Our Team
Ben Guillory
CEO & Producing Artistic Director
A Co-founder of The Robey Theatre Company, he serves as CEO and Producing Artistic Director for the organization. Mr. Guillory is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and directs all aspects of the developmental theatre arts programs and productions.
For the past 40 years, Ben Guillory has worked extensively in theatre, film, and television. Mr. Guillory studied at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and is an award-winning director.
JC Cadena
Associate Producer
JC has been with The Robey Theatre Company since 2017. She is responsible for social media strategies and serves on both the Creative and Administrative Teams.
JC is an actress and has performed in several of the organization’s productions. She has a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from George Mason University and a degree from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. She continues to follow her dream of being creative in front and behind the scenes.
Jason Mimms
Graphic Designer
Jason Mimms is an accomplished actor and graphic designer. As a member of The Robey Theatre Company’s Creative Team, he is responsible for the overall artistic aesthetic of the organization.
His work can be seen on all marketing materials and The Robey Theatre Company’s website.
Mr. Mimms a standup comedian is a member of SAG member and has an extensive career in television, theatre, and film.
Jermaine Alexander
Video Editor
Jermaine Alexander has appeared in several productions at The Robey Theatre Company and is a member of the Creative Team and the Creative Content Committee. Mr. Alexander is managing The Robey Theatre Company’s YouTube Channel as he is responsible for all videography and editing for the organization.
He is the owner and operator of I AM CREATIVE a full-service production and marketing company.
Phillip Sokoloff
Publicist
Philip Sokoloff is L.A.'s most active theatrical publicist, representing over 100 live attractions and several dozen feature films annually. He has been The Robey Theatre Company's resident publicist since 2001.
Also, an actor, his most recent appearances include the film "Gastropod," currently on the festival circuit; and in "Rod Serling's Tales from the Zone" at Theatre Forty and "It's A Wonderful Life" at Theatre West.
Crystal Nix
Stage Manager
Crystal Nix has served as Virtual Productions Stage Manager for The Robey Theatre Company throughout the pandemic. She is As a member of the Creative Team and the Creative Content Committee.
As an actress, she has an extensive performing career in theatre and film a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Ms. Nix is a native Angeleno and active in both her community and church.
Reginald Edmund
Dramaturg/Instructor
Reginald Edmund is the Co-Founder and Managing Curating Producer for Black Lives, Black Words International Project. Inspired by #blacklivesmatter, this project gives voice to some of the most contemporary political black writers from both the US, Canada and the UK, asking them to explore the question, “Do black lives matter today?” In addition, he was a Resident Playwright at Tamasha Theatre in London, England and an Alumni Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists Theatre, an Artistic Associate at Pegasus Theatre-Chicago and an Artistic Patriot at Merrimack Repertory Theatre; he was also a 2010-11 Many Voice Fellow with the Playwrights’ Center. His play Southbridge was runner up for the Kennedy Center’s Lorraine Hansberry and Rosa Parks National Playwriting Awards, and most recently named winner of the Southern Playwrights’ Competition, the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best New Play and the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. His nine-play series titled The City of the Bayou Collection, include Southbridge, Juneteenth Street, The Last Cadillac and All the Dying Voices were developed at esteemed theaters including Pegasus Theatre-Chicago, Deluxe Theatre, Actors Theatre of Charlotte, Bush Theatre (UK), Theatre @ Boston Court, The Landing Theatre, Playwrights’ Center and The National Theatre (UK). Reginald Edmund received his BFA in Theatre-Performance from Texas Southern University and his MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University.
Cydney Wayne Davis
Musical Director
Cydney Wayne Davis is a multi-talented Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Playwright, Director, Music Producer and Vocal Coach. Cydney has recorded and toured the globe with artists such as Marvin Gaye,Barry White, Ray Charles, Donna Summer, Joe Cocker, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Womack, The 5 th Dimension and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. as a professional background singer and is a dynamic entertainer and soloist for clubs and special events. As an actress she has appeared in the films“Chocolate City”, “Basketball Girlfriend”, “Assistant Motive” and several Robey Theatre productions including “The River Niger”, “The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel”, and “Ana Lucasta” in which she won an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress. As a Songwriter and Composer she wrote “You’re Gonna Love It” recorded by Diana Ross, “Empowered” the theme song for The Mark Ridley Thomas Power Summit and several songs for film and television. As a member of The Robey Theatre Company for over twenty years Cydney has written and produced music for various productions including “Meet Me At the Dunbar”, “Don’t Give Up the Fight”, “Heated Discussion”, “What Would They Say?” and The Robey Theatre Company’s Theme song “Go Robey”.
Dylan Southard
Consulting Dramaturg
Dylan Southard served as Resident Dramaturg for many years and now serves as Consulting Artist. He also manages The Robey Theatre Company’s Playwright Publishing Project.
He has worked in dramaturgy and new play development for theaters, including Centerstage Baltimore, Center Theatre Group, The Geffen Playhouse, Antaeus Theatre, Native Voices at the Autry, Boston Court Pasadena, Skylight Theatre, Theatre Dybbuk, the Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble, Rogue Artists and Casa 0101.
Naila Alladin Sanders
Costume Designer
An award-winning costume designer, Naila has worked with The Robey Theatre Company on its productions, including BRONZEVILLE, THE RIVER NIGER, A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS, THE RECKONING, PERMANENT COLLECTION, THE MAGNIFICENT DUNBAR HOTEL, BIRDLAND BLUES and ANNA LUCASTA (NAACP award winner)
Her designs for The Robey Theatre Company’s FOR THE LOVE OF FREEDOM: THE HAITIAN TRILOGY part 1 won her an NAACP Theatre Award, and for parts 2 and 3, she received NAACP nominations. For 35 years, she served as the Costume Shop Manager for Los Angeles Community College Costume Shop.
Kemvette Glaze
Accounting Consultant
Kemvette Jones serves as The Robey Theatre Company’s Fiscal Manager. For over 25 years, she has applied her knowledge of accounting, operations, and administration to various consultancies for major corporations and non-profit organizations. She has a BS in Business Administration, emphasizing finance from Mount Saint Mary’s College (Brentwood, CA).
Melvin Ishmael Johnson
Playwright
Melvin Ishmael Johnson is a member of the Creative Team and the founder of the Dramastage-Qumran Veterans Theater Workshop.
Mr. Johnson is a playwright, actor, producer, and director whose projects have been produced by The Robey Theatre Company.
N’Deane Helajzen
Grants Writer
N’Deane Helajzen is an experienced grant writer and business development professional with a deep commitment to human rights and social justice. At The Robey Theatre Company, she brings her global expertise in advocacy and storytelling to support the company’s mission of amplifying African American voices and advancing underrepresented narratives in the arts. With a background in anthropology and over two decades of international humanitarian work across 32 countries, N’Deane has a unique ability to craft powerful, purpose-driven proposals that connect funders with the heart of Robey’s work. She is passionate about using her skills to help the company grow its impact, foster equity in the arts, and build sustainable support for its groundbreaking programs.
David Bollar
Actor/Director/Stage Manager
David Bollar is a native of New Jersey who obtained his BFA in Theater with an emphasis in Acting at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He later went on to get his Master’s from St. Joseph University in Science of Education. Bollar has taught as a professor in the school of theater at college level to undergraduates. He taught for several years at Freedom Theater located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and in Los Angeles at the Theater of Arts Hollywood Acting School. Bollar was first introduced to The Robey Theater Company through their advanced acting class. Soon thereafter became a part of the Community Outreach Program at The Robey Theater.
Friends
of Robey
The Friends of Robey is the volunteer arm of The Robey Theatre Company. As Ambassadors, they serve throughout the organization. From hosting events to serving on committees, they do it all. Please complete the form at the bottom of this page to get in touch with Akosua about ways you can become a Friends of Robey member.
Akosua Hobert, Friend of Robey Volunteer Coordinator
a native New Yorker, born and raised in Harlem. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from California State University, Los Angeles. She retired in 2008 from the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she taught for thirty years.
As a theatre lover, Akosua actively supports The Robey Theatre Company by spearheading the Friends of Robey Group and serving on the Fund Development Committee.
On January 20, 2019, eleven years after retirement, Akosua joined the Community Writers Group of Los Angeles to pursue a long-time dream of becoming a writer.
Joyce Germaine Watts
Joyce Germaine Watts is a career educator who has served in elementary through doctoral teaching and leadership roles, emphasizing Africana studies, bilingual cross-cultural, and educational equity. She serves as Executive Director of The Village Nation, an L.A.-based nonprofit that promotes excellence for African American students. She has traveled and studied on five continents.
Joyce became a die-hard Robey enthusiast after experiencing the Haitian trilogy "For the Love Freedom." She was so enthralled by Part 1 – "Toussaint" that she returned to see them play with groups of friends and family five times! Joyce is honored to be part of Friends of Robey and looks forward to promoting this outstanding company in the future.