This article has been updated with information from an interview with Executive Director Angie Forton.
TRAVERSE CITY — The State Theatre has temporarily closed its doors following a roof leak discovered Tuesday that caused water damage extending from the ceiling to the basement, Executive Director Angie Forton said.
An employee arriving to prepare for the theater’s TCF Tuesdays event “walked in and heard lots of water and looked and realized that we had sprung a leak in the roof,” Forton said.
Roofing contractors patched the roof on Wednesday morning, but subsequent inspection revealed the damage was more extensive than initially apparent.
“The water from the roof came in to the ceiling, did some damage to the ceiling, damage to the wall, and dripped water on the speaker, which also went down the wall, underneath the stage, down into the basement,” Forton said.
The theater remains closed while officials assess the full extent of the damage. Forton said there is no timeline for reopening.
The closure forced the cancellation of the Kids’ Saturday morning film series. The movie “FLOW,” originally scheduled for Feb. 7, 2026, will no longer be screened. All tickets purchased for the screening have been refunded.
“We want to make sure that it’s safe, that it’s clean, that it’s ready for opening,” she said. “We want to make sure everything is good before we reopen.”
This closure differs from previous shutdowns at the historic venue, which have been for technical rather than structural issues, Forton said.
Theater officials are still in the investigative phase before determining what fundraising efforts may be needed.
“We definitely want to make sure that we have our ducks in a row and that we know what we’re dealing with before we make an ask,” Forton said. “For those that want to help rebuild or fund things, we want to make sure they understand where their money is going to.”
Theatre management apologized for the inconvenience caused by the leak and subsequent closure. Officials directed patrons to www.statetc.com for updates on reopening and further details as they become available.
This article has been updated with information from an interview with Executive Director Angie Forton.