Playwright: David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed By: Kevin Keller
Production Snapshot
Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom: Liberating Stories of Detroit is a devised theatrical piece penned by Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre retelling true local events that had an impact on the civil rights and liberties of Black people nationwide. Spanning 1833-1959, these stories offer glimpses into the narratives of fugitives who escaped to Canada, soldiers who took up arms, and neighbors who fought for their rightful places in the city. The Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre is a group of Detroit-area playwrights, actors, directors and producers dedicated to showcasing local theatre. The mission of EMPT is to build community by creating and developing transformative stories through the written word, storytelling and performance.
Cast
Crew
Meet the Playwright(s)
David Lindsay-Abaire
David Lindsay-Abaire is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and librettist. His newest musical Kimberly Akimbo, written with composer Jeanine Tesori, recently received five Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score of a Musical. Before moving to Broadway, the show premiered at the Atlantic Theater Company and won the Lortel, New York Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical. David’s play Good People premiered on Broadway and was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, The Horton Foote Prize, The Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award, and two Tony Award® nominations. His previous play Rabbit Hole received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, five Tony Award® nominations, and the Spirit of America Award. David also wrote the book and lyrics for Shrek the Musical (Jeanine Tesori, composer), which was nominated for eight Tonys®, four Oliviers, a Grammy®, and earned the David Kleban Prize as America’s most promising musical theatre lyricist. David’s other plays include Ripcord, Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo (the play), Wonder of the World, and A Devil Inside, among others. In addition to his work in theater, David’s screen credits include his film adaptation of Rabbit Hole (starring Nicole Kidman, Oscar® nomination), Dreamworks’ Rise of the Guardians, and The Family Fang, among others. He, along with Tanya Barfield, is Co-Director of the Playwriting Program at the Juilliard School.
