ABOUT US

Mission & Vision

The Encore Musical Theatre Company is Southeast Michigan’s premier professional musical theatre, committed to producing high-quality musicals and live music performances that entertain, inspire, and bring communities together in our intimate space. The Encore is dedicated to fostering the next generation of artists, audiences and productions.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Encore Musical Theatre Company resolves to nurture and maintain an equitable and inclusive environment where all members of our community can thrive in life and art. Our best work is possible when every individual can bring their authentic self to a setting of acceptance and mutual respect. The Encore Musical Theatre Company has assisted listening ADA-compliant seating and bathrooms for patrons.  

The Encore Musical Theatre Company stands in solidarity with our diverse community of artists, audiences, and supporters. We are committed to playing our role in moving forward as one equitable community.

History

Recognized by the performers’ union, Actors’ Equity Association, we are a not-for-profit professional musical theatre company located in historic Dexter, Michigan. Our mission is to create the highest quality theatrical productions with an emphasis on musical theatre, utilizing both nationally and locally sourced professional artists to bring stories to life in our uniquely intimate space. We are proud to inspire, entertain, and engage with the community of Dexter and its surrounding communities.

The Encore Musical Theatre Company was founded in 2008 by Broadway actor Dan Cooney and local residents Anne and Paul Koch. All three shared a love for the charming “Village of Dexter” and a belief that what would make it even more vibrant was a theater. From the birth of an idea to renovating a 6,000 square foot factory garage, in 2008 their dream was realized. The Encore produced shows in “the garage” for 12 seasons, steadily growing in quality and demand, yet always limited to a degree by the constraints of the space. Recognizing the need for a larger home in order to fully realize our potential, in 2019 The Encore seized the opportunity to purchase the 20,000 square foot historic Copeland building from Dexter Community Schools. With the success of a two million dollar “Our Next Stage” capital campaign, that included a lead gift of $500,000 from the Benard L. Maas Foundation, renovations to convert Dexter’s original 1800s school building into a state-of-the-art performing arts destination began in September 2020. Despite a global pandemic, we produced outdoor concerts on a make-shift stage in our new parking lot while sharing our plans for the new space, further building excitement for the future of The Encore. We opened the doors to The Maas Theatre main stage with a “Back to Broadway” summer concert series, sponsored by community leader Jan Lyons, and finally reopened with our 13th Season the following fall, bringing our community back together for the first time to experience the magic and joy of live theatre.

Over the past 15 years, the Encore has produced over 190 productions, concerts and other special events, including many Golden Age classics, powerful contemporary musicals, new works, and diverse concert offerings. In our 15-year history, we have played host to many Broadway and award-winning artists including Tony Walton (Tony, Emmy and Oscar winner), Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Smash, Supergirl), Kahil El’Zabar (legendary modern jazz multi-instrumentalist), Kathie Lee Gifford (Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee, Daytime Emmy winner), John McDaniel (The Rosie O’Donnell Show, Emmy and Grammy winner), Telly Leung (Aladdin, Glee), Jessica Grové (The Wizard of Oz, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Erika Henningsen (Mean Girls), Gary Adler (Avenue Q, Alter Boyz), Sarah Litzsinger (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Michael Lanning (Bonnie & Clyde, The Civil War), Aaron LaVigne (Jesus Christ Superstar), Janet Allard (Playwright, Fulbright Fellow), Niko Tsakalakos (Composer/Lyricist), Larry Gatlin (The Gatlin Brothers), Conor Ryan (Moulin Rouge), Ali Ewoldt (The Phantom of the Opera), Hugh Panaro (The Phantom of the Opera) and many others.

The Encore is home to a successful Summer Theatre Program that began in 2010, educating children ages 5-18 each summer. The popular program has grown from 18 to over 150 students yearly, and provides a safe and creative space for children to create, explore, make lasting friendships and build their confidence. The Encore Junior program, which ran from 2015 – 2020, provided children in our community with the opportunity to perform on our main stage in full-scale productions each season, something which we are working to bring back in the near future.

Thanks to a great deal of community support, The Encore continues to grow on its path to becoming a nationally recognized regional theatre.