Michigan Theater - Ann Arbor | Kids Out and About Ann Arbor / Detroit <

Michigan Theater - Ann Arbor

Address: 
603 E. Liberty St.
Ann Arbor , MI , 48104
Phone: 734-668-8463
42° 16' 47.1972" N, 83° 44' 31.236" W
Contact name: 
Russ Collins Executive Director
Business/organization type: 
Seasons / holidays: 
The Michigan Theater Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on protecting the historic Michigan Theater and State Theatre located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. The Michigan and State serve as the community’s year-round auditoriums for live events and cinema presentation and film culture.

The historic Michigan Theater opened January 5, 1928 at the peak of the vaudeville/movie palace era. Designed by Maurice Finkel, the 1,710-seat theater cost around $600,000 when it was first built. As was the custom of the day, the theater was equipped to host both film and live stage events, with a full-size stage, dressing rooms, an orchestra pit, and the Barton Theater Organ. At its opening the theater was acclaimed as the best of its kind in the country. Since 1979, the theater has been operated by the not-for-profit Michigan Theater Foundation.

In the fall of 1999, the Michigan Theater opened a new 200-seat screening room addition, which also included expanded restroom facilities for the historic theater.

The Michigan Theater was honored with the 2006 Outstanding Historic Theater Award from the League of Historic American Theaters. The Michigan Theater is only the fourth historic theater in the country so recognized.