History
The University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company has come
a long way in the past 30 years. The Theatre Company began
in 1972 as a consortium agreement with Marygrove College in
an effort to consolidate the two schools' fine arts programs.
Originally, productions were staged at The Theatre on Marygrove's
campus, but in 1977 the company began staging some of its
plays in Theater 100, which was located in Shiple Hall in
an effort to encourage dorm students to attend its productions.
In 1979, the consortium agreement ended and the company
divided its performances between Theatre 100 and the Paul
Robeson Theater in Detroit's Northwest Activity Center. The
next year, however, the University began leasing the space
at Marygrove College and thinking about creating a new theatre
to be housed on its McNichols Campus.
The Studio Theater opened in 1984. Housed in the Architecture
building, it was dedicated to Earl D.A. Smith in 1988. Many
patrons enjoyed the studio setting, and it presented a unique
experience for communication between the actors and the audience.
In 1995, The Theatre Company moved to a new location on
the Outer Drive Campus. There, The Theatre Company captivated
audiences in the McAuley Auditorium. In this new large venue,
students were able to open their learning experience to different
techniques than those used in a studio setting, and gain experience
with larger audiences.
Both the actors and the audience began to miss the Earl
D.A. Smith Studio setting. So, in our '99-'00 season, through
a concerted and innovative effort, The Theatre Company developed
the OnStage Theatre. The seating arrangement moved onto the
stage (thus the name), and brought the audience closer to
the performers. It was capable of holding almost 90 patrons,
and had no poor seating, being set "in-the-round".
Thus, the studio setting returned, giving The Theatre Company
a dynamic new way to teach and to perform.
With the move of Outer Drive programs to McNichols in 2004,
the Theatre Company has found a temporary home at Marygrove
Theatre located on the Marygrove College campus on McNichols
Road.
[*Source: "Taking A Bow" by Laurie Peller
in Spiritus, Fall 1995]
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