Saw the afternoon performance of Cabaret at the Inspire Theater in Westland on April 13. What an…read moreabsolutely wonderful interpretation especially with the current world environment. Each of the actors/actresses were phenomenal in their roles. But I have to do a shout out to Daniel Watson as his "Emcee" role was nothing short of Tony worthy. It haunts me, in a good way, weeks later. What a find for that role. I feel sorry for those who were not able to get tickets due to a complete sellout because this production was first rate. So happy I discovered this theater gem a few years back. The theater is getting ready for a new production "Death Trap" which will run March 29-April 14. Do yourself a favor and be on the lookout for tickets. You won't regret it.

First class performances that are better than should be expected from a community theater.read more

Was seeking a local gym for classes while visiting the area and came across this place not too far…read morefrom the hotel that we're staying at. So happy I did! Drop in rate is 10.00 per class. A variety of classes are offered 7 days a week but unfortunately this past Sunday's were cancelled due to some special event they had (website's schedule is up to date). To book a class is super easy; choose which class you want and it tells you how many open spots are left. You pay via credit card and receive an email confirmation. Upon arrival you just go to either of the studios where the classes are held. I booked a spin class and the instructor came up to introduce herself and asked my name and said she saw it on her roster. As for the class, it was very good and the instructor (Jill) was super nice and chatted with her a bit after. Facility is very clean and the bikes were in excellent condition. The only con is it is very hard to find as there is no signage indicating where the center is located (you see the theater upon arrival). I stopped and asked what appeared to be some city road/construction workers and one was able to give me directions. Saw the building with a huge parking lot and assumed that was it as I saw some people going in who were in workout gear and carrying gym bags. Once you initially find it you are good to go and know what/where to go.

I just received an email from Dearborn Parks and Rec regarding my gym membership. I've been a…read morefaithful member of this gym for several years. It's understandable that they need to raise the rates but it's more than a quarter higher than what it initially used to be. In addition to that they're charging a $40 nonrefundable enrollment fee. All these cost combine make it un affordable for the majority of people in the city. I can see increasing the rates but to add a $40 enrollment fee for something that takes the lady behind the desk 30 seconds to issue. Your enrollment fee is ridiculous. I will be seeking my membership elsewhere and it's such a shame because the facility itself is beautiful, although I'm also frustrated with staff that they don't enforce handwashing or wiping down the machines after use so increasing risk of staph, Mrsa, and other illnesses and disease

The parking spots in this neighbourhood say "Citizens and Permanent Residents Only." So where…read moreshould an illegal "Alien Park." Hmm. Wouldn't be surprised (in this part of town) if that was actually true. This Center for the Arts is shiny and new and is attached to the high school here. It looks gorgeous from the outside and perfectly acceptable from the inside. Very new. It's a great addition to one of my favorite neighbourhoods in Detroit and just around the corner from some of the best pizza places in town. Try Primo's and BC's.

The Down River Youth Performing Arts Center is a very nice venue. The lobby is well appointed and…read morepleasant to be in. The theater is a perfect size. It provides the theatrical experience as well as enabling a close connection between the audience and the performers. The equipment is in good condition and the theater itself is attractive and interesting. I enjoyed the masks that were contained in wall cabinets around the theater. When going to this theatre take some consideration for parking. It is in a mixed residential and commercial area. There is some parking in the commercial area but you may find it more convenient to park in the neighborhood. It is an easy walk to the theater from throughout the area. I enjoyed a performance of Willy Wonka. The sound system was very good. The lighting was a pleasure. All in all it was an enjoyable evening and I am looking forward to the next event at the Down River Youth Performing Arts Center.

Just signed up for our first run at youth performing theatre. So far, the instructors are very…read morepatient, the front desk is organized, and the classes are not overfilled. I was very happy to see that the bathrooms are very well kept, especially with so many children running around. This theatre offers children's performing arts classes starting at 8/9 am until 4pm with a lunch break. The price is a little bit more then I expected, but the course runs for 6 weeks. I paid $185 for two 45 minute classes. At the end, the children perform their play on stage. Check out their website for both children's and adult performances and audition dates. It is a really cool environment for kids.

A friend of mine snagged the lead role in The Full Monty as part of the Downriver Actors Guild's…read moreseries "Theatre on the Edge". Edgy it was! There is a nice open lobby where you can hang out before the show, grab some refreshments (at super-reasonable prices) and meet the actors after the performance. I purchased my tickets online a couple weeks before the show. It was simple and the processing fee was only $1.25 in addition to the ticket price. A small fee to reserve tickets for what ended up being a sold-out show! Ushers directed us to our seats, which were plush and had an excellent view (row 4). The problem with seeing The Full Monty is that the audience was 90% women, which resulted in a very long line for the restroom at intermission. Besides that, no complaints about the theatre. There's plenty of nearby parking. The sound, lighting and sets were excellent. And so was the play! I'm looking for the next DAG production so I can catch it here.

We went to see Shrek the Musical this afternoon. It was a fantastic production. The cast was…read moreawesome and the music was fantastic. The singing was spot on.

What a pleasure to see a performance at this brand new theater! As a handicapped person, I always…read moreworry about bathroom access and this venue had two all-gender, handicap-accessible bathrooms right on the same floor as the theater. Even the non-handicap bathrooms are on the main floor, so I could have used those if necessary. As for the actual performance, we saw the Spongebob Musical and it was very enjoyable, with inventive and clever staging and great actors and musicians.

I loved the venue. It was clean, well designed, great art display on the walls, nice large…read morerestrooms and overall a nice atmosphere for meeting friends before the show and during intermission. I was impressed with the quality of the set, the costumes and mostly the student performances!

Holy cow this place is such a cool hidden gem! Sure, it's a little rough around the edges, but I am…read moresure it is much much more polished today than it was even a few years ago. Going to see a picture at the Senate makes me feel like I'm one of the cool kids or in on some kind of local secret. The star of the show is the organ. Don't sleep on the pre-show organ recitals. This ain't your momma's church organ. This is an organ designed for silent movies and you can hear the difference. That might sound a bit odd, but trust me on this one. But the building is also super cool. I love the way the lobby abuts the theater. There are no doors dividing the two which is just one of many classic design elements that make you feel like you're spending the evening in a different era. Same for the concession prices! And for that matter, the ticket prices. It's hard to beat $6 to get in and $2 for a drink. Of course, for these prices you aren't getting modern sound or screen quality. And while the all volunteer organization is working on it, it's the sound quality specifically which drags the Senate down a star for me. I found it hard to make out the dialog for a classic movie to which I already knew most of the words. In that case, it was fine. But my companion found themselves confused about the plot as the dialog was compromised. That said, I'm all about going back and watching as many subtitled foreign films as I can. Plus, I might just rearrange my schedule so that I can attend the next silent film played with live organ accompaniment. I fully expect that to be a five star experience. And as the Senate gets more popular, surely the improvements to the screen, projector, and sound will be close behind.

What fun! Secure parking, updated interior and great refreshments. This venue was a great…read moreexperience to watch a show