Description
Step into the limelight!
We are happy to be presenting you with a rare occasion: a chance to go deep inside three of Detroit’s most beloved historic theaters. We’ve partnered with our friends who protect and restore these gems to get you special access. Our entire city is brimming with a rich theater history and we’re taking you onto the stages, behind the curtains and deep within these majestic structures to hear and see the tales they hold. (Most don’t know Detroit is home to the country’s second largest theater district!)
Where We’re Going
We’re hitting a different set of three theatres each tour so you can go to different ones each time. Here’s the schedule:
- Sunday, March 31, 2019 – Detroit Film Theatre, Senate Theater and Detroit Music Hall
- Sunday, April 28th – Detroit Film Theatre, Alger Theater and Detroit Music Hall
- Sunday, May 19, 2019 – Detroit Film Theatre, Players Playhouse and the Old Redford Theatre
- Sunday, June 2, 2019 – Players Playhouse, Senate Theater and Detroit Music Hall
The Theatres
We’re headed to the three theaters listed on each date above. Here’s the history on each:
Alger Theater
First opened in 1935, the Alger has seen it all. Hosting 1,200 people in its heyday, it was a magnet for the residents of the mid-to-upscale east side of Detroit. The theater has lived many lives including a music venue and a horror cinema. During these middle years, the structure was decaying and approaching abandonment. Now, a group of plucky volunteers are working hard to save the Alger and renovations are currently underway. You’ll get to see one of America’s greatest theaters in the middle of its rebirth.
Detroit Music Hall
Imagine this: in 1928 a woman set out to build a state-of-the-art theater for all people. Today the structure known as the Detroit Music Hall has presented perhaps more performing artists of world renown than any theatre in America.
The Detroit Music Hall stands as the last of Detroit’s remaining authentic stage theaters. Music Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the League of Historic Theaters.
The beautiful and artistic attributes include curved wood-paneled walls, specially designed seats, and multi-tiered lobby dressing rooms to accommodate 100 performers and an orchestra pit for 40 musicians. Many of the original pieces remain functional and in use today.
Detroit Film Theatre
Hidden in the back of the Detroit Institute of Arts and built in 1927, the stunning DFT has featured guests from all over the world, including Amelia Earhart, and recently, Iggy Pop. Another fun fact: all of the 1,200 seats in the theatre are slightly different and vary from 18 to 22 inches in width, so butts of all styles are welcome.
The Redford Theatre
The huuuge Redford Theatre opened in 1928 as a neighborhood movie house and has been operating and entertaining ever since. Now, along with the Fox, it’s one of the last two theaters in metro Detroit with its original theater organ. Its Japanese design motif also underwent substantial restoration and renewal following World War II because it wasn’t really so super popular back then and was covered up for a period of time. It’s back and bigger than ever with probably the best popcorn in town to boot. REAL BUTTER, PEOPLE.
Senate Theater
Opened in 1926 and used primarily as a movie theater, the Senate has seen its share of ups and downs over the years. After a restoration in the 1960s, the theater became the current home of the Detroit Theater Organ Society and a Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, opus #1953 –the eighth largest organ that Wurlitzer ever made. I know, right?
The Historic Players Playhouse
Founded all the way back in 1911 and built in 1925 the Players Playhouse hosts The Fine Arts Society of Detroit and The Theater Arts Club of Detroit. Just like back in Shakespeare’s day all of the roles on stage are played by gentlemen. Plus, they call performances “frolics.” It’s a rare peek inside of a building you’ve probably driven past on Jefferson a million times but never knew what was going on inside.
What exactly am I getting for my bucks?
An All-Access Pass
We’ve secured special access you will not get if you simply go to see a performance or film at one of these venues. That’s a promise.
The Real History
Stories about the history of Detroit as a world-class theater destination while visiting some of the places that contribute to that reputation. We’ll take you backstage, behind the scenes and into the areas most people will never see.
Know-It-All
You’ll leave with new fun theater facts to show off next time you head out to see a show at any one of Detroit’s treasured theaters.
What’s A Ghost Light?
According to Matt Stern, a stage manager with nearly 20 years of Broadway experience, who was quoted by Atlas Obscura: “The superstition around it is that theaters tend to be inhabited by ghosts, whether it’s the ghost of old actors or people who used to work in the building, and ghost lights are supposed to keep those ghosts away so that they don’t get mischievous while everyone else is gone.”
THE DETAILS
What’s the schedule?
- We’re meeting at the Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub at 11AM. They have tasty food and drinks there and open at 10AM, so maybe go early and get your yum on. There is paid parking nearby and free street parking because it’s Sunday.
- We’ll have you back to Foran’s Grand Trunk around 3:00PM. The amount of time spent at each location will vary, but we’ll have a guide with everyone at each stop to ensure no one gets left behind.
- Bring snacks, concessions may be available for purchase at the theaters, but it’s better to be safe than sorry (and hangry).
What’s the refund policy?
We’ll gladly refund your tickets in full seven days prior to the day of the event. After that, there’s no refunds. Sorry to be so mean about it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE THERE GHOSTS?!?
Nope. At least none that we know of. This isn’t a “ghost tour” — the name comes from an old theatre term we describe above.
BUT I WANT THERE TO BE GHOSTS!
Too bad, that’s not a thing. We’re not the History Channel.
Can I make a donation to the theaters we’re visiting?
Absolutely yes! Bring some extra cash with you if you’d like to support these historic theaters because they need your help! We didn’t build in any extra into the cost of the ticket so you get to decide how much you’d like to support them directly.
What happens if I miss the bus? Will the bus wait for me if I’m late?
Unfortunately we can’t hold up the bus for late comers, there’s a schedule we gotta keep. Be on tiiiime.
Can I drink on the bus?
Not for this one folks. Seeing and appreciating some of Detroit’s most protected sites requires sharp minds and deliberate steps.
What about food and soft drinks?
Snacks and soft drinks are cool! We just ask you leave them on the bus when we enter our locations. These locations aren’t plastic-wrapped like grandma’s couch.
What if I can’t show up? Will my friend be able to go instead?
Totally. Just let us know ahead of time via [email protected] and we’ll update your tickets with the new name or send them with your printed tickets.
Will you be selling extra seats at the bus?
Nope. Sorry. All passes gotta be bought online. There’s a limited number of seats and we want you to have plenty of room – no roof riders no matter how cool that might sound.
What about weather SNAFUs?
We live in Michigan. Sometimes Mother Nature likes to throw us a curveball. We keep safety as our highest priority. In case of gnarly weather, you’ll receive an email the day of the event with a raincheck/snowcheck date. If you cannot make the rescheduled date, you’ll get a voucher good for a future tour with us.
Billie McCarthy –
Just did this tour on Sunday (1/20)…was a great tour and definitely recommend it. Raleigh was fun and kept us all moving along and on schedule. I have to say my favorite stop was The Senate. I loved the Wurlitzer and listening to it and seeing all of the parts was pretty cool. Looking forward to the next tour with TDBC!!
Sharon Fisher –
To add to the story of the ghost lights. The last person leaving the stage after a performance was supposed to turn on the light to ward off the spirits
Diana C. –
The magic of some days is hard to articulate.
Another fascinating exploration of Detroit, this time historical theaters, with places, people and histories that will stay with me for a long time….
1. the elegant DIA’s Detroit Film Theatre (hidden inside the DIA)
2. the Senate Theater, home of the Detroit Theater Organ Society(a simply stunning and recently renovated little place) where we watched a live organ performance accompanying Charlie Chaplin’s “The Rink” and had an unforgettable walk inside the pipes of the 8th biggest Wurlitzer organ ever built.
3.Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts , Detroit’s “people’s theater”, the iconic place which presented more performing artists of world renown than any other theatre in America. Where we were lucky enough to have a totally unexpected and inspiring visit from Vince Paul himself, President and Artistic Director. And it was so refreshing to hear him share a focused and purpose-led vision for the theater, for the programming, for the district and for Detroit …
4.Alger Theater, one of the 3 remaining neighborhood theaters in Detroit, that a fantastic foundation is struggling to restore and turn into a community events space, way outside the downtown effervescence.
Thank The Detroit Bus Company, for a tour which went straight to my heart!