THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Book an intimate, plug-and-play 55-seat black-box theater right off downtown Ann Arbor. Perfect for screenings, rehearsals, and private performances with on-site taproom access.
Book an intimate, plug-and-play 55-seat black-box theater right off downtown Ann Arbor. Perfect for screenings, rehearsals, and private performances with on-site taproom access.
Book with hear.say brewing
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by hear.say brewing · Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Back Theater at Hear.Say Brewing + Theater offers a compact, professional home for community arts and private events in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. This 55-seat black-box theater sits off a lively downtown block, pairing a high-end projection screen, an adjustable lighting grid, and a full-range sound system with walk-up access to a craft taproom. Renters arrive to a reliable plug-and-play setup: HDMI inputs for Mac and PC, handheld and lavalier microphones, and venue staff who run a technical walkthrough during load-in so creators can focus on the show.
What makes this space unusual is the brewery-theater combination. It’s rare to find a dedicated performance room that opens directly onto a taproom where guests can buy local beer, cider, and non-alcoholic drinks and bring them into the black box. That crossover creates a relaxed, conversational energy that fits comedy nights, intimate concerts, independent film premieres, listening parties, and private workshops alike. The intimacy of fifty-five seats turns every performance into a tightly focused encounter; lighting and sound capabilities let small productions feel big.
The theater’s operations are straightforward: a thirty-minute technical walk-through, a multi-hour private booking window, and a half-hour pack-out period during which staff manage room reset and sanitizing. That schedule keeps load-ins efficient and minimizes downtime between events. The room’s flexible black-box layout also works for table-top workshops and corporate presentations when a stage setup isn’t required.
Visitors who pair an outdoor itinerary with a cultural evening will find Hear.Say Brewing + Theater an appealing anchor. After a day exploring the Huron River greenways or local parks, this venue provides a warm, indoor option that reflects Ann Arbor’s arts-forward personality. While the theater itself doesn’t feature natural landmarks, its location within a vibrant college town gives access to a steady stream of local artists and filmmakers, making it fertile ground for community-driven programming.
Practical advantages include central downtown access, wheelchair-friendly sightlines depending on seating configuration, and staff-managed AV support. Prospective renters should confirm exact seating layout and any catering or special licensing needs ahead of time. A straightforward, efficient rental with artisanal character, this space is a smart pick in Ann Arbor’s cultural circuit.
The theater seats 55 people in a black-box configuration; ask about alternative layouts for workshops or standing-room setups.
Yes—taproom purchases from the adjacent Hear.Say taproom can be brought into the theater; confirm any age restrictions for your event.
The venue supports HDMI for Mac and PC, handheld and lavalier microphones, and has stage lighting controls; staff assist during the technical walkthrough.
Sightlines and seating configuration can accommodate wheelchair access depending on setup—confirm specifics with the venue when booking.
Bookings typically include a 30-minute load-in/tech check, a multi-hour private event block (4–5 hours typical), and a 30-minute pack-out.
Yes—the venue staff handle the technical walkthrough, room reset, trash removal, and sanitizing after your event.
hear.say brewing is an Ann Arbor-based brewery and theater dedicated to live improv comedy, community-focused events, and craft beer. The venue brings together a taproom atmosphere, an outdoor patio, and a cozy theater space to host weekly performances, improv training, and private celebrations. Shows at hear.say brewing include fast-paced comedy nights such as Thursday Night Improv - Duoplicity and Saturday Night Improv, interactive game-show style sets like Who Can Say?, and specialty evenings including Musical Improv Jam and Tony and Friends. Each performance pairs local improvisers with audience participation and a relaxed brewery setting. The training program offers progressive classes for performers at multiple levels: Improv 201 (Characters), Improv 202 (Finding Game), Improv 303 (Advanced Long Form Forms), and Improv 304 (Advanced Ensemble & Performance Style). Classes focus on character work, identifying comedic game, advanced long-form techniques, ensemble trust, and stage-ready performance skills, culminating in live shows for many students. For private events, hear.say brewing offers a Full Brewery Buyout with exclusive access to the taproom, outdoor patio, and theater, customizable bars, entertainment options, and on-site staff support. The combination of craft beer, improv entertainment, and flexible event space makes hear.say brewing a distinctive destination for both regular audiences and special gatherings in West Ann Arbor. All descriptions reflect the venue's publicly offered shows, classes, and event capabilities as presented by hear.say brewing.
Book with hear.say brewing