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

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

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

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!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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!