Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage serves up a savory story of resilience, redemption, and the healing powers of food in Clyde’s at Detroit Public Theatre.

The formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of a truck-stop sandwich joint are on a mission to create the perfect sandwich—and to move forward from past lives that were far from perfect. Though Clyde, the shop’s formerly incarcerated owner, is a “second chance” employer who only hires people who’ve experienced incarceration, she never hesitates to remind her staff of just how precarious their lives are: how much they depend on her and the jobs she’s given them.

Hope and humor are the main ingredients in this thoroughly entertaining—and thoroughly urgent—play. The Washington Post called this Pulitzer Prize-winning play a “highly entertaining comedy of kitchen nightmares”.

Directed by DPT Co-Producing Artistic Director Courtney Burkett, this savory comedy will run from April 24, 2024, to June 2, 2024, at Detroit Public Theatre. DPT Leadership was intentional in presenting a play that delves into the complex issues surrounding incarceration and second-chance employment, while also offering moments of laughter and levity. DPT’s Shakespeare in Prison program has been a cornerstone of community programming at DPT, offering valuable insights into the experiences of incarcerated individuals and challenging stigmas and stereotypes that persist post-release. This production promises to further DPT’s goals of fostering empathy and understanding for those working to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

Packed with hope and humor, Clyde’s is a thoroughly entertaining and urgent exploration of second chances and the pursuit of redemption. The Washington Post hailed the play as a “highly entertaining comedy of kitchen nightmares,” showcasing Nottage’s unparalleled talent for blending humor and social commentary.

“We are thrilled to bring Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s to the stage at Detroit Public Theatre,” said Sarah Clare Corporandy, Co-Producing Artistic Director of DPT. “This play resonates deeply with our commitment to storytelling that illuminates the full human experience. In addition to the shows we will be hosting post show talk-backs with members of our community that have experienced incarceration or work closely to support those who currently are and have been incarcerated.”

Tickets for Clyde’s are available for purchase now through the DPT box office at (313) 974-7918 or online at www.detroitpublictheatre.org.