een theater, expanding the scope and range of our film programming capabilities. This 1955 photograph shows the State, formerly an art deco theater, prior to its modernization.
The final phase of the plan has allowed the Michigan to expand with a new screening room (pictured here), concession area, restrooms, and office space. Additionally, the balcony was restored to its 1928 original appearance, a wonderful improvement over the bizarre color scheme – dingy blue, dull ivory, battleship gray, and orange – imposed upon it during the 1950s.
The Michigan Theater Today
Today, the Michigan Theater continues to be an essential part of Ann Arbor’s cultural fabric. Presenting specialty films, serving as home to the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, and offering the Not Just for Kids series of live-on-stage programs for children and families, the Michigan remains “a Shrine to Art. . . and a credit to the community.”