Detroit Free Press
Detroiters take over a Broadway theater, celebrating the Motor City in New York
CRITIC’S PICK!“BEAUTIFULLY STAGED AND ACTED. A pleasure for the excellent cast to perform and for audiences to experience.”
– The New York Times
ABOUT
Tony Award® winner and five-time Emmy Award nominee Phylicia Rashad returns to Broadway in Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere of Skeleton Crew, written by Tony Award® nominee Dominique Morisseau and directed by Tony Award® winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. In 2008 Detroit, a small automotive factory is on the brink of foreclosure, and a tight knit family of workers hangs in the balance. With uncertainty everywhere, the line between blue collar and white collar becomes blurred, and this working family must reckon with their personal loyalties, their instincts for survival and their ultimate hopes for humanity. The New York Times gives this astonishing work a Critic’s Pick and cheers, “A very fine new play… warm-blooded, astute, deeply moral and deeply American.” And The Amsterdam News hails it as “a prime example of how theatre imitates life… intense, touching and funny.”
Support for Skeleton Crew is provided by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the Howard Gilman Foundation.
RUNNING TIME:
110 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.
Last performance played on February 20, 2022.
“A VIBRANT, PROFOUNDLY LAYERED PLAY!”
– Variety
“MORE PERTINENT NOW THAN EVER. The play was terrific when it first landed in 2016. It is essential now.”
– Deadline
“FOUR STARS!”
– Time Out NY
Join MTC
30 under 35
group sales
students
General Info
Manhattan Theatre Club produces a wide range of theatre both on and off-Broadway. In a history spanning almost 50 years, they have won 27 Tony Awards, 7 Pulitzer Prizes, and developed into one of the country’s most acclaimed theatres.
If you intend to see three or more MTC productions in the coming year, you can join MTC and add this show to your package now. MTC Subscribers save up to 40% off the cost of individual tickets, receive priority seating, early access to tickets, and no-risk flexibility to exchange tickets for a different performance date free of charge, for any reason.
You can also upgrade to MTC’s Patron Program to receive the best seats in the house and a multitude of other benefits, starting at $3,000.
A night out in NYC can break the bank, but as a member of our 30 Under 35 program, you’ll get a full evening of entertainment for only $30! You can buy a pair of $30 tickets for you and a friend to every Manhattan Theatre Club show. Plus, you’ll be invited to exclusive post-show parties where you’ll enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while mingling with other 30 Under 35 members. And the best part… it’s free and easy to join!
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Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, please visit Broadwayinbound.com or call (866) 302-0995.
Student tickets are available at the box office on the day of the show when the box office opens. Tickets are $30 (including all fees), payable by cash or credit card, and are available to students with an ID from a degree or diploma granting institution. Tickets are subject to availability and are limited to two per valid ID. Note that students aged 30 or under may prefer to purchase their tickets through the 30 Under 30 program instead – see above.
Click here for a seating chart. The Friedman Theatre seats 650. Seating is on Orchestra, Premier Circle and Mezzanine levels—all seating accessible by elevator. For more information on accessibility, please click here.
Cast
Chanté Adams
Shanita
Chanté Adams (Shanita). With an award-worthy and captivating lead role performance in the Denzel Washington-directed film A Journal for Jordan (Christmas 2021), Chanté Adams is poised to be Hollywood’s most talked-about star. In 2020, Chanté gave an “extraordinarily fresh performance” (Variety) and was the “best performance in the film” (The Hollywood Reporter) for her captivating portrayal of Christina in Universal’s The Photograph. Her ascension into Hollywood’s A-list actress club started back in 2017 when Chanté was the recipient of the Special Jury Prize for Breakthrough Performance at that year’s Sundance Film Festival. She received that honor for her powerful depiction of 80’s hip-hop pioneer Roxanne Shante in Netflix’s Roxanne, Roxanne. In 2018, Chanté starred opposite John David Washington in the feature film Monsters and Men and was also seen in Justin Simien’s Bad Hair. That year, Vanity Fair also included her as one of nine “Stars to Watch” in their September Issue. She is currently in production on the highly anticipated Amazon series A League of Their Own; a re-imagining of the original 1992 film. On stage, Chanté starred in Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s adaptation of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at Two River Theatre in 2016.
Joshua Boone
Dez
JOSHUA BOONE was last seen at MTC in Anna Ziegler’s Actually. He was most recently on stage starring in MCC’s production of C.A. Johnson’s All The Natalie Portmans, and prior to that, Ivo van Hove’s acclaimed Broadway production of Network opposite Bryan Cranston. His other stage credits include Holler If Ya Hear Me (Broadway), Artney Jackson (Williamstown), Mother Courage and Her Children (Classic Stage Company), etc. Joshua stars as the lead of the upcoming Netflix film, A Jazzman’s Blues, written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry. He previously starred in Premature for director Rashaad Ernesto Green opposite Zora Howard, which made a splash at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as the independent feature Wheels for writer/director Paul Starkman. He can also be seen on the series “Seven Seconds” for Netflix. Joshua received his BFA in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Brandon J. Dirden
Reggie
Brandon J. Dirden (Reggie) starred on Broadway as ‘Booster’ in the Tony Award-winning revival of August Wilson’s Jitney and as ‘Martin Luther King, Jr.’ in the Tony Award-winning production of All the Way, with Bryan Cranston. Additional Broadway credits include Clybourne Park, Enron, and Prelude to a Kiss. Off-Broadway, he has appeared in The Piano Lesson, for which he won Obie, Theatre World, and AUDELCO awards; The First Breeze of Summer and Day of Absence at Signature Theatre; Detroit ’67 at the Public Theater and Classical Theatre of Harlem; Peter and the Starcatcher at New York Theatre Workshop and as ‘Brutus’ in TFANA’s production of Julius Caesar. On screen he has appeared in The Good Wife, Evil, The Big C, Public Morals, Manifest, The Get Down, The Accidental Wolf, Blue Bloods, The Quad, For Life, the FX miniseries Mrs. America and on four seasons of The Americans as ‘Agent Dennis Aderholt.’ He has directed numerous plays by Dominique Morriseau and August Wilson. Brandon is a frequent volunteer at the 52nd Street Project, on the faculty of the NYU Grad Acting program and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and Fair Wage on Stage.
Adesola Osakalumi
Performer
ADESOLA OSAKALUMI: Broadway: Fela!; Equus. Off-Broadway: runboyrun, Syncing Inc, Jam on the Groove. National Tour: Fela! Regional: Syncing Ink (Alley Theater), In Your Arms (Old Globe Theater & Powerhouse Theater). Film: Red Pill, Isn’t It Romantic, Ibrahim, Sex and The City 2, Enchanted, Across the Universe, Idlewild, The Accidental Husband. TV: “Ice.” Choreographer/Movement Director: Cullad Wattah, Coal Country, Othello (The Public Theater), Good Grief (Vineyard Theater), Skeleton Crew (Atlantic Theater) School of Rock (Paramount Pictures), Jam On The Groove (Minettta Lane Theater, Drama Desk Nominee).
He is thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking production once again with Ruben & Dominique! He gives thanks to the Creator, his Ori, Ancestors, his family Jill Vallery, Okanjobi Osakalumi, Baba & Iya for all the guidance and support. To all friends on this ride with me: Love & E se! Lakey & Thomas at Lakey Wolff & Co, thank you again. Grateful. Onward. www.adesola.com
Phylicia Rashad
Faye
PHYLICIA RASHAD (Faye), an accomplished actress and stage director, became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” a character whose enduring appeal has earned numerous awards and honors for over two decades. Her film and television credits include: A Fall From Grace, Creed and Creed II, For Colored Girls, Soul, Jingle Jangle, and Black Box; “This is Us” (two Emmy nominations), “David Makes Man,” and “Empire.”
Inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2016, Ms. Rashad received Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her performance as Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun, the Lucille Lortel Award for her performance as Shelah in Head of Passes, and a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Ester in August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. Ms. Rashad has directed plays by August Wilson (Gem of the Ocean, Fences, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone), Stephen Adly Guirgis (Our Lady of 121st Street), and Paul Oakley Stovall (Immediate Family) at prestigious regional and off-Broadway Theaters. She was recently appointed Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.
Chanté Adams
Shanita
Joshua Boone
Dez
Brandon J. Dirden
Reggie
Adesola Osakalumi
Performer
Phylicia Rashad
Faye
Creative
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Director
RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON (Writer, Director, Performer). Tony, Drama Desk, and Obie Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson is the director of the recent Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Jitney which garnered several awards including the Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League, and the NY Drama Critics Circle Awards, along with six Tony nominations. Mr. Santiago-Hudson won a Tony Award as featured actor for his performance in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars and later went on to direct the play himself to critical acclaim. Other directing credits include: The Piano Lesson, Skeleton Crew, Othello, Gem of The Ocean, Paradise Blue, My Children! My Africa!, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Cabin in the Sky, The Happiest Song Plays Last, Two Trains Running, Things of Dry Hours, The First Breeze Of Summer, and Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine, among many others. He made his Broadway acting debut alongside Gregory Hines in Jelly’s Last Jam. Other Broadway credits include Stick Fly and Gem of The Ocean. The multi-award winning director and actor most recently adapted August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for producer Denzel Washington and NETFLIX starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. Ruben wrote, executive produced, and co-starred in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues based on his OBIE Award-winning play. The movie received several honors including Emmy, Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award, Humanitas, National Board of Reviews, Black Filmmaker’s Foundation and Christopher Awards. Recently, Ruben co-starred in BET’s drama The Quad and played the role of Captain Roy Montgomery on the hit show Castle for three seasons on ABC. Ruben currently co-stars in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s new series David Makes Man for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network. Ruben has been seen in over three dozen movies. Among his favorites are Lackawanna Blues, American Gangster, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Coming to America, Forgotten Genius, and The Devil’s Advocate. Ruben earned his MFA in acting from The Hillberry Classical Repertory Theater at Wayne State University, his BA in theatre from Binghamton University, and he also holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from both Wayne State University and Buffalo State College. In a career that spans over four decades, Ruben considers opening The Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine Arts Learning Center in 2014 in his hometown of Lackawanna, NY as one of his proudest and most cherished accomplishments.
Dominique Morisseau
Playwright
DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU (Playwright) is the author of The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle): Skeleton Crew (Atlantic Theater Company), Paradise Blue (Signature Theatre), and Detroit ’67 (Public Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem and NBT). Additional plays include: Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theatre), Sunset Baby (LAByrinth Theatre), Blood at the Root (National Black Theatre), and Follow Me To Nellie’s (Premiere Stages). She is also the TONY nominated book writer on the Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations (Imperial Theatre). TV/Film projects: She most recently served as Co-Producer on the Showtime series “Shameless.” She’s currently developing projects with Netflix, HBO, and A24, and wrote the film adaptation of the documentary STEP for Fox Searchlight. Awards include: Spirit of Detroit Award, PoNY Fellowship, Sky-Cooper Prize, TEER Trailblazer Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, Audelco Awards, NBFT August Wilson Playwriting Award, Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama, OBIE Award (2), and the Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, named one of Variety’s Women of Impact for 2017-18 and a recipient of the 2018 MacArthur Genius Grant.
Michael Carnahan
Sets
Emilio Sosa
Costume Design
Rui Rita
Lighting
Rob Kaplowitz
Original Music and Sound Design
Nicholas Hussong
Projection Design
Jimmy Keys aka “J. Keys”
Original Music and Lyrics
Adesola Osakalumi
Choreography
Chesney Snow
Vocal Foley Artist
Kamra A. Jacobs
Production Stage Manager
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Director
Dominique Morisseau
Playwright
Michael Carnahan
Sets
Emilio Sosa
Costume Design
Rui Rita
Lighting
Rob Kaplowitz
Original Music and Sound Design
Nicholas Hussong
Projection Design
Jimmy Keys aka “J. Keys”
Original Music and Lyrics
Adesola Osakalumi
Choreography
Chesney Snow
Vocal Foley Artist
Kamra A. Jacobs
Production Stage Manager
Photos
Chanté Adams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joshua Boone, Phylicia Rashad, Dominique Morisseau, Brandon J. Dirden in
Skeleton Crew (2022)
Photo by Kareem Black
Chanté Adams, Joshua Boone, Phylicia Rashad, Brandon J. Dirden in
Skeleton Crew (2022)
Photo by Kareem Black
Dominique Morisseau, Ruben Santiago-Hudson in
Skeleton Crew (2022)
Photo by Kareem Black