The Royale - (Oberon Modern Plays) by Marco Ramirez (Paperback)

About the Book

A critically acclaimed play that brings to explosive life the sights and sounds of the early 20th century boxing circuit.

Book Synopsis

'Ain't about bein' no Heavyweight Champion of the White World. It's about bein' Champion, period.'

Jay 'The Sport' Jackson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But it's 1905 and, in the racially segregated world of boxing, his chances are as good as knocked out.

When a boxing promoter hatches a plan for the 'Fight of theCentury', The Sport might land a place in the ring with the reigning white heavyweight champion, but at what cost? It's not just a retired champ he's facing, it's 'The Great White Hope'.

In daring to realise his dream, is Jay responsible for putting African American lives in the danger zone? Told in six rounds and set in a boxing ring, The Royale is inspired by the often overlooked story of Jack Johnson, a boxer who - at the height of the Jim Crow era - became the most famous and the most notorious black man on Earth.

Review Quotes

"The Royale reanimates this breakthrough saga for a new generation!" --Los Angeles Times

"Bam! The Royale is a real knockout, a relentlessly gripping boxing drama that... is as thrilling as anything you'll see in London at the moment, stage or ring." --Time Out London

"This story may be a century old...but Ramirez's 2013 text seems increasingly pertinent in racially fraught America, where resentment spills into violence and even victory may seem another kind of defeat." --Sunday Times

About the Author

Marco Ramirez has had plays produced at Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles), The Old Globe (San Diego), The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (DC), and Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays. He's currently an artist in residence at Atlantic Theatre Company, and is under commission at both Playwrights Horizons and Center Theatre Group. On television, he's been nominated for WGA and Emmy Awards, and his writing credits include Sons of Anarchy (FX), Da Vinci's Demons (Starz), Orange is the New Black (Netflix), and Marvel's upcoming Daredevil (Netflix).