Planet Ant Theatre is growing. Not just in the size of its audience, but physically.
The theater that showcases Metro Detroit's longest running improv show has acquired a banquet hall kitty corner from its black box theater on Caniff Street, and is in the process of transforming it into Planet Ant Hall. While Planet Ant will continue to utilize its theatre for shows, the hall will allow Planet Ant to increase seating capacity for shows and also offer more improv comedy classes.
(Check out
this Model D article on the local improv comedy scene)
The Marquee at Planet Ant in HamtramckConstruction is already underway. The drop ceiling has been torn out but the air conditioning will remain
—an upgrade those familiar with Planet Ant might appreciate today. But a maxed out budget now has Planet Ant turning to the community to help finish the job. Planet Ant has launched
a crowdfunding campaign to raise $55,000. An August 31 deadline has been extended by ten days to help Planet Ant reach its goal.
Michael Hovitch, managing director of Planet Ant, says the money raised will go toward things like sound and lighting equipment, seating, and a renovated floor. The goal is to complete construction by the end of October, the theater's 20th anniversary, and launch the new space with a popular show from Planet Ant's past.
"Planet Ant has been around for a long time and it's become a big part of the community," says Hovitch. "It's a small black box theater but we've been wanting to expand for a while. We've been having more and more success with our classes and want to grow, offer more opportunities for our performers."
It's an impressive list of actors, comedians, and musicians that have come through Planet Ant's doors. Two of the most famous include Jack White, who performed at the Planet Ant Coffee House open mic night, and Keegan-Michael Key, who was a founding member of Planet Ant Theatre and its comedy group.
Planet Ant Coffee House opened in 1993. It transitioned to being a theater three years later.
The Planet Ant Hall crowdfunding campaign is being hosted on
Indiegogo.
Planet Ant Hall is located at 2320 Caniff St. in Hamtramck.
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.