Portland, already a five star Maine community, once again brings to the table a co-operative plan to preserve and promote the City’s historic and theatrical roots with the resurgence of stage performances and theater productions at the State Theatre.
New York City’s “The Bowery Presents”, an independent promoter, and Alex Crothers of “Higher Ground Presents”, an indie promoter in the New England music scene, have signed a deal to re-open the State Theatre in Portland, Maine.
Lauren Wayne, a music-industry veteran and Portland local, will serve as General Manager of the State Theatre and will lead the charge in bookings, with the first shows slated to begin this fall.
PHOTO: State Theatre Lounge Circa 1930
Before the venue re-opens, The Bowery Presents and Crothers will continue the extensive upgrades started by former owners. According to them theater-goers should expect about 80 shows a year with a cross section of live music acts and diverse performances.
According to writer Michael Mitchell, The State Theatre opened on the 8th of November 1929 and was designed in a Semi-Atmospheric/Spanish style. Mitchell wrote in his story that the original seating capacity was for 2,300 people. It operated as a first run movie house until the late-1960′s. “It then became a porn theater”, he said.
In 1989, the theatre was closed and fell into disrepair. By the mid-1990′s, the theatre was saved and restored. It closed for a brief time after its restoration and was re-opened by new owners as a performing arts and concerts venue. Closed again in early 2007, it was the last of the movie palaces left in the city of Portland, Maine.
Personally, I am excited about the return of The State Theatre as a performing art center for Southern Maine and I look forward to seeing the stage, once again, filled with artists and performers in the heart of downtown Portland.
If you want to be the first to monitor the progress of the theatre go to www.statetheatreportland.com and add your e-mail address at the top of the page.
State Theatre
609 Congress St.
Portland, ME, 04101
