Historic art deco performing-arts venue in the heart of Old Town.
The Auburn State Theatre is a downtown landmark built in 1930 by San Francisco's T&D Jr. Enterprises and designed by architect J. Lloyd Conrich, opening that December with seating for more than 1,300 and a lavish silver-and-black interior. Its iconic vertical STATE blade sign followed a 1937 modernization. After decades that included balcony loss and conversion to a smaller movie house, the nonprofit Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center acquired the building in 2006 and reopened it as a performing arts and cultural center, also serving as home to the Auburn Symphony. The auditorium is currently closed for reconstruction following a 2023 ceiling collapse, and the organization is hosting events at partner venues while it works toward reopening. It remains a cornerstone of Auburn's arts scene.