DETROIT—Featuring everything from a politically-charged comedy featuring a Republican senator running for re-election, to an African American woman who meets a tragic fate in 1940s Georgia, Matrix Theatre Company offers an exciting array of shows for its 2017-2018 season.

Based on actual trial transcripts, and making its Michigan premiere November 16 – December 10, 2017, Who Will Sing for Lena? by Janice L. Liddell is a one-woman play which gives voice to Lena Baker, who, in 1944 Georgia, killed her abusive, white employer in self-defense. Using actual trial transcripts, the play dramatically lays out the motivations for her actions, telling the story of her abuse, the killing, her trial, and ultimate execution.

Big Red Button by Michael Perrie, Jr. makes its world premiere February 1 – 25, 2018. Inspired by the song, “The Temptation of Adam” by Josh Ritter, this comedy is about two very different people learning to connect as human beings, as they sit in an underground bunker awaiting instructions about the “final missile” during World War III.

Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner edited the tragic, true story of My Name is Rachel Corrie, running April 5 – 29, 2018. This one-woman play tells the story of a 23-year-old American woman, a messy, articulate, Salvador Dali-loving chain smoker who left her home in Olympia, Washington to work in the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She was tragically crushed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza, while trying to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home.

Finally, set for June 7 – July 1, 2018, Church and State by Jason Odell Williams. Three days before his bid for re-election, and in the wake of a school shooting in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, a Republican U.S. senator makes an off-the-cuff comment to a blogger that gets leaked on “the Twitter,” calling into question his stance on guns and God. As his devoutly Christian wife and liberal, Jewish campaign manager try to contain the damage, this look at how religion influences politics—and vice versa—is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting.

Individual tickets go on sale on Monday, September 11. Ticket prices start at $17. Mainstage Flex Passes may be purchased at a reduced rate. Group rates are available for most shows. For further information on the 2017-2018 season, or to order tickets, go to www.matrixtheatre.org or call 313 967 0599.

“Matrix Theatre is stepping it up this season, coming off the massive success of Dream Deferred: Detroit, 1967,” Matrix Artistic Director Megan Buckley-Ball said. “We’ve chosen a wide array of topics in our productions and are looking forward to presenting a little something for everyone this season.”

Celebrating more than 25 years as a non-profit, community-based theatre, Matrix Theatre Company is located in southwest Detroit and uses the transformative power of theatre to change lives, build community, and foster social justice. For further information go to matrixtheatre.org.