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Wayne State students will soon have a new theater a few blocks from campus.
The Detroit Public Theater, a nationally recognized theater project in Detroit, is building a 200-seat theater in a former English muffin factory on Third Avenue in Midtown.
WSU alumna Sarah Clare Corporandy received her MFA from the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance in 2007 and helped found DPT in 2015, according to its website.
“I lived in Cass Corridor in college, and I always wanted to give back,” Corporandy said. “We want to create a space for us to share our stories with each other through our artist residency program.”
Dubbed the “Third Avenue Garage,” the 7,500-square-foot building is where DPT will pilot its first residency program and new theater location this fall.
John Sloan III, artistic director of Obsidian Theatre Festival/Ghostlight Productions, said the space is suitable for all forms of artistic creation.
“It’s a particularly productive space; it’s electrically functional, capable of supporting lighting and sound equipment, changing rooms, restrooms, entertainment spaces and seating,” Sloan said.
Corporandy said the proximity to WSU should benefit the arts and culture in the Cass corridor.
“It’s always been our dream that when we get big enough[to move into a bigger space]we’ll … provide residencies for other performing arts organizations,” said production art director Sarah Winkler.
Winkler said the program will offer one fully subsidized residence and two partially subsidized residences. Artists in residence will have access to a black box theater, two dressing rooms, lighting and projection equipment.
“(In the future) we hope to get some funding and sponsorship so that we can welcome more arts organizations and have longer residencies,” Winkler said.
Winkler said the theater has received application forms expressing interest in the program.
Applications are welcome in all art forms, including dance, opera, drama, performing arts, literary arts/spoken language, puppets, music and film.
The goal of the space, Sloan said, is to provide a stage for the organization and a variety of artists for the community.
“This space is accessible to everyone who lives in this city, everyone who wants to create art, and knows it’s a place where they can come here, feel safe and be able to make their own work,” he said.
Corporandy said the site is full of diversity and significant because of its connection to the cultural center.
“I love being close to Wayne State, we can only do good things by being close to them,” she said. “I met my husband at Hillberry, and now, it’s time for me to thank Detroit by starting the Third Avenue Garage.”
The Third Avenue Garage will open in September, with an occupancy decision until October 1.
Grace Reyes is a contributing writer for Southside.she can be gv6926@wayne.edu.
Cover photo of Grace Reyes.
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