WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Kalamazoo State Theatre officials announced Tuesday a pause in operations effective later this month.
The closure is intended to be temporary, and will be used to gather interest and identify a new organization – likely a non-profit – to resume operations at the 97-year-old performance venue.
Owner Roger Hinman said he remains committed to preserving the cultural and architectural importance of the theatre and ensuring its potential to continue to thrive in the hands of a yet-to-be-identified organization dedicated to entertainment and the arts.
Hinman and investors bought the theatre in 1985 to protect it from demolition.
Its final event will be Nov. 23, with a performance by Almost Queen and special guest Lisa Can’t Sing. Tickets for all shows scheduled after that date will be refunded at the point of purchase.
State Theatre was designed by renowned architect John Eberson with an “atmospheric” interior reminiscent of a Mediterranean courtyard under a starry sky. The theatre is one of 18 Eberson atmospheric theatres still in operation nationwide.
