Detroit Public Theatre Opens Inaugural Season with AMERICAN HERO Tonight

The new Detroit Public Theatre will welcome audiences to its premiere production, American Hero, with a grand opening event October 30. The dark comedy, written by Bess Wohl, kicks off the theatre's inaugural season with performances tonight, October 30, through November 22 at the Robert A. and Maggie Allesee Rehearsal Hall inside the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in Midtown Detroit.

Tickets ($35-$45) are on sale now online at www.detroitpublictheatre.org by phone at (313) 576-5111 or in person at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra box office. A complete performance schedule for American Hero and Detroit Public Theatre season schedule follow this release.

Written by Bess Wohl, this dark comedy takes place in a strip mall toasted subs franchise where three up-and-coming "sandwich artists" - a teenager, a single mom and a downsized refugee from corporate banking - are perfecting the mustard-to-cheese ratio according to the company manual. When their shot at the American dream is interrupted by a series of strange events, they become unlikely allies in a post-recession world. American Hero features Milan Malisic (Toronto), Maggie Meyer (Jackson), Lisa Michaels (Bloomfield Hills), and Lynch R Travis (Dearborn) and is directed by Courtney Burkett (Grosse Pointe).

A VIP Grand Opening celebration will accompany the official opening performance of American Hero on Friday, October 30, at 6:00 pm. This exclusive gala event will feature a post-show VIP reception with the cast and company. Tickets for the VIP Grand Opening celebration are $100 and available in person at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra box office or by emailing the Detroit Public Theatre at info@detroipublictheatre.org.

All performances take place at The Robert A. and Maggie Allesee Rehearsal Hall inside the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Avenue, Detroit MI 48201. Tickets ($35-$45) are available now online at www.detroitpublictheatre.org, by phone at (313) 567-5111 or in person at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra box office. Senior and Student discounts are available in person at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra box office.

Detroit Public Theatre's mission is to produce world-class plays and programs with world-class writers, directors, actors and designers in the heart of Midtown's thriving cultural district. The company will produce bold plays that are relevant to Detroit audiences and illuminate the joys, thrills and challenges of our shared human experience.

Founded by Courtney Burkett, formerly the director of theatre programs for Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and co-founder of Breathe Art Theatre Project; Sarah Winkler, a recently transplanted New York producer and ensemble member of the award-winning Off-Broadway theatre company, Epic Theatre Ensemble, and Sarah Clare Coporandy who also maintains her position as Managing Director of Chautauqua Theatre Institute in Southwest New York, Detroit Public Theatre is bolstered with board and advisory members including theatre luminaries from across the nation and Detroit. These include Nina Essman, general manager of the 2015 Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home and GM and Executive Producer of Wicked; Christopher Burney, associate director of New York City's Second Stage Theatre; and Tony Award nominated actors Kathleen Chalfant, Detroit-born Celia Keenan-Bolger and many more.

With support from many of Michigan's theatre leaders, Detroit Public Theatre will strive to bring more local and national attention to the work of the area's brilliant theatre community. "We have an incredible opportunity to bring Detroit in league with cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Washington DC with a great regional theatre that contributes to our culture and artistic vibrancy," states Burkett, "Our area has an incredible pool of Michigan-trained theatre talent and an incredibly sophisticated audience." Winkler adds "We want to keep more artists and audiences here at home rather than losing them to New York, Chicago, and elsewhere."

The Detroit Public Theatre staff also includes Director of Programs Frannie Shepherd-Bates. Shepherd-Bates was the Founding Artistic Director of Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company, which will dissolve as DPT absorbs its successful Shakespeare in Prison program.

Full Season subscriptions are available for tickets to all four Detroit Public Theatre performances and are $100 per person for a Wednesday afternoon, Thursday evening or Sunday afternoon subscription and $140 for a Friday or Saturday evening subscription. Subscription packages are available by calling (313) 576-5111. Group ticket discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by calling (313) 974-7918. Visit www.detroitpublictheatre.org for more information on subscriptions and group sales.

Detroit Public Theatre is a non-profit organization producing world-class plays and programs with world-class writers, directors, actors and designers in the heart of Midtown Detroit's thriving cultural district. Fearless, fresh and made in Detroit, the company's productions illuminate the thrills, joys and challenges of our shared human experience. More information on Detroit Public Theatre and its productions, programs and tickets is available online at www.detroitpublictheatre.org or by calling (313) 974-7918.

Pictured: Lisa Michaels, Milan Malisic, Maggie Meyer and Lynch R. Travis. Photo Credit: Joe Vaughn.?

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