The State Theatre, located at 130 W. College Avenue in State College, PA, was built in 1938 as a movie house to show and test-market new films. Though the State Theatre still shows movies, it is also a venue for live music, concerts and shows.

The theatre still shows movies and has a concession stand that not only sells popcorn and candy, but also beer and mixed drinks. Though it rarely shows first-run movies, the theatre takes part in re-releases, movie classics or sometimes modern epics.

A sample of some of the classic movies to be shown at The State Theatre this winter:

• The Godfather – 7:30 pm - Feb 7, 2026
• Casablanca – 7:30 pm - Feb 14, 2026
• The Breakfast Club – 7:30 pm – Feb 17, 2026
• The Shining – 8 pm – Feb 27, 2026

An example of an epic trilogy that the theatre will be showing this winter is The Hobbit trilogy. Over the next month, the theatre will show the trilogy on Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. The cinema will be showing:

• The Hobbit – 2:30 pm - Feb 1, 2026
• The Hobbit: Desolation of Smog – 2:30 pm – Feb 15, 2026
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – 2:30 pm – March 1, 2026

Sometimes the theatre makes special arrangements with outside organizations to create a collaboration. One such collaboration this winter is with the Happy Valley Comic and Collectibles Convention. The theatre will be showing Primitive War starring Comic Con guest Tricia Helfer on February 28, 2026. Before the film, there will be a Meet and Greet with Helfer from 6:30 pm to 7 pm (limited to only 40 people), the showing of the movie from 7 pm to 9 pm, and then a Q and A with the audience from 9 pm to 9:30 pm.

For a listing of all the movies coming up at the theatre, click here. 

As mentioned above, the State Theatre not only shows films, but hosts bands and shows!

The theatre has two venues for live entertainment. One is The Friedman Auditorium, which can hold about 550 patrons, while the other is The Attic, a more intimate setting seating approximately 50 attendees.

Many of the bands performing in The Friedman Auditorium are Tribute Bands. Below is a short list of some of the tribute bands planning to visit State College, PA.

• Get the Led Out - Led Zeppelin Tribute Band – 8 pm - Feb 13, 2026
• Start Making Sense – A Tribute to the Talking Heads – 8 pm – March 20, 2026
• The Machine performs Pink Floyd – A Pink Floyd Tribute Band - 8 pm – April 3, 2026
• Killer Queen – A tribute to Queen – 8 pm – April 24, 2026

But The Friedman Theatre hosts not only tribute bands but also traditional bands. A sample of some of the upcoming shows:

• Gaelic Storm – 8 pm – March 25, 2026
• Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel – 8 pm – April 26, 2026
• The Steel Wheels – 8 pm – May 3, 2026

 The auditorium also hosts concerts and shows. Two upcoming shows are:

• 14^th Annual Rock the 80’s Concert – 7 pm – Feb 21, 2026
• The Pout-Pout Fish – 2 pm – May 16, 2026

The State Theatre’s Attic is a much smaller, intimate venue located, yes, you guessed it, in the theatre's attic.

Some of the live performances hosted in the attic include:

• Tinsley Ellis – 8 pm – Feb 16, 2026
• A Tale of Two – 8 pm – Feb 27, 2026
• Cory Branan – 8 pm – Mar 25, 2026
• Willie Nile – 8 pm – May 9, 2026

The Attic can also host movies with a smaller audience appeal, such as Silent movies.

Click here for a listing of all the Concerts and Shows being hosted by the State Theatre.

Though originally built as a movie house, The State Theatre has grown into a state-of-the-art concert venue that hosts concerts and shows and still projects classic and epic rerun movies!

Go out, get some popcorn and a beverage, and enjoy yourself at The State Theatre!