Cover Story

The Theatre Company sets the stage for successful careers

Historical documents indicate that Theatre at the University of Detroit officially began in 1922, and a great deal of interesting history about the University's past theater programs can be found in the Tower yearbooks. However, the University’s relationship with theatre as it currently exists began with the opening of The Theater at Marygrove College in 1972. Through a consortium agreement between the University of Detroit and Marygrove College to consolidate the schools’ fine arts programs, The Theater was constructed to house University productions. Coinciding with the opening of The Theater was the introduction of the University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program.

In 1984, the Company moved into the Studio Theater, a refurbished studio classroom in the Architecture Building on UDM’s McNichols Campus, which was later dedicated and renamed the Earl D.A. Smith Theatre. In 1995, marking the Theatre Company’s 25th season, the program moved into the McAuley Auditorium on the University’s Outer Drive Campus. When the Outer Drive Campus closed in 2007, the Company established a new agreement with Marygrove College, where most performances have been held ever since.

Theatre graduates have gone on to successful careers on the screen, stage and behind the scenes. For example, Angelina Fiordellisi ’81 continued her career both in television and on the stage, and is now the founder and artistic director of Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City. Jamie Moyer ’01 is currently teaching at the Second City Hollywood Training Center. Chris Darga ’80 has appeared in hundreds of television shows and movies, most recently in "Mike & Molly", "The Closer" and "The Middle". He can also be seen currently as one of the Vikings in the Capital One credit card commercials.

This year, the Theatre Company completed its 42nd season with the performance of “A Cabaret Showcase,” which featured surprise appearances from some of the program’s most talented alumni. One of those surprise performers was comedy actor Keegan-Michael Key ’93.

Key, who stars in Comedy Central’s “Key and Peele” (with Jordan Peele), credits UDM’s Theatre Company for the hands-on learning he needed in the real world of professional theater.

In his words, “The Company was run as much like an active member of a theater community as it was a training program, and that's what made the difference.”

One of his favorite memories is the late nights after rehearsals when the crew would hang the lights for the upcoming production. “It was a great camaraderie builder,” he said.

After Key graduated from UDM, he earned a MFA degree from Pennsylvania State University. Being in UDM’s Theatre Company helped him “tremendously,” he said, when he was hired for his first professional job at Second City Detroit. He later joined Chicago’s Second City.

“I learned practical things that I'm not sure I would have learned in a traditional training program,” he said. “There were invaluable skills on the technical side of theater that kept me in the game when I wasn't acting. It also fostered an all-for-one and one-for-all attitude for all the theater companies that I’ve worked with subsequently.”

While in Chicago, Key was cast in Fox’s MADtv for six seasons before becoming famous for “Key and Peele.” Now in its second season, “Key and Peele” has been renewed for a third season. He can also be seen in such films as "Role Models", "Due Date", and "Just Go With It."

While his career has accelerated, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Key is a co-founder of the Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck. In addition to his most recent guest appearance in a UDM Theatre production, he returned to Michigan in April as a speaker at the 10th Annual Images and Perceptions Diversity Conference in Dearborn. He also enjoys visiting UDM when he can to mentor current theatre students.