A drama unfolding inside a workplace
and the intertwined lives of the workers is the plot of "Skeleton Crew” --
a play now running on Broadway.
"Skeleton Crew” is a
story about people's work, sacrifice and survival, as the world around them
changes.
Phylicia Rashad stars as
Faye, a factory worker watching her livelihood, health and home slip away.
It comes as the auto
stamping plant in Detroit, where Faye has worked for nearly 30 years, is
rumored to be going under.
"Skeleton Crew" is
set in the factory's break room, the gathering spot where the fears, dreams and
even some secrets of the small group of employees and their supervisor are
revealed.
"You're seeing the story played out
through the lens of human experience with each character and what these
relationships are and how we connect to one another,” says Rashad.
Detroit native Chanté Adams
makes her Broadway debut as dedicated employee and soon to be mom, Shanita. For
her, the characters feel especially close to home.
“All my grandparents, every
single one of them moved up from the South in order to get jobs in the car
factory,” says Adams. “My godmother, all of my uncles and my cousins. My dad
was the first person in our family not to work in a car factory."
Playwright Dominique
Morisseau, who has set three plays in her hometown of Detroit, explores the
bond formed between workers.
“That's what this story is
about, a family of workers who will not allow each other to be treated as if
they're expendable,” says Morisseau.
The Manhattan Theatre Club
production is directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who says it honors essential
workers.
"They don't complain
and they give you all of themselves so you can get all of yourself, whatever
you need to do that day,” says Morisseau.
The limited engagement of
"Skeleton Crew" continues through Feb. 20 at the Samuel J. Friedman
Theater. In addition to Rashad and Adams, the five-member
cast of "Skeleton Crew" includes Brandon J. Dirden, Joshua Boone and
Adesola Osakalumi.