This week on One Detroit: 

Michigan’s independent movie theaters are finding alternative ways to stay alive

Southeast Michigan has been home to hundreds of movie theaters over the years. Several of them have closed their doors but some remain open, finding new ways to bring in revenue and keep the foot traffic flowing. Among those still open is the renowned Redford Theatre, which opened in 1928 in northwest Detroit.

“We really do try to create an experience here as much as we can going to the movies like you would have in the 1940s and 50s,” said John Monaghan, a film expert and volunteer at the Redford. Theater visitors can also buy merchandise related to the movies and participate in a 50/50 raffle to help keep the theater’s doors open.  

About 45 minutes west of Detroit, in Livingston County, is the Historic Howell Theater. Like the Redford Theatre, the independent movie house also opened in 1928 and features independent movies, but to help keep filling the cashbox, owner Tyler DePerro hosts other events too. “We’ve had concerts, improv comedy, we have church here every Sunday in this theater,” DePerro said. 

Then, there’s the Alger Theatre on Detroit’s east side. The beloved theater has sat idle for nearly four decades, but today the nonprofit Friends of the Alger is trying to give the theater new life. Friends of the Alger keeps the theater’s bills paid by renting out the theater’s marquee, which serves as a community billboard. The nonprofit hopes the theater can be revived as a community gathering space. 

One Detroit’s Chris Jordan and Bill Kubota visit some of metro Detroit’s remaining movie theaters to learn how independent cinema is surviving in the post-COVID, streaming-centric world. Plus, Jordan talks with Monaghan, DePerro and Grant about why saving these old theaters is so important, now and into the future.  

Pulitzer Prize-winning play ‘Fat Ham’ opens Detroit Public Theatre’s 10th anniversary season

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Fat Ham” has launched the 10th anniversary season at Detroit Public Theatre, offering a fresh take on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” through a modern lens. Set against the backdrop of a family cookout, “Fat Ham” intertwines themes of love, loss, and the search for identity in the face of societal pressures. It runs through Nov. 3.

The play, written by James Ijames, centers on Juicy, a Black queer man navigating the complexities of family and identity as he is confronted by the ghost of his father who demands vengeance for his murder. Juicy is played by native Detroiter Duane Shabazz. The cast also includes X’ydee Alexander as Opal, Charles Curtis as Tio, Niki Rochelle as Tedra, Erik Hernandez as Larry, Roosevelt Johnson as Pap/Rev, and Janai Lashon as Rabby. 

Host Stephen Henderson talks with Shabazz, who reflects on his journey to an acting career and shares insights into how his background and personal experiences shaped his approach to the role. Detroit Public Theatre Marketing Manager Garlia Jones also joins the discussion, emphasizing the significance of opening the season with this groundbreaking play. They both talk about what it means to them to bring “Fat Ham” to Detroit.

Actor Jeff Daniels debuts new Michigan-based comedy “Office Christmas Party, Grinch In Fight With Rudolph, Police Called’

Acclaimed film, television, and Broadway actor Jeff Daniels has a special connection to the Michigan theater community. He’s the founder and artistic director of The Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, where he grew up. And now, his new workplace comedy “Office Christmas Party, Grinch In Fight With Rudolph, Police Called,” makes its world debut on the theater’s stage. The play runs through Dec. 22, 2024. 

“Office Christmas Party” was inspired by a real-life news headline, which Daniels later paraphrased. The headline grabbed Daniels’ imagination, and he developed it into a wholly fictional story about a struggling Michigan fudge company that suddenly finds itself the subject of a viral video sensation when a disagreement between two costumed employees at the company holiday party spirals out of control.

Daniels founded The Purple Rose in 1991 to cultivate theater talent in Michigan. During the theater’s 33-year history, he has debuted more than 20 of his original plays there.

One Detroit’s Chris Jordan caught up with Daniels to discuss the new play, his creative process and how professional experiences inspired The Purple Rose Theatre Company’s vital approach to developing original plays. Daniels also talks about the art of writing for Michigan audiences, and his desire for plays at The Purple Rose to speak directly to the state’s communities, telling stories that will resonate with them and make them laugh. Plus, he shares a preview of the theater’s upcoming 2024-2025 season. Watch the extended interview here.

Things to do in Detroit this weekend: October 18, 2024 

Description: It’s a theater-filled weekend in and around Detroit this weekend with productions at the Tipping Point Theatre in Northville, Detroit Public Theatre, Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak and the Detroit Opera House. Plus, Stevie Wonder performs at Little Caesars Arena, 97.9 WJLB presents the All-Star Comedy Festival, and there’s an upcoming Detroit Artists Market art auction. See what else is happening around the region this weekend on “One Detroit Weekend.”