BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND.

“DETROIT: THE MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY”

returns to SOULPEPPER and DEBUTS AT MONTREAL’s SEGAL CENTRE

Photo of SATE from the 2023 production of Detroit: Music from the Motor City. Photo by Dahlia Katz 

Experience the sound of Detroit's History 

Detroit was once called, ‘The City of the Future.' It was built on the innovation of Henry Ford and later gutted by the collapse of the automotive industry. 20th century Detroit is more than the story of collapse and rebirth, it’s also a story of how those pressures created the music that captured the world's attention: ‘The Sound of Young America.'   

After a sold-out run in 2023 Soulpepper regulars Andrew Penner, Travis Knights, SATE and Hailey Gillis, along with a group of incredible musicians will return to the stage to tell the story of this city and its sound. Through the many genres that came out of Detroit (Motown, Jazz, Hip Hop and Detroit Rock to name a few) they'll dive deep into the city’s heart and history; from the assembly line to abandoned factories to the resilient sounds of today’s Detroit.

Featuring iconic hits like “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas, “My Girl” by The Temptations, “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, and “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye.

DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY

Created by Andrew Penner, Travis Knights and Frank Cox-O’Connell

Written by Erin Brandenburg

Contributions by Beau Dixon

Directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell

Musical Direction by Andrew Penner

TORONTO: MARCH 19 - 29, 2026

MONTREAL: APRIL 12 - MAY 03, 2026