Ben Guillory

Ben Guillory

Advisor - Black University


Co-founder, CEO and Producing Artistic Director of The Robey Theatre Company

Ben Guillory is a theatre veteran who believes in the power and purpose of theatre.  Guillory studied at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco; and, for more than forty years, has worked extensively in theatre, film, and television as an actor, director, and producer.

While at the American Conservatory Theatre, Mr. Guillory appeared in, Julius Caesar, The Taming of the Shrew, Peer Gynt, Desire under the Elms, Misanthrope, The Cherry Orchard, Othello, Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Banzi is Dead for the Arizona Theater Company, The Los Angeles Theatre Center’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Sacramento Theatre’s production of Fences, the Mark Taper Forum’s production of Miss Evers’ Boys, the Robey/Greenway’s co-production of Permanent Collection at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Additionally, Mr. Guillory is co-founder, along with Danny Glover, of The Robey Theatre Company: one of Los Angeles’s longest operating and most award-winning African American-led theatre companies.

Mr. Guillory serves as the CEO and Producing Artistic Director, coordinating Robey’s Playwrights Program, directing the Robey Play Reading Series, and serving as an instructor for its Advanced Scene Workshop overseeing the organization's day-to-day operations.

In his capacity as Producing Artistic Director, he has developed and produced many celebrated productions, including Bee-Luther-Hatchee with Elephant Industries and Yohen (1999 & 2017) with East-West Players, For The Love of Freedom Part I: Toussaint and Part II: Dessalines with the Greenway Arts Alliance, Part III: Christophe with the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, The Last Season with Legacy Productions, A Medley of One-Act Plays at the Los Angeles Theatre Center with the Against Type Theatre Company, The Piano Lesson, Bronzeville, The River Niger, The Emperor's Last Performance, The Reckoning, and Pity the Proud Ones, Camp Logan, Anna Lucasta, and Knock Me a Kiss along with the Paul Robeson Theatre Festival and directing the world premiere of The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel. In 2017, he co-starred in and directed Dr. DuBois and Miss Ovington, produced the 2017 Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, and co-produced and directed Yohen (2017) with East West Players.

For his portrayal of Paul Robeson, Mr. Guillory received the San Francisco Critics Circle Award in the Illustrated Stage’s production of, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been. For his Los Angeles performances of Phillip Hayes Dean’s Paul Robeson, Mr. Guillory received the DramaLogue Award and a Special NAACP Theatre Award. For his directing efforts on For the Love of Freedom: Part I, he was presented with an NAACP Theatre Award. In 2010 he received honors from Playwrights Arena for Outstanding Contributions to the Los Angeles Theatre Community, a third award from the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP for Best Producer of The River Niger in 2010, again for The Reckoning in 2011, and in 2013 for Camp Logan. Mr. Guillory was also presented with the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival Larry Leon Hamlin Producer Award. In 2018 Mr. Guillory received from the Beverly Hills /Hollywood NAACP a second directing award for Charles Gordon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play No Place to Be Somebody.

His Television acting credits include Mad Love, Eli Stone, My Name is Earl, The West Wing, Threat Matrix, Still Standing, Charmed, The Guardian, Dynasty, The District, Judging Amy, Linc’s, LA Law, JAG, The Young and the Restless, NCSI, Jack and Bobby, General Hospital, and Masters of Sex.

Film acting credits include The Color Purple, Our Father, The Tuskegee Airmen, Star Wars, Maid to Order, The Kindred, 3 Strikes, Crawlers, America’s Dream, and The Harimaya Bridge.

As a recognized leader in theatre arts, Mr. Guillory was invited to forge an ongoing partnership with CBS and ABC. The effort resulted in the development of a nationwide Industry Diversity Showcase for actors of color.

In the tradition of Paul Robeson, Mr. Guillory continues to use art to impact the community and spark social action. His guiding principle is his profound desire to mentor the next generation of artists through theatre arts is best demonstrated through his hands-on work as acting coach and director. Furthermore, his commitment to supporting the development of original plays written by local playwrights helps to provide a platform for new voices whose impact will be felt for generations to come.