DETROIT (CelebrityAccess) — As construction for a planned $1 million renovation of Detroit’s historic Majestic Theatre gets underway, theater officials announced that they’ve struck a deal with promoter AEG Presents to exclusively book the venue.
According to the Detroit Free Press, planned upgrades for 105-year-old venue include a new art-deco facade and marquee, a new box office, and an expanded main theater with a restored ceiling which will be treated for acoustics.
Work has already begun on the renovations and the 27-year-old Majestic Cafe portion of the building has been permanently closed to make way for an expanded lobby and a new, 50-foot bar.
Other upgrades include new maple flooring on the stage and a new high-end PA system, and an expansion of the capacity of the main theatre from about 1,000 patrons to 1,300, the Free Press reported.
Despite the construction, the venue’s other facilities, including the main theater will remain open during the construction process.
Theater officials announced the deal with AEG as well, stating that they hope the partnership brings as many as 100 shows a year to the venue, more than double the number of artists presented at the theatre in recent years.
“The timing is right,” Dave Zainea, whose family owns the theater, told the Free Press. “This will bring a synergy on Woodward to our block of colleagues.”
“We’re very excited to be part of the restoration of such a historic and famed music venue in Detroit,” added Jason Rogalewski, AEG Presents Vice President of Talent. “The Majestic is a celebrated club that we’ve all enjoyed seeing amazing performances at throughout the years. Our team looks forward to promoting over 100 concerts a year at the legendary theatre and helping to continue its time-honored status as a concert venue in the market.”
Located in downtown Detroit, the Majestic was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Originally an art-deco movie palace with a capacity of 1,651, the property has served variously as a church, and a photographic studio before going dormant. It’s current owners acquired the property in 1984.
