Displaying items by tag: The Royale

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 35^th Anniversary Season with the highly-theatrical historical boxing drama The Royale from Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black, Buena Vista Social Club) and directed by Tyrone Phillips (Fat Ham; Byhalia, Mississippi). Inspired by the first Black world heavyweight champion and Chicagoan Jack Johnson, The Royale follows Jay "The Sport" Jackson as he fights for his place in history, The Royale will run October 22 – November 29, 2026 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. 

Jay is a really good boxer, so good they call him "The Sport." He's won his last seventy-six fights and has his sights set on being crowned the next heavyweight champion. But it's 1905, and in the Jim Crow era, a Black man doesn't get to fight a reigning white champion. When a surprising chance at the title appears, Jay gears up for the fight of his life—where the stakes are staggeringly high inside the ring and out. Inspired by real-world boxer Jack Johnson, this adrenaline rush of a play by Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black, Buena Vista Social Club) is a kinetic and poetic portrayal of what it takes and what it costs to make history. 

"The Royale is inspired by the boundary-breaking boxer Jack Johnson and the price of his determination to get to the top, As Jay's obstacles grow, so does his determination, his pride, his discipline and the costs to the people who love him," comments says Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham. "Director Tyrone Phillips and his incredible ensemble of performers will conjure an entire world and its systemic tension using a captivating blend of rhythmic and percussive choreography. It's an invigorating way to continue our 35th season at Writers with a play built from a piece of American history too often left out of the story."

The cast of The Royale includes: La'Tevin Alexander (Jay), Scott Aiello (Max), Ajax Dontavius (Fish), James Vincent Meredith (Wynton), AnJi White (Nina). The understudies are Yomade Adefeso (Jay Understudy; Fish Understudy), Kristin Ellis (Nina Understudy), Joel Gelman (Max Understudy), Frederick Paul Williams (Wynton Understudy).

The creative team includes: Tyrone Phillips (Director), Rasell Holt (Movement Director), Lauren M. Nichols (Scenic Designer), Gregory Graham (Costume Designer), Jason Lynch (Lighting Designer), Stephanie Farina (Sound Designer) and Kenya Hall (Dramaturg). The stage manager is Imani M. Ross.

Single Tickets for The Royale start at $35 are now on sale at the Writers Theatre Box Office at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, by calling 847-242-6000, and at www.writerstheatre.org.

About the Artists

Marco Ramirez (Playwright) has had plays produced at Lincoln Center Theater, The Kennedy Center, The Humana Festival, The Old Globe (San Diego), The Bush Theatre (London), American Theater Company (Chicago), Soulpepper (Toronto) and Center Theatre Group (LA). Honors include Helen Hayes and Drama Desk nominations, the Outer Critics Circle's John Gassner Playwriting Award, Juilliard's Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellowship, Lincoln Center's Le Comte du Nouy Award and TCG's Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. Marco is also a WGA and Emmy Award-nominated TV writer and producer, where his credits include Marvel's Daredevil (Netflix), Marvel's The Defenders (Netflix), Sons of Anarchy (FX), Orange is the New Black (Netflix) and Fear the Walking Dead (AMC).

Tyrone Phillips (Director) is the founding Artistic Director of Chicago's Definition Theatre. Recipient of the 2022 Alumni Award for Diversity and Inclusion, he is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has studied abroad at Shakespeare's Globe. As a first generation Jamaican-American, Tyrone is passionate about equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the fine arts industry and has completed advanced anti-racism training to lead change in our community. Select theater credits: Definition Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Writers, Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, Milwaukee Rep, St. Louis Rep and Stage 42 (off-Broadway). Tyrone is currently adjunct faculty at DePaul University and serves on the Board of Directors for the League of Chicago Theaters. He is the recipient of the Inaugural Arts Midwest Peter Capell Award for Midwestern Creativity and Entrepreneurship and proud member of SDC, SAG-AFTRA and the NAACP. 

La'Tevin Alexander (Jay) is making his Writers Theatre debut. Regional credits include Joe Turner's Come and Gone as Herald Loomis (Penumbra Theatre); The Piano Lesson as Lymon (Milwaukee Rep and Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park); The Light as Rashad (Portland Center Stage); Paradise Blue as P-Sam (Portland Playhouse); A Christmas Carol as Scrooge (Portland Playhouse); Reggie Hoops as Muncie (Profile Theatre); and Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy as Jonathan Harker (Portland Center Stage). Film credits include Outdoor School (2025); Test Screening (2024); The Paper Tigers (2020); Marry, Fuck, Kill (2024); and Dearest Eva (2022). Television credits include: DELPHI (Prime); CHAD (TBS); The Wonderland Murders (ID); Portlandia (IFC); and Grimm (NBC). He has a BA from Florida A&M University.

Scott Aiello (Max) is returning to Writers Theater, where he previously appeared as Duke Frederick in As You Like It. Other Chicago Theater credits include: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Goodman), Hamlet (SS), A Midsummer Night's Dream (SS), Henry V and Richard III (Chicago Shakespeare), A View From the Bridge (Shattered Globe), Perfect Mendacity (Steppenwolf), Awake and Sing! (Timeline). T.V. and film: American Rust (Showtime, Recurring), Billions (Showtime, Recurring). Joseph Jefferson Awards- Leading Actor in a Play (A View From the Bridge, Shattered Globe, 2024), Supporting Actor in a Play (Broadway Bound, Pegasus Players, 2002) Scott has narrated over 300 audiobooks. Training: The Juilliard School.

Ajax Dontavius (Fish) is a Haitian-American actor. Recent credits include: Blues for an Alabama Sky (Seattle Rep and Remy Bumppo Theatre); Last Night and The Night Before (Steppenwolf Theatre); Measure for Measure (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Fences (American Blues Theater); and Middle Passage (Lifeline Theatre). Television: NCIS: Origins, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., 61st Street. Education: B.F.A. Acting – Roosevelt University/Chicago College of Performing Arts.

James Vincent Meredith (Wynton) previously appeared at Writers Theatre in The Dutchess of Malfi and Othello. Broadway credits include Skin of Our Teeth (LCT), Book of Mormon (Eugene O'Neill, also National Tour), The Minutes, and Superior Donuts (both Music Box). Local credits include work at Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Court, Victory Gardens and Steppenwolf (ensemble member since 2007). Recent Television credits include Fargo (FX), Emperor of Ocean Park (MGM), Your Honor (Showtime), 61st Street (AMC/CW)

AnJi White (Nina) hails from the South Side of Chicago. She last appeared in Covenant and Fat Ham (Goodman Theatre). Some Chicago credits include East Texas Hot Links (Court Theatre, Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actress); For Colored Girls (Court Theatre Jeff Award for Best Ensemble); Sunset Baby (Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Actress, TimeLine Theatre) and more. Regional credit: Paradise Blue (Studio Theatre in D.C., Helen Hayes for Outstanding Supporting Performer). TV credits include: Marvel's Ironheart, Fargo, 61st Street and more.

The Royale

Written by Marco Ramirez
Directed by Tyrone Phillips

Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre

October 22 – November 29, 2026

Cast: La'Tevin Alexander (Jay), Scott Aiello (Max), Ajax Dontavius (Fish), James Vincent Meredith (Wynton), AnJi White (Nina), Yomade Adefeso (Jay Understudy; Fish Understudy), Kristin Ellis (Nina Understudy), Joel Gelman (Max Understudy) and Frederick Paul Williams (Wynton Understudy).

Creative Team: Tyrone Phillips (Director), Rasell Holt (Movement Director), Lauren M. Nichols (Scenic Designer), Gregory Graham (Costume Designer), Jason Lynch (Lighting Designer), Stephanie Farina (Sound Designer), Kenya Hall (Dramaturg) and Imani M. Ross (Stage Manager).

Performance Schedule: 

Wednesdays: 2:00pm and 7:30pm 

Thursdays: 7:30pm  

Fridays: 7:30pm  

Saturdays: 2:00pm and 7:30pm  

Sundays: 2:00pm and 7:00pm 

Open Captioned Performance: Thursday, November 19 at 7:30pm 

ASL-Interpreted Performance: Saturday, November 14 at 2:00pm 

Pay-What-You-Can Performances: Thursday, October 22 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 22 at 7pm

Location: Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe 

Prices: $35+

Discounts are available for students, educators, theater industry professionals, active military personnel, veterans, police officers, firefighters and their immediate families. Information is available at: https://www.writerstheatre.org/plan-your-visit/box-office-and-theatre-center/pricing--special-offers 

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org 

Single tickets will go on sale Tuesday, September 1. Flex subscriptions and tickets are available online at www.writerstheatre.org, and at the Box Office by calling 847-242-6000. 

American Theatre Company and veteran TV writer Marco Ramirez collaborate to bring this boxing drama to life. Loosely inspired by the real life of Jack Johnson, 'The Royale' tells the story of a young African American heavyweight champ, Jay Jackson, and his rise to fame for usurping a title from the standing white champion. Set against the backdrop of the turn-of-the-century Jim Crow era South, we’re shown a world in which fame can transcend political boundaries, or at least provide the illusion of such.

'The Royale' stars Jerod Haynes as Jay, the fast-talking fighter who brings a unique clarity to the mindset of a character who would likely be pretty punchy after fifteen years of professional boxing. We meet Jay in the spotlight of the ring in a fight against his soon-to-be sparring partner Fish (Julian Parker). Parker's subtle performance is an unexpected gem in this slightly overwrought drama. The eleven o'clock performance in this short-lived epic is that of Mildred Langford in the role of Nina, Jay's sister who comes to warn him about the potential race war his win could cause.

The major issue plaguing this play is not the fascinating direction by Jaime Castaneda nor the incredible sets designed by Brian Sidney Bembridge. What this script suffers from is brevity. A troubling new trend in playwriting, perhaps borrowed from TV writing, is the 90 minute drama. It works when the script can fill the entire hour and a half block, but when it cuts closer to 70 minutes, it makes it nearly impossible for an audience to invest.

Still, despite the length of this new play, Ramirez's succinctness tells a complete story, however brief. The achievement is to tell such a short story without sacrificing depth, of which there is plenty here.

The Royale at American Theatre Company. 1909 West Byron Street. (773) 409-4125. Through March 29th

*-Jerod Haynes as Jay in Chicago premiere of The Royale at American Theater Company. Photo by Michael Brosilow