Theatre majors and the community are stoked as a “state of the art” black box theatre space is being built on campus in the renovated Student Union. Construction began this year with an eye toward a 2025 opening.
Detroit Mercy does not have a theatre at the McNichols location and currently performs downtown at the Marlene Boll Theatre. UDM has been working on the idea of the black box theatre project for several years. The project is set to be completed next year, and the first opening gala should be held in Fall 2025. This project will bring to UDM a new, innovative space for theatre students and the community.
Jocelyn Boryczka, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, is a supporter of the arts and the culture because it is “critical to the university community and democracy.” Boryczka mentioned that the longtime presence of the theatre community on campus “shows how critical and central arts are to the Jesuit education.”
In the theatre experience at UDM, students are able to partner and learn with their directors and the rest of the cast. They are able to get hands-on experience of what it’s like to work backstage and put a production together. Not only will the black box theatre provide a space for students directly on campus, but it will also provide a space for the outside community as well. Boryczka stressed how amazing it is that UDM has a community on the outside that wants to come together with the UDM community in a theatre space, whether it be for poetry slams, theatre productions or other fun events.
Theatre is a crucial part of the UDM community because it is an art form that captures large audiences and provokes emotion. However, some students at UDM aren’t able to make it downtown to the Marlene Boll Theatre because of transporttion issues.
Katherine Mutschler, a theater student at UDM, is excited for the project. She noted how the black box theatre will have an intimate setting. Theatre is a lively art form because the cast and crew have to work together to bring a production alive. Mutschler, who performs at UDM, said what makes theatre so special is “it is a very intimate way to experience art.” She said that “there’s just something special about watching someone perform and you only get one shot.”
Often, productions convey important messages through humor.
Gavin Rapuzzi, a junior at the University in the theatre company said, “Being able to tell a story and share the experience of a performance with the audience is one of the greatest rewards I could ever wish for.”
Even though the community is small at UDM, Mary Elizabeth Valesano, the department’s interim chair, said that the faculty and staff within the theatre community are deeply committed.
“Everyone is truly in it to learn, and you can find the most creative and resilient problem solvers in theatre,” Valesano said.
The theatre cast and crew have their first production, “Witch,” beginning on Oct. 25 at the Marlene Boll Theatre.
