State Theatre
17 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Open · verified by Lumina November 2026
A 1921 theater in downtown New Brunswick run by a nonprofit, now mainly a stage for touring music, comedy, dance and family shows, with an occasional film series.
Quick facts
- Type
- Arts venue, Historic
- Address
- 17 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Phone
- (732) 246-7469
- Seats
- 1,850
- Opened
- 1921
- Hours
- Box office Tue-Fri 11am-5pm by phone
What to expect
On screen
- Live performance
- Special events
At the theater
- Wheelchair accessible
The story
Reade's State Theatre opened on December 26, 1921, with a bill of five vaudeville acts and a single silent western matinee. Thomas W. Lamb designed the building, and Walter Reade ran it as a house for both pictures and live acts. It kept showing films into the 1960s, until suburban multiplexes pulled audiences away. A later owner turned it over to adult films and the building slid into disrepair. The city's development corporation bought it in 1979, and the New Brunswick Cultural Center took it over in 1986. After a renovation of about $3 million it reopened as a performing arts center in April 1988, and a second interior restoration of similar size was finished in 2004. Today it is a nonprofit that books orchestras, Broadway tours, comedy, dance and rock, and offers education programs in the community.
Good to know
- Does the State Theatre show movies?
- Its site has a Film Series section, but no film dates were visible on the pages checked, so call the box office or check the film page before planning a visit.
- Is it accessible?
- The site lists a limited number of accessible spots in front and more in the nearby Civic Square parking deck, and links an accessibility page.
- Where is State Theatre?
- State Theatre is at 17 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Phone: (732) 246-7469.
- Is State Theatre open?
- Yes. Lumina verified State Theatre as open in November 2026. Check the theater's showtimes for today's schedule.
- How do I buy tickets for State Theatre?
- Buy tickets directly from the theater using the Showtimes & tickets button on this page. You can also call (732) 246-7469.
- What independent theaters are near State Theatre?
- Hillsborough Cinemas in Hillsborough (11 mi), Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway (12 mi), and Montgomery Cinemas in Skillman (12 mi).
- Hillsborough CinemasUnion County Performing Arts CenterMontgomery Cinemas
Getting there
17 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 · Get directions · Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Independent cinemas near State Theatre
Hillsborough Cinemas
Hillsborough, NJ · 11 mi
Hillsborough Cinemas is an independent movie theater in Hillsborough, New Jersey, at 111 Raider Boulevard.
Union County Performing Arts Center
Rahway, NJ · 12 mi
A restored 1928 movie palace in Rahway that mixes live shows with a classic film series on 35mm, plus sensory-friendly and senior-student matinees.
Montgomery Cinemas
Skillman, NJ · 12 mi
Montgomery Cinemas is an independent movie theater in Skillman, New Jersey, at 1325 US Highway 206.
Cranford Theater
Cranford, NJ · 13 mi
A multi-auditorium neighborhood cinema in downtown Cranford that plays current releases alongside sensory-friendly family screenings, a pajama-night series, live event broadcasts and room rentals.
Garden Theatre
Princeton, NJ · 15 mi
Garden Theatre is an independent movie theater in Princeton, New Jersey, at 160 Nassau Street.
St. George Theatre
Staten Island, NY · 22 mi
A restored 1929 movie and vaudeville house in St. George, Staten Island, now mainly hosting concerts and comedy, with occasional film nights. Run by a nonprofit restoration group.
More arts venue cinemas in New Jersey
Hours
Box office Tue-Fri 11am-5pm by phone
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