Portland Stage Presents SKELETON CREW

Portland Stage presents the play that has swept the country: SKELETON CREW by Dominique Morisseau runs Apr 2 - Apr 21.

The future is thrown into uncertainty when rumors seep through a Detroit auto plant at the start of the Great Recession. A makeshift family of workers swap stories, share dreams and make tough choices. Dominique Morisseau, a noted new voice in the American theater, draws comparison to Lorraine Hansberry, August Wilson, and Arthur Miller.

SKELETON CREW takes an intimate and unflinching look at a family of auto plant workers, blue and white collar, as they navigate the start of the Great Recession. Reggie, the floor supervisor, tries to keep the plant running as long as possible to keep Dez, Faye, and Shanita employed as long as possible. Reggie begs Faye, the Union rep, not to strike, knowing they'll all be out of a job sooner if she does. This places both of them at odds as they try to cover for each other while taking care of themselves.

Monica Wood, playwright for PAPERMAKER, which premiered at Portland Stage in 2015 and was about the closing of a papermaking mill, had this to say "What does a white papermaker in Maine have in common with a black auto-stamper in Detroit? Everything. People who loved my play PAPERMAKER will adore SKELETON CREW, in which factory workers face big questions of loyalty over a looming factory shutdown. Don't miss this gripping story, which resonates so emotionally in Maine."

THE PLAYWRIGHT

Dominique Morisseau is the author of The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle) which includes the following plays: 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 book writer on the new musical Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations (Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Dominique is an alumna of The Public Theater Emerging Writer's Group, Women's Project Lab, and Lark Playwrights Workshop and has developed work at Sundance Lab, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Eugene O'Neil Playwrights Conference. Her work has been commissioned by Steppenwolf Theater, Women's Project, South Coast Rep, People's Light and Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival/Penumbra Theatre. She most recently served as Co-Producer on the Showtime series "Shameless". 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, Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, and being named one of Variety's Women of Impact for 2017-18.

In addition, Portland Stage announced its move from Subscription to Membership. In honor of their 45th season they are celebrating their audience and community by creating a new Membership Program. Membership at Portland Stage is more than just a seat in the house, it's joining our team with insider access, great savings and flexibility. In addition to their current ticket packages, they are now offering enhanced Member Benefits, and new options for audiences. Visit portlandstage.org to learn more about Membership.