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Dominique Morisseau

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BIO

Morisseau began her performance career as a live poetry speaker, primarily in her hometown community of Harmonie Park in Detroit. After graduating from college, she continued acting and worked with several organizations. At the Lark Play Development Center, she worked as an actor in a workshop production of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, developing the role of Camae. In 2013, in a production at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, she reprised the role of Camae. She continues acting but has said that she would not act in any of her plays' premieres.



Morisseau began writing plays in college. She has said that the lack of suitable roles at the University of Michigan drove her to write plays and create the roles she wanted to perform. She wrote The Blackness Blues: Time to Change the Tune, A Sister's Story at this time.

After college, in 2012 and 2013, she received a Playwrights of New York (PoNY) fellowship at the Lark Play Development Center. She has also worked as a Teaching Artist with City University of New York's Creative Arts Team.

Morisseau has said that music plays a huge part in her work and often informs the work that she is writing. "It's a resource and clue to my work, and music plays a unifier among cultural barriers."

Morisseau was on the list of Top 20 Most Produced Playwrights in America in 2015–16, with 10 productions of her plays nationwide.

Morisseau is a story editor for the television series Shameless on Showtime and is also credited as a co-producer.

She wrote the book for the jukebox musical Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations, which is directed by Des McAnuff. The musical opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in March 2019. It played pre-Broadway engagements at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre (2017), the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (August to September 2018), and the Kennedy Center (July 2018).

This play marked Morisseau's Broadway debut. She received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, the third Black woman to do so.

Photos

Productions

 
[US Tour, 2024]
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[West End, 2023]
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[Broadway, 2022] [Replacement]
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[US Tour, 2021]
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[West End, ] [Replacement]
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Writing

Playwright
Author
Bookwriter
Playwright
Playwright
Writer

Awards and Nominations


winner
The Lortels - 2024 - Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee

Dominique Morisseau

Drama Desk Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Book of a Musical

Dominique Morisseau, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Tony Awards - 2019 - Best Book of a Musical

Dominique Morisseau, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations


winner
Obie Awards - 2018 - Playwriting Award

Dominique Morisseau, Pipeline

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2018 - John Gassner Award

Dominique Morisseau, Pipeline

The Lortels - 2018 - Outstanding Play

Dominique Morisseau, Pipeline

Drama League Awards - 2016 - Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play

Dominique MorisseauSkeleton Crew

Videos

News


Arkansas Repertory Theatre Adds Artists for ME AND THE DEVIL
by Stephi Wild - May 9, 2025

Tickets are on sale now for the first production of The Rep’s 2025 SummerStage season, ME AND THE DEVIL The play with music is written and directed by The Rep’s new Artistic Director, Little Rock-native and Broadway director, Steve H. Broadnax III. 
PARADISE BLUE Extends Run at Studio Theatre
by Stephi Wild - May 8, 2025

Just one week into performances, Studio Theatre’s immersive production of Dominique Morisseau’s Paradise Blue has extended its planned run, adding two weeks of performances as well as an Affinity Night event.
Review: PARADISE BLUE at Studio Theatre
by Mary Lincer - May 7, 2025

A superb troupe of five actors and a great trumpet player (Michael A. Thomas) do everything in their toolkit to realize Dominique Morisseau's significant play, Paradise Blue, about a Detroit jazz club caught in the post-World War II 'urban renewal' which tampered with Black neighborhoods and lifestyles in American cities nationwide.
Studio Theatre To Host A NIGHT AT THE PARADISE Annual Benefit
by A.A. Cristi - May 6, 2025

On May 12, 2025, Studio will open its doors to its most esteemed supporters for its Annual Benefit. This year, guests are invited to “A Night at the Paradise,” inspired by Dominique Morisseau’s Paradise Blue, the immersive production currently occupying The Victor Shargai Theatre.
Penn State To Present Premiere Of TRUE CRIME FRANKENSTEIN
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 30, 2025

Penn State will present the premiere production of the musical True Crime Frankenstein or the Modern, Modern Prometheus June 12-15 in the Penn State Downtown Theatre.
Cast Set For World Premiere of SOFT TARGET By Emily Kaczmarek
by Stephi Wild - Apr 11, 2025

Detroit Public Theatre has announced the cast for SOFT TARGET, a world premiere play written by Emily Kaczmarek, and directed by Jaki Bradley, who comes to DPT fresh from directing the Off Broadway hit All Nighter. 
Immersive PARADISE BLUE Cast Now In Rehearsals At Studio
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 5, 2025

Rehearsals are now in full swing for Studio Theatre's fully immersive production of Paradise Blue, the modern classic by Dominique Morisseau, part of her acclaimed Detroit Trilogy.
AIN'T TOO PROUD Rescheduled at Oxford Performing Arts Center
by Stephi Wild - Apr 2, 2025

The Oxford Performing Arts Center (OPAC) has announced the rescheduled dates for the Tony Award-winning musical Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations.
TITANTIC, THE PROM and More Set for Temple Theater's 2025-26 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 1, 2025

Temple Theater has revealed an exciting new lineup of shows for the 2025-26 Season. Temple Theaters has upcoming productions for everyone, from madcap comedy to dramatic musical theater.
Signature Theatre Will Honor Dominique Morisseau and Sarah Ruhl at Luminary Awards Gala
by Stephi Wild - Mar 27, 2025

Signature Theatre will host The Luminary Awards, a Signature Theatre Gala Celebration, next month. The event will honor Signature Theatre Resident Playwrights Dominique Morisseau and Sarah Ruhl.
AIN’T TOO PROUD National Tour is Coming to The Fabulous Fox
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 25, 2025

AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS's Second National Tour is coming to St. Louis this spring. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
DOWN THE LINE A New Play By Julie Benko To Receive Private Industry Presentations
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2025

Down the Line, the new play with music written by Julie Benko (Funny Girl, Harmony) and directed by Brandon J. Dirden (All the Way), will receive two private industry presentations on Thursday March 27 and Friday March 28, 2025, at Open Jar Studios (1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019).
World Premiere of Julie Benko's DOWN THE LINE Will Receive Private Industry Presentations
by Stephi Wild - Mar 19, 2025

Down the Line, the new play with music written by Julie Benko and directed by Brandon J. Dirden, will receive two private industry presentations this month. Learn more here!
AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Life And Times Of The Temptations is Coming to Popejoy Hall
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 18, 2025

AIN'T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS Second National Tour is coming to Popejoy Hall this spring. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
The BLK Virginia Theatre Alliance Will Perform SUNSET BABY
by Stephi Wild - Mar 17, 2025

The BLK Virginia Theatre Alliance will present Dominique Morisseau's gripping and emotionally charged drama Sunset Baby, beginning next month. Learn more here!
PIPELINE to be Presented at Vagabond Players in April
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 14, 2025

Vagabond Players will continue its 109th season with PIPELINE, Dominique Morisseau's explosive drama depicting how a mother's hopes for her teenage son clash with an educational system rigged against him. Learn more!
BLOOD AT THE ROOT to be Presented at Fells Point Corner Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 11, 2025

Fells Point Corner Theatre will present Blood at the Root, an urgent and thought-provoking drama by Dominique Morisseau,
Minor Bird Receives 2025 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award from Southeastern Theatre Conference 
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 7, 2025

The Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) has awarded the 2025 Charles M. Getchell New  Play Award to Douglas Chang for his play Minor Bird. The Award will be presented at SETC's 76th Annual Convention in Baltimore, March 19-22. 
AIN'T TOO PROUD Will Take The Fox PAC Stage This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 28, 2025

AIN'T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS will be presented as part of the 24–25 BROADWAY AT THE FOX IN RIVERSIDE Series and will take the Fox Performing Arts Center stage March 4–5, 2025.
Playing on Air Reveals New Leadership
by Stephi Wild - Feb 26, 2025

The Playing on Air Board of Directors has announced Joshua Kahan Brody as Artistic Director and Garlia Cornelia Jones as Associate Artistic Director & Creative Producer. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Dominique Morisseau written?

Dominique Morisseau has written 6 shows including Pipeline (Author), Ain't Too Proud (Bookwriter), Paradise Blue (Playwright), Confederates (Playwright), Bad Kreyol (Playwright), Soul Train (Writer).

What awards has Dominique Morisseau been nominated for?

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee (The Lortels) for , Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, Playwriting Award (Obie Awards) for Pipeline, John Gassner Award (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Pipeline, Outstanding Play (The Lortels) for Pipeline and Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play (Drama League Awards) for Skeleton Crew.

What awards has Dominique Morisseau won?

Dominique Morisseau has received the following awards: Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee from The Lortels and the Playwriting Award from the Obie Awards for Pipeline.

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