State Theatre

Bumping up my review a star, as the State Theatre has been doing a MUCH better job booking interesting music over the past year. I’d still like to see them skew a bit younger in their tastes, but they’re definitely improving!

I’m from Middlesex NJ, and Can’t make it to a more local show. I’m a life long fan of The Zappa Family and really want to see this show, so I’m considering making the 3 hour trip to see it at your theater. What is the probability of Mr. Zappa doing autographs and/​or pics after the show?

This place is a real treasure. An awesome venue for both films and live music. They have a great sense of what’s important and their eclectic selection of events reflects that. I have only one regret and that is that at some point the interior of the the theater was «modernized». It probably sounds better now… But I miss the 1930s feel that the outside of the venue promises. This is an important resource… it needed to be supported!

Part of our Central PA Arts Festival Weekend.
We saw the Four Bitchin Babes
What a great place. State College should be proud of the venue, proud of the renovation, and proud of whatever endowment they have. Well run, with happy and helpful people, well maintained bothrooms. A real plus to your city.

The cinema circuit in State College has shrunk over the years, and only two locations remain where one can see movies upon release. These two theaters show exactly the same movies, and retain blockbusters for far longer than necessary, meaning that those with lower box office cred never make it.
That’s where the State Theatre comes in. Movies show up a bit later than they would in, say New York, but you’re not in New York. You’re in State College. Sorry. If you’re interested in foreign or independent cinema, you’ll be spending some time at the State Theatre, and you’ll be very glad it’s there. Seasonal repertory films also appear, often tied to occasions like Halloween and Christmas, and there are afternoon screenings for kids.
The Theatre also has live performances, on its appealingly antique stage. Regrettably, what sells in this town skews heavily toward hippie tribute bands or lounge act impersonators, meaning the State Theatre’s value is mostly as a cinema. But when the occasional genuine rock concert is scheduled, it’s likely to be a good one, in spite of the tendency to hold to one rather particular style. The Drive-​by Truckers, The Hold Steady, Dr. Dog, Billy Bragg, and others of a similar ilk have all appeared.
In spite of often frustrating bookings, the Theatre’s value for State College culture is immeasurable.

How is it that this is the first review for the State Theatre? I absolutely adore this place; everything about it from its long historic past to its modern day revival is incredible. I have seen both movies on the giant screen and live performances in the main hall and the smaller attic space. The acoustics make a live production Broadway worthy and the lightening is good enough for a Crüe concert. I like that the State Theatre takes an art-​house approach to the movies that they decide to screen which is great for someone who is used to the Ritz Theaters in Philadelphia. Perhaps my favorite aspect about this place was the old cartoons that they used to show on Saturday mornings. After hearing the opening lines of the Looney Tunes theme, I was instantly transported back to my childhood and relished in the nostalgia. I really hope they bring this back because the whole community, all age groups benefited from this, not to mention that it was FREE! The playroom in the attic at the State is the perfect place to see an intimate performance by under the radar, local thespians. All five of your senses will be utilized during whatever it is you are seeing and there is always the chance that you will be asked to participate in the performance. My only complaint is that my COMM film class wasn’t held here, I missed it by half a semester, boo-​hoo.