Elite Perks: The Royale

SCORE!
Tickets to a play at Kirk Douglas Theatre makes any night classy! The Royale had five performers where you had to use your imagination big time. If you’re not paying attention, you can easily be confused by the storyline.
The set was beautifully done with wood floors and soft lighting giving the set a warm rink feel. I can even smell the sweat off the actors!
PS this play created some activities in three different station where we collected cards in order to enter a prize. Hitting the bag, pinning your opinions, and portraying cards; FUN!

As a lover of the performance arts, getting tickets from Unilocal to attend these events is always a treat. Thank you Britney! :)
I love the Kirk Douglas theater because it’s such a small and intimate theater. They also hold a discussion for the patrons after the play finishes to discuss controversial or moral topics relating to that particular play.
The Royale is an interesting play to say the least. They were very creative in creating the fight scene without depicting any direct violence. The cast is definitely all star. All the actors are familiar faces from TV series and movies.
The story line did start out slow to me. I wasn’t quite sure where it was going for about 30 minutes. The «fight» scenes were also a little big dragged on, considering they weren’t actually fighting.
Overall, this isn’t one of my favorite plays but I was happy to watch the talented actors and be able to attend this event with my Unilocal friends.

Nice cozy venue with FREE parking, across the street at City Hall, which is so rare in LA these days, particularly on the west side. As for the event it was cool they had a preshow «mixer» of sorts there were three events you could take part in, the most exciting of which was the punching bag. After completing the three events you could try your hand against an opponent at a modified game of battle or turn your cards in for a raffle ticket. The main event was a 4 actor play all of which played their roles well, the set changes which were nonexistent and seemed to be along the lines of a black box theater which I was not expecting, if you enjoy the theater it’s defiantly worth the watch.

OMG! I truly felt utterly spoiled. Thank you, Brittany B and the Kirk Douglas Theater for the invitation!
I loved the interactive stations (4 in total) that they had set up before the play. So I recommend coming a little early. 1^st station… naming something you’re good at and the nickname you’d give yourself. LOL 2^nd station… What would you get into the ring for? What would you fight for? Some were serious like family, gay rights, etc. and some were downright funny like the right to party, a Klondike bar, etc. I loved this one because you could write your own and then weigh in on the others (by placing colored pins). 3^rd station… speed bag punching. LOL I felt a little silly but tried to find my rhythm. :) At each station they gave you a card which you would use at the 4^th station… you play against an opponent and try to win their cards. (It’s like rock, paper scissors.) Winner got a raffle ticket to win a year subscription to the Kirk Douglas Theater. Alas, I lost. LOL It’s okay… my plus one better bring me if he wins. hahaha
I came into this with no expectations but I at least knew the synopsis of the play. Maybe that was a good thing.
POWERFUL. EYEOPENING. INSPIRING. HEART-​MOVING. HEART-​POUNDING. SOULFUL. I don’t think there are enough words to describe it. I really liked… no, I really LOVED this play. It was the most simple set but the actors did an amazing job of conveying this awe inspiring story. I would recommend this play to anyone. Seriously, you need to see it. The venue for this production is so intimate that it makes you feel like you are there with the actors. I could feel the raw emotions conveyed. Being set in a time where the sport was segregated, it’s like I wanted to be there too. I wanted to fight along side «The Sport» against his detractors and naysayers.
Go see it! I mean it… GO! LOL :) It really made me feel empowered after. I wanted to spread the word after I saw the play. I noticed tickets are $ 20-​$ 50 at the box office window. It’s so nice that I got to see this complements of Unilocal,but I wouldn’t mind taking others to see it. Wanna go? LOL

I’m so tongue tied, I can’t even express my feelings in regards to the play, I first was concerned about the 80 minute no intermission play now realizing that it needed to be this way or you would loose the connection to the play. I strongly recommend this play been seen and maybe you can describe the play in your own words since this was the kind of play that everyone would have a different experience and own meaning behind it.
Even thou the lobby was small, I loved how they had «games» interact the audience before the play begin, many which I took part in, I also loved how small and intimate this theater was, perfect for a play with such passion, you can feel the energy in the room.
Thank you Unilocal and Brittany for the tickets.

What a great play. We haven’t seen a play in a while, we were in the third or fourth row, not that any row is bad there. It was really nice to see this play. The performance was great. Both my husband and I enjoyed it. They definitely used the stage in an interesting way.
They also have games in the lobby before the show and a Q&A after the show. The Play itself is a great depiction of the times and for me a story about siblings and family. So excited that I got to attend as a Unilocal Elite, otherwise I think I would have missed out.
I’m definitely looking forward to heading to this theatre again.

The Royale was an exceptional show. The actors were all top notch, there wasn’t a weak one in the entire group. Their use of the stage, sound and the lights was incredibly creative and painted an incredibly vivid scene. The fight scene, which took a minute or so to get used to, felt completely natural by the end of the show.
I would recommend this to anyone and every.

Such a nice experience.
I have to admit that I’m not a fan for this kind of show. I just got Unilocal free tickets and went to try it out. And it turned out great!!!
The theater is pretty modern and well decorated. The technology is kinda advanced, I don’t know if all theaters are like this today. We were 10 min late for the show, but the ticket center was still open, and she quickly found my tickets. I felt very sorry, but seemed the staff were not really mad at me and very helpful and quick to find my seats.
We were seated in the front 10 rows. Pretty close to the stage. But it is not a big theater, so almost every seat is good enough to watch the show. I have to admit that I didn’t understand a lot of their slang and accent. But I got the idea of the show and I think it was a great story and it was well presented. That is the opinion from someone who even don’t usually watch shows.

Unilocal INSIDER TIP FROM DOREEN (AKA AZN PERSUASION): Every production I have seen here including The Royale, has been EXCELLENT. They have free parking at the Culver City city hall. To make it more a cultural/​social/​ice breaker fun night they have discussions after the play and sometimes little activities to foster discussion and to promote engaging ideas to win prizes like a season pass or broadway iTunes gift card.
*****
If you loved 42, the baseball movie about Jackie Robinson, you will love this. Similar in vein, but very unique and special in its own theatre production and artistic design, anyone who sees this will be glad they went. One of the finest shows I’ve seen here!

I didn’t know much of the premise for this play going into it and I was pleasantly surprised at the formatting and acting throughout the entire time. They have just the right amount of drama, humor, and action. There is a real good message that the play provides (don’t want to get into too many details in case I somehow reveal spoilers) and all of the different aspects they interweave are written as one fluid motion. Their execution of the boxing scenes was my favorite part. especially the final fight scene!
An added plus is the actor made sound effects. They definitely utilize the entire stage and setup for everything!
Thanks to all of the organizers of this event and a standing ovation to the actors!

Being «elite» does have its perks! Thank you Brittany again for a wonderful evening out to rediscover Downtown Culver City.
I attended the show not knowing what to expect. This is my second visit to the Kirk Douglas Theater and tonight’s visit did not disappoint. After a long day at work, I expected to be tired and possibly fall asleep. I’m pleased to report that I was alert and wide awake throughout the play.
I love Culver City as it is becoming a center of exploration for a food lover. Every trip to Culver City, there seems to be a new restaurant opening up. Before the play, I stopped over to the gourmet pizza place for a bit to eat.
I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house here as the KD Theater is small and intimate enough to have a great view of the stage. Our comp seats were not close and not too far back — right in the middle.
From beginning to end, I was moved by the wonderful cast of only five characters. All roles were played perfectly — all characters seemed to be «born into these roles.» For a simple set and a limited amount cast members, they managed to pull off a play that was gripping and emotionally charged.
The play left more to the imagination and left room for interpretation. If you weren’t actively listening, you could have missed some important elements of the film. I stayed for the discussion in the lobby after the film and there were some things that occurred during the film that I didn’t able to catch during the pay, such as remembering what «The Royale» was and what it meant.
With a small cast, simple stage design, the play packed a strong punch. The use of lighting and stomping/​clapping in place of music was cleverly intertwined into the storyline.
During the discussion, the moderator related the play to what is a constant struggle still here in the US. For a country that is so «forward thinking» and progressive, we live in a backwards society still where bigotry is still prevalent. In other modern, progressive societies there is more tolerance than here in the United States.
This film message is strong and the message is that some sacrifices have to made in order to make a positive change in the world. If I were take one message or lesson tonight, it is that without great sacrifice or effort, there wouldn’t be success or positive change in this world. Without people who made sacrifices for the greater good, such as MLK and Rosa Parks, we would not have freedoms that we possess today. Jason Collins recently took this step forward, even if might have to sacrifice his NBA career.
Tonight was a great evening out to rediscover the Kirk Douglas Theatre and nearby restaurants. I’d like to thank the Kirk Douglas Theater and Unilocal (Brittany) for inviting us to see «The Royale». Highly recommended!

OMG! Just got home from this AMAZING play!!! I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but the whole experience was awesome.
In the lobby, they had 4 different activities to partake in before the show started. We punched a speed bag, thought about different causes we would fight for, wrote what we were so good at that they called us _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​, and through all that we collected jab, cross, or hook cards. Once we collected all three cards, we played war with someone to get into a raffle for season tickets to the Center Theater Group!!! I’ve never been to a play/​musical with games and activities in the lobby. Super cool!
On to the play itself. The set was beautiful and minimalist, which I think really drew attention to the content of the play. The actors were phenomenal and the message was powerful.
The fiancé and I are usually big production musical people, but we really enjoyed this outing to the theater. We live a few blocks away and this was our first time at the Kirk Douglas. Enjoyed it so much we will definitely look into returning if something cool comes up.
Thank you to Brittany B. for arranging this kickass Unilocal event!!!

Mind-​blowing experience. It definitely exceeded my expectations.
It’s a fully-​interactive and intimate experience, from the moment you walk into the door of the lobby to the discussions held after the performance. The way the performance was presented was so unique and wonderful; as if you were the fly on the wall experiencing every action and emotion with each scene. And the finale… gave me goosebumps. I felt the emotions each actor radiated.
Thank you, to Brittany B. and the Unilocal L.A. West team, for the most wonderful time ever. It’s well worth seeing at another time.

I’m sooooo impressed. I didn’t expect such a GOOD play. One of the best I’ve seen for a long time!!! The way boxing is presented is very creative. The sound, visual, and everything was wonderful. Thank you, Unilocal,for the tickets. So grateful for the opportunity to see this play and be in this super cute theater.

Wow! Where do I start? I am glad that I had an opportunity to experience both this theater and the play the Royale by Marco Ramirez.
Customer service… check! Fabulous play… check!
Box office retrieval of my tickets was a breeze. Made easier by the friendliest ticket sale man I have encountered in a long time. He gets two points for saying my name right! Their ticketing system is high tech, with scanner, iPads… cool. I am already feeling good, because the first interaction was great. All subsequent interactions where equally as pleasing. Everyone was smiles, attentive and there was interactive activities to participate in while you waited to gain entry to the main auditorium. I choose the «What would you get into the Ring For?» board. You were allowed to write a new topic or choose which cause to fight for. It was a great tool to get your mindset ready for the play. If you wanted to grab some refreshments, they offered alcoholic and nonalcoholic bevvies and snacks for reasonable prices.
Sitting in the lobby is über comfortable, almost didn’t want to move when it was time to go inside. You don’t think the theater will be very much when you walk through your designated door (noted on ticket, very helpful and efficient seating program), until you reach inside. The theater is a very intimately set with a tiered seating arrangement. Since the seats are rather close, being late is disturbing and trying to squeeze through, is not recommended once the play has started. Cell phones as a flashlight, so you can see, doesn’t help either, but I digress. The design of the seating, lights and setting of the theater makes your experience that much more powerful. You feel as if you are closer to the actors than you really are.
As for the play itself, I would see it again and must tell my friend to see it too. It was moving and powerful and every actor in the play brought so much passion that you are sold and totally engrossed in the play from start to finish. I thought it was genius that the audience was not only spectators but occasionally apart of the play. Just a fabulous experience!

This was a treat. Talk about a play that was not only interactive, but kept a true boxing fans interest peaked. The cast of Robert Gossett as the trainer, Diarra Oni Kilpatrick as the sister of the Jay «The Sport“Jackson, David St. Louis as Jay «The Sport» Jackson, Keith Szarabajka as his promoter, and Desean Terry as his sparring partner/​former opponent he defeated was an awesome combo. It took you into the realm of a successful boxer, heavyweight champ, where he wanted to fight the white heavyweight champion of the world. The sacrifices that he would have to make, as well as the possible repercussions of him winning the fight, was beautifully demonstrated in this work of art. David St. Louis did a great job as the confident heavyweight champ who was at odds on whether or not he should win the fight. It was a great play that everyone should give a try.
Loved the action as well as the emotions from beginning to end.
Thanks Brittany B once again for this treat.

I’m hard to knockout. I certainly don’t like to start fights, but when I have to, I definitely know how to finish them. In fact, have you ever had a Berger Royale? If you haven’t, consider yourself lucky. You see, I’ve been a fighter all my life, in and outside of the ring. I have a really strong chin, too, meaning, I can take a lot of punches.
My biggest fight was my last one. I fought Darren Watson, a lean but strong, big mouth bully. On that day of our bout, he absolutely pummeled me. I knew it was time to hang up my gloves. I retired 65 – 1, and I got out from the sport while I was still fairly young. So, at 13, it was then that I began to focus on my tennis career.
With a background such as mine, you could understand the attraction I had to a boxing-​themed play, and it did not disappoint. A blend of Stomp and wonderful choreography (for the fight scenes) — VERY unique — something I’ve never seen before. Specifically, the opening act was a 10/​10, while the closing weighed in at an 11.
I’ve also never met, or fought, a black boxer from the 1920’s, but I’m pretty certain this was portrayed pretty darn accurately. The writing is very masculine. Yet emotional as a man dealing with black and white racism — anger, sadness, fear, doubt — with dabs of reason from the one actress that played multiple roles.
All 5 actors were superb. The dialog, set design, and production could not be better. I found the middle a bit slow while developing the bigger story and depth of characters, but the beginning and ending were nothing short of riveting — more like a shock and awe. Wonderfully done.
Thank you for the «Elite perk» — much appreciation to CTG and the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and our own fantastic Unilocal leading star on the Westside — Brittany B., for arranging this!