Hey Detroiters, welcome back to Culture Canvas.
If you’re looking for something to do this Thanksgiving weekend, the Detroit Repertory Theatre is showing its latest production, “Primary Trust.” The play follows the life of Kenneth, a lonely, 38-year-old Black man living in the small town of Cranberry, New York. He spends his days working at a local bookstore and nights sipping Mai Tais at a tiki bar with his imaginary friend Bert. When Kenneth suddenly loses his job, he has to figure out what he wants to do with the next phase of his life while facing some fears he’s long avoided.
“Primary Trust” premiered off-Broadway in 2023 at the Laura Pels Theatre in New York City, with William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”) originating the role of Kenneth. The following year, playwright Eboni Booth won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
The play made its debut at the Repertory Theatre earlier this month, kicking off the company’s 69th season. Michigan-based actor John Alexander Hatcher has taken on the role of Kenneth, while Detroit actor and filmmaker T. Pharaoh Muhammad plays Bert. Rounding out the cast is Patrick O’Lear as Sam, the owner of the bookstore where Kenneth works and Rosie DeSantis as a waitress at the tiki bar.
Directing the show is actor and Inkster native Antoine McKay, who is making his directorial debut with “Primary Trust.” He began acting at a young age and honed his skills at Eastern Michigan University’s theatre arts program. McKay began his professional acting career with comedy troupe Second City in both Detroit and Chicago, where he wrote and performed in more than 20 critically acclaimed shows.
On TV, McKay is best known for playing Bunkie in the first season of the Fox drama, “Empire,” and Uncle Spike on the Comedy Central/HBO Max show “South Side.” When it comes to films, McKay has appeared in “The Weatherman,” “Someone to Eat Cheese With,” “Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” and more.
I talked to McKay, who splits his time between Wayne and Chicago, about transitioning to the director’s chair, working with the “Primary Trust” cast and how he became interested in theater while growing up in Inkster.
BridgeDetroit: How did you know “Primary Trust” was the right story to tell for your directorial debut?
McKay: First of all, they (Detroit Repertory Theatre) hired me, but it was perfect for me. It had so many elements that were personal to me. It’s really such a beautiful story. You don’t get to see many plays about mental health in the African American community. And right when I read it, I knew the cast that I wanted.
BridgeDetroit: What has it been like working with the cast, especially John Alexander Hatcher and T. Pharaoh Muhammad?
McKay: Pharaoh knew me before I was married and had children, that’s how long we’ve been friends. So we’ve been acting…gosh, we got hired at Second City back in ‘97 and then I lived in Chicago for 21 years, but we always were friends. We would meet up and hang out, and he’s such a brilliant actor. John Alexander is talented beyond his years. He’s so centered and focused, and he just brings such great energy, and he brings truth to what he does.
Patrick O’Lear is a brilliant actor, also. He plays Clay, Sam and the French waiter. And Rosie DeSantis is just absolutely hilarious. And then Gabe Dodson, who plays the music for the show, is so brilliantly talented. It’s just such a beautiful cast. As I disclosed earlier, I got the people I wanted, and I knew that they would bring it to life like it needed to be.
BridgeDetroit: What are some challenges you’ve faced transitioning from actor to director?
McKay: You can’t expect people to agree with you all the time. You have to have room for people to grow, you have to be patient. Whereas, when you’re acting, it’s like, “I have got to get this done right now. What is this person feeling? What do they want? What are their obstacles?” But when you’re working with a cast and you’re directing it, you have to make them feel safe to make choices that might fail. You might have to sit and make them have choices that have great success. You just have to leave room for people to explore, because if you don’t, and you try to dictate, your show is going to suck. I can’t think of a better way to say it. You want a cast to be at peace, rather than exhausted and overwhelmed. You don’t want to burn them out before they have discovery. It’s hard to discover things when you’re exhausted or burnt out. All you can discover is that I’m really tired and I want to lay down.
BridgeDetroit: How did your childhood in Inkster shape your love for theater?
McKay: My dad always wanted to be an actor, but never got the opportunity to.
But my brother’s an actor, and so, I started like most kids do, in church plays. And then you do the school play and you realize, this is super fun. Then I saw my brother act in a lot of things, and I did some plays in junior high and high school and a musical in high school, which my wife (Michelle) was in with me.
BridgeDetroit: Were you high school sweethearts?
McKay: You know what? We did everything together. We actually went to homecoming together in high school. We did the Forensics program, which was speech and debate and stuff like that. We were on the student council, we were in choir, we were in the vocal ensemble together. But we weren’t involved like that. I saw her again in 2019, and then we got married nine months later.
BridgeDetroit: What do you hope audiences take away after they see the show?
McKay: That the person next to you might need some love and that whatever community we’re in, we should try to love that community and make it better because we all need it, whether we like it or not, whether we want to be hermits or not, whether we want to be introverted or not. We all need people, we all need community.
And I would say, seek the help you can get. It’s so important that
we just try to get ourselves healthy. It’s hard, but don’t be afraid to reach out for that help. Or find that community that can help you get that help.
BridgeDetroit: How does it feel to be back at the Repertory Theatre?
McKay: It is such a hallowed place in the theater community in Detroit and when you get the opportunity to work there, it’s a very spiritual thing. I can’t tell you what it is. You walk in the door and you feel the importance of it. It’s an honor to be there, and then for them to ask me to direct, that’s even more so because I’ve done four shows there and this is my fifth. It’s a real blessing to have them trust me with this show. So, it’s pretty groovy.
What’s really beautiful about the Rep is that they hire local actors. It’s all Detroit talent for the most part – directors, stage managers, lighting people, sound. It’s just its own community and it’s rich in tradition. One thing I have to say about my career as an actor and director, I’ve been able to be a part of really great traditions when it comes to performance and directing, but this is, by far, one of the best traditions I’ve ever been a part of.
BridgeDetroit: It’s been 10 years since “Empire” premiered on Fox. How did you get the role of Bunkie?
McKay: Oh, gosh. I went to the audition and I got called back, and I wasn’t gonna go because I didn’t know what it was all the way. And I was like, “All right, let me just go to this thing.” But anyway, I go to the audition, I meet Lee Daniels and we’re talking. He’s like, “Where’d you grow up?” I say Detroit. He’s like, “Oh, Detroit! They have good corned beef at this place called Mr. Fofo’s.” And I was like, “My family used to go there.” I did the audition, and he cast me. Fox was like, “Who is this guy?” He (Daniels) went to Fox, and he’s like, “I need this guy to do this.” And so, that’s how that happened. It was a cool atmosphere. Everybody was cool and very nice. It was a fun time.
As always, have a great week!
Until next time,
Micah
313 Scene
- BridgeDetroit Engagement Editor Bryce Huffman wrote the latest story for our Resilience in the D series on Bettye Wright, the founder of TobeMC Senior Daycare. The nonprofit provides a host of services and programming for seniors, including food delivery, a medical clinic to connect people with healthcare professionals and medication, free clothing donations, exercise classes and weekly Bible study.
- A long-standing Detroit-area bakery known for its hot dog buns has expanded, boosting its production capacity and hiring 25 more workers. Hamtramck’s Metropolitan Baking Company says its recently completed expansion project added 37,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities to its original location, growing its capacity by nearly 40%. (Detroit Metro Times)
- Detroit theater company A Host of People announced it has acquired a 14,000-square-foot vacant church located at 6000 30th St. on the city’s west side. The company held a reveal party Nov. 15 in a heated tent where they hosted performances and offered attendees flashlight-led tours of the building, which it hopes to rehab by late 2026 or early 2027. (Detroit Metro Times)
- The real Slim Shady — Eminem — wants his name back, and he’s suing Australian beach gear brand Swim Shady for the rights. The rapper alleges the Australian brand’s name is too close to his musical alter ego, Slim Shady, violating his trademark, according to a Sept. 29 petition filed by Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, USA TODAY reported. (Detroit Free Press)
- Em is also partnering with his hometown football team and is releasing an exclusive line of merch through a collaboration with the Detroit Lions, which will become available Wednesday. It includes several hoodies and a series of T-shirts, both long sleeve and short sleeve, according to mock-ups released online. (The Detroit News)
What’s Going on in the D?
- Pop band Maroon 5 is bringing their “Love is Like” Tour to Little Caesars Arena at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster, beginning at $66.
- Detroit tradition America’s Thanksgiving Parade returns downtown Thursday kicking off at 8:45 a.m. The parade starts at Kirby and Woodward, with the three-mile march ending at Congress and Woodward.
- Michigan Central’s monthly Fridays at the Station series takes place from 5-10 p.m. at its headquarters, 2001 15th Street. This month will feature performances by local artists Skonie & The Klouds and Donavan Glover. Tickets are $15.
- Rising R&B star Leon Thomas is making a stop at The Fillmore Detroit at 7 p.m. Friday as part of his “Mutts Don’t Heel” Tour. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, but they start at a steep $172.
- 90s R&B stars Brandy and Monica are bringing their “The Boy Is Mine” Tour to Little Caesars Arena beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday. Openers include Kelly Rowland, Muni Long and Jamal Roberts. Tickets are available, starting at $99.