Detroit Repertory Theatre

10/12/2026

Everything is gearing up for Season 70 here at the Rep! We made an email announcement at the end of Season 69, brochures hit mailboxes in the summer, and sneak peeks happened at the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration. But maybe you’re still wondering what are the vibes of each of the shows. Well, James, our Outreach Director, and culture connoisseur put together a curated list of music, shows, movies, and books that gibe with each show.
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So if you like those things, then you will like what we’re producing! And if all of them are connecting with you, give us a call at 313-868-1347 to get yourself a subscription so you don’t miss a single show.

10/09/2026

For this Throwback Thursday, we wanted to shout out some recognition for some of the seasons that went on during some difficult times and we were figuring out our way forward.
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In the past, we held the annual Black Tie Gala, which is also when we used to present the Subscriber Awards. When the COVID pandemic began, that annual event came to an end and it took us a moment to figure out where to fit the Subscriber Awards back in. As you may have seen, they're back at the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration, which we are thrilled about, and know you are too!
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So with that, here are the shows that deserve that extra love as well. Particularly because of the way they helped us through some tough times.
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Season 63:
😺 CHANNEL CAT by Joseph Zettelmaier , directed by Harry Wetzel. Cast and crew included Lynch R. Travis, Kayla Von, Ryan Carlson, and Lulu Dahl.
👋 THE PUPPETEER by Desireé York, directed by Casaundra Freeman. Cast and crew included Indigo Colbert, Aaron Kottke, Jayne McLendon, Connie Cowper, and Yolanda Jack.

Season 65:
❓ASKING STRANGERS THE MEANING OF LIFE by William Missouri Downs, directed by Leah Smith. Cast and crew included Harry Wetzel, Jonathan Jones, Hallie Bee Bard, Miles Bond, Tamara PiLar Allen, Jeff Nahan, Mary Copenhage, Burr Huntington, and Daniel Morency.
🌸 NIGHT BLOOMING by Joseph Zettelmaier, directed by Kelly Komlen. Cast and crew included Suzan M. Jacokes, Lexa Maxa, Kelley Rawls, and Yolanda Jack.
🎂 FAIRVIEW by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Will Bryson. Cast and crew included Tamara PiLar, Lynneisha A. Ray, Janai Lashon, Jonathan Jones, Stephen Blackwell, Kylie Ann Stone, Kevin T. Keller, and Annabelle Young.

Season 66:
🌝 LIFE ON THE MOON by Anna Tatelman, directed by Leah Smith. Cast and crew included Dan Johnson, Kelly Eubank, Peter Knox, Aimee K. Bryant, Jabriel Milner, Harry Wtzel, Sandra Glover, Dan Morency, and Burr Hntington.
💎 August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN directed by John Sloan III. Cast and crew included jøn kent, Madelyn Porter, Domonique Byrd, David W. Skillman, Hugh M. Duneghy II, B.J. Love, Dan Johnson, Yolanda Jack, Harry Wetzel, Sandra Landfair Glover, Dan Morency, and Krista Pennington.
📓 TRANSFERS by Lucy Thurber, directed by Kolton Bradley. Cast and crew included Melissa Beckwith, Ural Grant, Marck Kisevelach, David Moy, and Lynch Travis.
😅 SWEAT by Lynn Nottage, directed by Jeff Nahan. Cast and crew included Yolanda Jack, Leah Smith, Annabelle Young, Patrick O'Lear, Will Bryson, Jonathan Jones, Colorgio Romello, Will Street, and Alex Pobutsky.

Season 67
🃏 TOPDOG/UNDERDOG by Suzan Lori-Parks, directed by Yolanda Jack. Cast included Will Bryson and Will Street.
🏠 August Wilson's JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE directed by Lynch Travis. Cast included Lynch R. Travis, Antoine McKay, Yolanda Jack, Dominik Alec Greyson, Will Bryson, Tayler Jones, Janai Lashon, Aaron Kottke, CJ Williams, Jocelyn Letts, Malachi Swain, London Bradley, and Phoenix Jones.
⛷ ANNABELLA IN JULY by Richard Strand, directed by Leah Smith. Cast included Annabelle Young, Antoine McKay, Rosie DeSantis, X'ydee Alexander, and Samer Ajluni
♿ BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Jeff Nahan. Cast included David Westley Skillman, Will Street, John Wolff, Shavonne Coleman, Matt Hollerbach, Sarah Cathryn Wolf, Kate McClain, and Byron Keys.

Season 68:
👞 ALAMO SHOES by Steven Simoncic, directed by Jeff Nahan. Cast and crew included Ana Gomez, Joseph Kolinski, Byron Keys, Jo Jackson, John Alexander Hatcher, Stacey Herring, Antoine McKay, Harold Jurkiewicz, Jamie Hope, Harry Wetzel, Dan Morency, Krista Pennington, Sandra Landfair Glover, and Damian Bullis.
🎺 August Wilson's MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM directed by Casaundra Freeman. Cast and crew included Jeff Nahan, Matt Hollerbach, Antoine McKay, T. Pharaoh Muhammad, Will Bryson, Evan Lewis Smith, Melanie Jones, Muhammed Fawaz, X'ydee Alexander, James Herriotte, Brian Buckner, Harold Jurkiewicz, Cassius Merriweather, Michelle Guernsey-McKay, Jamie Hope, Dan Morency, Krista Pennington, Sandra Landfair Glover, Ddamian Bullis, Katherine Clemons, and Wayne David Parker.
📣 HYSTERICAL! by Elenna Stauffer, directed by Leah Smith. Cast and crew included X'ydee Alexander, Kelly Eubank, Ana Gomez, Tia Hockenhull, Tayler Jones, Jocelyn Letts, Nandi Jack, Harold Jurkiewicz, Michelle Guernsey-McKay, Jamie Hope, Dan Morency, Krista Pennington, Sandra Landfair Glover, and Damian Bullis.
💌 COVENANT by York Walker, directed by Will Bryson. Cast and crew included X'ydee Alexander, Kayla Von, Jesse Boyd-Williams, Kate McClaine, Jarquita Evans, Harold Jurkiewicz, Michelle Guernsey-McKay, Moníka Essen, Neil Koivu, Krista Pennington, Sandra Landfair Glover, Damian Bullis, Jamie Hope, Drew Hall, and Katherine Clemons.

10/06/2026

We can't stop thinking about the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration! It was so much fun seeing so many of our friends come through. And those sneak peeks! Everyone was on the edge of their seats just to get a taste of what's to come this season.
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And who could forget the incredible music from Gabriel Brass Band? What a treat!
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Were you there? What are you still thinking about?
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10/02/2026

In addition to bringing back the Subscriber Awards at the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration this year, we also awarded the inaugural Spirit of the Rep award. This award is meant to honor unparalleled service and generosity to the Rep.
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We’re thrilled to present this inaugural Spirit of the Rep award to Michael Joseph!
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Michael first came to the Rep as a theatre student in the 1970s and then went on to act in and work on numerous plays over the next 40 years. He is one of the loudest cheerleaders and most active champions of the Rep; everywhere he goes, he talks about this theatre.
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While his schedule is one of the busiest you’ll have ever seen, he still makes it a point to come to every single opening night to take pictures and do the video archive recordings of every single show for decades.
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Generosity. Service. Joy. Love. Kindness. Activism. Art. Unity. These are the Rep’s values and Michael Joseph embodies them as well.
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Thank you, Michael Joseph; your generosity has been a big part of keeping the Rep alive and thriving.

09/30/2026

After a hiatus for the last few years, we’ve brought back the Rep’s Subscriber Awards! If you missed the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration, you missed the award presentation, but we want to make sure you know who everybody’s favorites are.
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Favorite Production: August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON directed by Janai Lashon
Favorite Actors:
Delanti Hall as Boy Willie (August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON) (award accepted on his behalf by his mother)
Rosie DeSantis as Corrina / Wally’s waiters / bank customers (PRIMARY TRUST)
X’ydee Alexander as The Girl (ECLIPSED)
Will Bryson as Doaker (August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON)
Favorite Set Design: ECLIPSED by Drew Hall
Favorite Sound Design: August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON by Krista Pennington
Favorite Costume Design: August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON by Sandra Glover
Favorite Lighting Design: August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON by Dan Morency
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And we had some fun with the awards!
Favorite Crash Outs:
Kenneth at the bank in PRIMARY TRUST
Wining Boy about Cleotha in August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON
Best Entrance: The Girl under the tub in ECLIPSED
Longest Intermission: August Wilson’s THE PIANO LESSON
Best Show Themed Cocktails:
“Right on Tai” & “The Bert” for PRIMARY TRUST
“Manifest Destiny” & “Art is Not Cake” for SPIT IN YOUR FACE

09/28/2026

🎭 We had the sneak peeks of the shows at the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration over the weekend and we wanted to make sure you all knew the amazing line-up of shows we have for Season 70. Tickets for all shows are on sale now (detroitreptheatre.com/tickets)! Or get yourself a subscription by giving us a call and ensure that you won't miss any!

🧁 Kicking off the season is WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID by Sarah Treem. In the early 1970s, Agnes has turned her quiet bed and breakfast into one of the few spots where victims of domestic violence can seek refuge. A powerful look at feminism, survival, and solidarity. Running November 6 to December 13., 2026.

🐝 Then, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner PURPOSE by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins will come to life on our mainstage. For decades, the Jasper family has been a pillar of Black American politics. A searing and surprisingly funny story of a proud American family whose complex legacy is put on full display over the course of a single shattering evening. Running January 8 to March 14, 2027.

🤠 The third show of the season is the world premiere of RODEO CLOWN by the Rep's own Will Street. Twenty-five year old Jonah Moody is thinking about ending it all. He hears an ad for a rodeo clown school and leaves Detroit for a little town called Death, Texas hoping to conquer his fears while facing down 1000-pound bulls. Running April 2 to May 2, 2027.

🎸 Finally, we're continuing our production of the American Century Cycle with August Wilson's SEVEN GUITARS. In the backyard of a Pittsburgh tenement in 1948, friends gather to mourn a blues guitarist and singer who died just as his career was on the verge of taking off. Running May 21 to June 27, 2027.

09/28/2026

The stories of other arts organizations tumultuous ride with the NEA over the last year and half are similar to our own. From unexpected grant terminations to confusing grant guidelines, the changes at the NEA are still ongoing and will impact the art that is made.

The National Endowment for the Arts has survived decades of attacks and cuts, even two Trump elections. But at what cost?

09/19/2026

Next week! We cannot wait to see you at the Season Launch & Homecoming Celebration. We're particularly excited about the return of the Subscriber Awards.

If you were a subscriber during Season 69 or you saw all four shows, be sure to check your email. You should have received a ballot to vote for your favorite actors, set, lighting, costume, and sound designs. We'll be tallying up the votes and presenting the winners at the party. You won't want to miss this!