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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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

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

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!

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

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

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-

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

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

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

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

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.