Saw "Clue" tonight thanks to Yelp's Culture Club. I highly recommend this show! Great cast, super funny and oh, the expressions! We were laughing. read more

The Ringwald Theatre - Clue! See it!! So worth it! - Performing Arts Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

I attended a performance of "Who's Holidays" ... a xmas comedy tonight. I was surprised by the transvestite theme but that is not my issue here at all! What bothered me was that the actor drank and spit his drink over half of the audience thinking that was a funny thing to do. I was heavily sprayed! In this era of covid and a triple threat of infections, this is extremely irresponsible behavior that is being allowed by this theatre. I will NEVER return... and I pray I did not catch anything from this vile act. read more

Wow oh wow! I never get to see plays because of time and money. Because of the team of Yelp. I was able to see a play! And of course it had to be the classic board game Clue. Clue on stage! I didn't know what to expect. I only played the game once and seen the movie once several years back so the story was a little blurry. I brought along and friend and since we just made it on time, we didn't get to sit next to each other but I figured the seats will be packed! Luckily she got to sit behind me. They offer some these box candy's you can purchase to snack on during the play. I am not an expertise on theater but I know that clue was hilarious and it interacted with the audience and everyone helped with each other on moving props and etc to change scenery. They did great with not much stage crew and little space. See clue if you can! read more

My partner and I used to love to hit up local theater productions back in Denver, but had not yet gotten to explore our new stomping grounds here in the Mitten. So many thanks to the Ringwald and Yelp for hooking us up with tickets to the MI premiere of CLUE here! I love how community centric this theater is, with $10 tickets to Monday shows, and the audience being up close and personal to the actors. Plus, it is accessible, which was really appreciated. A fun show with creative ways of handling some issues that happen when you turn a movie into a play, and actors that were really committed to their roles. I can't wait to come back and see another show here; I think it will be Fun Home! read more

Where has this place been my whole life!? First of all how cool is it that they do $10 shows every Monday!? What an amazing way to see a new place for the first time! I had so much fun watching the spectacular performance of Clue! How cool that we were able to see the final dress rehearsal (first time ever shown in Michigan) that was written by the same guy who did the movie! It's a small venue, maybe 50 seats, but there isn't a bad seat in the house and they definitely use the entire building in their performance. If you have to use the facilities make sure you go before the show because the back hallway to the restroom doubles as a partial back stage area during the show. There isn't a bar built in, since this was my first show I'm not sure if they ever bring in people or get temporary licenses but they were selling candy. I will definitely be back! read more

The Ringwald Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

Got to preview "Clue" at the Ringwald Theatre!! Didn't know what to expect. My friend and I got there right on time and got a seat in the front row. It definitely blew my expectations. The show was amazing, we laughed the entire time while watching and being close up front made it even better!! It was very creative how they changed the set and moved the props to create the scenery. My favorite characters were Mrs. Peacock and Wadsworth. All the actors put on a great show!! If you are looking for a fun night of laughter, you should check it out!! Monday shows I believe are $10!! read more

The Ringwald Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Tonight was my first visit to the Ringwald Theatre. It is an intimate setting and the seating makes you feel connected to the show. My friend and I saw 'Clue'. I don't get to a lot of live performances like this, maybe 2 a year and I must say this was the best one I've been to. The actors were great and entertaining. The simple scenery props were very cleverly and some times hilariously part of the play itself. The sound effects, choreography and how the theatre was used was very clever. If you just want to have a fun evening out, want to laugh and enjoy an hour or so, I recommend taking a friend, your mom or whomever and having a laugh. Did I mention the actors? They were great and did a great job. read more

When Hedwig strutted out in her translucent, swishy taffeta skirt and decried the Ringwald as a cheap storefront theatre, we all laughed. But I make a point to never trust the opinion of East German transvestites about theatre venues for good reason. Two words: Soviet architecture. Chances are you've strolled by the Ringwald Theatre on the way to other venues along Woodward Avenue, like the WAB or Como's. Situated inside the large white Ferndale office building, the front curtained windows allude to a secret world isolated from the fabulous crowds. Coy glimpses might come through the open doors where lines queued for their chance to escape from sultry summer nights or humdrum, day to day routines. The Ringwald is a venue I've meant to visit practically since coming to Ferndale, and the Yelp! Culture Club finally afforded me the opportunity for a premiere debut of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." The Ringwald may not be the size of the Detroit Opera House or the Fox. Productions might not have the budget of the Chicago Theatre. A passionate, committed staff and brilliant, sometimes ludicrous performers bring out the joie de vivre of theatre, striking to the soul, pulling you along without sacrificing quality. Perfectly suited for our lovely, artsy community, the excellent choice of "Hedwig" transformed the interior black box-style theatre into a stage for Hedwig, who in classic Eddie Izzard-esque transvestite style, looked better in a bustier and heeled boots than girls often do. A dedicated set crew flung up lame and sequin-spangled bolts on the walls, and the projected images showed montages of music videos and stills to support the play in one long, glorious act. A few technical difficulties hardly interrupted upon a fascinating show, which featured plenty of audience interaction and laughter. The intimacy of the space works greatly in the Ringwald's benefit to draw in even reluctant viewers. About my only complaint was a distinct need for earplugs (for sale for $1, if you didn't bring them), but I was sitting second row, center. Why do I love Detroit and her suburbs? Reasons like the Ringwald. Intimate places flower with creativity and flourish in the loving embrace of their surrounding community. The Ringwald is for Ferndale, by Ferndale, of Ferndale; so many other sites also benefit from this wholesome symbiosis. My first flirtation satisfied my curiosity and deepened the enchantment out of puppy love into something more matured, like a good wine. I want my second taste. And I want Hedwig's sexy tresses, dammit. Thank you, Ringwald, and thank you, Annette! read more

Love coming to watch shows here. The theater is very intimate and it adds to the experience. I always buy my tickets ahead of time, especially because the weekends get very popular. My favorite plays so far have been clue and the Golden Girls Christmas. I'm always impressed by the original spin they put on shows and I love the sets! They have some snacks and drinks you can grab for the show available. The performers are really professional and hilarious! read more

10 naked men! HI yes I said that and it was awesome. I got the full monty and loved it! How could you not love the Ringwald? I love the local arts kind of scene here in Metro Detroit its so diverse and The Ringwald never disappoints. You guys need to go...see a show grab a date grab your friends go alone its totally worth it!! Support our local artists! read more

We had the chance to see Book of Liz (by Amy & David Sedaris) and all I could think was "these people are REALLY TALENTED!" It's a very small theater, literally it's a big room with a small stage and as many chairs as they can cram into it. No assigned seats, so if you care about sitting with your date, arrive early! Especially on Monday nights when tickets are half price, the place is packed. Anyway, I've seen some crappy community theater in much fancier venues, but the actors & crew members of Who Wants Cake? are deeply devoted to putting on a great show. I've seen people with less talent on SNL and MadTV, these actors are FANTASTIC. Clearly the Ringwald is their home; they're very proud to be there and they really give their all! I had to knock off a star, because even though Book of Liz was only a 90 min show with no intermission, they kept everyone there for a "treat" called Anne Frankenstein. It was an all-singing bit of comedy but wasn't very funny. At that point my husband and I both had to pee and were about desperate to get back to Dino's for a cold beer. But nobody else left, and we didn't want to be rude, so we were trapped. It was only about 20 minutes but seemed like much longer. Sorry guys. I still say they have awesome talent there and I would go back in a heartbeat! read more

My girlfriend suffers from a distinct case of wanderlust. So when we were driving around one Saturday and she declared "I want to do something different. Take me out of town for an adventure." my first thought was "How about gay 1980's sitcom parody in fashionable Ferndale?" I think I was surprised how immediately she took to the idea. So we headed to the Ringwald for "Thank You for Being a Friend," the unofficial Golden Girls musical parody. I can't tell you what a home run this turned out to to be. We laughed until it hurt. The theater is small, but that just ensures no bad seats. I'll never know why Ann Arbor or other communities don't have more small companies like this, because we had such a good time, we can't wait to go back. read more

We've seen many of the shows and have always been amazed at the talent and work of these folks! Anne Frankenstein was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. Killer Joe was disturbing and incredibly well done! You don't need a huge theater or vast production values and lavish special effects. You need actors with talent and good scripts telling stories with characters that people care about. One of the best kept secrets of Metro Detroit! read more

Great theatre feel, wonderful talent and i have found myself laughing or crying at every performance - usually laughing! At times i have felt like part of the performance. Because of it's location (9 & Woodward) there are plenty of options for a drink or dinner before or after the show as well. read more

Love this place. It's the best place for often-bawdy local theater on the cheap. I've seen several productions there. My first was "Debbie does Dallas, the musical." I've been sold ever since. The place is small, but the acoustics are great. You'll often see the same cast members in different productions. This is not a bad thing, as they are generally quite talented. Go to Dino's, which is right next door, for drinks before and after!! read more

The Ringwald is a great little theater venue...I would be surprised to find out that it seats 80 patrons even. The stage is small but easily visible form every seat in the house, the sound is good. Basically, it's a simple, pleasant venue. Lighting and sound are simple, but well-done. The play I watched..."Making Porn"...was definitely a bit scandalous, and clearly gay themed. It was overall quite funny and well done. The actors were generally quite skilled, especially for semi-pro theater. Tickets are cheap, the theater is intimate, so this is clearly a fun way to spend an evening in a happening and exciting neighborhood. read more

I went here with a friend on a Monday night and as black box theaters go it wasn't too bad. The right show would make the space not matter at all. In comparison 1515 Broadway is much larger and has better lobby-ness, ha! Maybe it was the play that taints my review. We saw "Seinfeld on Crack" I don't remember honestly what it was called. Some story about people in Hollywood in the 80s doing lots of drugs and ranting about shit that addicts rant about when they have no life. The dope they were smoking was real too which didn't enhance the over the top ranting... A better play without the "Special Effects" would get a better review. read more

Just want to start out by thanking the YELP folks for getting the Ringwald Theater to offer a preview performance of the theater adaptation of the film 'Clue". One of the funniest, joke-filled live theatrical productions i have probably ever seen. The cast & crew put on a great show that combines elements of the Marx Bros., Preston Sturgis screwball comedies and Rocky Horror into a rip-roaring musical dance comedy. Bravo! To be forthcoming, I have been a fan of the Ringwald Company for many years and much of the crowd, made up of Yelp-elite invitees had never been to the Ringwald before. I imagine they were startled by the screwball nature of the production but I think they will be coming back for more, I know I will. read more

One of the best theatre's in Detroit, the Ringwald offers so much variety from comedy to drama their shows are always worth seeing! read more

The Ringwald Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

This place is cool! I saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch (fantastic show, by the way - I definitely recommend seeing it) and although the theater isn't large, it has good acoustics and the stage is set high enough that even though it doesn't have stadium seating, everyone would probably be able to see the entire stage. I'll definitely be checking out Angels in America when the production begins!! read more

We've seen around 75% of the shows put on by Who Wants Cake at the Ringwald and have never been disappointed. We love the depth of their body of work. Joe Bailey, Joe Plambeck, Jamie Warrow, Jamie Richards, Melissa Beckwith and other directors have managed to present a wide-range of very entertaining plays and a broad-spectrum of actors, actresses and actor-esses who have brought them to life (sometimes playing double duty off and on stage). My favorite shows tend to be the camped up gender-bending comedies. This is largely due to Joe Bailey, who in addition to his duties as Co-Founder, Artistic Director and Director of many of their plays, can play a mean camp drag diva ("Die! Mommie! Die!" and "Fatal Attraction: The Musical" come to mind) and can milk a moment like no other. The talent of the core troupe is stellar. Shows like "Facts of Life The Lost Episode", "Debbie Does Dallas The Musical", The Bad Seed" and "Evil Dead: The Musical" are the comedies that leap to my mind when I think of comedy at the Ringwald and I can't pick a top 3 - it is impossible and I gave up trying. Who Wants Cake? excels in their over-the-top comedies. Their dramas and musicals are most engaging, I can't tell you how many times we have been moved to tears. "BUG" (directed by Co-Founder, Joe Plambeck) was one of, if not THE most disturbing productions - simply amazing. When I think of drama, "KILLER JOE", "Jeffrey", "Some Men" and the first WWC? production I saw, "Love and Human Remains" are standouts. My disappointments are few, far between and, frankly, more nit-picky than anything else - an occasional casting - "What were they thinking?" here or there, but nothing specific worth noting. The stage production is amazing when you consider what they can do with that small stage - I think "RENT" exemplified this perfectly. These are often thought-provoking and moving plays, while even more often have you laughing so hard that thinking isn't even an option. I rarely miss one. I really can't recommend this theater enough - especially on Monday nights for $10! Good, solid theater for the price of a movie ticket. What's not to love? Do not miss the Christmas shows - David Sedaris' "Santaland Diaries" and "Season's Greetings". Joe Plambeck's "Crumpet" is hilarious, as is Joe Bailey's knuckle-biting "Mrs. Jocelyn Dunbarand". They have become a sort of holiday tradition of ours and if you have the chance and have ever worked retail, do not miss "$$$$ The Holidays". They are my holiday trifecta! I found a list of all of the productions since they started - here is a link: http://www.whowantscaketheatre.com/modules/theatre/index.php?cid=3 Here are some tips: Bring a lot of quarters as there is only metered parking that runs through 10 pm and there tends to be parking on the opposite side of the library if the closest lots are full. The theater is on the small side and seating can be a wee tight at times. Arrive early if you want "good seats" - try to be there no later than 7:30. Monday nights are only $10 and sell-out quickly, especially on closing nights of comedies - they tend to let loose even more. Hot summer nights with a full house can be a bit warm in the theater. They sell cold bottled water, canned pop and candy bars for $1a piece. There is usually an intermission - but they will let you know, flat out, if there is not. Seriously, they will tell you to go to the bathroom - now! Also, turn your phone off! The last show I saw had a woman's phone alarm buzz for 15 mins and another rang and rang and rang. Ridiculous. read more

I've seen two plays so far at the Ringwald and I think it's great. The first play was Facts of Life with an all male cast and I was laughing so hard I peed a little. I love the small intimate venue, it feels like there's a real community here in Ferndale and places like this are organized to bring joy to them. read more

Great little theater with funny shows. We came in on a Monday night to watch a little show it was great. Funny. The only bad part is how uncomfortable the chairs are. read more

i've been for a couple different shows now, both comedies and dramas, and i find the small company puts on a great show. the space is perfect for an intimate feel. i don't know if they always offer this, but multiple times i have went they had refreshments of the alcoholic nature. they really do a lot with that tiny stage. the props and backdrop change change easily in most of the shows. its definitely worth a night out. love, juston read more

My friend and I were in the mood to go to a play and The Ringwald Theatre was the only place with a show on the Saturday of a Memorial Day weekend. We got tickets to watch "August: Osage County". The theatre is tiny and the setting is very up close and intimate - we experienced the play as though we were in it, playing a part, rather than as audience - my ideal local live theater experience! read more

This place is great for a night of a different kind, if your bored of the movies and want to try something on the creative fun side...this is your place. Great cast of people, cute spoof~like shows that teeter on the quirky side. Support the Arts .... Word of caution, with only about 80 seats this place fills up fast so it would be wise to get tickets in advance. read more

Love the Ringwald. Small, intimate and hilarious. Get there early so you can snag the purple couch and get cozy for the show. I also love to grab a glass of wine at Dino's next door before or after... read more

Best. Theatre. Evar. I have never had a bad time at The Ringwald, and I have often laughed so hard that tears ran down my face. The Bad Seed, Book of Liz, Making Porn, and serious plays too such as The Whale, Streetcar and Into the Woods. Handcrafted theater, made to order, always a pleasure read more

I LOVE the entire cast of Who Wants Cake!!!! Every play I have seen there was great. I laughed so hard it hurt but was so worth it!!!!! The Theatre may be small but that just makes it feel more intimate. Sometimes you feel as if you are part of the performance. I now live in Minnesota and every time I come back to Michigan I make sure to see one of their plays. You won't ever be disappointed. read more