DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU S SKELETON CREW EXTENDED AGAIN BY POPULAR DEMAND

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1 CONTACT: Amy Horan Marketing and Publicity Supervisor x106 DATE: October 11, 2017 DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU S SKELETON CREW EXTENDED AGAIN BY POPULAR DEMAND A deeply moral and deeply American play. The New York Times Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau directed by Patricia McGregor now playing through October 22, 2017 Dominique Morisseau s Skeleton Crew extends for a second time at Studio Theatre, now running through October 22. Directed by Patricia McGregor and starring DC native Caroline Clay (fresh from Broadway s The Little Foxes), this powerhouse play excavates the lives of working class people in American today. In its final week, Bru Ajueyitsi, last seen at Studio in Morgan Gould s I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart, will take over the role of Dez, originally played by Jason Bowen. Skeleton Crew is a play that wrestles with some of the most important issues of our day the decline of American manufacturing, the state of unions today, the challenges and complications of upward mobility in the United States, particularly for black Americans, says Artistic Director David Muse. But Dominique has written a very human play about people you ll want to spend time with and DC has responded. Inspired by August Wilson s Century Cycle and her own hometown curiosity, Detroit native Morisseau embarked on crafting a trilogy of plays set at three distinct periods in the Motor City s history. Skeleton Crew is the final and most contemporary play in the cycle, set in the Great Recession of 2008.

2 About Skeleton Crew Faye has spent her career at one of Detroit s last auto-stamping plants. Shanita is pregnant, Dez has a whole future to plan, and their manager Reggie must navigate his debt to his work family and need to support his family at home. As rumors of a plant shutdown spread, these tight-knit workers must decide what they will sacrifice to survive. A timely and searing portrait of the African-American working class from Detroit native Morisseau. Dominique Morisseau, writer and actress, is an alumna of the Public Theater Emerging Writer s Group, the Women s Project Playwrights Lab, and Lark Playwrights Workshop. Among her playwriting credits are: Detroit 67 (Public Theater; Classical Theatre of Harlem/NBT; Northlight Theatre), Sunset Baby (Labyrinth Theater Co NYC; Gate Theater- London), and Follow Me To Nellie s (O Neill; Premiere Stages). Her produced one-acts include: Third Grade (Fire This Time Festival); Black at Michigan (Cherry Lane); Socks, Roses Are Played Out and Love and Nappiness (Center Stage; ATH); love.lies.liberation (The NewGroup), Bumrush (Hip Hop Theater Festival) and The Masterpiece (Harlem9/HSA). Dominique is currently developing a 3-play cycle on her hometown of Detroit, entitled The Detroit Projects. Detroit 67 is the first of the series. The second play, Paradise Blue, was developed with Voice and Vision, the Hansberry Project at ACT, New York Theatre Workshop, McCarter Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the Public Theater. Dominique s work has also been published in the New York Times bestseller Chicken Soup for the African American Soul and in the Harlem-based literary journal Signifyin Harlem. She is a Jane Chambers Playwriting Award honoree, a two-time NAACP Image Award recipient, a runner-up for the Princess Grace Award, a recipient of the Elizabeth George commission from South Coast Rep, a commendation honoree for the Primus Prize by the American Theatre Critics Association, a recipient of the Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwriting Award, the Weissberger Award for Playwriting, the U of M Detroit Center Emerging Leader Award, a Lark/PoNY (Playwrights of New York) Fellow, and the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama. Patricia McGregor is originally from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. McGregor is a director, writer, and devisor of new work. She has twice been profiled by the New York Times for her direction of world premieres. Recent credits include Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theater); brownsville song: b-side for tray (Lincoln Center); the world premiere of Stagger Lee (Dallas Theatre Center); and the world premiere of Hurt Village (Signature Theatre Center). Other credits include Raisin in the Sun, Winter's Tale and Spunk (California Shakespeare Theatre); Adoration of an Old Woman (INTAR); Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage); Holding it Down (The Metropolitan Museum); Four Electric Ghosts (The Kitchen); Nothing Personal (New York Live Arts); and the world premiere of The House That Will Not Stand (Berkeley Rep and Yale Rep). For several years she has directed the 24 Hour Plays on Broadway where her casts included Paul Bettany, Tracy Morgan, Sarah Silverman and Carmen Ejogo. She is currently developing several pieces,

3 including a musical based on the life of Nat King Cole with Colman Domingo. She is a Usual Suspect at New York Theater Workshop, Co-Founder of Angela s Pulse, and was a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow at the Yale School of Drama where she also served as Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret. About the Cast Bru Ajueyitsi (Dez, 10/15-10/22) returns to Studio Theatre after his performance in I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart. Recent credits include Akeelah and the Bee at Arena Stage and The Call at Theater J. Other credits include The Love of the Nightingale at Constellation Theatre Company, Hello Out There and Bang The Drum Slowly at The American Century Theater, and the award-winning Disco Jesus & the Apostles of Funk at the Capital and Fall Fringe Festivals. Bru holds a B.S. in Health Sciences from Lincoln University and is a graduate of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. Jason Bowen (Dez, 9/5-10/15) makes his Studio debut. He was most recently seen in Baltimore Center Stage s Jazz. Other credits include Martin Luther King Jr. in All the Way at Cleveland Playhouse, Odysseus in Black Odyssey at Denver Center Theatre, and Asagai in Raisin in the Sun at Huntington Theatre Company. Caroline Clay (Faye) makes her Studio debut. Broadway credits include The Little Foxes. A DC native, her DC credits include Mrs. Jennings in Sense and Sensibility and Titania/ Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night s Dream at Folger Theatre, Blood Quilt at Arena Stage, and The Widow Lincoln at Ford s Theatre. Shannon Dorsey (Shanita) s Studio Theatre credits include Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet, In the Red and Brown Water, and Breath, Boom. Additional credits include Octoroon at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, The Shipment at Forum Theatre, and All the Way at Arena Stage. Tyee Tilghman (Reggie) s credits include Fences and Gem of the Ocean at Marion Theatre Company, A Winter s Tale and Lady Windermere s Fan at California Shakespeare Theater. He has co-starred in several TV shows including The Young & The Restless and Criminal Minds. About the Creative Team The creative team includes the Studio debuts of Tim Brown as scenic designer, Marci Rodgers as costume designer, and Elton Bradman as sound designer/ composer, as well as the return of Studio veteran Nancy Shertler as lighting designer (last at Studio for Hilda and Habit of Art). Studio s Associate Literary Director Lauren Halvorsen will serve as dramaturg and the Studio s Artistic Apprentice Manna-Symone Middlebrooks will assistant direct.

4 Praise for Skeleton Crew "A must-see production" DC Metro Theater Arts "Playwright Dominique Morisseau has finally found a Washington home... it s high time it occurred. " The Washington Post "One of the most evocative pieces of theatre of our generation" MD Theatre Guide "The performances are uniformly stellar" DCist "Caroline Stefanie Clay is perfect" Theatremania Studio Theatre's Skeleton Crew is an essential piece of theater Washington City Paper INFORMATION Where: Studio Theatre s Mead Theatre, th St NW, Washington, DC Dates: Now playing through October 22 Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm Ticket Prices: Tickets range from $20 - $85 STUDIO THEATRE Entering its eighth season under the leadership of Artistic Director David Muse, Studio Theatre is Washington s premier venue for contemporary theatre, where local audiences will find today s edgiest playwrights (Variety). Muse is joined by Managing Director Meridith Burkus. One of the most respected midsized theatres in the country, Studio Theatre produces the work of today s greatest writers, augmented by occasional productions of modern classics, performed by acclaimed actors in intimate spaces. Throughout the Theatre s 39-year history, the quality of its work has been recognized by sustained community support as well as with 363 nominations and 68 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in professional theatre. GENERAL INFORMATION Location: th Street NW (northeast corner of 14th and P Streets). Parking: Studio has a parking partnership with Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas Circle NW, three blocks south of Studio; patrons who park at the hotel s parking garage can purchase a $13 voucher at concessions.

5 Street parking is extremely limited; arrive early to increase your options. Metro Stops: Red Line: Dupont Circle, Orange/Blue Lines: McPherson Square, and Green/ Yellow Lines: U Street/Cardozo. Accessibility: Studio s theatres are all wheelchair accessible; seats are available by reservation. Assistive listening devices are available for all shows at concessions. Call the Box Office at for more information. Contact Information: Tickets and Subscriptions: Administration: Website: studiotheatre.org info@studiotheatre.org ###