Courtesy Detroit Metro CVB
Great theater entertainment may be closer than you think.
Everyone loves a good show, and theater has become a fixture of cities and towns all across North America. And although you can easily find a community theater or dinner theater just about everywhere you go, some places have grown their performance scenes to become full-fledged theater destinations.
In cities from Toronto to Houston, neighborhoods, downtowns and other areas have become thriving theater and entertainment districts, giving groups the opportunity to choose from a variety of shows and other fine-arts performances. These areas also often have much more than theater, with attractions, retail and restaurants that help round out the ideal theater trip.
Here’s a look at some of the great theater destinations, large and small, your group will find throughout North America.
Detroit
The Foxtown neighborhood has become Detroit’s headquarters for all things cultural. Visitors will find theater, performing arts and other options to satisfy a range of tastes.
“The center of Foxtown is the Fox Theatre, and right down the street is the State Theater,” said Deanna Majchrzak, media relations specialist for the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Also in walking distance is the Michigan Opera House and Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. There’s a range of shows: Broadway shows, musical performances, and things for kids, teens and adults.”
The Fox Theatre welcomes a variety of touring productions, concerts and other entertainers. Groups can arrange to take a behind-the-scenes tour, during which they’ll walk on stage and see a backstage wall signed by hundreds of performers who have played there through the years. The tour also includes stories about the Fox family and the ghosts that are said to inhabit the building.
Groups that go to see a show in the district will find plenty else to do while they’re there. Baseball games at Comerica Park are always popular with visitors, as is free time at the Detroit Riverfront and Campus Martius Park.
“Our Riverwalk has been completely revitalized,” Majchrzak said. “There’s a carousel, concessions, and special festivals and events. They also have bike rentals and can do bike tours for groups.”
