Skeleton Crew (play) explained

Skeleton Crew
Setting:Detroit, Michigan, 2008
Place:Atlantic Theater Company
Series:The Detroit Project

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

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

Original off-Broadway production

style=width:5% Yearstyle=width:25% Award Ceremonystyle=width:30% Categorystyle=width:25% Nomineestyle=width:10% Resultstyle=width:5%
2016Obie AwardsSpecial Citation: CollaborationDominique Morisseau and Ruben Santiago-Hudson[11]
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Production of a Play[12]
Distinguished PerformanceLynda Gravatt

Original Broadway production

style=width:5% Yearstyle=width:25% Award Ceremonystyle=width:30% Categorystyle=width:25% Nomineestyle=width:10% Resultstyle=width:5%
2022Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Broadway Play[13]
Outstanding Featured Actor in a PlayBrandon J. Dirden
Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayChanté Adams
Phylicia Rashad
Outstanding Director of a PlayRuben Santiago-Hudson
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Revival of a Play[14]
Distinguished PerformancePhylicia Rashad
Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Revival of a Play[15] [16]
Outstanding Actor in a PlayBrandon J. Dirden
Outstanding Actress in a PlayPhylicia Rashad
Outstanding Featured Actor in a PlayJoshua Boone
Tony AwardsBest Play[17]
Best Featured Actress in a PlayPhylicia Rashad
Best Scenic Design in a PlayMichael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong

Notes and References

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