World Premiere of 'The Royale' Debuts at Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theatre

Set "sometime between 1900 and 1920" (according to production notes,) The Royale, about Jay "The Sport" Jackson - a black boxer wanting a shot at the world title during a period when black men weren't allowed to face off against white men -  is the latest offering from The Center Theatre Group.

The play had its world premiere on Sunday at Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theatre and will continue through June 2. at the venue. The week before opening, playwright Marco Ramirez, director Daniel Aukin and actor David St. Louis (who plays Jackson), took time out to chat with Culver City Patch about the show.

Culver City Patch: What inspired you to write The Royale?

Marco Ramirez: I knew I wanted to write a play about boxing, first and foremost. I also knew I wanted it to be bare bones and theatrical and stripped down like the sport itself. I did a lot of research on the history of the sport and kind of stumbled upon the most important boxing story in history.

Patch: Is the play loosely based on the life of former boxer Jack Johnson?

Ramirez: I studied his story for some story elements that I would find interesting. However, The Royale is in no way an historical retelling or biopic or Wikipedia version of that. In terms of story turns and elements [the play] is completely unique… which is why the lead character has a different name.

Patch: What would you like an audience to take away from the play?

Ramirez: There is what I like to refer to as a collective imagining, when most people in the audience are imagining the same thing, even though it’s not on stage but rather in their heads.

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Patch: How long have you been directing theater?

Daniel Aukin: I started directing plays in college, but started professionally around ‘96 or ’97.

Patch: What made you take on The Royale?

Aukin: Very early into reading Marco’s play a couple of things happened. I didn’t completely understand what was going on but I was totally compelled by it. It scared me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it even days after reading it and so some cocktail or combination of those factors compelled me to become involved and to work on it.

Patch: How have rehearsals been?

Aukin: It’s been really fun, and has in many ways been one of the most challenging and unique experiences that I have had. Because Marco wrote the play incorporating a rhythmic element, we brought in an outstanding choreographic team to help us with the whole process. It’s been really fun, difficult and extraordinary in trying to find a compelling visual language for conveying this fight. The Royale is inherently theatrical, rhythmically musical, and one in which no fighter will ever throw a single punch. And yet we understand it as a fight with punches being thrown.

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Patch: What sparked your interest in this particular project?

David St. Louis: Having a background as a former boxer the play spoke to me. The fact that I have previously worked with this director and trust him made me excited to come aboard this project.

Patch: How would you like the audience to understand your character Jay “The Sport” Jackson at the end of the play?

St. Louis: What sticks out to me - and I believe this is in line with the way the production is being marketed - is that even when you win sometimes you lose and when you lose sometimes you win. My character faces some tough consequences for his decisions that made him who he was meant to be. And there were also some great benefits. I would like for the audience to come away from this play with a sense of being true to their path.

The Royale opened at Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theatre - 9820 Washington Blvd.  on Sun. April 28 and runs through June 2. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information. 

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