FAMU’s Essential Theatre will open spring semester with Skeleton Crew

 

Essential Theatre performing Skeleton Crew
Photo credit: Sydne Vigille

 

Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Essential Theatre will host their first production of the spring semester, Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morissseau, between Jan. 24 and Jan. 28 in the Charles Winter Wood Theatre.

Directed by Chris Berry, Skeleton Crew is Morissseau’s third drama in her Detroit trilogy. The production follows a provisional family of auto plant workers as they punch in, play cards, snack and trade water-cooler gossip.

Everything comes to a turn when the possibility of foreclosure forces Faye, the union representative, and Reggie, their foreman, to choose between their obligations to workers or management. The play is considered an important work that excavates the lives of working class people in America today.

Taylor Jay, a senior theatre performance student, plays the lead role of Faye. Faye is a woman in her fifties, who has battled breast cancer and is faced with losing her job after working there for almost thirty years. Jay expectations for the play is for her castmates to show their best work.

“I don’t have any expectations other than my castmates putting on the best show we possibly can and by living in these characters and being an open vessel to the work,” Jay said.

Another lead character in the play is Reggie played by theatre performance student, DeShaun Green. Reggie is a supervisor of Unit 9 at his job and he stuck between succeeding at work or doing the right thing for my team.

Essential Theatre performing Skeleton Crew
Photo credit: Sydne Vigille

He ultimately wants to take care of his wife and children and to do that he must succeed at work. Reggie is placed in a tough situation where he must decide to follow the status quo or stand up for what is right. Green expresses his thoughts about the play’s entirety.

“One thing that is very impressive about this play in particular is that the story can be told by anyone. I am excited to be a part of the first showing of this show in Florida,” Green said.

Kyonna Floyd is a theatre performance student who brings a twist to her character Shanita Smith. Floyd’s character is a twenty-six-year-old pregnant woman who is extremely passionate about not only her work, but also the people around her. Floyd said that she hopes that the audience will gain encouragement from the character.

“This play is about people who are broken and who are just simply trying to figure out life,” Floyd said. “I hope that the audience will see themselves in this play through the characters all while having a feeling of comic relief.”

Skeleton Crew is not only a component of acting, but introduces some dancing within the show. Isis Shaw, a theatre performance student, has a hip-hop piece that she will be performed in the play.

Skeleton Crew is open to FAMU students and the public. The production contains strong language and mild adult themes and it is recommended that children under the age of sixteen not attend. Please review FAMU’s Essential Theatre website for times and admission prices for select dates.