Famous people's places / Hamtramck, MI

Planet Ant Theatre

A Hamtramck arts collective founded in 1993 that grew into a black-box comedy and improv theater, with comedian Keegan-Michael Key among its early builders.

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Planet Ant began in 1993 as an artists' collective on Caniff Avenue in Hamtramck, running out of a shared coffeehouse space. In 1996 its members, including a young Keegan-Michael Key, converted the coffeehouse into a black-box theater, giving Detroit-area improvisers and sketch performers a home stage of their own. Key, who would go on to Mad TV and the Comedy Central hit Key and Peele, was one of the group most closely associated with building Planet Ant into a working theater. Later members and students of its programs include comedians Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson, both of whom went on to national television careers. Planet Ant continues to operate today as a nonprofit theater staging comedy, improv and original plays.

Founded as an artists' collective in 1993
Converted into a black-box theater in 1996
Keegan-Michael Key helped build the theater in its early years
Later alumni include Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson
Still an active theater in Hamtramck

Famous Detroiters

Famous people tied to this place 3

Lexicon entries for the people who lived, worked, performed or liked to spend time here.

Keegan-Michael Key born 1971 · actor, comedian, writer, producer
Founded
Arts collective founded in 1993; Key helped convert its coffeehouse into a black-box theater in 1996. Alumni include Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson.
Sam Richardson born 1984 · actor, comedian, writer, producer
Performed here
Hamtramck black-box theater and improv school that lists Richardson among the actors who got their start there.
Tim Robinson born 1981 · comedian, actor, writer
Performed here
Hamtramck black-box theater and improv school that counts Robinson among the actors who started there.