Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre is presenting its first performance of the Fall 2020
season, The Grown Up, as it explores new, creative approaches to theater production amid the pandemic.
The Grown Up is currently running with virtual show times of 8 p.m. on Oct. 15-17 and Oct. 22-24, and at 2
p.m. on Oct. 25. Tickets can be purchased for $5 at schustertheatre.com or gannontickets.com up to two hours prior
to the show. A Zoom link will be provided on the day of the performance.
Alaina Manchester, director of performing and visual arts at the Schuster Theatre, said the show is being performed
live in special “Zoom rooms” that allow students to practice safe and healthy behaviors while acting. The show also
takes on the style of a radio play to provide students the opportunity to use sound effect creation in addition to on-
stage acting.
“Theatre has not stopped because theatre artists are consummate storytellers and are extremely flexible,”
Manchester said. “We have revaluated, we have recalibrated, we continue to innovate, but we are not going
anywhere.”
The Grown Up is written by Pullitzer Prize finalist, Jordan Harrison, and directed by Manchester.
About The Grown Up
“Ten-year-old Kai is given a magical crystal doorknob by his grandfather that enables him to travel through space and
time to see future events in his life. The further along he goes, the less he feels like he’s seeing his future, but more
that he is living life as most people do: all too quickly. Both poignantly sad and zany, Harrison expands on the notion
that life is too short to miss any moment of it” (description from Concord Theatricals).
*This production contains adult language, violence and sexual themes which may not be suitable for all audiences.