Eric Swanson is Co-founder and Executive Director of The Detroit Actor's Theatre Company where he has served since 2011. Eric received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Adrian College in 2007, after a term at Oxford (England) studying Shakespeare and Evensong. He taught choir at the prestigious Roeper School from 2007-2012. His many professional performing credits include Power of One (Role of Man, National Tour), Simply Gershwin (Greenfield Village Company, Frank Holiday), Hairspray (Edna Turnblad), La Cage Aux Folles (Albin), and The Producers (Roger Elizabeth DeBris). He is one half of the Dynamic Duo which tours nationally. For his most recent national credit, he served as the originating director for the national tour of the outrageous comedy "Pray the Gay Away" which debuted in 2019 to reviews like "The uproarious production directed with dizzy genius by Eric Swanson heretically mines comedy gold. Swanson’s music and lyrics are terrifically attuned to the madcap cascades of hilarity.” - Lavender Magazine (Minneapolis) “What Pray the Gay away is, thanks to writer Bobby Brower and Director Eric Swanson, is a fast paced, laugh-a-minute, campy romp that has audiences in stitches from opening to closing curtains South Florida Gay News (Fort Lauderdale)
Playwright
Robert Leleux is the author of two books, The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy and The Living End. His essays and articles have appeared in such publications as The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, and House & Garden. He has served as a columnist for The Texas Observer, the managing editor of Lonny, and the editor of domino. Robert lives and works in Manhattan.
Director
Mindy Grissom has been involved with the Detroit Actor's Theatre Company since it's inception as both a Director and Choreographer. She began her professional performing career with The Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, and later served as Adjunct Professor at Oakland University's Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. She has also worked as Choreographer for community theaters in the Detroit area such as The Avon Players and The Birmingham Village Players. She holds a BFA in Dance from Ohio State University
Music Director
Gerianne Ditto-Harvey has served as Music Director for the Detroit Actor’s Theatre Company since the beginning in 2011. She holds a vocal performance degree from Adrian College . Gerianne began her music career singing in the Detroit Opera Chorus from 2008-2012, while also working as a freelance pianist (Roeper schools, Clawson schools and Wayne State University). Her favorite onstage roles to date are Kili (The Hobbit) and Jeannie (HAIR). Gerianne is passionate about her work as a composer, and has written several scores for the DATC productions of The Laramie Project, Laramie: Ten Years Later, and The Hobbit. She is one half of the Dynamic Duo, which tours nationally.