News Release
UDM Theatre Company Opens Season 41 with Elemosynary
The UDM Theatre Company opens season 41 with a poignant piece by Lee Blessing, Eleemosynary. Featuring Theatre Company alumni Karen Kron as Artie and Actor Equity Association member Stephanie Nichols as Dorothea, Eleemosynary opens on September 30 and runs six performances through October 9, 2011 at the Marygrove Theatre (8425 W. McNichols Rd Detroit, MI 48221). 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’.
After a life lived trying to justify and celebrate her existence as a woman, Dorothea, Stephanie Nichols (AEA, Troy, MI), suffers a stroke and is cared for by her granddaughter, Echo, played by Autumn Thiellesen (Ferndale, MI). Dorothea’s daughter, Artie, played by Karen Kron (Livonia, MI), long since alienated from both her mother and her daughter is intellectually gifted, yet emotionally unavailable and unable to maintain a presence in either of their lives. Eleemosynary plucks the often delicate strings which bind three generations of mother to daughter. Directed by Theatre Company alumni Yasmine Jaffri, Eleemosynary will run for six performances at the Marygrove Theatre: September 30 and October 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, 2011.
Eleemosynary features professionals Stephanie Nichols (AEA, Troy, MI) as Dorothea and Karen Kron (Livonia, MI) as Artie and student Autumn Thiellesen (Ferndale, MI) as Echo. The production team is rounded out by stage manager Chelsea Bates (Detroit, MI), costume designer Melinda Pacha (Royal Oak, MI), lighting and scenic designer Mark Choinski (Dearborn, MI) and management and marketing director Greg Grobis (Detroit, MI).
The Theatre Company at University of Detroit Mercy continues its mission of providing the Metro Detroit community with thoughtful, high-quality and professional productions, offering students of the Performing Arts Department 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 began 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.
Eleemosynary opens on September 30 and runs through October 9, 2011. The Theatre Company’s performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. at the Marygrove Theatre on the campus of Marygrove College, 8425 W. McNichols Rd. Adult admission is $18. Student admission is $9. Group tickets are available for parties of 10 or more at $13 per ticket for adults and $7 for students. Please note a $3.00 service fee per order for non-subscribers. No service fees will be charged to students.
Box Office Hours of operation are noon through 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. The Box Office will move to the theatre for performances and open one hour prior to curtain. For tickets, call the theatre box office at 313-993-3270 or reserve your tickets online at http://theatre.udmercy.edu.
Release date: September 07, 2011
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The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private Catholic University, offering approximately 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the University has three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.
For the 12th consecutive year, UDM was ranked among the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report's "Best Colleges," 2013 edition.
