Doug Robinson Explores Unspoken Rules & the Inner World of Theatre with Great Brook Students

(Julie Hamel photo)

Robinson shared how his childhood love of Power Rangers sparked his passion for acting, leading him to a creative journey in playwriting that emphasizes the physicality of his characters.

He met with theater students recently cast in the school’s upcoming Spring play. He read excerpts from his play The Figs, a finalist for the 2023 O’Neill New Play Conference, and answered questions about interpreting scripts and delving into character roles. Through thoughtful discussions and physical activities, Robinson helped students explore the unspoken rules and inner world of the play while encouraging them to fully embody their characters and find joy in their creative process.

While in residence at MacDowell, Robinson has been working on his play Man, Angel, Giant. The story follows Solomon, an enslaved man escaping to freedom in 1851 who rescues an angel caught in a trap. In return, the angel blesses him: “If you run, you will never be caught.” However, the blessing comes with a cost—whenever Solomon runs, he leaps forward in time. His journey spans from the brutality of the Civil War to falling in love during Reconstruction, debating poets in the Harlem Renaissance, and beyond, eventually reaching the year 3000.