News Release

New UDM Theatre Company Plays Announced

The Theatre Company at University of Detroit Mercy proudly announces its $41/41st theatrical season. The 2011-2012 season will continue to demonstrate a commitment to bringing thoughtful, high-quality professional productions to the Metro Detroit community. In honor of our 41st season, we are offering a four-show subscription package for only $41, a savings of 45% off UDM’s regular ticket prices. This year’s season includes Eleemosynary, Anatomy of Gray, Dogman’s Last Stand and Autobahn.

The theatre  season opens with a poignant work by Lee Blessing, Eleemosynary. This offering plucks the tenuous and often delicate strings which bind three generations of mother to daughter. From the eccentric to the cerebral, a mother, daughter and granddaughter live and re-live their relationships with each other, while coming to a personal understanding of the word ‘charity’. Characters explore acceptance, rejection and the significance of realizing one’s own potential. Eleemosynary will run for six performances at the Marygrove Theatre: September 30,  October 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, 2011.

By the author of the Theatre Company’s 2003 award-winning production of The Diviners, the Theatre Company’s second production is Jim Leonard’s Anatomy of Gray.  Anatomy of Gray explores themes of spiritual survival versus physical survival in the town of Gray, Indiana.  The truth behind the homespun philosophy of “everything good for you has a price” is dissected and probed as the townsfolk of Gray seek deliverance from an unknown malady.  Galen Gray, who is literally blown into town in answer to a young girl’s prayers, finds a town plagued by a mysterious illness. Will Galen Gray be the miraculous healer the town is hoping for?  Directed by Dr. Arthur J. Beer with musical direction by Greg Grobis, Anatomy of Gray will run for 6 performances at the Marygrove Theatre: November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13, 2011.

The third production is Dogman’s Last Stand by Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland. Living in a Midwestern steel town, Dogman Thompson is a laid off factory worker with a murky past who must defend the honor of his canine companion after a run-in with a local punk and paperboy, Danny Pascol. Set in a gritty area with even grittier characters, the situations that unfold on Dog’s front porch reveal that assumptions can often determine and define the events of our lives. Directed by David L. Regal, Dogman’s Last Stand will run 6 performances at the Marygrove Theatre: February 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12, 2012.

Closing the season is Detroit native Neil LaBute’s Autobahn. This play cycle is a collection of intensely personal conversations that take place within the confines of a vehicle. Portrayed from a “front seat” point of view, the conversations center on topics of addiction, adultery, paranoia and more.  Full of rich, compelling and sometimes uncomfortable dialogue, this play offers a glimpse into one of the last private frontiers, the sanctity of our own cars. Andrew Huff and David L. Regal will share in directorial and performance capacities in Autobahn which runs for six performances at a location to be determined: March 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31 and April 1, 2012.

The Theatre Company at University of Detroit Mercy continues its mission of providing the metro Detroit community with thoughtful, high-quality and professional productions.  The Theatre Company offers performing arts students, the rare opportunity to work on and off stage with theatre professionals.  Annually, the Theatre Company spends 30% of its overall budget on professional associate guest artists and directors.   By working with professional directors and associate guest artists, students are encouraged to work at a high level, producing rapid growth throughout their undergraduate education.  For more information on becoming a student or an associate guest artist, please contact Greg Grobis at 313-993-3273.

The Theatre Company will celebrate Season 41 by offering a four-show subscription package for only $41, a savings of 45% off regular ticket prices. Please note a one time five-dollar processing fee for subscription orders.  All processing fees throughout the season will be waived for subscribers when exchanging tickets, saving our patrons even more!  Season ticket sales will begin August 1, 2011 and are available through October 9.  To request a copy of the subscription brochure, please sign up for the UDM Theatre Company e-newsletter at http://theatre.udmercy.edu.

Back by popular demand is the Student Flex Pass for any full-time student currently enrolled in high school, community college or university.  The Student Flex Pass is $20 and gives students access to unlimited performances of all four shows, a savings of nearly 80% off regular ticket prices!  A student picture ID is required to purchase a Student Flex Pass.

Individual ticket sales begin September 1, 2011.  Adult admission to the 2010-2011 season will be $18 plus a $3 processing fee for each non-subscriber order.  Student individual tickets are are $9; all processing fees for students will be waived.

Release date: August 16, 2011

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For more information about UDM, or to apply online, go to www.udmercy.edu/apply.