KPFK's Arts In Review Spotlights The Premiere Of BIRDLAND BLUE
KPFK Radio's Arts in Review, celebrating the best in L.A. theater and cabaret, hosted by arts journalist Julio Martinez, highlights a new play with music, Birdland Blue, in its premiere engagement, written by Randy Ross Ph.D. Produced and directed by Ben Guillory. Presented by The Robey Theatre Company.
Birdland Blue is a behind-the-scenes look at Miles Davis on one evening that August. He flirts with a beautiful reporter for a jazz magazine. He copes with division within his ranks, as two of his musicians (Julius "Cannonball" Adderley and John Coltrane) are on the verge of leaving the Sextet to start their own groups. He deals with substance abuse problems, his own and that of one of his musicians. He argues with the club owner/manager over proper compensation. His biggest challenge may be coming from a violent, crooked, racist cop.
Ben Guillory, the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The Robey Theatre Company, has many previous directing credits including For the Love of Freedom (The Haitian Trilogy), The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel, Bronzeville, Dr. Du Bois and Miss Ovington, Anna Lucasta, No Place to Be Somebody, The Reckoning, The Emperor's Last Performance and many more. He is also an acclaimed actor and producer.
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