PORTLAND
STATE THEATRE
Updated
This week at State Theatre: Thu 10/15 — Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, Fri 10/16 — Sylvan Esso, Sat 10/17 — BERTHA: Grateful Drag. Upcoming: Mon 10/19 — Thundercat: Distracted AF Tour, Tue 10/20 — Cannons: The Everything Glows Tour, Wed 10/21 — Bruce Cockburn with special guest Livingston Taylor.
ABOUT
The State Theatre is a 1,870-seat performing arts venue at 609 Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine. The building features a combination of Moorish and Art Deco architecture with Spanish, Italian, and decorative elements including wrought iron stairs, bronze doors, and vaulted ceilings.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The State Theatre hosts a wide range of live music spanning rock, indie, folk, comedy, and electronic acts. The venue operates as both a standing general admission and reserved seating space. Programming is managed by State Theatre Presents and includes shows at affiliated venues such as Thompson's Point and Portland House of Music.
HISTORY
Designed by Portland architect Herbert W. Rhodes, the theater opened on November 8, 1929, originally containing 2,300 seats. The first screening was Gloria Swanson's first talkie. After decades as a movie palace, it fell into disrepair and briefly served as an adult cinema before closing. It reopened in 2010 after The Bowery Presents and Alex Crothers of Higher Ground invested $1.5 million in renovations. Notable performers since reopening include the Avett Brothers, Pixies, Arctic Monkeys, and Trey Anastasio.