DETROIT – August 01, 2017 – The Detroit Repertory Theatre will host a first ever neighborhood Arts & Culture Festival at its home in the geographical center of Detroit on Saturday, August 19, 2017 from 10:30 am to 8:00 pm. This outdoor festival will begin with children’s theater and interactive arts activities, and continue all day, with live music, scenes from the upcoming Detroit Repertory season, community initiatives that include bike repair demonstrations and giveaways for children, gardening demonstrations, a health clinic, a playwriting workshop, dance and yoga classes, a basketball tournament, and more.

This one day special event is produced in partnership with the Theatre’s neighbors and community organizations, Dream of Detroit, the HUDA clinic, the Muslim Center and the HUG community garden. Woodrow Wilson will be closed to traffic for two city blocks from Buena Vista to Tyler in front of the theater. There is plenty of parking on Woodrow Wilson and side streets. There will be activities in multiple areas, on the street, at the garden, and in each organization’s parking lots. The theater lobby will be open for fairgoers to step in, purchase a beverage, meet staff members and learn more about the iconic arts institution. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Ongoing in the street and in the lots will be food and drink vendors, artists, and vendors selling a variety of wares.

The entertainment lineup on the outdoor Detroit Rep stage under a festival tent is as follows:

• 11:00 am – OH Possum’s Tale, original children’s play written by Detroit Rep actor Casaundra Freeman for the theater’s 60th anniversary
• 2:00 pm – Gabriel Brass Band, Mardi Gras style live music
• 3:00 pm – staged readings of scenes from the upcoming Detroit Repertory 2017/18 season
• 4:00 pm – Planet D Nonet, Detroit’s down and dirty swing band
• 6:00 pm – Cee Cee Collins & Friends, Detroit’s Princess of the Blues.

More information may be found at www.detroitreptheatre.com.