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Campus stages / Midtown (Wayne State campus, corner of Cass and W Forest)

Hilberry Gateway (Wayne State University Theatre and Dance)

Wayne State's $65 million performing arts complex at Cass and Forest: a proscenium STAGE and a black box STUDIO with about 20 shows a year. The 2026–27 season brings The Crucible, Blood at the Root, Scrooge! and HAIR.

Tickets ↗Full lineup on the venue’s site ↗(313) 577-2972
The black, glass-walled Hilberry Gateway building with its vertical HILBERRY GATEWAY lettering, still fenced off for construction

Saul Vielmetti · CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick facts

Opened
2023
Seats
STAGE proscenium about 400-450 (venue page gives both figures) + STUDIO black box 150-170
Resident companies
Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance (Wayne State University) · Michigan Shakespeare Festival (summer 2026 season)

What makes it special: STAGE: proscenium with a 3,200 sq ft stage, sprung dance floor, orchestra lift and 20x20 trap. STUDIO: 50x60 ft flexible black box with tension grid. 6,500 sq ft lobby with box office, coat room and Shibam Coffee Co. cafe; outdoor performance and reception space opening to Cass Avenue; production wing with scene, costume, props and lighting shops. The renovated former Hilberry Theatre on the same site is now the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.

01 / Playbill

Now on stage

Announced lineup

What the venue announced on its own site when we last checked (2026-09-26). Click through for exact times and tickets.

Full lineup on the venue’s site ↗

02 / The story of this place

Make time for these

The Hilberry Gateway is Wayne State University's $65 million performing arts complex in Midtown and home of the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance. The proscenium STAGE opened in April 2023 with Cabaret, and the flexible STUDIO followed in May 2023 with Sarah Ruhl's Orlando. It replaced the Bonstelle Theatre and absorbed the 1917 church that housed the Hilberry Theatre from 1964 to 2022, now the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center. The department puts up about 20 shows and 100 performances a year; in 2026–27 that includes Scrooge! on December 4–20, 2026, The Crucible from March 5 to April 3, 2027 and HAIR on April 9–25, 2027. In summer 2026 the Michigan Shakespeare Festival played its season here, too.

  • Proscenium STAGE with orchestra lift, plus a black box
  • Scrooge!: December 4–20, 2026 on the STAGE
  • Lobby cafe from Shibam Coffee Co.

Plan your visit

The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, 2 to 6 p.m., with longer hours before performances; STAGE seats are reserved, STUDIO is general admission. Adult tickets run $30 for plays and dance and $35 for musicals. Park on the street with the Park Detroit app or in a nearby paid lot such as WSU Parking Structure 8.

Box office

313-577-2972, boxoffice@wayne.edu; Tuesday through Friday 2 to 6 p.m., plus extended hours before performances. STAGE seating is reserved, STUDIO is general admission.

Ticket prices

Plays and dance: adults $30, seniors 62+ and WSU alumni and employees $25, students $20. Musicals: $35, $30 and $20 (fees included). Season: Gateway or Pick 6 package, adult $129, senior $105, student $60.

Age policy

Varies by show (One Monkey Don't Stop No Show is recommended for ages 14+).

Accessibility

Barrier-free entrance through the Cass Avenue doors; book wheelchair seating online or through the box office. Accessible and gender-neutral restrooms at the north end of the lobby, an elevator to the STAGE upper level, and assisted hearing headsets at all season performances.

Parking

Street parking with the Park Detroit app, or paid lots: Park N Lock on Cass between Forest and Hancock, lots at Hancock and Cass and on Forest between Cass and Woodward, and WSU Parking Structure 8 (91 W. Forest).

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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.

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