SKELETON CREW Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/20/21 at 12:13am

Our last Broadway show to begin performances in 2021 is the new play Skeleton Crew, which kicks off tomorrow at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre; opening night is currently set for January 12. The play is written by Dominique Morisseau (Ain’t Too Proud) and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the star of the Friedman’s previous tenant Lackawanna Blues. The cast of five is led by Tony winner Phylicia Rashad. 

“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.”

Who’s going?

[kwoc91]

Posted: 12/20/21 at 9:36am

I have tickets for 12/30!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/20/21 at 2:37pm

Due to positive COVID cases in the company, first preview has been pushed back to December 27, and opening night is now set for January 19. 

[kwoc91]

Posted: 12/20/21 at 3:47pm

Welp. Let's hope there is a show on 12/30!

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 7:41am

Tonight marks the rescheduled first preview. Here's hoping everyone will be able to go on.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 6:02pm

First preview is an hour away… who will be at the Friedman tonight?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 8:08pm

I lost all interest in this after that stunt Phylicia Rashad pulled.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 8:17pm

TotallyEffed said: "I lost all interest in this after that stuntPhylicia Rashad pulled."

 

Wish I could say the same, but unfortunately my love for Dominique Morisseau wins out. I’m seeing it tomorrow (knock on wood), though I didn’t pay for my ticket so i suppose it’s moot. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 8:58pm

TotallyEffed said: "I lost all interest in this after that stuntPhylicia Rashad pulled."

 

I'll bite, what was the stunt?

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 9:09pm

^She Tweeted in support of Bill Cosby. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 9:09pm

She recently defended Bill Cosby on Twitter and it caused a huge controversy. It was extremely distasteful.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 9:11pm

George in DC said: "TotallyEffed said: "I lost all interest in this after that stuntPhylicia Rashad pulled."



I'll bite, what was the stunt?

"

In late June, she posted a celebratory tweet after Bill Cosby was released from prison. His sexual assault convictions were overturned 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 9:45pm

I thought tonight was just fantastic. Not a weak link in the cast and they're only as good as they all are thanks to Morisseau's brilliance as a playwright. She just has this way of writing the most natural sounding dialogue that helps to bring you right into the world up on the stage. But really, everyone up there is delivering their A-game. 

The mezz was maaaaaaybe 30% full tonight. I think the orchestra was more full but I'm hoping this one can find it's audience through word of mouth and what I imagine will be great reviews. 

Updated On: 12/27/21 at 09:45 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 9:54pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I thought tonight was just fantastic. Not a weak link in the cast and they're only as good as they all are thanks toMorisseau's brilliance as a playwright. She just has this way of writing the most natural sounding dialogue that helps to bring you right into the world up on the stage. But really, everyone up there is delivering their A-game.

The mezz was maaaaaaybe 30% full tonight. I think the orchestra was more full but I'm hoping this one can find it's audience through word of mouth and what I imagine will be great reviews."

Forgot to mention - this is a limited engagement thru February 20

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 10:12pm

Wow, 30% is rough. Hope it finds an audience because we’ve already had enough shows closing early. Good luck to them.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 11:21pm

Set looks very well done! Hope it’s a hit!

[jiaxing_26]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 11:29pm

Does anyone know the running time? Thanks

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 11:30pm

Thanks for the review, sounds like an awesome piece. Would love to know the running time, I’m going on Thursday 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 11:36pm

It was about 2 hrs 15 mins. 

[kurtal]

Posted: 12/28/21 at 6:40pm

I saw this at ATC and loved it.  Seeing it on Thursday (fingers crossed)!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 9:55am

I saw this on Tuesday and I thought it was very good. Of the 3 Morisseau plays I've seen (this, plus Pipeline and Paradise Blue), it was probably my least favorite, but that's not saying much at all. Maybe it didn't pack quite the same emotional punch, but it's still a really strong play. 

If one were to describe this play, its plot, its characters, its style, etc - it wouldn't sound like anything special. It just sounds like your average "topic drama," designed to teach the audience a lesson about this facet of society. But what Morisseau does so well is to infuse everything with a sense of warmth. The characters all feel deeply human. They all love each other, and you can tell that Morisseau loves all of them too. And because of that, she can get away with a few moments of "preachy" grandstanding here and there, because it always arises organically from the circumstances, and always feels like something the characters would be saying. 

Ruben Santiago-Hudson's production comes up to meet the play where it is. Aside from some cool choices during the transitions, the direction isn't meant to distract from or outshine the text. It's a solid production. I saw the 2nd preview (though it wasn't supposed to be the 2nd preview when I got my ticket). It seemed like the actors still need a little bit of time to find the flow, the momentum, and the rhythm of the play, but it's in damn good shape already, and I'm sure they'll get the rest of the way there throughout previews.

 I wrote about this in another thread, but apparently I saw Lakisha May, an understudy, in the role of Shanita (usually played by Chanté Adams). I didn't notice, because I don't know what Chanté Adams looks like, and there was no slip in the program (I guess I missed the understudy board entirely). I only found out because I was trying to investigate who played Shanita the following day, and when I looked her up, I realized it was the same actor I saw. 

I did notice that May stumbled over several lines, but I assumed in was just 2nd preview shakiness. And overall her performance was very good. I also realized this morning that I saw Lakisha May in "Sojourners" at NYTW almost 5 years ago. I remember loving her performance in that play, so I'm happy to have seen her in another meaty role.

However, I'm told that Chanté Adams is quite the up-and-coming film actor, so I'd love the chance to her onstage before she gets too swept up by Hollywood. Maybe I'll make a return visit since it seems to be papering. 

Updated On: 12/30/21 at 09:55 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 10:00am

I guess i saw Lakisha May at the first preview also and didn’t realize she was an understudy until just now. I thought she was WONDERFUL! Now I’m sad when I go back she probably won’t be in the show. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 11:07am

Were they not planning on having understudies? Isn't it required by AEA? Just seems odd for the one week delay and for the [supposedly] four understudies to not be listed in the Playbill.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 11:19am

I don't know a lot about Equity rules, but from anecdotal observation, it doesn't seem like Equity mandates understudies one Broadway. I can think of a number of Broadway shows that haven't had understudies - most of them are celebrity-driven and/or solo plays. But those productions are still Broadway Equity contracts, so the same rules must apply. Unless the rule is dependent on the size of the cast (e.g. "a cast of 5 or more must have coverage" etc.)

[sethepstein12]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 11:26am

Cross posting from the COVID Cancellations thread

The understudies are:

Alain "Hurrikane" Lauture (u/s Performer)

Lakisha May (u/s Shanita)

Dexter McKinney, Jr. (u/s Dez/Reggie)

Benja Kay Thomas (u/s Faye)