The Hilberry Gateway is the future performance home for the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance and the Department of Music, currently under construction at the corner of Cass and Forest. It will house two state-of-the-art theatres with 21st-century technology design, the production facilities and the Gretchen Valade Jazz Center.
Opening Fall 2022
Hilberry Gateway
- A 550-seat proscenium theatre and an up-to 250-seat black box theatre
- The 350-seat Gretchen Valade Jazz Center (the renovated Hilberry Theatre at Cass and Hancock), plus the 110-seat Jazz Underground
- Outdoor performance and reception space between the two theatre buildings that opens to Cass Avenue
Scroll to the bottom to view construction photo updates .

Image Gallery
Layout
Click each image to view a high-resolution PDF of the groundplan.
Specifications
Proscenium theatre with 550 seats
- 38’ wide x 26’ high proscenium opening
- 32,000 sq. ft. of stage space
- a built-in sprung dance floor
- 19’ wide wings spaces left and right
- 20’ x 20’ trap
- Orchestra lift
Black box theatre with up to 250-seats
- 50’ x 60’ space
- A built-in sprung dance floor
- Flexible seating arrangement
- 18’ wire tension grid
Gretchen Valade Jazz Center
- An extensive renovation of the Hilberry Theatre
- 350 seats (with increased leg room)
- Outstanding acoustics
- Renovated and expanded restrooms
- Star dressing rooms
- Choral and Orchestra dressing rooms
- Elevator access to restrooms and lower level
- Underground Jazz Café on the lower level
6,500 sq. ft. lobby
- Box Office
- Coat room
- Café
- Expansive restrooms
22,800 sq. ft. Production Wing
- 8,000 sq. ft. Scene Shop including
- Metal shop
- Scene painting deck
- CNC (Computer Numerical Control) room
- 4,400 sq. ft. Costuming Area
- Dye room
- Craft room
- Private fitting rooms
- Spray paint booth
- Lighting and Sound Shop
- Properties Shop
- Design Studio
- Dressing Rooms
- Actor warm-up room
- Greenroom
Updates
Check back here for updates on construction including our livecam, news, and images.
For more information about supporting this new home for performing arts in Detroit, contact Alison Piech Linn.