Bonstelle Theatre

Bonstelle Theatre is a historic events and performance venue in Detroit, Michigan, located in the Midtown Woodward Historic District. The building was originally constructed as Temple Beth-El, a Reform Jewish synagogue, rather than as a theatre. Designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn, the Beaux-Arts structure was conceived at a time when Rabbi Leo M. Franklin and the Temple Beth-El congregation sought a prominent new home on Woodward Avenue. Construction began after the congregation acquired the site in 1901, and the building held its first services in January 1903 before its formal dedication in September of that year. The synagogue served Temple Beth-El until the congregation moved to a newer building farther north on Woodward in 1922. Jessie Bonstelle purchased the former temple for $500,000 and commissioned architect C. Howard Crane to convert it into a theatre. The adapted building became known as the Bonstelle Playhouse, with interior decoration reported as being directed in an Italianate style by Myron G. Barlow. This conversion gave the structure a second public identity and established the Bonstelle name as a Detroit theatrical landmark. The venue changed uses and names during the twentieth century. In 1928 it became the Detroit Civic Theatre, and during the 1930s it operated as the Mayfair Motion Picture Theater. Wayne State University began renting the building in 1951 for its theatre company and purchased it outright in 1956. The university then restored the Bonstelle name, using the building as one of its principal theatre spaces and as a home for university productions, students, performers, and audiences. The building is notable both for its cultural history and for its architecture. Kahn's exterior was influenced by ancient Greek and Roman temples, with a large dome over the principal space and projecting north and south wings. The design has often been compared with the Pantheon in Rome. A front portion was altered when Woodward Avenue was widened in 1936. As Temple Beth-El, the property was placed on the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Wayne State's long association with the venue began to end in the late 2010s. In 2019, the university reached an agreement to lease the theatre to Detroit development firm The Roxbury Group. A planned April 2020 production of Mary Poppins was intended to be Wayne State's final Bonstelle performance, but the production was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university's last performance in the building was consequently A Christmas Carol in December 2019. Wayne State subsequently shifted its theatre productions to the newly built Hilberry Gateway. The building then underwent a major adaptive-reuse project connected with an adjacent AC Hotel. The renovated complex opened in 2025 as a hotel-linked, multi-use events venue. The work removed the theatre-era facade and restored the appearance of Albert Kahn's original synagogue facade. The historic interior space that had served both religious and theatrical purposes now functions primarily as an events venue connected to the hotel. Bonstelle Theatre therefore represents several successive layers of Detroit history: Reform Jewish institutional life, professional and civic theatre, motion-picture exhibition, university arts education, and contemporary hospitality and events use.

The Bonstelle Theatre occupies a building whose history began with Detroit's Temple Beth-El congregation. When Rabbi Leo M. Franklin began leading services there in 1899, he advocated a prominent new temple that would reflect the visibility and status of Detroit's Reform Jewish community. The congregation approved the construction plan in October 1900, purchased a Woodward Avenue site in April 1901, and selected its member Albert Kahn as architect. Groundbreaking occurred on November 25, 1901, followed by the ceremonial placement of the cornerstone on April 23, 1902. Services began in the chapel on January 24, 1903, and the completed building was formally dedicated on September 18 and 19 of that year. Kahn's design is a substantial Beaux-Arts interpretation of classical architecture. Its principal mass is organized around a domed central space, with Roman and Greek influences visible in the exterior composition. Comparisons with the Pantheon in Rome reflect the building's monumental character. The structure originally included a front extension projecting toward Woodward Avenue; part of this frontage was lost in 1936 when the avenue was widened. Despite subsequent alterations, the building remained an important architectural marker in Detroit's Midtown area. Temple Beth-El moved to a new Woodward Avenue building in 1922. The former temple was sold to Jessie Bonstelle for $500,000, and she engaged C. Howard Crane to transform the religious building into a theatre. The resulting Bonstelle Playhouse combined the existing monumental shell with a new theatrical purpose. Myron G. Barlow was associated with the interior decoration, which was described as Italian in character. The venue subsequently became the Detroit Civic Theatre in 1928 and operated as the Mayfair Motion Picture Theater during the 1930s, demonstrating the building's ability to accommodate changing forms of public entertainment. Wayne State University began renting the site in 1951 for its theatre company and bought it in 1956. The university renamed it the Bonstelle Theatre in recognition of Jessie Bonstelle. For decades, the building served as a university performance venue and became associated with Wayne State's theatre education and production program. Its identity consequently extended beyond commercial theatre to include student work, university productions, and community audiences. The building's historic significance received formal recognition when the former Temple Beth-El was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its importance lies in the combination of architectural authorship, Detroit Jewish history, theatrical adaptation, and continued public use. A further transition began in 2019, when Wayne State reached an agreement to lease the property to Detroit development firm The Roxbury Group. The university expected Mary Poppins to be its final production at the venue in April 2020. The production was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving A Christmas Carol in December 2019 as Wayne State's final performance there. University theatre productions later moved to the Hilberry Gateway. The building was subsequently renovated as part of a project integrating it with an adjacent AC Hotel. The hotel opened in 2025, and the former theatre became a multi-use events space connected to the hospitality complex. Renovation removed the theatre-era facade while restoring the appearance of Kahn's original synagogue frontage. The current use preserves the building as a public venue while changing its operating model from university theatre to hotel-associated events and functions.

• 2025

  Reopened as a hotel-connected events venue

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After renovation, the building became a multi-use events space integrated with an adjacent AC Hotel.

• 2019

  Lease transition announced

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Wayne State reached an agreement to lease the theatre to The Roxbury Group.

• 1982

  National Register listing

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building, as Temple Beth-El, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1956

  Wayne State purchases and renames the building

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The university purchased the property and restored the Bonstelle Theatre name.

• 1951

  Wayne State begins using the venue

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Wayne State University began renting the building as a performance space for its theatre company.

• 1930

  Use as the Mayfair Motion Picture Theater

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1930s the building operated as a motion-picture theatre known as the Mayfair Motion Picture Theater.

• 1928

  Renamed Detroit Civic Theatre

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Bonstelle Playhouse adopted the Detroit Civic Theatre name.

• 1922

  Conversion into the Bonstelle Playhouse

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After Temple Beth-El moved to a newer building, Jessie Bonstelle purchased the property and converted it into a theatre.

• 1903

  Temple Beth-El opens

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The first chapel services took place in January, followed by formal dedication in September.

• 1902

  Temple cornerstone laid

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The ceremonial cornerstone was laid on April 23, 1902.

• 1901

  Construction begins

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Temple Beth-El broke ground for Albert Kahn's new building on November 25.

• 1899

  Leo M. Franklin begins leading Temple Beth-El

  [1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Rabbi Leo M. Franklin began leading services and promoted construction of a prominent new temple for Detroit's Reform Jewish congregation.

A historically significant Detroit venue positioned around architectural heritage, adaptive reuse, cultural events, and its former role as a Wayne State University theatre.

• Event venue · 2025

  Bonstelle historic event space

  The building's current principal offering is a multi-use events space connected to an AC Hotel. Its value derives from the combination of a substantial historic interior, Detroit location, and adaptive-reuse setting. The venue retains the site's long public-use tradition while serving contemporary hospitality and event functions rather than operating primarily as a university theatre.

• Live theatre · 1951

  Wayne State theatre venue

  From 1951 until the end of Wayne State University's regular use, the building functioned as a university performance venue. It hosted theatre productions associated with the university's educational and artistic program and was an important part of Wayne State's Midtown campus presence. The university's final performance was A Christmas Carol in December 2019 after the planned Mary Poppins production was cancelled.

• Live theatre · 1922

  Bonstelle Playhouse

  Jessie Bonstelle's conversion of the former Temple Beth-El created the Bonstelle Playhouse in 1922. The theatre represented the building's first major transformation from religious institution to entertainment venue and established the Bonstelle name later retained by Wayne State University.

• 2025

  Historic adaptive reuseStrategy

  Background

  The former university theatre required a new operating role after Wayne State relocated its productions.

  Action taken

  The building was renovated and integrated with an adjacent AC Hotel, with the original synagogue facade restored.

  Aftermath

  The former synagogue-theatre space reopened as a multi-use events venue rather than a university-operated theatre.

  Source

• 2019

  Transition from university theatre useStrategy

  Background

  Wayne State planned to move its theatre productions to a newly constructed facility.

  Action taken

  The university reached an agreement to lease the Bonstelle to The Roxbury Group.

  Aftermath

  The building was redeveloped and ultimately converted into a hotel-connected multi-use events venue.

  Source

• 1956

  Wayne State assumes ownershipStrategy

  Background

  Wayne State University had rented the building as a performance space since 1951.

  Action taken

  The university purchased the facility and renamed it the Bonstelle Theatre.

  Aftermath

  The building became a long-term university theatre venue until Wayne State shifted productions to the Hilberry Gateway.

  Source

• 1922

  Adaptive conversion from synagogue to theatreStrategy

  Background

  Temple Beth-El moved to a newer Woodward Avenue building, leaving its former structure available for a new civic and commercial use.

  Action taken

  Jessie Bonstelle acquired the building and hired C. Howard Crane to convert it into the Bonstelle Playhouse.

  Aftermath

  The property entered a long theatrical and entertainment phase, later becoming associated with the Detroit Civic Theatre and the Mayfair Motion Picture Theater.

  Source

• 2025

  Bonstelle Theatre building reopens as hotel-linked events space[1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following renovation and integration with an adjacent AC Hotel, the building reopened as a multi-use events venue with the original synagogue facade restored.

• 2020

  Mary Poppins planned as final Wayne State Bonstelle production[1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Wayne State planned Mary Poppins as the final production associated with its use of the Bonstelle Theatre, but the April performance was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2019

  Wayne State reaches agreement involving the Bonstelle Theatre[1]Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Wayne State University reached an agreement to lease the theatre to Detroit development firm The Roxbury Group, beginning the transition away from the university's long-term operation of the venue.

1. 1Bonstelle Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bonstelle Theatre - Wayne State Universitytheatreanddance.wayne.edu