The State Theatre Blog

Steve Earle to Return to The State This July 15th!

2009-05-15T11:31:00.004-04:00

Legendary country-rock genre bending musician Steve Earle makes his way back to The State this July 15th. We're going to let his bio and some videos speak for themselves:

Steve Earle grew up in a tiny town outside of San Antonio called Schertz, Texas. The oldest of five children, he was incredibly active and somewhat ADD. By the age of 14, he had moved to Houston to live with his cousin Nick Fain (a musician). By this time, Steve had already developed a prodigious gift for the guitar, and started messing around with bass guitar. He also picked up a nasty drug habit.

Still, he managed to hook up with some of the most influential mentors a budding alt.ountry hero could hope for - including Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt.

Finally in 1986, Earle found some creative grounding with RCA when he released his first record, Guitartown. He went on to release two more records for MCA, before being fired after the release of Hard Way. This provoked Steve to pawn his guitars and spend some time on the "bad side of town" doing not much more than drugs and hanging out, eventually landing in jail.

Upon his release from the County Jail four months later, Steve was off drugs and soon began playing again. He started releasing more innovative records, which included more ardently political protest tunes. A long-time anti-death penalty demonstrator, Steve started working his politics into his music.

Married six times to five different women before he turned 40, Earle has two children. He's now hailed as one of the most fantastic forces in the alt.country world [source].

There was also a great feature on NPR yesterday that featured Steve Earle. To read the article and listen to the broadcast all you have to do is click HERE!

Tickets for Steve Earle's July 15th performance at The State Theatre go on sale May 22nd and are going for $32. Tickets will be available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Keep checking back to The State Theatre Blog for more info on these show as we get closer to the event. Hope to see you there!

ON SALE NOW: Legendary Guitarist Robin Trower To Perform at The State 9/24

2009-04-20T16:24:00.001-04:00

Incredible guitarist Robin Trower will be bringing some Rock N Roll to The State this September 24th. Trower's legend is massive in the Rock N Roll cannon, and below you will find his bio as well as some videos to help convince you:

Throughout his long and winding solo career, guitarist Robin Trower has had to endure countless comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, due to his uncanny ability to channel Hendrix's bluesy/psychedelic, Fender Strat-fueled playing style. Born on March 9, 1945, in Catford, England, Trower spent the early '60s playing guitar in various London based outfits; the most successful one being the R&B group the Paramounts, who specialized mostly in covers, but managed to issue several singles between 1963 and 1965. It wasn't until 1967 that Trower received his big break however, when he joined Procol Harum. The group had just scored a worldwide smash hit with "A Whiter Shade of Pale," but the only problem was that the band's leader, singer/pianist Gary Brooker, didn't have a proper band to back him. Brooker was previously a bandmate of Trower's in the Paramounts, and offered the guitar slot in his new fast-rising project to his old friend. As a result, Trower appeared on such Procol Harum classics as 1967's Procol Harum, 1968's Shine on Brightly, 1969's A Salty Dog, 1970's Home (which spawned the popular Trower tune "Whiskey Train"), and 1971's Broken Barricades.

While Procol Harum helped launch Trower's career, the guitarist realized there was limited space for his guitar work, and eventually left for a solo career. Enlisting singer/bassist James Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore (who was soon replaced by Bill Lordan) as a backing band, Trower issued his solo debut, Twice Removed From Yesterday, in 1973. The album barely left a dent in the U.S. charts, but that would change soon enough with his next release, 1974's Bridge of Sighs. With rock fans still reeling from Hendrix's death a few years earlier, the album sounded eerily similar to the late guitarist's work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience (especially his 1968 release, Electric Ladyland), and as a result, the album sky rocketed into the U.S. Top Ten, peaking at number seven.

Although Bridge of Sighs was to be his most popular solo release, Trower's stock continued to rise throughout the mid-'70s, as he became an arena headliner on the strength of such hit albums as 1975's For Earth Below, 1976's Robin Trower Live!, and Long Misty Days, plus 1977's In City Dreams. Further releases followed, yet by the dawn of the '80s, it became quite obvious that Trower's star was rapidly fading, as each album sold less than its predecessor. A brief union with ex-Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce spawned a pair of releases, 1981's B.L.T. and 1982's Truce, before Trower returned back to his solo career [yahoo].

Tickets for Robin Trower's September 24th performance at The State Theatre ARE ON SALE NOW and are going for $35. Tickets will be available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Keep checking back to The State Theatre Blog for more info on these show as we get closer to the event. Hope to see you there!

ON SALE NOW: Melody Gardot Returns to The State June 25th

2009-04-20T16:04:00.001-04:00

Melody Gardot will be returning her unique sound to The State this June 25th. The jazz-vocalist Gardot is incredibly talented and below you will find her amazing bio as well as some videos of her performing:

The story of vocalist Melody Gardot is as remarkable as any who perseveres against abject adversity. Born in New Jersey in 1985, she took up piano and played as a youngster on the nightclub scene of Philadelphia, influenced by jazz, folk, rock and pop musics. At age 19 she was a fashion student at the Community College Of Philadelphia. But, on a fateful day, while riding her bicycle, the driver of a Jeep made an illegal turn, hurdling into Gardot and leaving her in the street for dead. Hospitalized for months with multiple head injuries and pelvic fractures, her love for music was the best therapy she could receive. While in her hospital bed, she wrote and recorded songs that would become the EP "Some Lessons." Upon her eventual release from intensive care, Gardot found the strength and determination to further her career as an artist. Blessed with a beautiful voice and grand insight as a songwriter, her cognitive powers slowly but surely became pronounced, leading to the independent recording and release of her debut CD, "Worrisome Heart," which was reissued in 2007 by Verve records. Her music could be described as a cross between Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Eva Cassidy and Shania Twain, but goes deeper than mere pop convention. Gardot is hypersensitive to light and noise, thus she wears dark glasses, and uses a cane to walk. On stage she requires a special seating unit, and wears a Transcutaneous Electro-Nerve Stimulator, a TENS device, to assist in alleviating her neuralgic muscle pain. As amazing as her story is, what is more evident is that she possesses a blue style and persona that reflects not only her afflictions, but conversely the hope and joy of making personalized music that marks her as an individual and original. Though touring is difficult, she has been performing in major cities on the East Coast to support her recordings [billboard]

Tickets for Melody Gardot's June 25th performance at The State Theatre ARE ON SALE NOW and are only going for $23. Tickets will be available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Keep checking back to The State Theatre Blog for more info on these show as we get closer to the event. Hope to see you there!

ON SALE NOW: Judy Collins to Perform at The State 12/18

2009-04-20T14:35:00.001-04:00

This December 12/18 Judy Collins will perform at The State. Collins who has been in and around the music scene for over 40 years. Below you can find a biography and some videos about Judy Collins:

Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 40 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos" but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as the traditional songs of the folk revival, that sparked Judy Collins' love of lyrics. She soon moved away from the classical piano and began her lifelong love with the guitar. In 1961, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22 and began a thirty-five year association with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records.

Judy Collins is also noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. "Both Sides Now" has since been entered into the Grammy's Hall of Fame. Winning "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy's Awards show was Judy's version of "Send in the Clowns," a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical "A Little Night Music."

Released on September 29th, Judy's new book, Sanity and Grace, A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength, is a deeply moving memoir, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. In the depths of her suffering, Judy found relief by reaching out to others for help and support. Now, she extends her hand to comfort other survivors whose lives have been affected by similar tragedy.

In a recent appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, Judy performed "Wings of Angels," the heartbreaking ballad that she wrote about the loss of her son. The song is currently available on the newly released Judy Collins Wildflower Festival CD and DVD, which also feature guest artists Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush and Eric Andersen. This extraordinary concert was filmed at the famed Humphrey's By the Bay in San Diego, CA. The concert was the culmination of a 25 city national tour.

Judy Collins continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart [source].

Tickets for Judy Collins December 18th performance at The State Theatre ARE ON SALE NOW and are only going for $40. Tickets will be available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there!

ON SALE NOW: Menopause The Musical Hitting The State This July & August

2009-04-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

Coming July 28th The State Theatre is proud to welcome Menopause The Musical for an astounding eight shows over six days. Here is a write up from the Show's original website about the musical written by Jeanie Linders:

Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The all-female cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges. A sisterhood is created between these diverse women as they realize that menopause is no longer The Silent Passage! It is a stage in every woman’s life that is perfectly normal!

Menopause The Musical has entertained audiences across the country in more than 250 US cities as well as internationally in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea and United Kingdom. Women of all ages and stages find their spirits lifted by the show’s light-hearted look at menopause. It is estimated that nearly 11 million women in 13 countries have attended a performance since the show’s opening in Orlando, Florida, in 2001.

The reviews for Menopause The Musical have been extremely positive as well. Leslie Fischer at chicagocritic.com recommends you "bring the waterproof mascara because you’ll laugh so hard, you’ll cry. With humor and compassion, writer, producer and lyricist Jeanie Linders has captured the experiences of Every woman in her 40s and 50s." In addition to more glowing reviews which you can find here and here you can check out a couple videos from the show below as well:

Tickets for Menopause The Musical are on sale NOW both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box office as well. Tickets are going for $40, $37 for Students and Seniors, and $25. More info about this show is yet to come as we get closer to the show.

The State Starts Serving Alcohol: Daily Collegian Article

2009-04-15T11:56:00.000-04:00

In 3/4 Daily Collegian there was an article all about The State's now available alcoholic beverage service for select shows. On Monday 3/2 The State began serving beer and wine and this weekend sales will also include liquor. To the read the article from 3/4 Daily Collegian click HERE.

The Penn State film Festival Returns to The State April 25th

2009-04-14T15:27:00.000-04:00

Saturday April 25th The State welcomes back The Penn State Student Film Festival. The always extremely popular event (sold out The State the last two years) is set to show students film at 7:00 PM. Below you will find detailed info about the event:

Founded and organized by the Penn State Student Film Organization, it is a juried student film festival open to all Penn State students, which showcases and premieres student films produced at Penn State University during the 2008-2009 academic year. The judging panel will be comprised of professionals, alumni, faculty and graduate students who demonstrate expertise in at least one of the following areas: film & video production, media or cultural studies, music, creative writing, and the arts.

Approximately 45 films are submitted each year, with 12-15 selected for the festival. Many different genres of films are screened including narrative, documentary, experimental and animation. Selected films will also be screened through Penn State On-Demand over the following year. A DVD compilation of the festival films will be available for sale at the festival. Additionally, there will be a VIP reception for film students, parents, faculty and alumni following the festival in the reception area in the State Theatre.

The Penn State Student Film Festival is set for Saturday April 25th at 7:00 PM at The State. Tickets are going for $7 and are available or purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Be sure to get your tickets ahead of time as the festival will likely sell out! See you there!

Penn State's Whiplash Dance Team coming to The State Friday 4/24

2009-04-14T15:19:00.000-04:00

The Whiplash Dance Team was formed on November 18, 2000. Today, the team consists of a group of 18 Penn State undergraduate students who are trained in all styles of dance and specialize in hip-hop. Whiplash is a high energy group that is asked to perform at many college and community events such as Thon, the Penn State homecoming parade and pep-rally, PSU men’s and women’s basketball games, and many other local fundraisers. Each year, Whiplash has hundreds of dance students interested in joining the team. However, after a rigorous audition process, they can only add approximately 5 new members per year.

Their annual spring show highlights the many talents of its members. This year there will be pieces in the following genres: hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, tap and lyrical. There will be three guest performances featured in this year’s show. Please join the Whiplash Dance Team for an evening of art and entertainment

Tickets for April 24th performance of Penn State's Whiplash Dance Team are on sale now and are going for $7 for students and $12 for everyone else. Tickets are available both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office, and we hope to see you there April 24th.

ON SALE NOW: CURSIVE WITH MAN MAN to Rock The State May 4th

2009-04-14T14:25:00.000-04:00

**UPDATE**
IN TODAY'S 3/26 DAILY COLLEGIAN THERE IS A COOL ARTICLE ABOUT THE CURSIVE WITH MAN MAN SHOW TO WHICH TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!!!! CHECK THE ARTICLE OUT HERE!

May 4th not only marks the first day of finals week for students, but it also brings popular indie rock artists Cursive and Man Man to The State Theatre. Below you will info on both bands as well as videos for each:

CURSIVE:

Ever since Cursive burst onto the music scene with their 1997 debut album, the band has consistently and continually churned out heady albums heralded by critics and fans alike. Wrestling with life’s miseries and mysteries, Mama, I’m Swollen is an album brimming with the universal, questioning the human condition, social morality, and the ‘Peter Pan Syndrome’ of grown men.

After the underground success of their third album, Cursive’s Domestica, in 2000, the band followed up with what would prove to be their breakthrough album, The Ugly Organ, in 2003. A self-aware conceptual record about artistic constraints (or lack thereof), relationships, sex, and the intersection of all three, it landed them on the Arts section cover of The New York Times and accolades from Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Blender, Magnet, Esquire, and Spin – as well as a place on many year-end best lists. Cursive spent the next year and a half touring the album relentlessly, headlining the Plea For Peace tour and playing Coachella before being handpicked by The Cure for their Curiosa tour in late 2004.

Conceived together in intermittent rehearsals as the band is now spread out across the west and Midwest (Kasher and Compton live in Los Angeles, CA; Maginn in Columbia, MO; and Stevens in Omaha, NE), they road-tested and refined the new material for Mama, I’m Swollen [Cursive's 2009 release] largely via a few shows this past spring and summer.

MAN MAN:

Man Man is an experimental band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their musical style has been described as Viking-vaudeville, manic Gypsy jazz.[1] Man Man is known for their exuberant live performances. When performing, the members of the band dress in white outfits and wear war paint. The band uses pseudonyms—the frontman is Honus Honus, and its other members are Sergei Sogay, Pow Pow, Critter Crat (formerly known as "Cougar"), and Chang Wang. Prior to settling on Man Man, the band was named Gamelon and briefly Magic Blood.

Man Man is known for their multi instrumental style that centers on the piano playing of lead singer Honus Honus accompanied by the singing and wide variety of other instruments played by the rest of the band. On recordings, Honus usually plays a honky tonk style piano but during the live shows he uses a Rhodes Piano. Other instruments played by the rest of the band include a clavinet, microKORG, sousaphone, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, flute, drum set, euphonium, Fender Jazz Bass, Danelectro guitar, xylophone, marimba, melodica and various percussive instruments including pots and pans and toy noise makers and horns.

Tickets ON SALE NOW for Cursive with Man Man's May 4th show at 8:00 PM! Don't miss your chance to see two critically acclaimed indie rock acts right here in State College. All tickets are going for $19 and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Keep checking back to The State Theatre Blog for more info on these show as we get closer to the event. Hope to see you there!

Two Lovers Now Playing at The State

2009-04-14T14:24:00.004-04:00

Two Lover is now playing at The State and below you will find a synopsis as well as a trailer for the film:

Two Lovers is a romantic drama set in New York City. It tells the story of Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix), an attractive but depressed young man who moves back in with his parents following a recent heartbreak. An aspiring photographer, Leonard works part-time at his father's dry-cleaners. His concerned parents try to set him up with Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the sweet and caring daughter of a close family friend. A big family dinner serves as their introduction and Leonard arranges to see her again. Then late one night Leonard looks out his bedroom window and notices a ravishing young woman he's never seen before. Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow) recently moved into an apartment in his family's building - an apartment paid for by the wealthy married man she's seeing.

Two Lovers is currently playing at The State through 4/16 everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM with an additional 4:00 PM show on Wednesday 4/15. Tickets are going for $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

The Class Now Playing at The State

2009-04-14T13:31:00.000-04:00

The film The Class is now playing at The State through 4/30. Below you will find a trailer for The Class as well as a short plot summary:

François and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighborhood. Armed with the best intentions, they brace themselves to not let discouragement stop them from trying to give the best education to their students. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom, a microcosm of contemporary France. As amusing and inspiring as the teen aged students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher's enthusiasm for the low-paying job.

François insists on an atmosphere of respect and diligence. Neither stuffy nor severe, his extravagant frankness often takes the students by surprise. But his classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods...

The Class is now playing at The State with showtimes listed HERE. Tickets are going for $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

AMOS LEE to Perform at The State THIS WEDNESDAY April 29th!

2009-04-14T13:30:00.000-04:00

Just announced earlier this week, Amos Lee will preforming at The State Theatre this April 29th at 8:00 PM. In case you don't know much about Amos Lee, just look below for a bio as well as some videos of him preforming:

Singer/songwriter Amos Lee draws inspiration from such soul and folk artists of the '70s as Bill Withers, John Prine, Neil Young, and James Taylor. The Philadelphia native first became serious about performing while attending the University of South Carolina during the mid-'90s. After graduating, the English major taught elementary school before deciding to pursue a music career full-time. A period of waiting tables and bartending followed as Lee honed his songwriting skills. Eventually, he landed some high-profile opening-slot gigs including an extended tour with pianist/vocalist Norah Jones. He released his eponymous debut album on Blue Note in 2005. Supply And Demand followed in 2006.

Tickets for Amos Lee's April 29th 8:00 PM show go on sale this Friday 3/20! Don't miss your chance to see a talented newcomer in the singer/songwriter genre right here in State College. Tickets are going for $20 for students and $25 for everyone else and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Keep checking back to The State Theatre Blog for more info on these show as we get closer to the event. Hope to see you there!

Saturday 4/18 at 7:00PM Come to The State for 'Rock Out For Reading'

2009-04-13T14:39:00.001-04:00

This Saturday 4/18 at 7:00 PM The State is proud to welcome the benefit event entitled 'Rock Out For Reading.' Below you will find in depth info about the show in which tickets are only going for $7!

The students of English 202 Honors are proud to host a variety of local artists in the State Theatre’s attic to benefit CIU #10 Development Center for Adults. All proceeds will go towards their graduation ceremony in May, purchasing academic regalia and sponsoring scholarships for the graduates.

Paul Barsom
Paul Barsom is both a performer/songwriter and a composer of concert music. Barsom’s songs are rooted in pop and progressive rock and rely upon poetry, lyrical melody and multiple influences for their effect. At first a rock bassist, he began writing songs as a teenage band member. The discovery of Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka in his grandmother’s record collection at age 15 led him to the world of classical concert music and his eventual profession as a university professor. After a twenty-year absence from songwriting, he wrote two dozen while on sabbatical leave and is currently arranging, performing and recording them.
As a classical composer, his music is performed throughout the United States and abroad. He holds graduate degrees in composition from the Eastman School of Music and his composition teachers include Joseph Schwantner, Christopher Rouse, Warren Benson, John Corigliano, Jacob Druckman, Robert Morris, Robert Muczynski and Samuel Adler. His composition output includes orchestral, choral and chamber music. He is the recipient of awards, grants and fellowships from such organizations as Meet the Composer, ASCAP, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The National Association of Composers USA, The American Music Center, Alea III and the Eastman School of Music. He teaches composition and electronic music at The Pennsylvania State University and his interests include all genres of popular and world music, which figure prominently in his composition and teaching. His works are published by Ringing Change Music and by Lyceum Press.

http://www.myspace.com/barsomusic

Joel Dobbins
Joel Dobbins is an eclectic artist who balances simple, substantial lyrics with catchy, well-crafted music, resulting in a fresh listening experience song after song. His most recent album "Unreal" from November 2008 is for sale online and wherever he happens to be playing, and his next album is due to be released digitally this month. His favorite instruments to perform with are his acoustic guitar and occasionally piano. Dobbins already has a repertoire of about 150 songs but his favorite part about being a musician isn’t writing songs but performing live.

http://www.joeldobbins.com

The Whatleys (acoustic)
Lead Guitar/Vocals: Eddie Fraud
Bass/Screams: Steve LP
Drums: Jim Whatley
Guitar/Vocals: TJ Fadehawk
Rhythm Guitar/Vocals: Hiro McWhatley

Ready to perform anywhere, The Whatleys leave the half-stacks at home and grab acoustic guitars for more intimate venues.
The Whatleys have created a fusion of hardcore and raucous punk rock that recalls the energy and simplicity of old school punk. The band has combined amped-up arrangements of traditional hardcore folk songs including ‘Nervous Breakdown (Black Flag)’ and ‘We’re Only Gonna Die (Bad Religion)’ with anthemic original compositions such as ‘Doug’s Not a Cop’ and ‘When You’re Gone' from their debut album “Re-Inventing Whatley Crue.” Their songs bristle with the power of overdriven electric guitars, the beauty of three part harmonies and the sparkle of broken guitars all layered on top of thumping drums and booming bass.

http://www.myspace.com/whatleyspunk

Tyler Wagner
http://www.myspace.com/boyandthebandwagner

'Rock Out For Rock' is this Saturday 4/18 at 7:00 PM and tickets are going for only $7, and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

Friday 4/17: Community Read 2009: Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

2009-04-13T14:00:00.001-04:00

This Friday 4/17 at 7:00 PM The State is offering a FREE reading with Author Marilynne Robinson. All the information about the reading is found below. Hope to see you there

Presented by the Penn State Center for American Literary Studies, in partnership with the English Department and the Institute for the Arts and Humanities

Following a number of discussion sessions of the novel throughout the spring semester, author Marilynne Robinson will give a public lecture about her award-winning novel Housekeeping. The story is set in Fingerbone, Idaho, sometime in the last 100 years. To say that it is about two weird sisters in a lake town only begins to suggest the novel's haunting, lyrical pleasures. In Housekeeping we see the movement of three generations of women in and around sod houses, glacial lakes, trains, and automobiles. The story has an unexpected brutalism, one that captures modernity's effects on the obscure corners of North America: individuals can too easily lose themselves, or become transient, in modern society.
The full calendar of events, including all discussion sessions leading up to "An Evening with Marilynne Robinson," can be found at http://www.cals.psu.edu/events/community-read-09.shtml. Please contact Hester Blum at hester.blum@psu.edu or 865-0011 for more information.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE STATE THEATRE BOX OFFICE ONLY!

Waltz With Bashir Starts 3/27 at The State

2009-03-26T13:50:00.003-04:00

Oscar-Nominated film Waltz With Bashir starts its run at The State Friday 3/27. Below you will find a trailer for Waltz With Bashir as well as a plot summary/review by The New York Time s' A.O. Scott:

“Waltz With Bashir” is a memoir, a history lesson, a combat picture, a piece of investigative journalism and an altogether amazing film. Directed by Ari Folman, an Israeli filmmaker whose struggle to make sense of his experience as a soldier in the Lebanon war of 1982 shapes its story, “Waltz” is by no means the world’s only animated documentary, a phrase that sounds at first like a cinematic oxymoron. Movies like Richard Linklater’s “Waking Life” and Brett Morgen’s “Chicago 10” have used animation to make reality seem more vivid and more strange, producing odd and fascinating experiments. Mr. Folman, crucially assisted by his art director, David Polonsky, and director of animation, Yoni Goodman, has adapted techniques often (if unfairly) dismissed as trivial into an intense and revealing meditation on a historical catastrophe and its aftermath. “Waltz With Bashir” will certainly enrich and complicate your understanding of its specific subject — the Lebanon War and, in particular, the massacre of Palestinians by Lebanese Phalangist fighters at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps — but it may also change the way you think about how movies can confront history. The core of “Waltz With Bashir” is a series of conversations between the director, depicted with graying hair and a thoughtful demeanor, and other middle-aged Israeli men who were in Lebanon in the summer of 1982, when the Israeli Defense Forces pushed up through the southern part of the country toward Beirut. Most of them were in the western part of that city from the 16th to the 18th of September, when Christian militiamen slaughtered as many as 3,000 civilians, ostensibly to avenge the death of Bashir Gemayel, Lebanon’s newly elected president, who had been assassinated a few days before. More than 20 years later, Mr. Folman confronts his interlocutors amid the trappings of their relatively calm daily lives. (All the interview subjects speak in their own voices except for two, whose dialogue has been dubbed.) The freedom afforded by animation — a realm where the prosaic standards of verisimilitude and the inconvenient laws of physics can be flouted at will — allows Mr. Folman to blend grimly literal images with surreal flights of fantasy, humor and horror. “Waltz With Bashir” is not, and could not be, the definitive account of the Lebanon war or the Sabra and Shatila massacres. Instead, it’s a collage and an inquiry. “Can’t a film be therapeutic?” one of Mr. Folman’s friends asks him early in the movie, and in a way everything that follows is an attempt to answer that question and interrogate its premise. It depends on what is meant by therapy, and on who is undergoing it [NYTIMES].

Waltz With Bashir starts at The State Friday 3/27 at 7:00 and 9:30 PM. The film continues it’s run from Monday 3/30 with a shows at 7:00 & 9:30 PM through Thursday 4/2 with shows everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM(with an additional showing at 4:00 PM on Wednesday 4/1). Tickets are going for $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

This April 14th The State Welcomes Jonatha Brooke

2009-03-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

The State Theatre welcomes Jonatha Brooke, April 14th for an intimate solo performance. Known for her folk style, Brooke has been making music and touring for almost twenty years. For her performance at The State she will be performing an acoustic set that is aimed to please any music fan. Look below to find some more info on Jonatha Brooke as well as see some of her performances:

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonatha Brooke began issuing albums that merged folk and pop during the early 1990s, first as a member of a female duo named the Story and later as a solo artist. Brooke formed the Story (originally called "Jonatha & Jennifer" during the duo's early years) along with another vocalist, Jennifer Kimball, who attended Massachusette's Amherst College with Brooke in the early '80s. Despite playing regular local gigs during their college career, the girls never issued any recordings and took a break after graduation, during which time Brooke joined a dance troupe. But by the end of the '80s, the group had re-formed under a new moniker, the Story, and issued a demo called Over Oceans in 1989. The Story was promptly signed to the independent Green Linnet label, which issued the duo's debut album, Grace in Gravity, in 1991. It wasn't long before Elektra Records expressed interest in the band, in turn reissuing their debut the same year, as well as a sophomore effort, The Angel in the House, two years later.

By 1994, however, the Story had split up for good and Brooke began pursuing a solo career. Despite Kimball's absence, Brooke's 1995 solo debut, Plumb, was nevertheless credited to Jonatha Brooke & the Story. Brooke was the sole creditor beginning with 1997's 10 Cent Wings, which also marked a shift from her earlier folk-pop material to a more radio-friendly style. This shift continued with such additional releases as 1999's Live and 2001's Steady Pull, the latter of which was co-produced by Brooke and renowned studio man Bob Clearmountain (known for his work with Bryan Adams, the Rolling Stones, the Corrs, and Hall & Oates, among others). Beginning in the late '90s, Brooke's albums were issued via her very own record label, Bad Dog.

In 2002, Brooke performed a pair of songs on Disney's Return to Never Land soundtrack, contributing an original composition ("I'll Try") and a cover ("The Second Star to the Right"). Two years later, she performed a set of ten shows at the Public Theater in New York, the highlights of which were collected for the 2006 release of Live in New York, complete with a DVD of the concert. Careful What You Wish For followed in 2007, and Brooke subsequently delved into Woody Guthrie's lyric journals for her follow-up effort. Released in 2008, The Works paired her original music with Guthrie's previously unheard lyrics [source].

If you want to hear more music from Jonatha Brooke check out her MYSPACE PAGE.

Jonatha Brooke will be performing solo at The State this April 14th at 8:00 PM. All tickets are going for $23 and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Keep checking back to The State Theatre Blog for more info on these show as we get closer to the event. Hope to see you there!

The Reader Now Playing at The State

2009-03-23T12:55:00.000-04:00

Academy Award winning film The Reader is currently playing at The State Theatre through 4/9. Below you will find a trailer as well as a synopsis for The Reader:

The Reader opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from “The Odyssey”, "Huck Finn", and “The Lady with the Little Dog.” Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.

Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. The Reader is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.

The Reader stars Ralph Fiennes, David Kross and Kate Winslet (for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress), and is directed by Stephen Daldry (the Academy Award nominated director of THE HOURS), from a script by David Hare, and based on the award winning novel by Bernhard Schlink. Schlink’s The Reader has been translated into 39 languages and was the first German novel to reach number one on The New York Times Bestseller List.

The Reader is currently playing at The State through 4/9 everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM with an additional 4:00 PM show on Wednesday 4/8. Tickets are going for $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

The State to Host 'Independence' a Play Writen by Pulitzer Prize-Winner Lee Blessing --STARTS FRIDAY 3/27--

2009-03-23T11:17:00.002-04:00

This Friday the play Independence by Pulitzer Prize-Winner Lee Blessing starts its short run at The State. The play will be preformed in the intimate Studio Space upstairs at The State! Below you will find some info on the play:

Independence, Iowa. A town that’s hard to stay in, but even harder to leave behind.

What could be more familiar than a family gathering in a small town -- a mother and her three grown daughters? “It’s so nice to have you all here….let’s bake cookies!” But Pulitzer Prize-winner Lee Blessing has the great writer’s gift -- he finds the universal in the particular, the surprising in the familiar.

So the cookies never get baked. Because the four are caught in the inevitable struggle to grow up, to hold on, to break loose, to finally own up to who’s responsible for what.

The play compassionately and wittily explores “the complex and entangled relationship between mother and daughters”— and the men who are conspicuous by their absence.

“Vivid, realistic, tender, often humorous”, and painful as truth.

Independence by Pulitzer Prize-Winner Lee Blessing debuts at The State Friday 3/27 at 8:00 PM. The show continues with shows on Saturday 3/28 at 2:00 & 8:00 PM, Sunday 3/29 at 2:00 PM, Friday 4/3 at 8:00 PM, Saturday 4/4 at 2:00 & 8:00 PM, and Sunday 4/5 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are going for $12 for students & seniors and $14 for everyone else. Tickets are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there for an intimate performance at The State!

SOLD OUT Rusted Root Returns To State College 4/7

2009-03-08T12:00:00.001-04:00

***UPDATE***
The Rusted Root concert scheduled for April 7th IS NOW SOLD OUT!!

Rusted Root has been making the rounds for over 20 years touring the country spreading their grooves with anyone who was willing to dance. Here is some more info about Rusted Root including some videos of the band:

Michael Glabicki founded Rusted Root upon returning from a post-high school trip to South America in 1988. After a false start with one group of musicians, he called Berlin, an old friend with whom he'd collaborated previously, and asked her to sing with him. Through her came drummer Liz Donovan, with whom she'd taken an African drumming classes (this being a prerequisite Glabicki had established). Donovan recruited Patrick Norman, another classmate, to play guitar (he'd later switch to bass guitar, helping shape Rusted Root's rhythm-centric sound). A year later, multi-instrumentalist, visual artist and bicycle messenger John Buynak and vocalist Jenn Wertz, originally hired to photograph the group, signed on. Buynak's distinctive artwork would give Rusted Root a strong visual image. Rusted Root would adopt a hard-touring way, their polyrhythmic multicultural rock and soul sound picking up devotees like a junkyard magnet as they swept across the nation. In 1990, they self-released a CD, Cruel Sun. The disc attracted Mercury Records which signed the band and released When I Woke (1994). Two more records (Remember in 1996 and the self-titled third in 1998), three EPs (Evil Ways, Live, and Airplane), a home video (Rusted Root Live) and miscellaneous film and TV soundtrack credits.

Rusted Root Interview:

Weary Bones

Rusted Root's April 7th show at 8:00 PM are now SOLD OUT!!!

Daily Collegian Article on Rusted Root's Upcoming Show

2009-03-08T11:45:00.001-04:00

In 2/24's Daily Collegian there was an article about the band Rusted Root's upcoming show at The State on 4/7. The article paints a picture about how the band has local ties to State College. You can view the article HERE. You can also view our original post for Rusted Root HERE.

Rusted Root's show April 7th is now SOLD OUT!!!

UPDATE DAILY COLLEGIAN ARTICLE THIS SATURDAY 3/21 AVERAGE WHITE BAND Bring the Funk to The State

2009-03-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

**UPDATE**
TODAY'S 3/19 DAILY COLLEGIAN FEATURED AN ARTICLE ON THIS SATURDAY 3/21 SHOW WITH AWB!! CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

That's right folks Average White Band will be appearing at The State Theatre on Saturday March 21st at 8 PM. Average White Band (or AWB for short) can't be defined by one single genre so we're going to break them all down for you: they are considered blue-eyed soul, funk, soul rock, and disco. They were influenced by such acts as Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Donny Hathaway. Even though you can recognize those influeces, AWB created a sound all their own. Average White Band is a Scottish band that got their start in 1971 but had to wait a few years before being recognized on the public stage. In 1973 AWB got their big break with a supporting gig at Eric Clapton's comeback concert. After their first record, Show Your Hand, sold poorly they continued to record and in August of 1974 they released their second record, AWB, which would be the groups biggest hit. AWB went to number one on the pop charts and brought the group acclaim for every realm. AWB was filled with hits including 'Work To Do' and 'Pick Up The Pieces' which went to number one on the pop singles charts. Below you can see them perform live:

'Work To Do'

'Pick Up The Pieces'

Tickets for Average White Band are on sale NOW for the ticket price of $35 and are available online and at the State Theatre Box office for the March 21st show. THERE ARE STILL GEAT SEAT AVAILABLE SO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! Hope to see you there!

CHE Starts this Friday at 3/20

2009-03-07T14:49:00.000-05:00

Che: The Roadshow starts its run this Friday 3/20 at The State. Below you will find info on the movie as well as a trailer for the film:

Nearly 40 years after Che Guevara's execution in Bolivia, director Steven Soderbergh retraces the life of the iconic Cuban revolutionary in this nearly four-and-a-half-hour saga. Part 1 begins on November 26, 1956, as Fidel Castro (Demián Bichir) sails into Cuban waters with 80 rebels in tow. Among those rebels is Argentine doctor Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Benicio Del Toro), a man who shares Castro's dream of overthrowing corrupt dictator Fulgencio Batista. As the struggle gets under way, Guevara proves an indispensable part of the revolution due to his firm grasp on the concepts of guerilla warfare. Guevara is heartily embraced by both his comrades and the Cuban people, and quickly rises through the ranks to become first a commander, and ultimately a revolutionary hero. Part 2 of the saga begins with Guevara at the absolute peak of his fame and power. Disappearing suddenly, Guevara subsequently resurfaces in Bolivia to organize a modest group of Cuban comrades and Bolivian recruits in preparation for the Latin American Revolution. But while the Bolivian campaign would ultimately fail, the tenacity, sacrifice, and idealism displayed by Guevara during this period would make him a symbol of heroism to followers around the world [msn].

Che: The Roadshow Parts 1 & 2 starts at The State Friday 3/20 at 7:00. The film continues it’s run from Subnday 3/22 with a show at 4:00 PM through Thursday 3/26 with shows everyday at 7:00 (with an additional showing at 1:00 PM on Wednesday 3/25). Because of the length of the film [over four hours] tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

This Weekend at The State 3/27-3/29

2009-03-07T14:39:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 3/27-3/29 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these events. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 3/27:
Waltz With Bashir at 7:00 PM
Independence, A play by Lee Blessing at 8:00 PM
Waltz With Bashir at 9:30 PM

Saturday 3/28:
Independence, A play by Lee Blessing at 2:00 PM
Josh Ritter w/Full Band at 8:00 PM
Independence, A play by Lee Blessing at 8:00 PM

Sunday 3/29:
Independence, A play by Lee Blessing at 2:00 PM
The Artie Shaw Orchestra at 7:00 PM

Josh Ritter to Play The State THIS SATURDAY 3/28 UPDATE Daily Collegian Article

2009-03-07T14:35:00.000-05:00

**UPDATE**
IN TODAY'S 3/26 DAILY COLLEGIAN THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT JOSH RITTER'S PERFORMANCE AT THE STATE THIS SATURDAY 3/28. READ THE ARTICLE HERE!

Josh Ritter is making a stop in State College this March 28th to charm audiences at The State. Ritter is a modern day folk singer-songwriter with grand musical scope. In case you are unfamiliar with Mr.Ritter here is some more info:

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (his new album) catches the Idaho musician in the midst of a radical transformation. While last year's The Animal Years had Ritter thinking about the state of the nation, his latest offering finds him pining for Joan of Arc, Calamity Jane and Florence Nightingale, all of whom seem to be stuck together in the belly of a whale, a la Jonah. He also manages to squeeze in a few admiring words about ladies' underwear and that's well before Ritter, backed by drums, bass and organ and cacophony, arrives at a rollicking chorus you might be able sing along with if you're quick enough to get all the words.

Ritter is clearly having fun and you will, too but there is a method to his madness. Those legendary heroines he name-checks were each responding to an inner voice that pushed them toward some extraordinary mission, one both noble and a little foolhardy. "Those voices can be pretty confusing," he says, "but there is no doubt that if you follow your two a.m. voices you'll end up someplace fairly extraordinary."

And Ritter did follow those late night voices. While The Animal Years was a meticulously crafted and stately paean, for Conquests the artist radically revamped his working methods and his sound. "I needed to be somebody different," the singer says. "The air of gravitas around me was getting oppressive. For some reason it seemed like there was a premium being placed on earnestness and that can be pretty stifling. There was a lot of talk about true love and righteous indignation. I wanted to write about gunslingers and missile silos."

Below you can find a few videos of Jason Ritter performing:

Tickets for Josh Ritter's March 28th concert at The State are ON SALE NOW! Tickets are going for $23 are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

This Weekend at The State 3/6-3/8

2009-03-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 3/6 - 3/8 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these events. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 3/6:
Frost/Nixon at 7:00 & 9:30 PM

Saturday 3/7:
The Met Opera Live in HD featuring Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at 1:00 PM
Frost/Nixon at 7:00 & 9:30 PM

Sunday 3/8:
Frost/Nixon at 4:00 & 7:00 PM

This Weekend At The State 3/13 - 3/15

2009-03-05T13:23:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 3/13 - 3/15 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these events. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 3/13:
Wendy and Lucy at 7:00 & 9:30 PM

Saturday 3/14:
Wendy and Lucy at 4:00, 7:00, & 9:30 PM

Sunday 3/15:
Wendy and Lucy at 4:00 & 7:00 PM

Let the Circle be Wide with Tommy Sands Comes to The State 3/12!

2009-03-05T13:07:00.000-05:00

Tommy Sands along with Moya and Fionan Sands grace The State with a gift just in time for St. Patrick's Day on Thursday, March 12th. Let the Circle be Wide featuring Tommy Sands as well as Moya and Fionan Sands bring the sound of the true Ireland to The State. Here is some more info on the living legend Tommy Sands:

Tommy Sands, Country Down's singer, songwriter and social activist has achieved something akin to legendary status in his own lifetime.

From the pioneering days with the highly influential Sands Family, bringing Irish Music from New York's Carnegie Hall to Moscow's Olympic Stadium, he has developed into one of the most powerful songwriters and enchanting solo performers in Ireland today.

His songwriting, which draws the admiration of Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney and father of folk music Pete Seeger, prompts respected US magazine "Sing Out" to regard him as "the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world".

His songs, like There were Roses, and Daughters and Sons, which have been recorded by Joan Baez, Kathy Matthea, Dolores Keane, Sean Keane, Frank Patterson, Dick Gaughan, The Dubliners and many others have been translated into many languages and are currently included in the English language syllabus in German secondary schools.

Although constantly performing on stages all around the world he prides in taking his music down from the lights and into the darker corners of society. One of his current projects, teaching underprivledged prisoners in Reno, Nevada to write their own song with which to defend themselves in court is currently creating a wide spread stir in the world of community art in the United States. Back home in Northern Ireland he has just completed a CD written with Protestant and Catholic school children about their own areas, in towns and villages around Northern Ireland. During the Good Friday Agreement Talks, his impromptu performance with a group of children and Lambeg drummers was described by Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon as "a defining moment in the Peace Process".

Below are some videos of Tommy Sands performing with Country Down and also solo:

Let the Circle be Wide featuring Tommy Sands along with Moya and Fionan Sands will be performing at The State on Thursday March 12th at 8:00 PM. Tickets are going for $23 and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you at this great event leading up to St. Patrick's Day!

Wendy and Lucy Starts Tonight 3/13 At The State

2009-03-05T12:53:00.000-05:00

Tonight 2/13 Wendy and Lucy staring Michelle Williams starts its run at The State. Below you will find a trailer for Wendy and Lucy as well as a short plot summary:

Old Joy director Kelly Reichardt crafts this intimate tale of Wendy, an alienated Indiana woman who packs up her car and sets her sights on Alaska, but finds herself stranded in a small Oregon town with no money and only her faithful dog, Lucy, to keep her company. When Wendy realizes that there's nothing keeping her in her home state of Indiana, she makes the decision to relocate to Alaska and seek out work at the local fish cannery. With her four-legged friend Lucy in the passenger seat next to her, Wendy stops off to get some rest in a small Oregon town. The following morning, when Wendy attempts to start her car, the engine fails to respond. But this is only the first in a series of snowballing events, because as Wendy waits for the local garage to open she heads to the supermarket to pick up some dog food for Lucy. Opting to shoplift the puppy chow since she doesn't have much cash to speak of, Wendy subsequently finds herself in the local jail thanks to an overzealous employee. By the time Wendy pays her fine and gets back to the supermarket, Lucy is gone. Unfortunately the dog pound doesn't open until the following morning, and after receiving some help from a kindly local, Wendy gets some particularly bad news about her car.

Wendy and Lucy starts at The State Friday 3/13 at 7:00 and 9:30 PM. The film continues it’s run from Saturday 3/14 (with shows at 7:00 & 9:30 PM) through Thursday 3/19 with shows everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM (except Sunday 3/15 there is no 9:30 show). Sunday 3/15 & Wednesday 3/18 there are also 4:00 PM showings of the film. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

Oscar Nominated Film FROST/NIXON Starts Its Run At The State Friday 3/6

2009-03-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

This Friday 3/6 Frost/Nixon starts its run at The State. Frost/Nixon was nominated for five Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and has received almost unanimous critical acclaim. Below you will find some background on the film as well as the trailer:

For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost's team harbored doubts about their boss's ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation's greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who'd built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity--ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth.

Frost/Nixon, which was Nominated for FIVE Oscars starts its run at The State Friday 3/6 at 7:00 and 9:30 PM. The film continues it’s run from Saturday 3/7 (with shows at 7:00 & 9:30 PM) through Wednesday 3/11 with shows everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM (except Sunday 3/8 there is no 9:30 show). Sunday 3/8 & Wednesday 3/11 there are also 4:00 PM showings of the film. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

Last Two Nights 3/4-3/5 to Catch 'I've Loved You So Long' at The State

2009-03-04T14:41:00.001-05:00

There are only two more nights 3/4-3/5 to catch I've Loved You So Long at The State before it ends its run. The critically acclaimed French film staring Kristen Scott Thomas is a story of a family trying to find answers in a complicated and tragic situation. Below you will find the trailer for I've Loved You So Long as well as a plot summary:

Their relationship fractured when older sister Juliette is sentenced to 15 years in prison, two siblings wage an emotional battle to rebuild their relationship, overcome the secrets that keep them apart, and finally express the thoughts that have lain dormant for well over a decade. The moment Juliette was convicted, her parents declared that they wanted nothing to do with her. Now, after 15 years behind bars, Juliette is a free woman and in desperate need of a human connection. When Juliette's younger sister, Léa, is approached by a prison social worker and asked if she would be willing to provide her recently paroled sibling with a place to live, she doesn't hesitate to open her doors and share her home. But Léa is happily married with two adopted daughters, and her husband, Luc, is uneasy with the arrangement. Still, the house is large, the couple is used to having company, and the two young girls are thrilled to have a new aunt. As Juliette gets settled, Léa does her best to make her feel welcome. Likewise, Léa's colleague Michel and emigrant couple Samir and Kaïsha also offer to help Juliette readjust to life on the outside. Along the way, Juliette slowly begins to emerge from her shell and Léa realizes just how much she missed her sister. Perhaps if she can put aside her feelings of guilt long enough to truly understand her sister's plight, these two strangers can finally remember what it means to be family.

I've Loved You So Long only has two more days worth of screenings. You can catch I've Loved You So Long today Wendesday 3/4 at4:00, 7:00 & 9:30 PM and tomorrow 3/5 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

The Met Opera HD Returns with Puccini's Madama Butterfly 3/7

2009-03-04T12:26:00.006-05:00

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD simulcast is back this Saturday 3/7 at 1:00 PM at The State featuring Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. In case you don't know about The State's Met Opera Live in HD shows it goes something like this: Through an effort to spread the love of Opera throughout the United States and the world, The Met Opera in New York City has begun simulcasting their performances to Theaters that are HD (high definition) ready. This all started in December of '06 when their first simulcast went worldwide and has been met with acclaim from every realm including critical as well as popular. On top of just performing the Operas themselves, the audience at The State is exposed to behind-the-scenes features, live interviews with cast and crew, insightful short documentaries, and bird’s-eye views of the productions offer an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera. Another great thing about these simulcast is that you can see these performances for just a fraction of the cost that you would pay at the Met ($22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students, and $15 for children). Even though you might not actually be in New York for the show, we are offering the highest digital quality picture so it does feel like you are actually there without the long car ride.
This weekends Opera is Madama Butterfly by Puccini’s. The story goes something like this:

Pinkerton, an American naval officer, has taken lease of a house in Nagasaki, Japan. He is going to live here with his future Japanese wife, Butterfly. Butterfly, (Cio-Cio-San) a giesha, is only 15-years-old. Goro, the marriage broker, while showing Pinkerton his new house, introduces him to Suzuki, his wife's maid. Sharpless, the American consul, warns Pinkerton of getting married. Pinkerton tells him that the is happy with his Japanese bride, but adds that one day he will marry a real "American bride." Butterfly enters and the family gathers for the wedding. Cio-Cio-San shows Pinkerton a dagger that was once used by her father to commit hara-kiri. The wedding ceremony is disrupted by angry family members, including Butterfly's uncle, a Buddhist priest. As the family leaves after the wedding, the couple celebrates their love and their first night alone together [source].

Below you can find a selection from Madama Butterfly:

The Met Opera Live in HD featuring Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is playing this Saturday 3/7 at 1:00 PM at The State with tickets going for $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students, and $15 for children. Purchase tickets ONLINE or at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there!

Daily Collegian Article on The State's Newly Acquired Liquor License

2009-02-10T20:31:00.000-05:00

In today's 2/10 Daily Collegian there was an article explaining The State's newly acquired liquor license. In case you didn't know, in the upcoming weeks The State will be selling alcoholic beverages to its theatre goers during certain events. The date and events where alcohol will be served is still yet to be determined but a time frame has been made for the end of February. To view the article in full click HERE.

This Weekend at The State 2/27-3/1

2009-02-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 2/27-3/1 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these shows. Hope to see you at The State this weekend!

Friday 2/27:
I've Loved You So Long at 7:00 & 9:30 PM

Saturday 2/28:
I've Loved You So Long at 4:00 & 7:00 PM
The Asylum presents A Brown Leaf, City Infinite & PJ Bond at The Attic above The State at 7:30 PM
I've Loved You So Long at 9:30 PM

Sunday 3/1:
No.4 Street of Our Lady at 2:00 PM ***SOLD OUT***
I've Loved You So Long at 7:00 PM

You can buy tickets for any of these shows ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you this weekend!

This Sunday 2/22 Centre County Reads Presents Persepolis

2009-02-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

This Sunday 2/22 at 1:00 PM Centre County Reads presents a special showing of the Oscar nominated film Persepolis (2008 Best Animated Feature). Centre County Reads will present the award-winning film, Persepolis, to complement the reading of the graphic memoir, which is the 2009 Centre County Reads selection. Centre County Reads is a county-wide program to encourage everyone in the community to read the same book and have discussions about the topics it might raise. With Persepolis, a true story of a young girl in Iran during the Iranian Revolution, we hope to stimulate dialogue about different cultures and different viewpoints.

Immediately after the showing of the movie at the State Theatre, we will be gathering at Schlow Library to continue the discussion with several students from Iran, who will answer questions about the events in the movie, as well as questions about Iran today. There will be additional book discussion groups and events from January through March. More information is available at www.centrecountyreads.org.

Reading the book and watching the movie often brings different perspectives to the story and that can also inspire conversation. You’ve read the book, now see the movie and join the conversation.

Persepolis trailer:

Even if you have never read the graphic novel we still encourage you to come and enjoy Persepolis, a truly great film. Tickets for Sunday afternoon's event are only $1 and can be purchased both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there!

This Saturday 2/21 The State Presents CO-OPALOOZA!!

2009-02-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

This Saturday 2/21 at 1:00 PM The State welcomes CO-OPALOOZA!! presented by The Cooperative Playschool. This community based event is an affordable afternoon of family centered fun including magic, puppetry and music. This event is also coinciding with the 60th Anniversary of the Cooperative Playschool. In addition to the anniversary the proceeds from CO-OPALOOZA!! go directly to the Cooperative Playschool. In case you don’t know much about the Cooperative playschool look below for some background:

The Cooperative Playschool, a state-licensed preschool founded in 1949, exists for the purpose of enriching the lives of participating children and their parents in an atmosphere of relative freedom. Emphasis is placed on social interaction and the individual growth of each child within a play-based curriculum. The children receive help in developing a feeling of belonging to a group, which is interested in them and makes them feel secure.

In addition to the professionally educated teachers, the program is enhanced by the involvement of the parents through observation, participation and discussion. The preschool provides a unique opportunity for parents to grow and learn as they see their children from a different perspective [source].

CO-OPALOOZA!! presented by The Cooperative Playschool is happening this Saturday 2/21 at 1:00 PM with tickets priced at $9 for adults & $5 for children. Tickets are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Come and join us in this festival-like atmosphere event for the entire family and don’t forget it benefits The Cooperative Playschool! Hope to see you there supporting a great local cause!

This Saturday Night 2/14 (Valentines Day) Pick up Trials and Telephones: A Series of One-Act Operas

2009-02-09T14:40:00.006-05:00

A special Valentine’s Day 2/14 treat awaits you at the State Theatre! For one night only, come see the wonderfully talented performers of Penn State Opera Theatre present Trials and Telephones, an evening one-act operas, each one a delightful and enticing treat! You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see live opera right here in State College!

The Telephone (1947) tells the story of Ben and his constantly thwarted attempts to propose to his lady-love, Lucy. Penn State Opera Theatre’s delightful twist on this amusingly frantic story imagines that it is not only the pesky telephone that is getting in his way! Trial By Jury (1875) is one of the earliest collaborations between the masters of topsy-turveydom, Gilbert and Sullivan. Angelina, the plaintiff, is suing Edwin, the defendant, for a breach of promise of marriage. Hilarity ensues as the (anything but) Learned Judge allows the proceedings to unravel before our eyes!

Be sure to purchase tickets early for this one night only special event at the State Theatre, and come see the stars of tomorrow on stage today! Tickets are going for $12 & $5 for students. Tickets are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

This Weekend At The State 2/20 - 2/22

2009-02-09T14:38:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 2/20 - 2/21 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these shows. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 2/20:
Milk at 7:00 & 9:30

Saturday 2/21:
Co-Opalooza at 1:00 PM
Milk at 4:00, 7:00, & 9:30 PM

Saturday 2/22:
Centre County Reads Presents: Persepolis at 1:00 PM
Milk at 4:00 & 7:00 PM

This Saturday 2/14 The 2nd Annual “Out of the Cold” Family Movie Event Featuring Akeelah & The Bee

2009-02-09T13:56:00.008-05:00

This Saturday 2/14 at 12:00 PM The State welcomes The 2nd Annual “Out of the Cold” Family Movie Event hosted by Bridge of Hope Centre County. The Bridge of Hope Centre County is a non-profit organization that helps women and children who are in tough economic times:

Join with Bridge of Hope Centre County to help our homeless neighbors—women and children who don’t have place to call home—struggling through these tough economic times. Bridge of Hope’s mission is to assist single homeless mothers and their children, to help them build a safe and secure future. Now, more than ever, love thy neighbor is a powerful message for us all. And with your help we can change the lives of Centre County families in 2009.

For this year's fundraiser they will be showing the family film, Akellah & the Bee for $10 with all profits going to Bridge of Hope Centre County. Along with the price of the ticket you get free popcorn, snacks, and beverages. The plot of Akellah & the Bee goes like this:

Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She's smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor named Dr. Larabee for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of -- but only if she can overcome her insecurities and her distracting home life.

Akeelah and the Bee - Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

The PG rated Akellah & the Bee will be shown this Saturday 2/14 at 12:00 PM as part of Bridge of Hope's 2nd Annual “Out of the Cold” Family Movie Event. Tickets are $10 and all profits from the even will go straight to Bridge of Hope Centre County. Tickets are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there supporting a great local cause!

The Betrayal - Nerakhoon Starts this Sunday 2/15

2009-02-09T03:57:00.000-05:00

Starting this Sunday 2/15 The Betrayal - Nerakhoon starts its run at The State. The Academy Award nominated documentary is running at the 2/15 -2/19. Below you can find a plot synopsis as well as the trailer for The Betrayal - Nerakhoon:

A Lao prophecy says, "A time will come when the universe will break, piece by piece, the world will change beyond what we know." That time came for the small country of Laos with the clandestine involvement of the United States during the Vietnam War. By 1973, three million tons of bombs had been dropped on Laos in the fight to overcome the North Vietnamese, more than the total used during both world wars. With the rise of a Communist government in Laos, killings and arrests became common among those affiliated with the former government and the Americans. Families were torn apart-some finally emigrating to the U.S. In a collaboration spanning more than 20 years, Ellen Kuras works with Laotian co-director Thavisouk Phrasavath, the main subject of the film. Phrasavath takes us through his youth, his escape from persecution and arrest in Laos, his family's reunion and their journey as immigrants to America, and the second war they had to fight on the streets of New York City. Drawing on the techniques of experimental film and the traditions of Laotian culture, Nerakhoon (The Betrayal) is a tale about a country, a family, and a young man who discovers the power and resilience of the human spirit [imdb]

The Betrayal - Nerakhoon, Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary Feature, starts its run at The State Sunday 2/15 at 4:00 and 7:00 PM. The film continues it’s run from Monday 2/16 (with shows at 7:00 & 9:30 PM) through Thursday 2/19 with shows everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM. Wednesday 2/18 there is also a 4:00 PM showing of the film. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

The Asylum presents A Brown Leaf, City Infinite & PJ Bond at The Attic above The State 2/28

2009-02-08T15:29:00.000-05:00

This Saturday 2/28 at 7:30 PM The Asylum presents A Brown Leaf, City Infinite & PJ Bond at The Attic above The State for only $5. This is a showcase of some up and coming talent from the areas surrounding us here in State College. Below you will find some info about each act as well and links to their respective MySpace pages:

A Brown Leaf:
A Brown Leaf’s songs are an eclectic mix of folk, acoustic, and punk. Hailing from our own State College, PA A Brown Leaf's sincere and heartfelt lyrics blend with his voice to create a unique sound all his own. Listen to few A Brown Leaf's HERE through their MySpace page.

City Infinite:
City Infinite is comprised of two musicians from Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Their music is acoustic and pop-punk, and their lyrics are based on real-life experiences. Listen to some of City Infinite's stuff HERE through their MySpace page.

PJ Bond:
PJ Bond hails from New Brunswick, New Jersey and has recently gone on tour with Charlotte Sometimes. Bond effortlessly movies between acoustic pop songs to tradional folk rhythms. Check out some of PJ Bond's music HERE through his MySpace page.

Tickets for this Saturday's 2/28 show: The Asylum presents A Brown Leaf, City Infinite, & PJ Bond at The Attic above The State are going for ONLY $5. You can pick up tickets both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Come and join us for an intimate night of some great new talent. Hope to see you there!

Last Night for Trouble the Water

2009-02-08T13:49:00.000-05:00

Tonight 2/12 is your last chance to catch the Academy Award Nominated documentary Trouble the Water (trailer above). You can see our original post about Trouble the Water HERE (which includes plot summary, critical reviews). Trouble the Water is playing tonight 2/12 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

LAST NIGHT 2/26 FOR OSCAR WINNER MILK

2009-02-08T12:35:00.000-05:00

Tonight 2/26 Milk ends its run at The State with shows at 7:00 & 9:30. The film, which WON TWO Oscars, is one of the most acclaimed films of 2008. If case you don't know, the plot summary and trailer for Milk are below:

Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces Harvey Milk's career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco's growing gay community, and organizes gays' purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the city's conservative district. The rest of the film sketches Milk's relationship with White and the 1978 fight against a statewide initiative to bar gays and their supporters from public school jobs.

Milk is showing tonight 2/26 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM and tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

This Weekend At The State 2/13-2/15

2009-02-08T04:08:00.000-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 2/13 - 2/15 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these shows. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 2/13:
No Event

Saturday 2/14:
“Out of the Cold” Family Movie Event featuring Akeelah and the Bee at 12:00 PM
Trials and Telephones: An Evening One-Act Operas at 8:00 PM

Sunday 2/15:
The Betrayal - Nerakhoon at 4:00 & 7:00 PM

This Weekend at The State 2/6 - 2/8

2009-02-06T15:21:00.003-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 2/6 - 2/8 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these shows. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 2/6:
Beatlemania Now (second post HERE) at 8:00 PM

Saturday 2/7:
The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD: Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at 1:00 PM
Trouble the Water at 7:00 & 9:30 PM

Sunday 2/8:
Trouble the Water at 4:00 & 7:00 PM

Trouble The Water Starts This Saturday 2/7

2009-02-05T15:05:00.005-05:00

This Saturday 2/7 Oscar Nominated documentary Trouble the Water starts its run at The State. The first hand account of the 9th Ward during the worst parts of Hurricane Katrina has won rave reviews and compelled audiences. The story of the documentary goes like this:

TROUBLE THE WATER takes you inside Hurricane Katrina in a way never before seen on screen. It's a redemptive tale of two self-described street hustlers who become heroes-two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.

The film opens the day before the storm makes landfall-twenty-four year old aspiring rap artist Kimberly Rivers Roberts is turning her new video camera on herself and her 9th Ward neighbors trapped in the city. "It's going to be a day to remember," Kim declares. With no means to leave the city and equipped with just a few supplies and her hi 8 camera, she and her husband Scott tape their harrowing ordeal as the storm rages, the nearby levee breaches, and floodwaters fill their home and their community.

Seamlessly weaving 15 minutes of this home movie footage shot the day before and the day after the storm, with archival news segments and verite footage shot over two years, directors Tia Lessin and Carl Deal document a journey of remarkable people surviving not only failed levees, bungling bureaucrats and armed soldiers, but also their own past.

Trouble the Water Trailer:

Trouble the Water has received stellar reviews and also a 100% from top critics on Rotten Tomatoes database. Peter Travers from Rolling Stone says Trouble the Water is, "A spellbinder you do not want to miss [RS]," and Joanne Kaufman from the Wall Street Journal raves, "Filmmakers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal have fashioned a deeply moving story of resilience and redemption [WSJ]."

Trouble the Water, Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary Feature, starts its run at The State Saturday 2/7 at 7:00 and 9:30 PM. The film continues it’s run from Sunday 2/8 (with shows at 4:00 & 7:00 PM) through Thursday 2/12 with shows everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM, with the exception of Monday 2/9. Wednesday 2/11 there is also a 4:00 PM showing of the film. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

UPDATE SOLD OUT This Monday 2/9 Ladysmith Black Mambazo Journeys to The State

2009-02-05T14:40:00.006-05:00

This Monday 2/9 The State Theatre welcomes LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO! This Grammy Award winning South African singing group will bring its unique brand of music to State College for one night only. In case you missed the previous post on LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO you can find it HERE. Below you can find some brief info & videos on LADYSMITH (you can find much more indepth info at the original post HERE):

Ladysmith Black Mambazo represents the traditional culture of South Africa and is regarded as the country's cultural emissary at home and around the world. In 1993, at Nelson Mandela's request, Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied the future President to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Mambazo sang again at President Mandela's inauguration in May of 1994. They are a national treasure of the new South Africa in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa.

The name LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO came about as a result of winning every singing competition in which the group entered. "Ladysmith" is the hometown of the Shabalala family; "Black" references the black oxen, considered to be the strongest on the farm. The Zulu word "Mambazo" refers to an ax - symbolic of the group's ability to "chop down" the competition. So good were they that after a time they were forbidden to enter the competitions but welcomed, of course, to entertain at them.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is NOW SOLD OUT!!!

Poll Results: Yes For Proposition CHE

2009-02-05T14:26:00.004-05:00

Our poll for the last two weeks ended yesterday with unanimous results for the motion picture Che (trailer above). Here is even better news, Che will be shown at The State this March! In case you missed the first post for Che you can find it HERE. Thanks to everyone who voted, and keep an eye on the blog because we will have a new poll next week. More info on when Che will be shown in the weeks to come!

Last Two Days For Rachel Getting Married!

2009-02-04T12:35:00.005-05:00

Today and tomorrow are the last two days to catch the Oscar nominated film Rachel Getting Married at The State. The film staring Anne Hathaway (who is nominated for Best Actress at his years Oscars) is a film worth seeing and this is your last chance to catch it in State College before the Oscar ceremony on February 22nd. For more info on Rachel Getting Married you can check out the original post for the film HERE.

Rachel Getting Married is playing at The State today 2/4 at 4:00, 7:00, and 9:30 PM and tomorrow at 7:00 & 9:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

UPDATE Daily Collegian Article This Friday 2/6 Beatlemania Now Wants To Hold Your Hand at The State

2009-02-03T16:09:00.009-05:00

UPDATE: Beatlemania Now was featured in an article in today's 2/5 Daily Collegian. Read the Article HERE!

This Friday The State welcomes Beatlemania Now, a very talented and world renowned Beatles tribute band. In case you missed the first post on this heavily anticipated upcoming show you can find that info HERE. Below you can find some more information from the band's website about how they came to be so well known for their act:

"BEATLEMANIA NOW!"...formed from members of the original Tony-award winning Broadway musical, has toured worldwide, performing to countless audiences since 1984.

"BEATLEMANIA NOW!" is the Ultimate Multi-Media Beatles Stage Show touring the world today! Through six scenes (and accompanying costume changes) witness the dramatic impact, and feel the pure nostalgia, as Beatlemania Now recaptures the excitement, mood and frantic intensity of the 1960's all set against a stunning multi-media backdrop of live images and visual montages featuring news clips, documentary reels, and movie and concert footage (all carefully assembled by a crew of more than thirty historians, artists, film editors, and researchers)!

Meticulously faithful to the original music, Beatlemania Now's four member cast recreate, note for note, over 35 classic songs in an extravaganza that retraces the entire career of the greatest cultural phenomenon of all time...

Not impressed? Well you can visit Beatlemania Now's Myspace Page and listen to a couple of their renditions of Beatles tunes to hear for yourself. If you ask me these guys have got just what any Beatles fan is looking for in a tribute band. Below you can view a couple of videos of Beatlemania Now:

Beatlemania Now will be performing on Friday February 6th at 8:00 PM and the tickets are going for $32, $27 & $22. You can purchase tickets ONLINE or at The State Theatre Box Office.

The Met Opera HD Live Returns With Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor

2009-02-03T15:23:00.007-05:00

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD simulcast is back this Saturday 2/7 at 1:00 PM at The State featuring Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In case you don't know about The State's Met Opera Live in HD shows it goes something like this: Through an effort to spread the love of Opera throughout the United States and the world, The Met Opera in New York City has begun simulcasting their performances to Theaters that are HD (high definition) ready. This all started in December of '06 when their first simulcast went worldwide and has been met with acclaim from every realm including critical as well as popular. On top of just performing the Operas themselves, the audience at The State is exposed to behind-the-scenes features, live interviews with cast and crew, insightful short documentaries, and bird’s-eye views of the productions offer an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera. Another great thing about these simulcast is that you can see these performances for just a fraction of the cost that you would pay at the Met ($22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students, and $15 for children). Even though you might not actually be in New York for the show, we are offering the highest digital quality picture so it does feel like you are actually there without the long car ride.
This weekends Opera is ucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti. The story goes something like this:

Enrico decides that his sister, Lucia, should marry Arturo Bucklaw for money and status. She, however, is in-love with Edgardo Ravenswood, who is her brother’s bitter rival and their family’s mortal enemy. Edgardo wants to ask Lucia’s brother for her hand in marriage, but Lucia is scared of what her brother’s reaction will be. Edgardo then hears that he must leave for France for political reasons. She insists that they keep their love a secret; the two exchange rings and say goodbye [source]

Below you can find Sumi Jo singing an aria from Lucia di Lammermoor:

The Met Opera Live in HD featuring Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice is playing this Saturday 2/7 at 1:00 PM at The State with tickets going for $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students, and $15 for children. Purchase tickets ONLINE or at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there!

The Weekend At The State 1/30-2/1

2009-01-30T18:00:00.002-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 1/30-2/1 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these shows. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 1/30:
Rachel Getting Married at 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM

Saturday 1/31:
Get The Led Out (second post HERE) at 8:00 PM

Sunday 2/1:
Rachel Getting Married at 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Get The Led Out Featured In The Daily Collegian!

2009-01-29T16:10:00.003-05:00

In today's Daily Collegian, within their weekly entertainment magazine Venues, there was a very in depth article on Get The Led Out, the Led Zeppelin tribute band that are performing this Saturday 1/31 at The State. You can read the article HERE, and you can also view our original post HERE.

Tickets are on sale now for Get The Led Out's show on January 31st at 8:00 PM ONLINE and also at the State Theatre Box Office. Tickets are $27 for normal seats and $22 for students and seniors. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BECAUSE THIS SHOW IS ABOUT TO SELL OUT!!!!!

Rachel Getting Married Starts Friday 1/30!

2009-01-29T15:37:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow 1/30 at 7:00 PM Rachel Getting Married starts its run at The State. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt & Bill Irwin and is directed by Oscar Winner (Best Director: Silence of the Lambs) Jonathan Demme. Below you can find the trailer and plot summary:

After an extended stint in rehab following a major family catastrophe, Kym (Hathaway) returns to her picture-perfect Connecticut hometown to attend the elaborate wedding of her older sister Rachel (played with considerable spark by Rosemarie DeWitt). Kym's arrival causes long-festering hurts to resurface, and the Buchmans' family unity is soon hanging by a thread. Issues of trust and reconciliation flow through the film, leading to discord between parents and their children, as well as among siblings and family friends, even as they all struggle to maintain a ceasefire during Rachel's nuptials. While Kym is offended by her sister's seeming ability to live a faultless existence, the rest of their family and friends resent Kym's penchant for self-serving theatrics and darkly comic one-liners [spout].

Rachel Getting Married has been showered with glowing reviews since its release. David Ansen from Newsweek proclaims, “Rachel Getting Married takes a familiar subject -- the raw nerves of American family life with -- and draws fresh blood,” [newsweek]. Claudia Puig from USA Today hails, “Rachel Getting Married is at its best in scenes featuring Hathaway's mercurial character. It's a triumphant and darkly nuanced role for her and a departure from the more lighthearted comedic performances she has given,” [usatoday]. On top of the positive reviews Anne Hathaway was honored with an Oscar Nomination for Best Actress for her role as Kym in Rachel Getting Married.

Rachel Getting Married starts its run at The State this Friday 1/30 at 7:00 and 9:30 PM. The film continues it’s run from Sunday 2/1 (with shows at 4:00 & 7:00 PM) through Thursday 2/5 with shows everyday at 7:00 & 9:30 PM. Wednesday 2/4 there is also a 4:00 PM showing of the film. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

LAST NIGHT FOR SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK!

2009-01-29T15:26:00.004-05:00

Tonight is the last night to see Synecodche, New York so get out to The State tonight at catch it at either 7:00 or 9:30. To see the original post about Synecdoche, New York HERE. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

Let Us Know What You Think!

2009-01-23T15:30:00.003-05:00

Here at The State Theatre Blog we are very interested to know what you think, so leave us a comment or two. You can do this on every post that is put up on the blog! We encourage you to leave comments on what you think about upcoming shows, or leave reviews for movies, performances, or any other programming you see at The State. We also want to hear about shows you would like to see at The State. If you want to leave reviews and can't seem to find the post to correspond with the show you saw, just look to the frame on the right where you can find the blog archive. Once you find the post for your show click on it, scroll down and leave a comment or two. We can't wait to hear from you!
Thanks,
The State Theatre Blog

This Weekend At The State 1/23 - 1/25

2009-01-23T12:48:00.002-05:00

Here are the events that are happening this weekend 1/23-1/25 at The State. You can click on the title of the show to see more info on these shows. Hope to see you at The State this weekend.

Friday 1/23:
Spell It Out! at 8:00 PM

Saturday 1/24:
The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD: Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at 1:00 PM
Out of Hand Variety Show (second story) at 8:00 PM

Sunday 1/25:
Synecdoche, New York at 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM

You can buy tickets for any of these shows ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you this weekend!

The Oscar Nominations Are Out & The State Theatre Has Hosted Plenty Of Them

2009-01-22T16:22:00.016-05:00

So the Oscar nominations came out this morning and when looking over the list of hopefuls there is an interesting connection between them, A LOT OF THEM HAVE PLAYED OR ARE SCHEDULED TO PLAY AT THE STATE. Ranging from the acting categories to the live action short film category The State has hosted them all. Just saying that The State has hosted these shows is not enough, so we're going to break down each movie that has shown at The State and what they are nominated for:

Milk [coming in February]

Best Picture
Best Actor: Sean Penn
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin
Best Director: Gus Van Sant
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Original Score
Best Costume Design

Rachel Getting Married [Starts January 30th]

Best Actress: Anne Hathaway

Frozen River

Best Actress: Melissa Leo

Best Original Screenplay

The Visitor

Best Actor: Richard Jenkins

In Bruges

Best Original Screenplay

Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Original Screenplay

Best Documentary:
Trouble The Water [coming in February], The Betrayal [coming in February], Encounters at the End of the World, Man on Wire [4 out of 5 nominees played at the State]

Best Live Action Short Film:
New Boy

As you can see The State holds a high standard for the films we choose to show to our audiences, and we will continue to show high caliber movies. Keep on eye on this blog for info on the new acclaimed movies that are showing every week at The State. We will continue to show them and we hope you will continue to see them in downtown State College!

Synecdoche, New York Starts This Sunday

2009-01-22T14:47:00.007-05:00

This Sunday Synecdoche, New York starts its run at The State. Synecdoche, New York comes from the mind of Charlie Kaufman, Academy Award Winning Writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Kaufman has also penned Adaptation & Being John Malkovich (both of which were nominated for Oscars), which are considered two of the most wildly original screenplays in recent memory. A plot summary and trailer for Synecdoche, New York are below:

Theater director Caden Cotard is mounting a new play. His life catering to suburban blue-hairs at the local regional theater in Schenectady, New York is looking bleak. His wife Adele has left him to pursue her painting in Berlin, taking their young daughter Olive with her. His therapist, Madeleine Gravis, is better at plugging her best-seller than she is at counseling him. A new relationship with the alluringly candid Hazel has prematurely run aground. And a mysterious condition is systematically shutting down each of his autonomic functions, one by one. Worried about the transience of his life, he leaves his home behind. He gathers an ensemble cast into a warehouse in New York City, hoping to create a work of brutal honesty. He directs them in a celebration of the mundane, instructing each to live out their constructed lives in a growing mock up of the city outside.

Critics are praising Synecdoche, New York as a work of amazing originality. Roger Ebert proclaims, "This is a film with the richness of great fiction[c-st]." Richard Corliss from Time Magazine praises Synecdoche, New York, "No film with an ambition this large, and achievement this impressive, can be anything but exhilarating, a vital affirmation of the creative process[time]."

Synecdoche, New York is playing from Sunday 1/25 to Thursday 1/29 with shows at 7:00 PM and 9:3o PM (there is no 9:30 PM show on 1/25) each night with additional 4:00 PM shows on Sunday 1/25 & Wednesday 1/28. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available for purchase both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. See you there!

Out if Hand Variety Show Featured in The Daily Collegian

2009-01-22T14:20:00.003-05:00

Today in The Daily Collegian's weekly entertainment magazine Venues there was a story about the Out of Hand Variety Show, who is performing this Saturday at 8:00 PM at The State. You can read the Daily Collegian article HERE. We also did a blog post about the show a couple of days ago, and in case you missed it you can find it HERE.

The Out of Hand Variety Show takes the stage this Saturday 1/24 at 8:00 PM with tickets going for $10 for adults and $6 for students. You can purchase tickets both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there enjoying the show!

Beatlemania Now To Rock The State This February

2009-01-21T13:34:00.007-05:00

Coming Friday February 6th The State Theatre is proud to welcome Beatlemania Now, a well-rounded and incredibly talented Beatles tribute band. Here is a brief description Beatlemania Now:

Beatlemania Now is not just a Beatles Tribute Band - Beatlemania Now is the most entertaining, authentic, and elaborate, Beatles Tribute Show performing today!
As many as seven authentic costume changes - no other show gives you this many! Four permanent well-rehearsed group members and accomplished musicians, actors, and Beatles Impersonators who bear uncanny resemblances to John, Paul, George and Ringo, not only from across the room but up close too, and possess vocal talents to sound like them as well!

The performance is broken down into different scenes, which focus on a specific time in The Beatles storied history. During these different scenes in when you get the costume changes that directly correspond to that time in their career. I can't even begin to describe how talented the cast of Beatlemania Now is; you'll just have to see for yourself:

Beatlemania Now will be performing on Friday February 6th at 8:00 PM and the tickets are going for $32, $27 & $22. You can purchase tickets ONLINE or at The State Theatre Box Office.

Last Two Days For 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas'

2009-01-21T13:25:00.005-05:00

There are only two more days to catch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas at The State. You can read the original post HERE, which features the plot summary as well as a review for the film. You can catch the trailer for the film above.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is finishes its run at The State with shows today 1/21 at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM as well as tomorrow 1/22 at 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM.

Out of Hand Variety Show to Dazzle Audiences This Saturday 1/24

2009-01-20T16:22:00.011-05:00

This Saturday 1/24 at 8:00 PM The Out of Hand Variety Show will make it's way through The State. The Out of Hand Variety Show features the best young talent in the country, including Nathan Kepner, Chris Ruggerio, Joe Scholz, David Clavens and Kip Imperato. The family-friendly show is a combination of vaudeville style magic, juggling and comedy with a modern twist like you’ve never seen enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The show really is an “out of hand” performance that you will never forget. Penn State president, Dr. Graham Spanier, will also appear as a guest performer to open the show! Check out a video of The Out of Hand Variety Show, with some clips from their December 5th performance at The Hub at Penn State. Also a clip of David Clavens member of The Out of Hand Variety Show at the 2008 US Footbag Championship:

The Out of Hand Variety Show takes the stage this Saturday 1/24 at 8:00 PM with tickets going for $10 for adults and $6 for students. You can purchase tickets both ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there enjoying the show!

The Met Opera Live in HD is back 1/24 with Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice

2009-01-20T13:33:00.007-05:00

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD simulcast is back this Saturday 1/24 at 1:00 PM at The State featuring Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. In case you don't know about The State's Met Opera Live in HD shows it goes something like this: Through an effort to spread the love of Opera throughout the United States and the world, The Met Opera in New York City has begun simulcasting their performances to Theaters that are HD (high definition) ready. This all started in December of '06 when their first simulcast went worldwide and has been met with acclaim from every realm including critical as well as popular. On top of just performing the Operas themselves, the audience at The State is exposed to behind-the-scenes features, live interviews with cast and crew, insightful short documentaries, and bird’s-eye views of the productions offer an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera. Another great thing about these simulcast is that you can see these performances for just a fraction of the cost that you would pay at the Met ($22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students, and $15 for children). Even though you might not actually be in New York for the show, we are offering the highest digital quality picture so it does feel like you are actually there without the long car ride.

This weekends Opera is entitled Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck and the story goes like this:

Orpheus is mourning the death of his beloved Euridice. He begs the gods either to restore Euridice to life or to allow him to die as well. At this point Amor appears and announces to the bereaved husband that the gods have been moved by his sorrow and taken pity on him. He shall have their permission to descend into Hades and lead Euridice back from the dead. The gods, however, have made one condition: Orpheus must not look back at Euridice, nor offer an explanation for his behavior either; otherwise she will be lost to him forever[source]

Above you can see a picture from this actual performance of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. Also below you can see Janet Baker perform 'Che Faro' from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice back in 1982 and start to get a taste of what this Opera will be like:
The Met Opera Live in HD featuring Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice is playing this Saturday at 1:00 PM at The State with tickets going for $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $18 for students, and $15 for children. Purchase tickets ONLINE or at The State Theatre Box Office. Hope to see you there!

Spell It Out!

2009-01-20T13:20:00.003-05:00

This Friday at The State we will be welcoming Spell It Out! which is composed of songs and scenes dealing with the themes of relationships and growing up. Did I mention that the show is being entirely put on by State College Area High School Seniors! Through a program at the high school called 'State High ARTsmART' these 12 students get to put on their Senior Showcase at The State. The vignettes will be are tied together by “spelling out”, both literally and figuratively, the complications of sometimes simple words and relationships. Get to The State this Friday 1/23 at 8:00 PM to see some of State High's best perform an interesting and original show for ONE NIGHT ONLY. You can purchase tickets for Spell It Out! ONLINE and also at The State Theatre Box Office. Tickets are going for $5 for adults and $3 for students. Hope to see you there enjoying something fresh and new alongside with the rest of us!

Picking Movies At The State Theatre: Daily Collegian Article

2009-01-20T13:10:00.002-05:00

This past Thursday Mike Negra (executive Director of The State Theatre, seen above) was featured in an article discussing the process of picking films to be shown at The State. It gave insight as to how we chose the movies that we do and also why we chose them as well. The article is very insightful and starting tomorrow our new weekly poll will ask you which films you would like to see come to The State in coming months. Click here to view the article and don't forget to get into the action by taking part in our weekly poll (located in the right hand frame)!

This Weekend At The State

2009-01-16T16:11:00.003-05:00

Friday 1/16:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas at 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM

Saturday 1/17:
Orgasmic Birth at 12:00 PM
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, & 9:30 PM

Sunday 1/18:
The Capitol Steps at 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM

Led Zeppelin Is Reborn Through GET THE LED OUT -Part One-

2009-01-15T18:20:00.005-05:00

Ever wish you could have seen Led Zeppelin in their prime? Lord knows I do. Until the day they decide to do a reunion tour/record/press conference The State has the next best thing, GET THE LED OUT. Get The Led Out is the premiere Led Zeppelin cover band that doesn't only play Zep most perfectly, but they also dress the part. GTLO is from Philadelphia and has been wowing audiences for years. Check below for a video of GTLO performing Stairway to Heaven:

Tickets are on sale now for Get The Led Out's show on January 31st at 8:00 PM ONLINE and also at the State Theatre Box Office. Tickets are $27 for normal seats and $22 for students and seniors. More posts to come the closer we get to the shows.

Starting Friday 1/16: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

2009-01-15T14:18:00.006-05:00

The film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas will start its run at The State tomorrow 1/16 at 7:00 PM. The film, based on the novel of the same nameby Irish novelist John Boyne, tells the story of an eight-year-old German boy named Bruno. Bruno is living a very comfortable existence in Berlin during World War Two. Bruno's father is a very high-ranking Nazi officer and when they are force to move to the father's new post things change drastically for their family. In his innocence, Bruno sees the nearby concentration camp as a ‘farm’ and wonders why its inhabitants are always wearing striped pajamas. Eventually Bruno becomes friends with a Jewish boy his own age that lives on the other side of the fence [imdb].

Roger Ebert of the Chicago-Sun Times hails, "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is not only about Germany during the war, although the story it tells is heartbreaking in more than one way. It is about a value system that survives like a virus [c-st]." The film stars Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis and Vera Farmiga. You can check out the trailer below:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is playing at The State starting tomorrow night 1/16 at 7:00 PM and then again at 9:30 PM. The film will be playing from 1/16-1/22 (with the exception of Sunday 1/18) at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM with additional 4:00 PM shows on 1/17 & 1/21. Tickets are available ONLINE and at The State Theatre Box Office.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo To Bring South Africa To The State

2009-01-15T13:39:00.006-05:00

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group based out of South Africa who have been together in some form for over 40 years. The group’s history goes something like this:

Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo because of a series of dreams he had in 1964, in which he heard certain isicathamiya harmonies, isicathamiya being the traditional music of the Zulu people. Following their local success at wedding ceremonies, Shabalala entered them into isicathamiya competitions. The group were described as 'so good' that they were eventually forbidden to enter the competitions but were welcomed to entertain at them. Although they had been recognized as an isicathamiya group in 1964, they had been singing together since the early 1950s. They released their first album, Amabutho, in 1973. The album, along with many other releases by the group, received gold disc certification. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's collaboration with Paul Simon in 1986 paved the way for international releases, making them widely known across the world [wiki].

Collaborating with Paul Simon helped Ladysmith Black Mambazo rise to a level musically and critically they had never reached before. They won their first Grammy Award in 2005 for the Best Traditional World Music Album for their work on the record Raise Your Spirit Higher (They have been nominated a total of 13 times over their long career). For founder Joseph Shabalala the ideas and sounds of Ladysmith Black Mambazo will continue even after his time in the group ends. He makes this clear in a statement he issued about his retirement:

“When the time comes for me to finish touring and to stay home they will carry on my dream. As well, my son Thamsanqa (Tommy) will become the new leader of the group. Thus, the dream I had over forty-five years ago will continue well into the 21st century. Ladysmith Black Mambazo must continue as the message of Peace, Love and Harmony never must be silenced.” Joseph Shabalala, January 23, 2008

In case that didn’t grab you check out a fews live clips from Ladysmith Black Mamabazo below:

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be performing at The State Theatre on Monday February 9th at 8:00 PM. Tickets are sale now ONLINE and also at The State Theatre Box Office for $32.

The Capital Steps Return To The State This Sunday 1/18

2009-01-14T12:45:00.002-05:00

This Sunday The State Theatre welcomes with back with open arms the Capitol Steps. The Capitol Steps is a group of singing and dancing ex-senate staffers with a thing for the irreverent and satirical. They put on an incredibly entertaining show no matter which side you fall in the realm of the political. Here is some more info on the Capitol Steps:

The Capitol Steps is an American political satire group. They has been performing since 1981, and has released approximately thirty albums consisting primarily of song parodies. The group marked its twenty-fifth anniversary during 2006. Originally consisting exclusively of Congressional staffers performing around Washington, D.C., the troupe now primarily employs professional actors and singers. The Capitol Steps have performed on PBS, public radio and in various small- and medium-sized venues around the United States [wiki].

Not impressed, check out these couple of skits from The Capitol Steps below:

THERE ARE STILL GREAT SEATS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH SHOWS! The Capitol Steps will be at The State this Sunday 1/18 at 4:00 PM & 8 PM and tickets are going for $38. To You can get tickets at Box Office or you can purchase tickets online by clicking here. Hope to see you there laughing with us!

Last Two Nights for Choke

2009-01-14T12:24:00.001-05:00

There are only TWO more nights to catch Choke, the adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk' s best seller staring Sam Rockwell. In case you don't know the story goes like this:

Victor Mancini is a medical-school dropout who has devised an ingenious scam to pay elder care for his Alzheimer's-afflicted mother: he pretends to choke on pieces of food while dining in upscale restaurants. He then allows himself to be "saved" by fellow patrons who, feeling responsible for Victor's life, go on to send checks to support him. When he's not pulling this stunt, Victor cruises sexual addiction recovery workshops for action, visits his addled mom, and spends his days working at a colonial theme park [imdb].

Stephen Holden from the New York Times praises Choke saying, "An entertaining collection of vignettes strung together by a sarcastic loudmouth whose heart is breaking under his sophomoric bravado [nyt]." If you enjoy black comedys or have read any previous works by Palahniuk (Fight Club, Rant) you will enjoy this film. Check out the trailer for Choke below.

Choke tonight 1/14 at 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM as well as tomorrow 1/15 at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM.