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Credit: Dimitri Agdanowski

Bass player Randy Gregg and lead guitarist Steve Leonard from Almost Queen play together. Almost Queen is a popular tribute band to the 1970s British rock band Queen.

Music fills halls lined with beautiful European facades and ornate decoration. The smell of buttery popcorn lingers in the air, and people fill the auditorium as they wait for a show to begin.
The Kalamazoo State theatre has been a staple of Kalamazoo since it opened its doors in 1927. Now, however, the theatre is closing its doors and stopping shows as the current owners look for a buyer. For the foreseeable future, the last performance at the theatre was the Queen tribute band, “Almost Queen,” on Nov. 24, 2024.
The historic theatre on the Kalamazoo Mall has been a center for the performing arts in the Kalamazoo community for decades.
“I’ve been seeing shows here since the early ’80s,” said Ann Shields-Russell, a former employee of the State Theatre and an attendee of the Almost Queen show. “I’ve seen a lot of different concerts here, and I’ve seen movies here as well, so it’s had a huge impact on my heart.”
The State Theatre has been the premiere entertainment venue in Kalamazoo for both movies and live music. Performers like Kid Cudi, R.E.M. and Lewis Black have all spent time on its stage, building its reputation. The theatre is also known for its yearly screening of the cult classic movie, “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
“We’re transplants from Georgia, and the first show we came to [in Kalamazoo] was “Rocky Horror Picture Show live,” said Richard Odom, who attended the Almost Queen show with his wife, Rochelle Odom.
In addition to the entertainment offered by the theatre, its historical impact is also at risk. The theatre’s architecture and charm is a draw for many.
“Here, we have this epic gothic-like Eastern European feeling that’s on the inside,” said Odom. “I just really appreciate that.”
The theatre is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres, a group of people around the United States that try to preserve the beautiful architecture and facades of these historic buildings.
The owners of the State Theatre are currently looking for someone to buy the theatre.
“A lot of us are hoping that someone will buy the place and keep it going,” said Shields-Russell.
Within the theatre’s community, there is a lot of hope that shows will begin again soon.
“I feel that somebody’s going to buy it and redo it, so I’m not too worried,” said Dustin Steffler, an attendee at the Almost Queen show. “I feel like this place will still stay around.”
No matter the fate of the theatre, the impact it’s had on the Kalamazoo community is undeniable.
“I think this place has had a wonderful impact on Kalamazoo,” said Shields-Russell, “and the community [and] people from many different generations.”