Greensburg’s beautiful Palace Theatre is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2026. A year of events marking the anniversary has featured music, movies, parties, performing animals and more — including a marquee concert featuring country music superstar LeAnn Rimes. And, at several events scheduled throughout the rest of the year, you can take a look behind the scenes (and get a night at the movies while you’re there).

The Palace Theatre in Greensburg Celebrates a Century of History

The Palace Theatre is filled with relics of its past lives. Decades of film projectors, posters, theatrical equipment and film reels can be found both on display and in corners and corridors hidden from sight. In the theater’s original projection booth, a vintage Super Trouper brand spotlight — yes, that’s what ABBA was singing about — remains in working order.

These artifacts speak to the theater’s status as a continued center for entertainment in Greensburg, a run that began in the days of vaudeville and continues well into the 21st century — a run that could only happen in a town that embraces a place like the Palace Theatre.

“It really took a community willing to step up” and preserve the theater for 100 years, says Benjamin Luczak, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s executive director. (The Palace Theatre is one of several venues and programs that make up the organization.) “It’s a testament to the community that they value arts and culture. It’s meaningful. Everyone has a story about the Palace Theater.”

How to Get a Behind-the-Scenes Tour at the Palace Theatre

While many historic pieces have been curated and can be found in the public areas, others can only be seen with a behind-the-scenes look. Fortunately, guests can get a backstage tour this year.

The theater wanted to make some events “a little bit more alluring to some of the history buffs who are coming to see the centennial of the theater,” says Matt Starry, the Trust’s director of programming and production. “I take them on stage and I open and close the grand curtains — so they can experience what it’s like to have the curtains open and close in front of an audience.”

A peek behind the curtain at the Palace would be a worthy trip all on its own — but the upcoming tours offer more entertainment. Upcoming tours will be given before screenings of hit movies from throughout the theater’s heyday, projected once again at a theater that for many years served as a regional movie palace.

The Theatre’s Next Movie Event? Grease Is the Word

Next on the docket: Grease, the 1978 musical that has persisted in popularity for decades. The hit musical will be shown at 5 p.m. on September 26; the tour begins an hour earlier.

The film series — which also offers themed drinks, giveaways and more pre-show activities at each show — continues on Halloween with a showing of Ghostbusters, followed by ’80s favorite The Goonies on November 27. The perennial holiday favorite A Christmas Story rounds out the lineup, with a showing on December 20.

While that show will conclude the theater’s centennial lineup, the screenings — and attached tours — are expected to resume in April. Organizers are staying mum, for now, about what films will appear in 2027 … but they’re willing to give away the name of the opening film: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

“People are excited about” the series, Starry says. “It’s been such a great success, and it’s been fun.”

Plus, a Marquee Concert to Celebrate 100 Years in Greensburg

There’s much more to the anniversary year at the Palace, including the dedication of a Time Capsule and a capital campaign to further preserve the building for future generations. But the main event of the celebration is coming up next week: A two-night stand from country superstar LeAnn Rimes.

Rimes will give an intimate, gala performance on Saturday, September 19, with a small audience seated on the stage itself with the performer; due to demand for that event, a public concert was added for Sunday, September 20.

While Rimes is a marquee name, the Palace Theatre stage is no stranger to superstars. They’ve hosted Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald and even the Dalai Lama.

“Bill Murray was here … and he was like, ‘Wow, what a beautiful theater you guys have,’” says Starry.

Fortunately — and with the efforts of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust and an engaged community — the programming, and the crowds, at the Palace Theatre are growing as it enters its second century.

“Nothing can replace live performances — and that communal experience,” Luczak says.

Find more things to do around Greensburg in our guide to the East of Pittsburgh.

About the Author

Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.

Photography by Sean Collier

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