I am sure I really can't add to all the thoughtful superlatives heaped upon this MN landmark. Basically, it is all true. Incredible Art Deco interior that will occupy your mind while you are waiting in quiet desperation for the act you came to see. Beer, wine and a limited bar offers the patrons something to enjoy your event with. The audio is generally pretty good, depending on where you sit. The same goes for event viewing - no obstructive view in the theater. read more

State Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Recently came here to see Purple Rain. Felt familiar... later on I realized I seen Miguel in concert here years ago. The theatre itself is nice, has an old charm to it. The seats are extremely tight, not much leg room and a bit uncomfortable after a while. I feel like the guides weren't very helpful at getting people to their seats. I I'm still not sure where they label the sections, I had to ask several people and that made some other people realize they were in the wrong seats/section. The lobby opens 1 hr before the show but the doors to be seated don't open until 30 min prior. I suggest getting there 15-20 min before the show starts for smoother entry. You will still have time to grab a drink and find your seats without the hassle of the pre show crowd. It was so chaotic. The drinks are spendy for what you get but they don't take tips so I guess it somewhat evens out. You can request a lid for your drink which for me is a must in these crowded spaces. Not my fav theatre but the if there's a play I'd like to see, I'd go here! read more

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Good venue for touring shows Not as nice as the Orpheum but never had any issues here The bar drinks overpriced but everything is clean here and efficient read more

State Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love this venue. The theater is beautiful and the sound quality for the plays and shows is tip notch. The employees are so friendly and I have never had a negative experience. If you enjoy theater and concerts, the State Theater is definitely worth your while! read more

State Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Great theater, good acoustics, comfortable, beautiful nice venue. Saw The Blue Man Group. read more

State Theatre - State Theater Minneapolis - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Attended the most recent David Gray concert here on Monday night. It was my first time at the state theater. The staff were friendly and great and the line for getting through security and checking in went extremely quickly. We ordered cocktails which are extremely expensive but it's expected when coming to a theater like this. Our seats were in row R on the main floor, and the seats were comfy and I was able to see the singer the whole time due to the staggered seating...yay for this short girl. People did stand for some more upbeat songs but I still could see through the heads of people in front of me. The bathrooms were great with no wait. I recommend the ones in the basement. read more

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NOTE: Check out their website on their security policy. All guests are subject to a metal detector and bag search. No video or photography inside the theatre. Staff were all friendly and helpful. Concessions had limited options of Carmel corn, candy, and beverages. Beautiful Italian Renaissance style theatre with great acoustics. read more

State Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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A very nice place to see a show, concert or movie. I was fortunate enough to be here for the Prince Celebration 40th anniversary of Purple Rain event. Very nice inside and great views all around including from the balcony. Not supposed to take photos inside but we got away with it the first day but they cracked down on the second day. Got to see Prince concert footage and then the movie Purple Rain with a crowd of Prince fans who knew every line and song, what an amazing experience. Then had a panel discussion with The Revolution about the movie. Second day more Prince concert footage, sneak peek at the upcoming Purple Rain Musical (which will preview at The State Theater in April 2025 before opening on Broadway in June 2025), and then concerts from Taj Farrant, The NPG, and Morris Day. read more

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Fanciest venue for a comedy show I have ever been to! It was gorgeous! The chandeliers on the ceiling were beautiful and the whole place felt like an opera house. The seating was so comfy and the balcony made for easy viewing. The bars had very efficient service for drinks and there were some snacks you could grab as well. I would definitely recommend coming here for a show! read more

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This was our first time here. We got to see Bill Nye the Science Guy and we were just mesmerized but it all. It's all beautifully designed and gives a very high class vintage feel. It's a large theatre with tons of seating on multiple levels. They do a security check/metal detector - that's pretty standard for most places now. They had a few spots to order drinks and small snacks/candy. We had great spots at row D seat 11&12. Sound was good and not too loud. We loved Bill Nye and his wonderfully presented subject - climate change! Science is cool! read more

State Theatre - Row D - Seat 11 - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

State Theatre is an amazing venue for a comedy show. Seems like every seat has a good view, just depends how close you want to be. Our seats were on the side up front and they are angled so your neck won't be hurting. Here's to the usher that told me to put my phone away, I got some great photos anyways, haha. read more

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It had been over a decade since I hit downtown Minneapolis to take in a show. I did a quick search to determine whether the Twin Cities had the Nutcracker and stumbled on Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy. I booked it well over a month early. It was at the State Theatre. A day after a snowstorm, I was to attend this ballet and dance performance. I left the hotel an hour before showtime. I actually cut it close, getting to the parking lot a block away ten minutes before showtime. It was snowing lightly as I drove over. When you enter the theatre, you have to unbutton your coat or jacket. Security is checking for rifles and guns. It's distinctly different than going to any show in Toronto. Next up, if you have a purse, you have to open it up for a security person. I had a small one. I did so. All was great. Third checkpoint was going through the metal detector. I was fine. I then had to show my ticket. My ticket was confusing to look at. I had a digital version on my phone with a QR code. It said 2:30 pm. At first, I thought that my show was at 2:30 pm, but I knew that I would not book a Friday matinee. Instead, it was 7:30 pm. Weird. Anyway, the nice woman scanned my QR code. I asked her where I should go. I was looking at the FF row steps away. She was great pointing out my seat. I thanked her. My annoyance is more with the attendees. My seat was 5. I looked over and it was taken. I spoke to the first four people in my row. They relayed the message down the row that someone can't read or count properly. Sure enough, I saw a shuffle of ten people move over a seat. Really? I've never seen a group in double digits completely get their seats wrong. All ten of you?! I thanked the first four people as I moved past them to finally sit in my seat. The woman who had warmed up my seat apologized. I was polite, as that's who I am, the Canadian, by saying that I thought that I had the wrong row. Nope, she apologized again for making the mistake. Minnesotans are typically good admitting when they are wrong. Minnesota nice was strong that night. I then had to deal with a boy in front of me. The rows of seats on the main floor slant upwards slightly as you move away from the stage. However, this boy's huge afro made it difficult to see the stage at times. Add the fact that he decided to raise his hands over his 'fro did not make things better. I was not impressed. At this performance, you cannot take any photos whatsoever. A young woman in front, over to the right, pulled that stunt. I saw an usher swoop over to her like a hawk with a flashlight to tell her to stop. She did. The performance started off slow. It had a full orchestra, which I loved. It got better and picked up in pace as the performance went along. There was one intermission. The woman who sat in my seat and her partner left the show. Afro boy and his mom decided to change seats and moved up several rows. Theatre goers are weird here. The second half of the show was awesome. You got the conclusion of the Nutcracker, with modern dance mixed in. I loved it. The dancers were wonderful, graceful, and incredibly flexible. The seats were comfortable. I basically wiggled out of my puffy jacket and let it sink into my seat. I had lots of leg room. After the show, I had to find the women's washroom. It was downstairs. This theatre is deemed historic. There were carpeted stairs that led you downstairs. I didn't see an elevator, so I can't speak about accessibility. The washroom was clean and pretty. No complaints. The theatre's interior is gorgeous. I found the box office. It's to the right when you enter the theatre. There's a restaurant on the left, which was closed when I was heading out. It was lightly snowing, which you could clearly see with all the lights that the theatre had everywhere. There was a small merchandise table outside the auditorium. I got a set of cards. I sent a few to friends as Christmas cards. I paid with a credit card. They were $10 for five cards with envelopes. Done! I had a good experience taking in my first ballet and modern dance performance in Minneapolis. Despite folks not knowing where to sit, I'd return for another performance at this theatre and hope for better company. (494) read more

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I went to see loyce houlton's nutcracker fantasy and it was the greatest nutcracker i have ever seen. the dancers were amazing, and seeing all of the kids do such a good job in such a big production was fun to witness. I went to see the nutcracker at the orpheum also, and It could never compare to this master piece. It's no wonder it has lasted this long! read more

This place was great the seating was amazing. It did look like there would've been a bad seat in the house. They had 3 different places to get a drink and the bathrooms were clean. When it came to the theater part, it was clean and looked very nice. I would definitely recommend seeing a show here. read more

State Theatre - Out front - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Jonathon was the second best part of this whole venue (the artists performances was the first). Thank you for the energy, the kindness, attention to detail, and joy you bring! read more

Great venue to see The New Standards Holiday Show. This year I was so impressed with the check in. Nicest person at the door checking Covid Vaccination cards. Followed by metal detectors and finally concert ticket check in. It was all fast and easy and staff were so friendly. I also appreciated the usher Sat. night who tried their best to enforce the mask policy as one woman gave them a hard time. I'm so glad they have these policies during Covid. read more

This venue had a great setup for any style of entertainment. I've been here for a couple concerts now and the sound is amazing, but the seats are kind of tight. It didn't affect how fun all the concerts have been. The ushers work hard at getting you to the correct seat, however there were a lot of other fans that sat in the wrong spots and caused a lot of disturbance. We found a parking lot for $5 a few blocks away behind the Saloon. There are a lot of restaurants/bars around this area but hard to find a spot at night or on weekends and is more upscale. read more

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I don't normally review businesses at all but I have to say - the acoustics here are AWFUL. I came here to see Brazilian singer Marisa Monte in March of 2022. She rarely tours so I was beyond excited to see her live. She had a full band including and extended rhythm section, horns and even woodwind instruments. My seats were about halfway back on main floor, dead center. I couldn't hear any nuances in the sound whatsoever - it was like they were playing in a big echoey shoebox. Had an almost muffled sound akin to a stadium performance. Zero balance. Like I could SEE the instruments playing but couldn't hear anything...just rhythm section and everything else was fuzzy. So disappointed. I even got up and travelled all around the entire theater towards the end of the show to see if it was just my location...NOPE. Sounded like crap in every spot. I HOPE that since this theater hosts several concerts they figure out a way to make the music sound good. It is incredibly beautiful on the up side? Only way I would come back is if it's not a musical event. Otherwise I think there is A LOT of room for acoustical improvement! read more

State Theater is a lovely, ornate old theater built when beauty in architecture mattered. It was so nice to sit inside a place bursting with aesthetic vision, not shackled by whatever budget concerns loomed at the time of its construction, but obviously made because the beauty was intrinsic to its value. Bear in mind, however, that this means it was built at a time when, in general, Americans were not quite so generously sized. The seats were a bit of a tight squeeze for some people in my row. They were clearly uncomfortable and embarrassed and my heart went out to them. As other reviews have mentioned, the rules are pretty strict here and the ushers are authoritarian and unsympathetic. We were there for a Rifftrax Live show and usually those are held at a smaller, more relaxed venue in Nashville. It is typical for some fans to dress in costume and often bring props. However, when we were entering State Theater, security held up a man in costume because he had a prop attached to an extendable pole. They would not allow him in unless he surrendered the prop because it was made out of a selfie stick and those are banned and it could be used as a weapon and those are also banned. To be fair, the rules are clearly stated on the theater's website as to what is and is not allowed, but most of the patrons of this show are super fans and showed up as they usually would. They take security VERY seriously at this theater probably because downtown Minneapolis is Sketchy. That's right, with a capital S. By the way, if you visit here I hope you have the opportunity to retreat from danger, if necessary, because that's all MN will allow in terms of defending yourself. Also, don't take pictures in the theater because that's bad. Apparently. Anyway, all the stars are for the dead guys who built the place. They made a work of art. read more

This was our first visit to the State Theater. It is a beautiful, historic theater with a very ornate interior, comfortable seats, and good acoustics. Its was a perfect venue for a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert. My only complaint is that despite their mask mandate, they allow food and drinks in the auditorium, which made me feel less safe given how packed the seats were. We had an aisle seat so it didn't feel so packed. I doubt we will be back until their vaccine and mask mandate goes away. May that happen sooner than later. read more

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Beautiful vintage building with intricate architectural details located close to the business district and major hotels. The seats are vintage as well, and some would prefer modern seats. Serous security check entering the theater. Acoustics are wonderful and we had a good time. read more

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I came here for the Jessie James Decker concert. Beautiful state theater. Every seat has a good view of the stage. The only downside is limited leg space and parking though there are parking ramps surrounding the area. Overall, the experience was good and the sound was great! read more

State Theatre - Jessie James Decker concert - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The food service was utterly disappointing. They are a Theatre and only had prepackaged caramel popcorn instead of real, fresh popped popcorn. They had Pepsi instead of Coke, which is again depressing, and no 'food' options like chicken fingers, pretzels, or hot dogs like most theaters offer nowadays. Do not go to this theater. read more

The State is a theatre I've been to the least amount of times in the Cities. No particular reason just normally works out that way. It's an older theatre but has some interesting character and ornate details inside. The seats aren't the most comfortable, but with the age of the theatre, I wasn't super surprised there. Next time I see a show here, I may opt for the balcony instead of the rear main floor. I feel like the view would be a lot better at that location. The sound was phenomenal though and the crowd was really into the show so all in all I had a great experience here. read more

State Theatre - Outside The State - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I love that DT Minneapolis has quite a few theater options. I've seen some concerts here and I usually enjoy the show. I find the venue a little bit difficult to deal with. Since it's an older venue the seats are not very comfortable and the climb up in the balcony is steep. I try not to go to shows at the sate very often. read more

The most uncomfortable seating of my concert going life. If you are near 6' try to get seats on the aisle or a front row somewhere. I'm 6'1" and slender, and my knees ram into the metal seat backs in front of me when my butt is all the way wedged back into the crack of my seat. My arms pressed into my sides take up the entire shared arm rests and hang several inches into the seats next to me. My shoulders butt into the people's shoulders next to me. It's worse than airplane seating. To avoid being a complete human panini I need to hunch forward and angle my arms to rest between my legs. What a beautiful historic theater made completely uncomfortable in order to maximize profits. read more

State Theatre - Ouch for above average height folk - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Came here today for the Ali Wong show. Nice classical theater, seats are a little narrow. Toilets are clean, a lot of stalls. Sound system is good, nice and compact place. A little old, but cleanliness is key, and this place felt clean. They didn't allow us to bring an full water bottle in, so my friend had to empty her bottle. But there is a refill fountain by the toilet in the lower level (it is behind a wall to the left of the bar when you are facing the bar). read more

State Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Good shows. A sometimes challenging venue. I'm always impressed when I visit huge theaters in the Twin Cities that" don't seem to have a bad seat in the house." The State Theater isn't one of these. It's an older theater and the least expensive seats typically have an obstructed view, where you are missing a portion of the stage. Acoustics are also more challenging here than other theaters. During a recent performance of "Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" our inexpensive seats left a small portion to the left of the stage unseen. It was also hard to hear some parts of the performance. The lesson: If the show means a great deal to you. Or, you want to insure full visibility and good sound, purchase seats 'one step up' from the ones you order in other theaters. read more

State Theatre - Learning of 'Love and Murder' - Performing Arts Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Beautiful ornate old theatre! Every seat has a good view of stage. Sat in the cheap seats and had a fine view with roomy seats. It was not a steep incline either which made me very happy! Don't hesitate to sit up in the back. You won't be disappointed. I guess the only negative was the need for more bathrooms. Overall, a lovely venue! Plan on going back. Located in the theatre district with plenty of restaurants and bars in go to before or after your show. read more

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I've enjoyed many evenings at the State, most recently the brilliant, high-energy performance by the enormously talented (and funny!) Diana Krall and her combo. I love the history, the ambiance, the accoustics, the sight lines and the fact that for a space that seats 2,100 people it feels much more intimate. I'm told that the furthest seat from the stage is only 150 feet away. Many nearby dining options. Just a great venue. read more

Went there for a Manheim Steamroller concert. The band themselves were very good. However, the ushers were not pleasant in the least to deal with. In order to get in, we had to provide proof of vaccination as everyone in attendance had to do, my wife and I had our proof. But we also had to wear a mask. Several times during the performance, 1 specific usher kept telling me to wear my mask correctly to which I already was. Not to mention, my wife and I were sitting in the very last row in which we had a curtain right behind us and the ushers were standing right behind said curtain and talking with each other and being a distraction. They also kept walking up and down the isles which was also another distraction. Not pleased with the overall experience and I have absolutely no plans on ever going there ever again. #BirthdayGiftRuined read more

This is one of my favorite places to see a show. Recently I've seen Script and Anthony Bourdain. It's pretty small so even 10th row balcony gets a good view. it's pretty easy to get in and out of, and there are big and small bars scattered so you can enjoy a Surly during the show. Or a wine. Or a mixed drink concoction du jour. The seats are a little uncomfortable, to be expected in an older theater. But the sightless and sound are pretty good, and you should check their schedule and give them a try! read more

Attended the John Leguizamo Latin History for for Morons show here tonight. Two parts: the venue and its staff. The performer. The venue (built in 1874) boasted beautiful granite/marble decorative staircases, chandeliers of the time, and clean bathrooms. The eats menu could have been more other than snack or stuff and extended. Same with beer/liquor assortment. Staff was nice. Except when we arrived at our seats (balcony-middle) section by 10 minutes due to the line at snack bar. The staff member told us to wait a minute. We waited. And waited... and waited. Stood at stairs for about 20 minutes. I asked again, "are those our seats?" Pointing literally a foot in front of him! He turned to us motioned is to be quiet. Turned around and proceeded to watch the show. By this time another couple stood behind us waiting to be seated. After a while, I walked around him and he leaned into my ear and told me that he had to wait until John Leguizamo said a specific word- that would signal him! (?) waited another minute. Whipped out my phone and stared taking pics! He quickly told us we could sit. ‍ We sat and enjoyed the explosive energy that this man still has! I pictured him as the Pest...who remembers that?! And his roles in some other major movies. However J.L. Performance centered around teaching us about the history of Latin genocides of the Aztecas , Incas and other cultures and their contributions they have made, as seen through his sons project for school. He meet up the pace. Funny for sure. read more

The ushers are a pain - It's like being in 2nd grade. Prices for snacks and beverages are outrageous.

You can purchase two plastic cups of awful wine for $44. Their policy: don't post the prices anywhere and automatically add an undisclosed amount for a tip. My advice is to buy a good bottle of wine to have before or after the show. Damn, you could get two decent cocktails out for that price. Outrageous! The one star is because the theater is pretty. read more

Was handed a free pair of tickets from a friend while dining at the restaurant next door. Went to see Feherty (the golf guy). What a surprising evening. The theatre is convenient, the seating is ample, the seats themselves are comfortable, and the place has been well kept up. Last time I was in this theatre was 20 years ago, and it looks better than ever. Definitely looking forward to returning sometime. read more

This theater is so gorgeous. Take your time to appreciate all the decorative plaster, murals and glam this theater provides. Location is great, being on the edge of downtown provides less of a traffic/mess you have to drive through to reach your destination. There is plenty of parking too, I think five or six lots, covered and surface, within a block, providing you with plenty of choices. The lines are usually fast moving, but the entrance is small so be patient and be ready. The lobby hosts drinks and snacks before entering the theater as well as the lower level by the restrooms. I am pleased with the sound they provide for both plays and concerts, sometimes the older theaters can lack sound quality because it has to be retrofitted in modern years. The stage is pretty high from the seats so if you are in the first few rows you should expect to have to look up for the duration. Overall, there isn't a bad seat in the house, even the balcony has great sight lines. read more

This might the prettiest of our downtown theater buildings, and its where you need to be to buy tickets in person without paying outrageous online service fees. Do you live close enough to downtown to stop by during box office hours? DO IT. If you don't have time to play downtown, grab a nearby meter or park at Target and spend $20 to get your parking validated. read more

Love the State Theater. It's a wonderful, beautiful space with ornate ceilings, great acoustics, and good views from most seats. It has a few hundred seats less than Orpheum, and their bar is outside the main doors, which can be an issue when you're just trying to go inside and have to go through the boozing crowd. The seats themselves are from a bygone era, when people were of, um, slenderer frames on average. And, there's this one oddly placed chair next to a pillar in the back of the main floor. I just noticed that when I waited an hour for David Sedaris's signature. Who would want to sit by him/herself and have a partial view of the stage? Interesting. Despite these tiny criticisms, the State Theater is still a great venue for performances of all sorts, whether it be a musical (like La Cage Aux Folles), spoken word (David Sedaris), acoustic wizardry (Regina Spektor), or mind-blowing light show (The Script). read more

I love this venue. It is so pretty and the acoustics are fantastic. It draws such great shows and artists. I ushered here in the 90's, so it has been great to be able to go back as a patron. That being said, we had to wait in line to be seated for over 5 minutes the other night while the ushers in our aisle fumbled with the three people in front of us. I mentioned that I knew where our seats were, but we were still asked to wait. When the usher returned, she had no idea where our seats were. I pointed them out to her and asked if she wanted to walk down with us to double-check them. She made us wait for another usher to come over so she could ask her. I am going to give the venue the benefit of the doubt because maybe she was new. But, hey... I am looking for a part-time job if they'd like me to come back and help her out. :) read more