Looking to indulge in some stories around the campfire? The University of Detroit Mercy is gearing up for an exciting new play, “The Grown Ups,” that promises to hit home for anyone who’s ever felt the pressures and uncertainties of adulthood. Debuting April 4 at the Marlene Boll Theatre, the play is written by Clare Barron.
It is an honest and often funny show that dives into the messy, complicated journey of navigating life as an adult. With a sharp focus on friendship, self-discovery, and the unexpected twists of life, “The Grown Ups” paints a relatable picture of what it really means to grow up beyond the milestones and into the real, sometimes awkward, and always evolving world of adulthood. This heartfelt performance aims to make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even cringe a little.
The Grown Ups director, Andrew Papa, balances both working as a theatre professor, and being the chair of the theatre department, while also directing plays at the university that have included: “Check Please” by Jonathan Rand, “Bus Stop” by William Inge, “War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast” by Joe Landry, “Ebenezer” by Joe Zettelmaier, “Hitchcocked: An Audio Serial” by Joe Landry, “The Norwegians” by C. Denby Swanson, and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]” by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield.
Papa speaks on what to expect around the campfire.
“Audiences can expect…the unexpected,” Papa said. “A lot of plays fall into easily understood categories. Comedy, drama, musical, etc. This play takes a lot of interesting twists and turns. In the first few scenes, it feels like a satire about camp life. The counselors are talking about all the trials and tribulations of being a camp counselor, telling campfire stories, and introducing a new counselor in their ranks. But as the play progresses, it becomes spookier and spookier, until it pivots to something no one expected— especially the characters.”
Cast members of “The Grown Ups” include members of The Detroit Theatre Company, with each student majoring or minoring in theatre.
“I think it’s a powerful story that speaks to many of the fears and troubles we are facing today in the world,” said Jordan Collyer, who plays Aidan. “‘The Grown Ups’ is more than a silly show about pineapples; it’s a reflection of the troubled world we live in and a call to finally grow up and make things better.”
Other cast focused on the comedic elements.
“Grown Ups is a comedy and you can come to see it for a good laugh but it also ties into the themes of adulthood, personal growth and the reality of adulthood, the unrealistic expectation that we should have everything figured out at a certain age,” said Kasai Hooper, who plays Cassie. “I feel like ‘Grown Ups’ definitely shows that adulthood isn’t perfection in this play but soon it works out in its favor.”
“The Grown Ups” opening night will be on April 4, with several shows following. To stay in the loop, follow @detroitmercytheatre on Instagram & Facebook. To purchase tickets, go to the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company page on the Detroit Mercy website.
