Gregory Grobis
Gregory Grobis
Associate Dean, CHASS
Associate Professor of Performing Arts
Degrees
- M.F.A. from Wayne State University
- B.A. from Bethel College
Biography
Greg Grobis serves as the associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS). He supports and advances all departments and programs in the humanities, arts and social sciences. His key initiatives include a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, high impact learning and adult learning, He also continues to serve as the managing director of the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC).
As an associate professor Grobis has created and taught Theatre for Social Change, Principles of Arts Management, and developed and implemented new immersion experience courses, Performing Arts in New York City and Los Angeles. He has also taught Music of the Theatre, Introduction to the Fine Arts, Introduction to the Theatre, Fundamentals of Acting and Acting II.
At Detroit Mercy he served as chair of the Department of Performing Arts from 2018-2023. In addition, he has served on the Women's and Gender Studies Program steering committee, the executive committee of the McNichols Faculty Assembly and the UDM professor union negotiating committee.
For the DMTC, he has directed and mentored students majoring in theatre at Detroit Mercy. Grobis has managed more than 125 theatre productions at Detroit Mercy and other professional theatres throughout the United States. Directing credits: regional: Evil Dead: The Musical produced by Sweat Equity/313 Presents at the Detroit City Theatre (received 2020 Wilde Award for best supporting actress in a musical), The Whale produced by DMTC and Ringwald Theatre (2016 Wilde Award for best actor in a play), other DTMC directing credits include: Unheard Voices: Afro-Brazilian Diaspora, The Addams Family, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Young Frankenstein, Avenue Q, This is How It Goes, Anatomy of Gray, Cabaret, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
As a musician, he worked at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Michigan for 16 years serving as the tenor section leader of the parish choir. He is an elite cyclist fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Michigan.
Grobis joined Detroit Mercy in 2008. He was appointed as associate dean for undergraduate education for the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences in July 2023.
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Research Leading To Creative Work and Scholarship
Directing:
- You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown – Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- Evil Dead: The Musical – Sweat Equity/313 Presents at the Detroit City Theatre
- Young Frankenstein – Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- Avenue Q - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- The Whale* - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company / Ringwald Theatre *Joe Bailey won the 2016 Wilde Award for best actor in a play for Charlie
- This is How It Goes - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- Anatomy of Gray – Music Director - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- Cabaret- Detroit Mercy Theatre Company / Marygrove College
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company / Marygrove College
Acting:
- A Bright Room Called Day, Roland, directed by Jamie Warrow - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- 100 Saints You Should Know, Matthew, directed by Dr. Arthur J. Beer - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- The Tempest, Ferdinard, directed by Andrew Huff - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
- Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Gardiner, directed by Louis Rackoff - Hope Summer Rep.
- Hairspray, Wilbur, directed by Mary Bremer-Beer - Warren Civic
Publications:
- Conversations Magazine, “Speaking of Justice”, Fall 2013 – Number 44
Music Albums:
- “A Fireside Christmas”, 2012 music album available on Itunes.com
Refereed Conference Paper Presentations:
- 2018 Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Paper: “Revolutionizing your theatre season with mission, values, and data.”
- 2017 Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Paper: “Audience Engagement: The Detroit Theatre Discussion Project with The Theatre Company at University of Detroit Mercy.”
- 2016 Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Paper: “The Low Hanging Fruit Project: an interdisciplinary arts leadership initiative.”
- 2015 Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Paper: “The Power to Instigate Change through Theatre and a Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day.”
- 2013 Conference on Justice in Jesuit Higher Education, "On Fire at the Frontiers.", Paper: “Theatre: a valuable vehicle for justice in Jesuit Higher Education.”
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Grants
- 2018 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs project support grant for $15,000 for the “American Privilege” project.
- 2017 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs project support grant for $18,000 for the “Detroit Theatre Discussion Project.”
- 2016 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs project support grant for $27,000 for the “Low Hanging Fruit Project.”
- 2015 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs project support grant for $11,250 for the “Alexander Project.”
- 2014 University of Detroit Mercy Micro Mission grant award of $250 for “Jordan Anderson Writes A Letter” Project.
- 2014 Michigan Humanities Council project grant award of $15,000 for “Jordan Anderson Writes A Letter” Project.
- 2014 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs project support grant award of $6,000 for the “Jordan Anderson Writes A Letter” Project.
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Organizations & Affiliations
- Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed
- Association for Theatre in Higher Education
- I-Group Talent Agency
- National Association of Teachers of Singing
- American Alliance for Theatre and Education
- Performing Arts Alliance
- Fractured Atlas
- Theatre Communication Group