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ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

T

wo major moves in 
progress dramatize the 
six-year success of the 
Detroit Public Theatre (DPT) 
— the move into a larger space 
and the move of its first com-
missioned play from Motown to 
Broadway.
Sarah Winkler, a longtime 
New York stage professional 
who partnered with local stage 
professionals and 
community leaders 
to establish DPT, 
mustered through 
the pandemic by 
collaborating on 
plans for the new 
7,000-square-foot facility and 
proudly tracking the devel-
opment of Broadway-bound 
Birthday Candles.
DPT, which had been housed 
in a 150-seat venue at the Max 
M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music 
Center in Midtown, is moving 
three blocks away to occupy its 

own building on Third Avenue, 
and it is scheduled to open in 
the spring of 2022 with a seat-
ing capacity of 200.
Birthday Candles, writ-
ten by Grand Rapids native 
Noah Haidle and enhanced 
with music by Kate Hopgood 
of Ypsilanti, opens in the 
American Airlines Theatre on 
Broadway in a similar time-
frame. Premiering 
director Vivienne 
Benesch will continue 
with the new produc-
tion, starring Debra 
Messing (Will and 
Grace).
“The leadership at the Detroit 
Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 
had recognized the need for a 
theater, like the Detroit Public 
Theatre, in the cultural district 
so they welcomed and incu-
bated us so generously,
” said 
Winkler, producing artistic 
director with acting and admin-

istrative experience. 
“We shared our space with 
the education programs at the 
DSO, and the leadership of 
the DPT and the DSO always 
knew at some point DPT could 
outgrow the space. Our theater 
programming was growing 
exponentially at the same time 
the outstanding education pro-
grams of the DSO were growing 
exponentially.
”
To celebrate the new space, 
DPT has scheduled a free 
Summer Block Party with food, 
entertainment and games 2-10 
p.m. Saturday, July 10.

BIG PLANS
The DPT, which launched soon 
after Winkler’s family moved 
to Michigan, partnered with 
Courtney Burkett and Sarah 
Clare Corporandy, all holding 

the title of producing artis-
tic director. Burkett, former 
director of theater programs 
at Mosaic Youth Theatre, has 
worked as an actress, director, 
administrator and teacher. 
Corporandy continues as 
managing director of the 
Chautauqua Theater Company 
in New York. Playwright 
Dominique Morisseau recently 
joined the leadership team.
“Right now, we have a full-
time staff of seven, and we’re 
going to expand to a full-time 
staff of 10,
” Winkler said. “We’ll 
be hiring a general manager, 
facilities manager and connec-
tivity and engagement manager 
to develop even more program-
ming for outreach to audiences.
”
Plans are being made for a 
2021-22 season to be performed 
at different area venues, adding 

Detroit Public Theatre to move 
to its own new, larger venue.

A Midtown 
Success Story

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AHRON FOSTER

The Detroit Public Theatre leadership team: 
Sarah Clare Corporandy, Sarah Winkler, 
Dominique Morisseau and Courtney Burkett 

The new DPT 
building before 
and after.

COURTNEY BURKETT

