Christophe during the early 19th century.
box 4
For the Love of Freedom
2001
Language of Material: English.
box 4
For the Love of Freedom
2002
Language of Material: English.
box 6, folder 13-21, box 7, folder 1
For the Love of Freedom, Part 1: Toussaint production materials
2001-2005
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 1: Working Draft of Adaption, Folders 13-15
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 1: Toussaint extra info, Folders 16-17
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 1: Toussaint - Lights and Sound Cue Book, Folder 18
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 1: Toussaint Production Book, Box 6 - Folders 19-21; Box 7 - Folder 1
box 7, folder 2-8
For the Love of Freedom, Part 2: Dessalines production materials
2001-2002
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 2: Dessalines, Ben's Mini-Production Handbook, Folders 2-4
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 2: Dessalines Production Handbook, Folders 5-8
box 7, folder 9-15
For the Love of Freedom, Part 3: Christophe production materials
2004
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 3: Christophe Extra Info, Folders 9-10
- For the Love of Freedom, Part 3: Christophe Production Handbook, Folders 11-16
box 7, folder 16-17
For the Love of Freedom Project, CSU LA
2003-2004
box 7, folder 18-20, box 8, folder 1-3
Knock Me a Kiss production materials
2012-2015
- Knock Me a Kiss Production Book and Finances, Box 7 - Folders 18-20; Box 8 - Folder 1
- Knock Me a Kiss Script and Materials, Folder 2
- Knock Me a Kiss Performance Cues, Folder 3
box 8, folder 4-8
Langston and Nicolas, Robey and Towne Street production materials
2007-2009
Scope and Contents
Langston and Nicolas, Folders 4-8
box 8, folder 9-13
No Place to Be Somebody production materials
2016
- No Place to Be Somebody Extra Information, Folders 9-11
- No Place to Be Somebody Production Book, Folders 12-13
box 1
Permanent Collection
2006
Language of Material: English.
box 8, folder 14-20
Permanent Collection production materials
2005-2006
- Permanent Collection Reviews, Folder 14
- Permanent Collection Extra Info, Folders 15-16
- Permanent Collection, Cynthia Stillwell Production Notebook, Folders 17-20
box 8, folder 21
Pity the Proud Ones set design - preliminary ground plans
2011
oversize-folder 15
Pity the Proud Ones set design mock-ups
box 2
Souls on Fire
1996
Language of Material: English.
box 9, folder 15-18
Souls on Fire production materials
1996-1997
- Souls on Fire Press, Folder 15
- Souls on Fire, Folders 16-18
The Emperor's Last Performance
box 2
The Emperor's Last Performance
2010
Language of Material: English.
box 9, folder 19-20
The Emperors Last Performance Financial Summary
2010
box 1
The Last Season
2001
Language of Material: English.
box 9, folder 21-22
The Last Season Production Book
2001
The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel
box 9, folder 23-31, box 10, folder 1-4
The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel production materials
2014-2015
Scope and Contents
Box 9
- The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel, Michael Rick's Dunbar Cue, Lab Tech Cues, Folder 23
- The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel, Rick's NBTF Performance Cues, Folder 24
- The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel Extra Info, Folders 25-28
- The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel NBTF Dunbar, Folders 29-31
Box 10
- The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel Production Binder, Folder 1-4
box 2
The Reckoning
2010
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 5
The Reckoning expense folder
2010
box 4
The River Niger
undated
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 6-12
The River Niger production materials
2009-2010
- The River Niger Check Log, Folders 6-7
- The River Niger Check Log, Folders 8-10
- The River Niger, Folders 11-12
box 10, folder 13-16
The Wrong Kind of People production materials
2019
Scope and Contents
The Wrong Kind of People, Folders 13-16
box 3
Yohen
1999
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 17-20
Yohen production materials
1998-2002
- Yohen, Folder 17
- Yohen, Folders 18-20
Series 2: Administrative materials
Scope and Contents
This series contains administrative materials produced by the Robey Theatre Company of Los Angeles, California.
Administrative materials may include company newsletters, board materials, festival planning documents, and grant proposals.
box 11, oversize-folder 15
Paul Robey Theatre Festivals
2014-2019
Scope and Contents
Materials produced in the planning and execution of Paul Robey Theatre Festivals, including it's 25th Anniversary Festival.
Materials may include correspondence, meeting materials, budget and expense materials, marketing materials, script submissions,
and program materials.
box 12, folder 7-9
Robey Theatre Company Research
2011
Scope and Contents
Playwright research and extra information, most related to
For the Love of Freedom.
box 12, folder 10-21, box 13
Fundraising and grant proposals
1999-2014
Scope and Contents
Box 12:
- Propsal Copies, Folders 10-11
- Fundraising, Grants, and Proposals, Folders 12-14
- Fundraising, Grants, and Proposals Chron File 2009, Folders 15-17
- Chron File Feb-June 2007, Folders 18-20
- Fundraising, Grants, and Proposals: Robey's CMTE's Meeting the Education, Folder 21
Box 13
- Fundraising, Grants, and Proposals: Robey's CMTE's Meeting the Education, Folders 1
- Robey Theatre Company Development, Folder 2
- Development, Folder 3
- Fundraising, Grants, and Proposals: Chron File 2010, Folders 4-6
- JB Chron File 2011, Folder 7
- Diversity Issue, Folders 8-9
- California Community Foundation Capacity Builiding Initiative, Folders 10-11
- Ford Foundation Information, Folders 12-14
- Los Angeles County Arts Commission Grant Application Review Panel, Theatre Book 2, Folders 15-16
- Chron File July 2007-2008, Folders 17-20
box 14, oversize-folder 15
General administrative files
1995-2013
Scope and Contents
Includes board meeting materials, financial records, historical records, community event materials, and play marketing materials.
