Speech and Debate - University of Detroit Mercy

Theatre
Company
T
h
e
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2009
CONTACT:
Greg Grobis
(313) 993-3270
[email protected]
Sex, secrets, Internet blogs and videos comprise a snappy Speech and Debate!
DETROIT- Questioning to find the truth in the midst of sex, secrets, Internet blogs and videos is at the
core of Stephen Karam’s Speech and Debate, which opens at the UDM’s Theatre Company on January 30th
and runs for three weekends, through February 15th. Edgy theatre comedy and technology collide headon in this funny and touching tale of three teens’ quest for fame and free speech.
Teenage misfits Solomon (Steven Pole), Diwata (Anne Di Iorio) and Howie (Joel Frazee) have never met,
but come together through podcasts and Internet blogs to discuss their teacher’s shocking online secret.
They decide to start their high school’s first speech and debate club to discuss this issue and while doing
so discover and explore their own issues of body image and sexual idenitity. The speech and debate club
helps them realize their chance to be heard at last by the school and the outside world. 2008’s Off-Broadway sensation Speech and Debate is a quick-witted, bold and timely comedy which shows that three voices
are stronger than one.
Speech and Debate playwright Stephen Karam led an unusal childhoold while growing up Scranton, Pennsylvania. While others played, he was busy writing one-act plays and mailing them off to publishers and
contests listed in the Dramatist’s Sourcebook. While at Brown University, Karam developed his writing and character development skills, focussing on the experiences of youth as they blossom into adults.
Karam was nominated for the 2006 Helen Hayes Award for co-writing Columbinus, which ran off-Broadway in 2006.
Karam’s writing has also appeared in the Advocate and online at McSweeney’s.
Award-winning actor and director Yolanda Fleischer will be directing Speech and Debate. Fleischer, professor and director, has been with the University of Detroit Mercy family since 1986. She holds a B.S.
of Education degree from Central Michigan University and M.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Wayne State
University. Fleischer’s most recent UDM directing work includes “Lobby Hero,” “The Moonlight Room”
pg 1
and “Children’s Hour.” Fleischer likes to direct socially conscious theatre that focuses on the relationship of the art of theatre, social justice and women’s issues. In the professional community, Fleischer has
directed “The Drawer Boy” at the Detroit Repertory Theatre and “Door to Door” at the Jewish Ensemble
Theatre. Fleischer continues to enlighten her students in class while exploring onstage her thoughts on
humanity.
Speech and Debate opens on January 30 and runs for three weekends, through February 15. UDM’s Theatre Company’s performances are held Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the
Marygrove Theatre on the campus of Marygrove College, 8425 W. McNichols Rd.
The Theatre Company will add special talks to Speech and Debate to further discussion on the topics involved with the show. A pre-talk with the Director and special panel will occur at 7:10-7:30 p.m. on Saturday January 30, 2009. This pre-talk will discuss the body image issues that will be raised in the show. A
talkback session will be held on Sunday February 8, 2009 directly following the preformance with a panel
of experts. The talkback session will discuss sexual identity issues raised in the show.
General admission is $15. Admission for senior citizens, UDM and Marygrove faculty, staff, and alumni
is $13. Student admission is $9; UDM and Marygrove students pay only $5 with appropriate ID. The
Theatre Company’s box office is located in Reno Hall on the campus of the University of Detroit Mercy.
Hours of operation are 12:00 p.m. through 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. For tickets, call the theatre
box office at 313-993-3270. For more information visit us online at theatre.udmercy.edu.
###
pg 2
Theatre
Company
T
h
e
UDM’s Theatre Company
Speech and Debate
Fact Sheet
Liberal Arts and Education
Performing Arts
The Theatre Company
WHAT: Speech and Debate
By Stephen Karam
WHEN: January 30 and 31 and February 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 8:00 p.m.
February 1, 8 and 15 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Marygrove College Theatre located at 8425 W. McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48221
WHO: UDM Theatre Company
Director: Yolanda Fleischer
CAST (Hometown):
Steven Pole (Detroit, MI) as Solomon
Joel Frazee (Bluffton, OH) as Howie
Anne DiIorio (Farmington Hills, MI ) as Diwata
Cynthia Szczesny (Dearborn, MI) as Teacher/Reporter
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Pre-talk with Director on body image issues
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Talk-back with cast and panel of experts on gay issues
TICKETS: $15.00 and $13.00 researved seating, $9.00 students seating and $5.00 for UDM and Marygrove students. Students must provide identifcation when purchasing tickets.
BOX OFFICE: (313) 993-3270
Reno Hall 043 Box Office - 4001 W. McNichols Rd, 48221
House: Tuesday - Friday 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover are accepted
Online: www.theatre.udmercy.edu
www.udmercy.edu
4001 W. McNichols Road
Detroit, Michigan 48221-3038
313-993-3270 Fax 313-993-3256
Theatre
Company
T
h
e
Next Production:
The University of Detroit Mercy’s Theatre Company
and Marygrove College’s Music Department presents:
By Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht
Directed by Arthur Beer
March 20 - April 5