News Release

The UDM Theatre Company explores domestic fears

The UDM Theatre Company continues to explore issues of social justice with the upcoming production of Yussef El Guindi's chilling black comedy, Back of the Throat, Nov. 16 - Dec. 2 at Marygrove College Theatre.

Back of the Throat is the tale of an apparently friendly visit by two government officials to the home of Khaled, an Arab-American writer. Khaled finds himself accused of possible ties to terrorists. As the interrogation proceeds, the officials reveal their evidence, but is it evidence? Or have innocent events been distorted through the lens of paranoid suspicion?

As the situation turns increasingly surreal, and the menace to Khaled increasingly real, the question of what it means to be an American takes on a very personal and charged significance. Back of the Throat chillingly explores the tools our government uses to interrogate suspects and is a thought provoking piece of theatre that ultimately leaves the audience with more questions than answers.

The cast of Back of the Throat includes Sean O'Riley, the son of Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Riley. O'Riley is a UDM freshman. This will be his first Theatre Company production. Later this season he is scheduled to appear at Meadowbrook Theatre in Rabbit Hole. The cast also includes UDM students Matthew Klug, Teny Mishigan, David Kowalczyk, Shanna Hurt, Marissa Thorndyke, and guest artist Joe Colosi. The production is being produced with the support of Arab Theatre Arts Guild and www.greatstufftodo.com.

The Theatre Company's performances are held Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Marygrove College Theatre 8425 W. McNichols Rd. Tickets are $15. Discount tickets for senior citizens, faculty, staff and alumni of UDM and Marygrove College are $13. Student tickets are $9. UDM Marygrove student tickets are $5.

The box office is located in Reno Hall on the University of Detroit Mercy McNichols Campus. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For tickets, call the theatre box office at 313-993-3270. For more information visit us online at http://theatre.udmercy.edu.

Photo Credit: Courtney Burkett
Sean O'Riley in Back of the Throat

Release date: November 12, 2007

# # #