THE WAR MEMORIAL
THEATER
The War Memorial’s Theater is currently closed.
Due to the substantial storms in June 2021, The War Memorial’s theater suffered flooding and irreversible damage. This necessitated taking the beloved and multifunctional theater space down to the studs. While a devastating loss, The War Memorial remains committed to our mission to serve and uplift our community, and we are moving forward with our plans to restore and renovate the space, and to open its doors again.
By restoring this space, we will bring a vital hub of activity back to the community, fulfilling our mission to honor those who served, enrich our community, and deliver exceptional experiences. If you are interested in learning how you can contribute to the reopening of the theater, please click here.
A Brief History of the Theater
Image: Henry Ford, II Speaking at the Fries Auditorium
The Fries Auditorium was part of the bequest of William Fries, former headmaster of University Liggett School.
Originally built in 1962 as part of the ballroom wing extension, the 6,000-square-foot auditorium served as a multifaceted community space. It seated 450 and hosted lectures and concerts for the community with names like George Romney, Henry Ford II, Bob Seger and Ted Nugent.
Throughout the years, The Fries Auditorium hosted a myriad of performances, clubs, and events. From plays by the Grosse Pointe Theater group, movies and slide presentations by the Cinema League, and even hosting the Miss Grosse Pointe Beauty Pageant, the theater at The War Memorial has a rich history of contributing to the betterment of the community. Outside of local groups, in September of 1975 future First Lady, Nancy Reagan gave a lecture after being named as the Woman of the Year by the LA Times.
Image: Patrons enjoying a performance
Image: The new box seating arrangement
In 2017, The War Memorial made renovations to adapt the theater into a more flexible environment that could host a wider range of events. The plan included removing a portion of the traditional seating, installing box seating, and upgrades to the motion picture and sound systems. This redesign allowed for dynamic performances, more film viewings, lectures, and more. This adaptive approach not only enhanced the audience experience but also helped the venue stay relevant in an ever-evolving cultural landscape. At this time, the theater was renamed The Patriot Theater.
Pictures from the Patriot Theater
Image: The theater’s flood damage after June 2021 storms
The new 2017 theater was used for only three years before its temporary closure due to COVID in 2020 and then the subsequent permanent closure due to flood damage in June 2021. Due to the flooding, the seats, curtains, and orchestra pit were all destroyed. Only the movie projector and screen, and the electronics from the theater booth were salvaged. Today, the theater remains a gutted shell, separated from the rest of the campus, but still filled with potential for future programming.
Image: 2024 D-Day Exhibition in partnership with the MMTHS
As we sealed off the doors to the Theater, this allowed us a new space for programming - the Patriot Gallery. Learn more about our current and upcoming exhibitions in the Patriot Gallery here.
This new space has been utilized for events and seminars, but is primarily an exhibition space for military, historical, and artistic exhibitions. Through our continued partnerships with many regional museums, nonprofits organizations, and schools, we have been able to create a curated space for the community to enjoy.
Moving Forward
The War Memorial is continuing its efforts in exploring the future of a multifunctional theater space. We are currently considering market research and the feasibility of the project to assess the best approach for the theater’s future. In addition, we are developing a request for proposal to obtain an architect and construction firm for potential designs and project costs.
We will continue to keep the community informed as more details become available, and we look forward to the future and a new robust lineup of world-class performers, thought-provoking lectures, and masterful films in the future!