Skeleton Crew (play)

Skeleton Crew
Written byDominique Morisseau
Date premieredJanuary 6, 2016 (2016-01-06)
Place premieredAtlantic Theater Company
SeriesThe Detroit Project
SettingDetroit, Michigan, 2008

Skeleton Crew is a play written by Dominique Morisseau about an auto factory on the brink of closure in 2008 Detroit, Michigan. It is the third part of Morisseau's Detroit Project, inspired by African-American playwrights, which also includes Paradise Blue and Detroit '67.[1]

Productions

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Skeleton Crew ran Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2016 and subsequently at the Detroit Public Theatre in 2017.[2][3][4] The Atlantic production was also directed by Santiago-Hudson.[5]

It ran on Broadway as a limited-run engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre from December 2021 through February 2022 under the direction of Ruben Santiago-Hudson and starred Phylicia Rashad as Faye.[6][7] It was one of a series of Broadway shows in the 2021–2022 season written by Black playwrights, and parallels were identified between the play's story and the Omicron surge under which its run fell.[8][9]

Skeleton Crew premiered in the United Kingdom at the Donmar Warehouse in July 2024 for a one-month run, directed by Matthew Xia.[10]

Awards and nominations

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Original off-Broadway production

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Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result Ref.
2016 Obie Awards Special Citation: Collaboration Dominique Morisseau and Ruben Santiago-Hudson Won [11]
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Play Nominated [12]
Distinguished Performance Lynda Gravatt Nominated

Original Broadway production

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Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result Ref.
2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Play Nominated [13]
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Brandon J. Dirden Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Chanté Adams Nominated
Phylicia Rashad Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Play Ruben Santiago-Hudson Nominated
Drama League Awards Outstanding Revival of a Play Nominated [14]
Distinguished Performance Phylicia Rashad Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Revival of a Play Nominated [15][16]
Outstanding Actor in a Play Brandon J. Dirden Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Play Phylicia Rashad Won
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Joshua Boone Nominated
Tony Awards Best Play Nominated [17]
Best Featured Actress in a Play Phylicia Rashad Won
Best Scenic Design in a Play Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Monaghan, John (2016-05-04). "A look at Dominique Morisseau's Detroit trilogy". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  2. ^ "Skeleton Crew". Atlantic Theater Company. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  3. ^ "Season Three". Detroit Public Theatre. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  4. ^ Riefe, Jordan (2018-06-15). "'Skeleton Crew': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  5. ^ Brantley, Ben (2016-01-20). "Review: 'Skeleton Crew,' a Tale of Autoworkers in Hard-Hit Detroit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  6. ^ "Skeleton Crew". Manhattan Theatre Club. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  7. ^ Green, Jesse (2022-01-27). "Review: In 'Skeleton Crew,' Making Quick Work of Hard Labor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  8. ^ White, Abbey (2022-02-19). "How 'Skeleton Crew' Addressed Broadway's Biggest Challenges During a Difficult Winter Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  9. ^ Appler, Michael (2022-01-27). "'Skeleton Crew' Star Phylicia Rashad on Broadway's Return: 'Mastery Continues, and Theater Artists and Audiences Are Grateful for This'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  10. ^ "SKELETON CREW — BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU". www.donmarwarehouse.com. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  11. ^ "2016". ObieAwards.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  12. ^ "Drama League Awards 2016 - And the winners are..." New York Theatre Guide. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew (2022-04-26). "Nominees for 71st Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  14. ^ "2022 Drama League Award Winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (2022-05-16). "Six, Kimberly Akimbo Lead 2022 Drama Desk Award Nominations; See the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  16. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2022-06-08). "Clyde's, Company, SIX: The Musical Lead 2022 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  17. ^ "Skeleton Crew". TonyAwards.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
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