Aniyah Smith, Special to The Denisonian–
Denison’s theatre program opened its season with “The Grown-Up,” a play by Jordan Harrison that explores memory, change and the process of growing up.
The story followed a young man, Kai, as he discovered a mysterious crystal doorknob that allowed him to travel through different stages of his life. Directed by theatre professor Eleni Papaleonardos, the production ran Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 3-5 in Sharon Martin Hall.
Papaleonardos said the play has been meaningful to her for years.
“Every once in a while, a piece of literature grabs hold of us, moves us deeply, and stays with us– shaping how we see the world. For me ‘The Grown-Up’ is one of those plays.”
Papaleonardos first directed it ten years ago with Available Light Theatre in Columbus and returned to it with a new perspective through working with college students.
The play had an emphasis on the theme of change.
“At its heart, this play is about the leaps and transitions we make through life,” Papaleonardos said. “Endings are not failures, they shape us. Change is not something to fear, it is a natural part of life.”
Assistant director Abby Webster ‘27 said the play stood out for its focus on sibling relationships.
“I think this production is special because sibling love is the crux of the show and the driving force of the action,” Webster said. “I love how the story shows you how deeply people can care about each other.”
Webster said one of the most rewarding parts of the production was the sense of community that formed within the cast and crew. She joined rehearsals a week late but was immediately welcomed.
“The cast and crew opened their arms to me, which was so wonderful,“ said Webster. “Eleni is one of the kindest people I’ve ever worked with, and the cast is genuinely stellar in terms of talent and heart. Seeing everyone grow alongside the show brought me a lot of joy.”
Cast member Katie Locke ‘26 played Actor B, who played multiple roles, including Anna Bell, the younger sister of the main character, Kai.
“I enjoyed portraying a character with an emotional arc,” Locke said.
“In some moments she’s happy-go-lucky, but at other times I had to push myself to convey more complicated emotions.”
Locke said that rehearsals were fast-paced once the semester began.
“With this cast and crew, every day was a new memory.”
She added that “The Grown-Up” felt especially relevant to the student cast.
“The show is about growing up–as the title suggests. The cast consisted mostly of seniors, so it hit hard for a lot of us,” Locke said. “I hope we were able to convey the bittersweetness of moving on and growing up.”