Renowned Playwright Dominique Morisseau to Deliver Keynote Address at Bennett College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony
Bennett College is pleased to announce Dominique Morisseau as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony. The event, celebrating the exceptional achievements of the graduating class of 2024, will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 11:00 am on the Bennett College Campus Quadrangle.
Dominique Morisseau, an acclaimed playwright, actress, and poetess, was specially chosen by graduating seniors who heard her speak in New York. Her voice, resonating with authenticity and empowerment, aligns perfectly with the ethos of Bennett College and our commitment to nurturing the next generation of community, global, civic, and creative leaders.
Morisseau’s body of work includes The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle): Skeleton Crew (Atlantic Theater Company/Broadway, Tony Award nomination for Best Play), Paradise Blue (Signature Theatre), and Detroit ’67 (Public Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem and NBT). Additional plays include: Confederates (Signature Theatre), Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theatre), Sunset Baby (LAByrinth Theatre, Signature Theatre), Blood at the Root (National Black Theatre), and Follow Me To Nellie’s (Premiere Stages).
She is the Tony Award nominated bookwriter on the Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations (Imperial Theatre) and is currently working on her latest, Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical (ACT). TV/Film includes: Co-Producer on Shameless (Showtime), the Rilm adaptation of the documentary STEP (Fox Searchlight), and consultant on the Netflix animated feature, Tunga.
She has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the MacArthur Genius Grant Fellowship and the Steinberg Playwright Award, as well as a PoNY Fellowship, TEER Trailblazer Award, Audelco Awards, NBFT August Wilson Playwriting Award, Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama, OBIE Award (two), Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, and she is one of Variety’s Women of Impact for 2018. In 2022, Dominique was awarded the key to the city by the Mayor of Detroit.
We are thrilled to welcome Dominique Morisseau as our commencement speaker. Her inspiring message and unwavering commitment to empowerment deeply resonate with our graduating class, who have demonstrated exceptional resilience and determination throughout their academic journey.
