Photo Credit: (left to right) John Diebel, Ann Diebel and Bob Blaty in 1967's THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE
Grosse Pointe Theatre - The History and Legacy
In 1947 and 1948, Grosse Pointe Theatre's founder, the late Russel Werneken, went door to door to secure funds to create a community theatre for Grosse Pointe area residents. His vision was to offer close-to-home, quality theatrical productions. His goals were to procure a permanent home for these productions, to fill it to capacity for each performance, to foster excitement and love of drama in young people, and to create and earn a national reputation for award-winning theatre.
Now, more than a half-century later, his vision has been realized, thanks to the hard work of enough people to fill a stage many times over. From a humble nucleus of 38 charter members who had faith in Werneken's vision, Grosse Pointe Theatre has grown in membership to nearly 450 people of all ages, from all walks of life and from all areas of the metropolitan area. Our audience has increased to nearly 3,000 season ticket holders. Proudly, GPT receives no private or public grants to sustain our operation; our primary income is from ticket sales.
Founded in 1947, our first production the following year was Clarence by Booth Tarkington. Without permanent rehearsal or performance space in the early years, we rehearsed in members' basements and churches, and performed wherever space was available. Venues included Cannon Memorial Center (Cadieux and Warren), Grosse Pointe (South) High School, Pierce Middle School, Kerby Elementary School, the old Neighborhood Club and outside on the steps of the Alger House (complete with fish flies!) at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial before the Fries Auditorium was built in the early 1960s. Fries became our permanent performance facility.
Then, finally, the long search for our own rehearsal and storage space resulted in the 1981 acquisition of the historic building at 315 Fisher Road. A complete renovation changed the old abandoned nursing facility into our new home with a community grand opening on August 7, 1982. The need for additional space soon became obvious, however, and an addition was built several years later at the rear of the building to house Scene Shop building and painting facilities, as well as additional costume storage space.
In 1995, we invested in a computer system and renovation of the front reception "Red Room" to provide office and box-office space accessible to the public for purchasing tickets on Saturday mornings. During the summer of 1998, we made a considerable investment in replacing the floor in our rehearsal hall, giving our performers and dancers a hardwood floor on which to rehearse. And during the spring of 2004, we replaced the original hot water and radiator heating in the building with more comfortable and efficient forced-air heating and air conditioning.
Our partnership with the Grosse Pointe War Memorial where our productions are staged grows stronger each year. In 2004, we began a five-year effort to raise $50,000 for their Access for All Elevator fund. This addition to the War Memorial complex provides barrier-free access to the auditorium for our members and patrons.
Grosse Pointe Theatre has come a long way in the first 60 seasons and our success suggests that the future will be just as wonderful and filled with great theatre for our members, for our audiences and for the community. Just what Russ Werneken had in mind!
Click here to see our past seasons, all the way back to the beginning!