During Black History Month, The Robey Theatre Company (named after Paul Robeson) will present a staged reading of a new play, “Looking for Leroy,” by Larry Muhammad, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at the LA Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., LA. Suggested donation is $10.
The narrative focuses on the celebrated poet-playwright-activist Amiri Baraka,(1934-2014), known earlier in his career as LeRoi Jones. He is at work on his final play, “The Most Dangerous Man in America” (about W.E.B. DuBois) as he is joined by Taj, his newly hired young intern. The two explore and speak to what is Black theatre as defined by whom, and the fundamental nature of aesthetics. Their discussion soon provokes an infuriating debate.
Ben Guillory, the Producing Artistic Director of The Robey Theatre Company, directs the reading and portrays Baraka. Actor Benjamin White plays Taj. There will be a Q&A following the reading.
Playwright Larry Muhammad is the Producing Director of the Kentucky Black Repertory Theatre. He conceived Looking for Leroy as a tribute to his literary hero, Amiri Baraka. The play was first produced in New York last year.
The Robey Theatre Company, in its 26th year, was co-founded by Ben Guillory and Danny Glover. For more information, visit http://robeytheatrecompany.org or phone (213) 489-7402.
