New Center Park Summer Entertainment Series Returns With Film Screenings and Theatrical Performances
The Summer Series begins Wednesday, June 1st with doors at 8:00 p.m.
Detroit, MI – May 18, 2016 – New Center Park, located on West Grand Boulevard at 2nd Avenue in Detroit’s historic New Center district, begins its summer-long series with weekly movie nights, theatre performances and more on June 1, 2016. All events at New Center Park are FREE and open to the public, making for a fun-filled, unforgettable summer. Every Wednesday night, all summer long, New Center Park will be screening an eclectic menu of comedy, drama, science fiction, and timeless classics—movies for all types of film buffs. The Park will continue its Friday night series of family-friendly movies, with films perfect for younger audiences. In addition to free movie screenings on Wednesday and Friday nights, other theatre performances and special events help round out the schedule.
New Center Park’s movie nights and special events are the perfect way to enjoy the summer evenings after a long day in a beautiful park setting. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy great films, outdoor theatre, or a simple afternoon picnic with family and friends in this unique green space. View the full line-up here.
New Center’s Wednesday Night Movies series kick off the summer event schedule on June 1st, with doors opening at 8:00 p.m. and screenings beginning between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., depending on sunset times.
JUNE 1: Cinetopia International Film Festival brings Hook to New Center Park to kick off the Wednesday Night Movie series! Superstars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts star in award-winning director Steve Spielberg's updating of Peter Pan.
1991, PG, 2 hours, 22 minutes.
JUNE 8: Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom is a quirky story about two 12-year-olds who run away together, turning their peaceful community upside-down.
2012, PG-13, 1 hour, 34 minutes.
JUNE 15: You’re not going to want to miss Men In Black, a sci-fi adventure comedy about two top secret agents (Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith) with the everyday mission of policing alien activities on planet Earth.
1997, PG-13, 1 hour, 38 minutes.
JUNE 22: The Maltese Falcon is a cinematic masterpiece starring screen-legend Humphrey Bogart as private detective Sam Spade, a no-nonsense loner whose partner is killed while pursuing a case.
1941, Not Rated, 1 hour, 40 minutes.
JUNE 29: O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a colorful tale by the Coen Brothers that is loosely based on Homer's "Odyssey” about three chain gang members who bust out of prison to find some missing money in 1930s Mississippi.
2000, PG-13, 1 hour, 46 minutes.
JULY 6: From legendary director Ridley Scott, The Martian is gripping tale of human strength and the will to survive, starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars.
2015, PG-13, 2 hours, 24 minutes.
JULY 13: Romeo + Juliet is a hip retelling of Shakespeare’s famous play, featuring a young Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes and a cool soundtrack.
1996, PG-13, 2 hours.
JULY 20: Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlett Overkill, a super villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
2015, PG, 1 hour, 31 minutes. (Special event prior to movie).
JULY 27: As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace. Experience the motion picture event of a generation in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.
2015, PG-13, 2 hours, 16 minutes.
AUGUST 3: Marvel makes cinematic history as it unites the super hero team of a lifetime in “The Avengers.”
2012, PG-13, 2 hours, 23 minutes.
AUGUST 10: Creed is a film about Adonis Johnson who never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. But there's no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed's legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in a City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky down and asks him to be his trainer.
2015, PG-13, 2 hours, 13 minutes.
AUGUST 17: Little Boy is a heartwarming tale of faith, hope, and love, as a little boy tries with all his might to achieve the impossible: bring his father home from war.
2015, PG-13, 1 hour, 46 minutes.
AUGUST 24: From the Oscar-winning producers of 12 Years a Slave and acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, Selma is the true story of courage and hope that changed the world forever.
2014, PG-13, 2 hours, 8 minutes.
AUGUST 31: Straight Outta Compton is the true story about the group NWA, who emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
2015, R, 2 hours, 27 minutes | Please Note: this film is rated R for language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence, and drug use.
The Friday Night Movies series featuring films for all ages begins June 3rd, with doors opening at 8:00 p.m. and screenings beginning between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., depending on sunset times. Bring a blanket and the whole family and settle in to celebrate the end of a work week and a beautiful summer night!
JUNE 3: Rio is an animated feature from the makers of the Ice Age films. Set in the magnificent city of Rio de Janeiro and the lush rain forest of Brazil, this comedy-adventure centers on Blu, a rare macaw who thinks he is the last of his kind.
2011, G, 1 hour, 36 minutes.
JUNE 10: When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city in Inside Out, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.
2015, PG, 1 hour, 35 minutes.
JUNE 17: A pack of not-so-wild animals experience some serious culture shock when they move from the Big Apple to the Mighty Jungle in this computer-animated comedy, Madgascar. Featuring the voice talents of: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith and David Schwimmer.
2005, PG, 1 hour, 26 minutes.
JUNE 24: Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla, Stymie, Porky, and Petey the dog recapture the mischief that made the original series, The Little Rascals, a timeless favorite in this charming adventure.
1994, PG, 1 hour, 22 minutes.
JULY 1: Kermit goes to Hollywood dreaming about the world of show business in the original film, The Muppet Movie.
1979, G, 1 hour, 35 minutes.
JULY 8: Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) race to restore order at Jurassic World theme park when a ferocious genetically modified dinosaur escapes.
2015, PG-13, 2 hours, 4 minutes.
JULY 15: No Film | Shakespeare in Detroit will perform The Merchant of Venice from July 14-17 as part of New Center Park’s Special Event Series.
JULY 22: Featuring spectacular musical numbers with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor, experience the magic of The Wiz when Dorothy is whisked away to the enchanting wonderland of Oz.
1978, G, 2 hours, 14 minutes.
JULY 29: During a summer of friendship and adventure in The Sandlot, one boy becomes a part of the gang, nine boys become a team, and their leader becomes a legend by confronting the terrifying mystery beyond the right field wall.
1993, PG, 1 hour, 41 minutes.
AUGUST 5: Bob and Helen Parr used to be among the world's greatest crime fighters. Fifteen years later, they have to adapt to civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs to live a "normal" life with their three kids in The Incredibles.
2004, PG, 1 hour, 55 minutes.
August 12: Night at the Museum stars Ben Stiller and an all-star cast including Robin Williams and Dick Van Dyke in this hilarious blockbuster hit. When good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Stiller) is hired as night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, he soon discovers that an ancient curse brings all the exhibits to life after the sun sets.
2006, PG-13, 1 hour, 48 minutes.
AUGUST 19: No Film | Detroit Actors Theatre Company will perform HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical from August 18-20 as part of New Center Park’s Special Event Series.
AUGUST 26: In one of Paris' finest restaurants, Remy, a determined rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family and his true calling, Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events in Ratatouille.
2007, G, 1 hour, 51 minutes.
New Center Park’s Special Events series presents concerts, outdoor theatre and more on various evenings between June and August (times vary). The full lineup includes:
JUNE 23: The WXMD Summer Solstice Event is back and will feature R&B songstress Demetria McKinney, known for her work on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, and has been a guest star on The Real Housewives of Atlanta airing on the Bravo Television Network. Doors at 6:00 p.m.; Performance from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
JULY 14-17: New Center Park is honored to host Shakespeare in Detroit as they present The Merchant of Venice across four days in July. This high-quality theatre troupe has been receiving glowing reviews for their immersive performances since their debut in the city in 2013. Make sure you’re a part of this exclusive, free experience! Doors at 7:00 p.m.; Performance at 8:00 p.m.; July 17: Doors at 1:00 p.m.; Performance at 2:00 p.m. Sponsored by: Tom Delaney, MDI Board Member, ASTI Environmental and Midtown Detroit, Inc.
JULY 20: DANCE to the MUSIC! Mosaic Singers in Concert. Mosaic brings back their hit concert that packed them in at The Music Hall last March. In addition to Mosaic's eclectic choral repertoire, DANCE to the MUSIC pays tribute to "Dance Music" from the 60s to the present, featuring Rock & Roll, R&B, Disco, Pop, Techno and Hip Hop. Mosaic Singers from Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit are one of city's musical gems, having opened for Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Hary Belfonte, Pete Seeger and the Temptation, sharing the stage with groups such as Sweet Honey in the Rock and Foreigner, and performing on tour with Josh Groban. Doors at 5:30 p.m.; Performance at 6:30 p.m.
JULY 22: A Midsummer SOULstice. A high-energy mashup of Shakespeare's classic comedy with soul hits from the 60s and 70s, A Midsummer SOULstice is a show appeals audiences from age 9 to 90. Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit's acclaimed all-teen production have toured to Africa, Asia, Europe and twenty-five states throughout the U.S., including performances at the White House and the Kennedy Center. This new play based on A Midsummer Night's Dream includes 40 soul hits by artists such as Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, as well as many Motown classics. Doors at 5:30 p.m.; Performance at 6:30 p.m.
AUGUST 6-7: Come experience Caribbean culture through dance, family entertainment, food, international performers, and more during the weekend-long Caribbean Festival! For more information, please call (313) 255-2226 or check out: www.myccco.org. Saturday, August 6, 12:00-11:00 p.m.; Sunday, August 7, 1:00-10:00 p.m.
AUGUST 18-20: Detroit Actor’s Theatre Company presents HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, a musical by-product of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the 1960s. HAIR tells the story of the “tribe”, a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the "Age of Aquarius" living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War. HAIR broke new ground in musical theatre by defining the genre of “rock musical”, using a racially integrated cast, and inviting the audience onstage for a “Be-In” finale. Check out DATC’s take on this musical with a live band as back-up. Doors at 6:00 p.m.; Performance at 7:00 p.m.
