Stage & Film Director
Tyrone directs for stage and film.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ the Fats Waller Musical
The REV Theatre
Auburn, NY
Director: Tyrone L. Robinson
Scenic Design: Kyle Dixon
Lighting Design: José Santiago
Costume Design: Tiffany Howard
Hair & Makeup Design: Karine Ivey
Sound Design: Don Hanna
Synopsis
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is a sizzling celebration of Fats Waller’s music — songs that he made famous in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood and concert stages around the world. This delightful revue evokes the humor and infectious energy of this American original to provide an evening of humor, romance and thrilling song and dance. Featuring Fats Waller’s biggest hits including “Keepin’ Out of Mischief,” “This Joint is Jumpin’,” “Mean to Me” and of course the famous title song, “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”
These songs were the dance hits of the day and so I set our production at the famed Harlem dance hall, The Savoy Ballroom. As we celebrated the brilliance of Waller’s music, we also celebrated the ingenuity of dancers like Norma Miller who danced at The Savoy and gave the world dance forms like The Lindy and swing.
The Savoy was the first fully integrated night spot in Harlem where Black and White dancers could dance together on the same dance floor and where Black and White musicians could play together. Our cast was all Black, but our musicians were diverse.
Un{H}armed short film
Written and Directed by Tyrone L. Robinson
Producers: Tyler Martin (Ironsmith Films) and Tyrone L. Robinson
Cinematographer: David Grauberger
Editor: Samuel Emerson Morgan
Composer: Kanoa Wolfe-Doblin
Synopsis
A case of mistaken identity leads to a life-threatening encounter between a young Black man and law enforcement. “The Talk” his mother once had with him spares his life.
#BlackLivesMatter
#shortfilm
Set photos by Emily Grauberger
Chicken & Biscuits
By Douglas Lyons
Bristol Riverside Theatre
Bristol, PA
Director: Tyrone L. Robinson
Scenic Design: Chris Haig
Lighting Design: José Santiago
Costume/Hair & Makeup Design: Ramaj Jamar
Sound Design: Larry Fowler
Synopsis
Rivaling sisters, Baneatta and Beverly, are burying their father—but it’s the non-stop family drama that might be the death of them. Beverly just wants to show the congregation what she’s been “blessed with.” Baneatta’s son brings his very white, Jewish boyfriend who is maybe . . . sort of—okay definitely—afraid of Baneatta. Meanwhile, Beverly’s daughter couldn’t mind her own business if it was on a leash. But when a mysterious guest reveals a family secret at the church altar, things really go crazy . . . and even Baneatta can’t deny the truth.
This Bitter Earth
By Harrison David Rivers
InterAct Theatre Company
Philadelphia, PA
Director: Tyrone L. Robinson
Scenic Design: Colin McIlvaine
Lighting Design: Shannon Zura
Costume Design: Katherine Fritz
Sound Design: Larry Fowler
Projection Design: Taj Rauch
Intimacy Director: Colleen Hughes
Synopsis
A deep love is challenged by divisive political realities. Jesse, an introspective black playwright, finds his choices called into question when his boyfriend, Neil, a white Black Lives Matter activist, calls him out for his political apathy. As passions and priorities collide, this couple is forced to reckon with issues of race, class and the bravery it takes to love out loud.
Little Shop of Horrors
Book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Music by Alan Menken
Garden Theatre
Winter Garden, FL
Pre-Production/Concept: Tyrone L. Robinson
Director/Choreographer: Kyli Rae
Musical Director: John B. deHaas
Scenic Design: Robert F. Wolin
Lighting Design: Erin Miner
Costume Design: Jolene Marie Richardson
Hair & Makeup Design: Mark Adam Rampmeyer
Sound Design: Jesse R. Munro
Synopsis
The classic musical comedy re-imagined for a contemporary audience. To pay homage to both the original Roger Corman film (1960) and the original funky, downtown, Off-Broadway production, we leaned into cinematic gestures when possible (The Garden Theatre is a restored Depression Era movie house) and kept the focus on truthful, honest storytelling as Ashman's script suggests. Audiences loved the production and it quickly became a hit of the season!
Love, Uncensored
Triad Theatre
New York City, NY
Synopsis
A concert celebrating the highs and lows of love...and everything in between. Featuring Broadway’s Joshua Henry and starring Wilkie Ferguson, III pop tunes were re-imagined and standards were crooned by a cast of some of Broadway’s finest artists.
Letters From May
Book & Lyrics by Kara Cutruzzula
Music by Kristoffer Bjarke
Theatre NOW New York
SoundBites Festival of New Musicals
Kaufman Music Center (Merkin Hall)
New York City, NY
Synopsis
Letters From May is a 10 minute musical that tells the story of artist May Dalton and her journey from humble beginnings to fame and her eventual downfall over the course of sixty years.
pay no worship
By francisca da silveira (world premiere play)
InterAct Theatre Company
Philadelphia, PA
Director: Tyrone L. Robinson
Scenic Design: Colin McIlvaine
Lighting Design: Lily Fossner
Costume Design: Ariel Wang
Sound Design: Ryk Lewis
Props Design: Philadelphia Scenic Works
“Extraordinary. . . its emotional impact is profound and its message is as essential as the Earth itself.”—Talkin’ Broadway
Synopsis
Born and raised on Fogo, a tiny African Island, cousins Martin and Jose live at the base of a giant volcano and struggle to make a living in the precarious wine industry that has been the main source of their family's income for generations. While one refuses to give up on tradition and is content to continue living a simplistic rural life, the other longs for a visa to America in order to pursue a higher education. Both dreams and volcanoes are at risk of erupting as the cousins fight for opportunity, understanding, and their lives when a tropical storm headed toward the island threatens to destroy everything they know.
SHARAOKE (musical feature film)
Screenplay by Ken Ocasio Score by Luca Millard-Kish, Joseph Lim, and Ken Ocasio
Synopsis
After discovering his girlfriend's infidelity at karaoke night, a tattoo artist wrestles with whether to ruin the evening with his reaction or to let the epiphany silently destroy him.
Producer: Ken Ocasio Director: Tyrone L. Robinson Choreographer: Danai Avloniti First Assistant Director: Wenji Yu Director of Photography: Safi Rauf First Assistant Camera: Meagan Watchel Editor: J. Warner Sound Mixer: Jay Villas Boas Boom Operator: Sarah Smith Gaffer: Nicole Bula Grip: Solange Sai Script Supervisor: Gavin Portillo Wardrobe Supervisor: Sheel Yerneni
Readings, Workshops, and New Work Development
Marathon
Book & Lyrics by Kara Cutruzzula
Music by Kristoffer Bjarke
Open Jar Studios New York, NY
Synopsis
Marathon is a journey of endurance, hope, and finding connection over 26.2 miles.
White Ally
By Douglas Williams
Bristol Riverside Theatre
Bristol, PA
Developed as part of the America Rising New Works Series
Synopsis
Over the course of one tense evening inside a Brooklyn apartment, ideologies and political views clash as Tiana and Wyatt, two childhood friends recently reacquainted, discuss race, privilege and white fragility.
pay no worship
By francisca da silveira
Developed at The Playwrights’ Center Minneapolis, MN
Synopsis
Born and raised on Fogo, a tiny African Island, cousins Martin and Jose live at the base of a giant volcano and struggle to make a living in the precarious wine industry that has been the main source of their family's income for generations. While one refuses to give up on tradition and is content to continue living a simplistic rural life, the other longs for a visa to America in order to pursue a higher education. Both dreams and volcanoes are at risk of erupting as the cousins fight for opportunity, understanding, and their lives when a tropical storm headed toward the island threatens to destroy everything they know.
