With demand outstripping the capacity of our 100 seat theater in downtown Kalamazoo, we are thrilled to announce a temporary move to the campus of Kalamazoo College. In this exciting new partnership with the college’s Theatre Arts Department, the rest of our season will be presented in the beautiful 280 seat Festival Playhouse. This collaboration begins with a hysterical production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this June and continues with School of Rock: The Musical this July. Read on for answers to the most frequently asked questions about this move.
“I love coming to your shows downtown! Is this a permanent change?”
It is not! We are so excited to be working with Kalamazoo College this summer and so grateful to the Theatre Arts Department for letting us use their facility to produce these two ambitious and complex productions, we could not do either to the same standard of quality in our downtown space. But rest assured, we’ll be back at 221 Farmers Alley in September for Jersey Boys (tickets on sale 7/17).
“What’s the theatre like?”
The Festival Playhouse is a beautiful rounded-thrust auditorium much like the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis or the Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario. With 280 seats there’s plenty of room to bring the whole family! The main difference from our normal space is that the entrance is at the top of the auditorium, so reaching the front row requires descending several steps. There are handicap accessible and companion seating in the back row and our ushers will be on hand to assist with any mobility needs.
“Is buying a ticket any different?”
Nope! All ticketing still happens through our website and our box office. You can go online to look at the seating chart and make your purchases, or you can call us at 269-343-2727 and we’re happy to help you make reservations over the phone.
“I’ve never been! How do I get there?”
The Festival Playhouse is conveniently located on the gorgeous campus of Kalamazoo College at 129 Thompson St, just 1.5 miles from Farmers Alley Theatre. Click here for Google Maps directions.
“Where do I park?”
Kalamazoo College is allowing audience members to use select faculty, staff, and student parking lots, please see the map at the bottom of the page for more information. You are also invited to use street parking on campus.*
“Do I need to bring anything extra with me? What do I do when I get to the theatre?”
When you get to the theatre, enter through the glass doors under the “Playhouse” sign. Feel free to relax in the lobby and enjoy some concessions until you’re ready to take your seat in the auditorium. Because the Festival Playhouse is a larger venue, we do ask that you have your tickets (emailed to you along alongside your order confirmation) with you when you arrive and recommend printing them at home or having them pulled up on a mobile device. This will be a huge help in allowing us to get all patrons to their seats in a timely manner.
“I can’t find my digital tickets, what should I do?”
The pdf of your tickets should have been attached to your order confirmation email, but if you can’t find it, please call our box office at 269-343-2727 and we’ll be happy to assist you.
The following campus parking lots are available for your use. Please note that Academy Street is closed at the east end of campus near Stadium Drive. There will also be signage and parking attendants to help guide you. We recommend arriving more than 30 minutes prior to curtain for best available parking.
A: Upper Fine Arts Lot: Access from 129 Thompson Street — Directly in front of the theatre, handicap accessible parking.
B: Admission Lot: Access from 116 Thompson Street — Down the street from the theatre, longer walk but no stairs.
C: Lower Fine Arts Lot: Access from 181 Acker Lane (a one-way, northbound street) — Behind the theatre complex. Access to the lobby via path past tennis courts and a flight of stairs.
*Follow posted parking restrictions for street parking, which is controlled by the City of Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo College and Farmers Alley Theatre are not responsible for parking violations.