If you’ve ever seen Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo, you’ll understand from where Jeff Daniels took his inspiration in naming the garage theater he created in historic, downtown Chelsea, the Washtenaw County village in which he was raised.
New American Theatre
In 2011, the Purple Rose Theatre Company will celebrate its 20th year of giving actors, playwrights and directors from Michigan and the Midwest an opportunity to explore their craft. During that time, the theatre has presented approximately four New American plays a year.
History of Non-Profit Theatre
The Theatre was founded in 1991 from a renovated garage donated by Daniels’ grandfather. A renovation in 1999 gave it some 1930s charm, including a marbled glass chandelier and art deco doors and ticket booth. It retained its intimate feel, however, with a three-quarter thrust stage set amid 168 seats, each of which is less than 20 feet from the stage.
The Purple Rose is a non-profit organization and is run by Daniels and actors participating in the theatre’s Apprenticeship Program. The program takes eight actors each year.
Notable Playwrights
Several of the plays presented by the theatre were written by Jeff Daniels, including Escanaba in the Moonlight. Mitch Albom has also written a couple of plays presented at the Purple Rose, and Steve Martin adapted The Underpants by Carl Sternhein, which was presented at the theatre during its 2003-2004 season.
Classes / Workshops
In addition to the presentation of plays, the Purple Rose offers classes for actors and directors, as well as a Greenhouse Program that gives screenwriters an opportunity to develop their play with actual readings in a theatre setting.
More Information:
- History / Purple Rose Theatre Company
- Purple Rose Theatre Company / Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
