8 - The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Thursday, September 23, 1993 The renaissance of theater in downtown Detroit While Detroit may not be the rst stop for national touring companies, it manages to hold its own as By MELISSA ROSE BERNARDO The opening of the Second City comedy club is an indication that De- troit is on its way up again. Within just the past few years Detroiters have witnessed the restoration of the Fox and the Gem Theaters, along with the virtual resuscitation of all-but-dead past seasons at the Fisher Theater and Masonic Temple. Some exciting pro- ductions await Detroit theatergoers, and with a little imagination, and a lot of faith, Detroit will come to life once again. Detroit has the second-largestnum- ber of theater seats in the country (second to the Big Apple, of course), and at the center is the Fisher Theater. In 1989, the Fisher played host to the national tour of "Les Misdrables," which was a huge step for the Detroit theater scene. The show opened in 1987, and two years and eight Tony awards later, it had finally made its way to Detroit. It was so well-re- ceived by audiences that it returned the next two years. And it will return this December for another engage- ment. Last winter the Masonic Temple presented "The Phantom of the Op- era," Andrew Lloyd-Webber's six- Tony-winning smash. Finally! No longer did Detroit theatergoers have to make a four-hour trek to see the Canadian man with the mask (and none of that hassle at the border, ei- ther). And in just a little over a year from now, "Miss Saigon" will play the Masonic. (With one of the largest stage spaces in the country, the Masonic can accommodate the huge helicopter that "Saigon" demands. In Toronto, Cana- dians built a $27 million theater for the show.) "Cats," the musical that just turned 10 years old, has played both the Fisher and Fox Theaters in the past. Last season the Fisher brought us "The Secret Garden" and "The Will Rogers Follies" (with Keith Carradine and Dee Hoty, of the original Broadway cast) - both multiple Tony-winners. (Do you see a pattern here?) This season "The Who's 'Tommy"' will hit Detroit with a smash. In addi- tion, 1992's Best Musical "Crazy for You" will be here in February the rollicking "Five Guys Named Moe" Within Just the past few years Detroiters have witnessed the restoration of the Fox and the Gem Theaters, along with the virtual resuscitation of all-but- dead past seasons at the Fisher Theater and Masonic Temple. in April and "Evita" has just begun its run at the Fisher. In addition to the various films and concerts it regularly presents, the Fox Theater presents numerous Broadway musicals - most notably the national tour of "Guys and Dolls" with Lorna Luft, "Gypsy," "A Chorus Line" and (just recently) "Jesus Christ Super- a theatrical haven star" with film stars Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. And let's not forget that "Forbidden Broadway" played to sellout crowds for over a year at the Gem Theater. The big stuff does come to Detroit - we just have to wait a while for it. When dealing with national tours of a show, here goes the chain of command (i.e. the route shows travel): (London) - New York City - Los An- geles - Chicago - Boston - Washing- ton D.C. - Toronto - Detroit. Of course, depending on the producer, there is some variation in this chain, but what doesn't vary is Detroit's position - usually dead last among the big cities. Does this mean that Detroit isn't good enough for big productions? Produc- ers need to realize that Detroit's the- ater audiences are just as vital and just as intelligent as Chicago audiences, or Boston audiences. The physical rebuilding of Detroit is a signal to the theater scene. Detroit's future is bright and shining and full of the promise to nurture a theater scene as brilliant as New York's. Close your eyes. (Not just yet -finish the article first.) Can you hear the roar of the crowd? Smell the greasepaint? See the white lights. Hear the hum of the orchestra. Welcome to Detroit. 01 0 "Tommy" is just one of the few Tony-winning Broadway productions to hit Detroit. HARRY'S( DEAR BORN1 ANN ARBOR ARMY.St/NP/iLUS Protect yourself and your 'L V I U } N CL Astrology Psychic & Card Readings Available for groups & party readings $10 off any reading with college ID Call 668-1618 201 E. Liberty St. Ann Arbor A - NEWVIOOIIIE'f l l MARIJUANA IN HOLLAND "WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS" THE DUTCH MORAL MAJORITY SPEAK 0 Bodyguard 2000 Pepper Spray ved ones with Legal in Michigan Reg. $14.88 NOW $10.88 A 70 MINUTE VIDEO EXPLORATION OF DUTCH SOCIETY AFTER 15 YEARS OF "ALMOST LEGAL" MARIJUANA. DUTCH WORKING PEOPLE, BOTH POT USERS AND NON-USERS ALIKE, VOICE THEIR OPINION IN ENGLISH. 7rOCT TWu MID M A=cURAItMN M AAIL 01V0. kSKNO IS16.95 c.u CK/M.O. -.NINTH ARICLK-PI ACTIONS 6962 col~b,. Ave. 0198 Dept. DM IAMI BEACH. 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