Skeleton Crew, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, USA

The dramatic play, Skeleton Crew by playwright Dominique Morisseau about workers in a Detroit, Michigan automobile manufacturing plant made a powerful and impactful statement at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. Directed by LA Williams and starring Leland Fowler, Perri Gaffney, Toni Martin, and Sean Nelson, brilliantly delivered a performance that will resonate soundly as more manufacturing plants in the United States close leaving employees wondering, "What do I do next?" Skeleton Crew runs until June 22, 2019 at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Skeleton Crew
Sean Nelson (Reggie), Perri Gaffney (Faye),
Toni Martin (Shanita), Leland Fowler (Dez)

We had the good fortune of seeing the play, Skeleton Crew on opening night on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Westport Country Playhouse. Since the 1930s the Westport Country Playhouse has brought an impressive number of high caliber plays to Fairfield County, Connecticut each season. Under the leadership of Mark Lamos, Artistic Director, and Michael Barker, Managing Director, the 2019 season resonates with five plays that will make an impact on the audience long after they leave the theatre. Skeleton Crew is at the head of the class on making an impact.

Skeleton Crew
Perri Gaffney (Faye)

Set in Detroit, Michigan in the winter of 2008 Dominique Morisseau’s play, Skeleton Crew, is about an automobile manufacturing stamping plant that is on the brink of shutting down due to the recession with only a few employees remaining, the "skeleton crew." Faye played by Perri Gaffney is the elder statesman of the group having worked at the plant for 29 years and is also the union representative. She is the figurative mother of the group who makes the early morning coffee and gives advice as she deems appropriate to her small team. Dez played by Leland Fowler is ayoung man who dreams of saving enough money to open his own business while facing the reality of the dangers on the streets of Detroit. Shanita played by Toni Martin is a young unwed mother who enjoys working with her hands and takes pride in her work. Reggie played by Sean Nelson is the Supervisor; he is a bridge between the workers and management and has long personal ties to Faye.

Skeleton Crew
Toni Martin (Shanita), Leland Fowler (Dez)
Perri Gaffney (Faye)

Dominique Morisseau, a Detroit, Michigan native, deftly captures the nuances and emotions of the plant’s employees as their daily lives revolve around one another. Spending so much time together day-in and day-out, they area family of sorts, who nurture each other, care about and protect one another, as they go about their daily lives with the ever-present rumor and fear that their plant will be shutting down boding heavily upon them. For a few employees, there may be the possibility of transferring to another facility, for others there is only the reality of trying to find another job in a time when manufacturing plants are closing all around them. As rumors of their plant’s imminent closing persist, each must face their own dilemma of what to do next.

Skeleton Crew
Sean Nelson (Reggie), Perri Gaffney (Faye)

LA Williams and the exceptionally talented cast of Skeleton Crew beautifully delivered Dominique Morisseau’s powerful message and had the audience on their feet for a standing ovation. Bravo!

Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!

Skeleton Crew
Toni Martin (Shanita), Leland Fowler (Dez)

Skeleton Cast:

Skeleton Crew
Leland Fowler (Dez), Sean Nelson (Reggie),
Perri Gaffney (Faye)

The Creative Team:

Skeleton Crew
Sean Nelson (Reggie), Perri Gaffney (Faye)

Skeleton Crew performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:00 pm, Wednesday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Thursday and Friday at 8:00 pm, Saturday at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Special series feature Taste of Tuesday, LGBT Night OUT, Opening Night, Sunday Symposium, Open Captions, Thursday TalkBack,Together at the Table Family Dinner, Playhouse Happy Hour, and Backstage Pass.

For information on the play or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at +1-203-227-4177 or call the toll-free number at 1-888-927-7529 or visit them on the website at www.WestportPlayhouse.org.

The Westport Country Playhouse Box Office is open during Performance Days Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 8:30 pm, Saturday from 11:00 am until 8:30 pm, Sunday from 11:00 am until 3:30 pm, and is closed on Monday. Non-Performance Days, the Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 6:00 pm and is closed on Monday.

The Westport Country Playhouse named as "Theatre Company of the Year" in December 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, opened in the 1930s in a transformed 1835 cow barn, which has, and continues to attract, a "who’s who" of prominent actors. Looking at the framed posters of past shows that line the lobby walls was like entering an encyclopedia of the arts. A few of the many renowned actors who have appeared on the stage there include Ethyl Barrymore, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Don Ameche, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Jane Fonda, Danny Aiello, Blythe Danner, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Lynn Redgrave, Gene Wilder, and Westport residents Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

"Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a cultural nexus for patrons, artists and students and is a treasured resource for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build."

For information on upcoming events and other performances, please visit the website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org.

Up coming Performances – 2019

Westport Country Playhouse
25 Powers Court
Westport, Connecticut 06880
United States
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
Toll-Free: +1-888-927-7529
Fax: +1-203-454-3239
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
Website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org
Facebook: www.Facebook/WestportCountryPlayhouse

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