Concept East Theatre

01 / The story of this place

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Woodie King Jr., Cliff Frazier and David Rambeau founded Concept East in 1960 as Detroit's first Black theater company, and by 1962 it had a permanent home at 401 East Adams Avenue downtown. Playwright August Wilson later credited Concept East with putting Detroit's Black theater scene on the map, comparing the city's role to what New Orleans was for jazz. Actor Ernie Hudson, later known for Ghostbusters, served as the company's resident playwright in the late 1960s, part of a roster of future stars who also passed through Concept East's doors, including Lloyd Richards, S. Epatha Merkerson and Aku Kadogo. Woodie King left for New York in 1964 to found the New Federal Theatre, and Concept East itself eventually faded as Detroit's Black Arts Movement scene shifted, though its role in launching Black theater careers nationally is still remembered.

1. Founded in 1960 by Woodie King Jr., Cliff Frazier and David Rambeau
2. Permanent home at 401 East Adams Avenue from 1962
3. Detroit's first Black theater company
4. Ernie Hudson was resident playwright in the late 1960s
5. Launched Lloyd Richards, S. Epatha Merkerson and other future stars