Roll out the red carpet! A movie theater gives your event Hollywood flash and sparkle. Big screens, plush seating, state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities, and the latest entertainment await your guests in movie theaters across Michigan.
The Birmingham 8 offers the old-fashioned charm of a vintage movie house with all the modern amenities. Originally built in downtown Birmingham in 1927, the original marquee’s beautiful lights still shine. The renovated theater features eight screens with Sony Digital Cinema 4K projection and 3D technology. DVDs or 35-millimeter films can be screened for groups from 50 to 300.
Offer guests a signature cocktail, or let them choose their own at the full-service bar. Nick Lekas, managing partner, says the theater offers plenty of dining options, too, from pop and popcorn to an upscale meal.
Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids North
In addition to its theaters, which can seat 500, Celebration! Cinema has three additional event spaces. The Wave Room is equipped with drop screens; microphones, projectors and an audio-visual technician can be provided. Full-bar service is available, and includes several locally brewed beers, but catering must be arranged.
“We have done galas, beautiful weddings, lots of company Christmas parties, and film school screenings,” says Kristina Cousins, catering manager at Celebration! Cinema North. Celebration! Cinema South, located in Kentwood, is also available for private events.
Emagine Theatres Royal Oak boasts 10 screens with luxurious reclining seats, a restaurant with 12 bowling lanes and plenty of private meeting spaces.
“We’re almost like an amusement park, with so many attractions under one roof,” says Crystal Arcicovich, director of sales and events.
“We have full audio-visual capabilities, including wireless mics, lapel mics, staging, mixers, spotlights and PA system,” she adds. Slideshows or personal videos can be projected onto the big screen. A complete catering menu and full bar are available in-house as well.
In addition to Royal Oak, there are Emagine Theaters in Canton, Novi, Rochester Hills, Woodhaven, Birmingham, Macomb, Clio and Birch Run that can host groups up to 1,000.
“I think it was P.T. Barnum who said, ‘The show starts on the sidewalk,’” says Ruth Daniels, managing partner at the The Riviera Cinema in Farmington Hills. Indeed, from the dramatic marquee to the chandeliers sparkling above the bar, The Riviera Cinema has plenty of drama and glamour.
“It’s very ‘old Hollywood,’” Daniels says. The black-and-white terrazzo floor leads to nine auditoriums with reclining seats, including a plush 50-seat screening room complete with couches, bar and buffet.
The kitchen offers made-to-order pizza, cheese sticks and hot dogs.
Daniels also manages The Maple Theater in Bloomfield, which recently underwent a renovation by Ron and Roman Architecture. Instagramable nooks and crannies abound, including a wall of vintage movie cameras and sweeping strings of twinkle lights.
“Our unique design is like no other movie theater in metro Detroit,” Daniels says. “The place is so beautiful.”
The Maple Theater has hosted corporate parties and fundraisers. Executive Chef Andrew BeGole turns out top-notch food from the newly upgraded kitchen. Customized menus and full-bar service are all available.
The Redford Theatre in Detroit is operated by the Motor City Theatre Organ Society (MCTOS), and has been lovingly renovated by an all-volunteer staff. The historic space has a Japanese motif, and rental proceeds support its ongoing restoration. “There are stars that twinkle in the ceiling and clouds that move,” says Vice President Stephen Overstreet. “People are blown away when they come inside.”
The main level and balcony can seat more than 1,620 guests. Planners have access to four stories of dressing rooms and an expert sound and lighting technician. The film booth can screen digital films on a high-gain silver screen for crystal clarity.
Live music is easily arranged on the original Barton pipe organ, since several musicians are MCTOS members. Catering must be arranged separately, but note that the concession stand stocks more than 58 varieties of candy.
