State Theatre, Cleveland

The KeyBank State Theatre, located on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland, is a historic gem within the Playhouse Square district. Designed by the celebrated theater architect Thomas W. Lamb, the venue was originally built in 1921 by Marcus Loew as the flagship of the Ohio branch of the Loew’s Theatres company. Constructed in an Italian Renaissance style, it initially served as a grand venue for vaudeville shows and movie screenings, opening its doors on February 5, 1921, with a seating capacity of 3,400.

One of the most unique features of the State Theatre is its 320-foot-long series of three lobbies that connect the venue to Euclid Avenue. This extraordinary design choice, driven by the desire to have the marquee visible from the avenue, created the longest lobby serving a single theater in the world at the time. The lobbies were adorned with four large murals by James Daugherty, titled The Spirit of Pageantry—Africa, The Spirit of Drama—Europe, The Spirit of Cinema—America, and The Spirit of Fantasy—Asia, further elevating the theater's opulent atmosphere.

The State Theatre faced difficulties in the late 1960s, closing in February 1969 despite a brief adaptation for Cinerama in 1967. A Life magazine feature in 1970 highlighted its mural, sparking a preservation movement. Threatened with demolition in 1972 and 1977, the State and Ohio Theatres were saved by public support. The Playhouse Square Foundation, established in 1973, secured long-term leases, and the musical Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, set to run for three weeks in the State Theatre lobby, ended up running for two years, setting a local record.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the theater underwent major restoration and reopened on June 4, 1984, as the home of the Cleveland Ballet and Opera with a seating capacity of 3,200. Renamed KeyBank State Theatre in 2017 after a $10 million gift, it remains a key part of Cleveland’s cultural scene.