Broadway & big houses / Cadillac Square
Gayety Theatre
Closed – archive entry · 1912–1958
Forty-six years of nothing but burlesque: the 1,362-seat Gayety on Cadillac Square ran from 1912 to 1958 and became the Detroit home of the Mutual Burlesque circuit in 1929.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1912
- Closed
- 1958
- Architect
- William H. McElfatrick
- Seats
- 1362
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The 1,362-seat Gayety opened on September 15, 1912, on Cadillac Square at Bates Street. New York theatre architect William H. McElfatrick designed it, though it was long wrongly credited to Fuller Claflin. It presented burlesque for its entire 46-year life, run at one point by Frank Bryan and Frank Engel. In December 1929 it became the Detroit home of the Mutual Burlesque circuit, which moved over from the Palace on Monroe Avenue. It closed on April 10, 1958, and was torn down shortly afterward.
- 46 years, all burlesque
- Detroit home of Mutual Burlesque from 1929
- Designed by New York's William H. McElfatrick
Plan your visit
The Gayety was torn down shortly after it closed in 1958. For live theatre downtown today, see the working stages in our guide.
Theaters nearby
Back to theaters ↗
Opera & dance / Detroit
Detroit Dance Collective
A professional contemporary dance company since 1980, founded by four Wayne State dance grads. In its 47th season (2026–27) it dances fall, winter and spring concerts at the Marlene Boll Theatre downtown.
Campus stages / Detroit
Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre (Detroit Mercy Theatre Company)
University of Detroit Mercy's award-winning company came home to the McNichols campus in 2025, with a brand-new black box in the renovated Student Union. Season 56 brings Eurydice, Born With Teeth and a StarKid musical.
Opera & dance / Detroit
General Motors Theater at the Charles H. Wright Museum (The Wright Performances)
The theater inside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Midtown, home of The Wright Performances. The 2026–27 series brings PHILADANCO!, jessica Care moore, Meshell Ndegeocello and David Rousseve.