State Theater Entertainment

There is always something to do in state college.  Check out below to find out all the entertainment that is coming to the State Theater, including Kenny Loggins.  Check out this great theater that is so close to everything you love about stage college.

Kenny Loggins and his band Blue Sky Riders - October 1
On October 1 Kenny Loggins will rock The State Theatre with his familiar favorites and new music with his band Blue Sky Riders, also featuring Gary Burr, one of Nashville’s most accomplished writers, and Georgia Middleman, who brings female vocals to a three-part blend that Loggins says comes “once in a lifetime.” Whether you’re a fan of Loggins & Messina or Loggins’ solo music, you can’t miss this show!

September 26 & 27 are the last showings of the critically acclaimed film Sleepwalk with Me, named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the “Must See Films” from 2012 Sundance. Sleepwalk with Me is comedy written by, directed by and starring comedian Mike Birbiglia, based on a true story he told in his one-man off-Broadway show and his first book. The film follows the journey of an aspiring comedian in denial about his girlfriend, played by Lauren Ambrose, his career, and, most significantly, his sleepwalking disorder. The more he fails to express his true feelings, the more his anxiety comes out in increasingly funny and dangerous sleepwalking incidents.

Plus, don’t miss these great events, and much more! 

• Ben Taylor, folk singer/songwriter, and son of James Taylor and Carly Simon, on October 4
• Manhattan Short, the world’s first global film fest, on October 7
• Jodi Benson, the Voice of the Little Mermaid, joined by local young singers, TWO shows on October 14
• Proof, a Murder Mystery presented by the State College Community Theatre, October 11-21 in The Attic
• Tinariwen, poet-guitarists from the Southern Sahara Desert on October 23
• G. Love & Special Sauce on November 7
• ImaginOcean, a one-of-a-kind black light puppet show for kids on November 9 

For more information see Happy Valley.

Happy Valley Iphone App

 Penn State is a huge University, and it is hard to to know what is going on at all times.  However, now thanks to the Happy Valley Iphone App you can know what is going on at the touch of your finger.  Anything you want to know from food to entertainment is all contained in one location with this app.  Download it now for your phone for free!

The best of Happy Valley is now readily accessible from anywhere with this sophisticated new free mobile application now available for Android and iPhone devices.

Shopping, dining, Penn State Football, whatever you desire in Happy Valley, this app is here to make your life easier.

The app features terrific dining and shopping specials from local establishments as well as a list of top places to eat, shop and so much more in the State College area.

The app is super easy to use and navigate. Each venue has an address listed along with its phone number. If you have a question about the store, simply press the phone number to call the store! After all, you are using a phone right?

The home page is divided into six categories that make it simple to find what you’re looking for. Food & Drink, Shopping, Entertainment, Health & Beauty, Kids Stuff and Lodging. One click on any of those menu items and you will be directed to the set of listings. 

Interested in local news in the Centre County region? The app has that as well. So if you’re an alum or former resident now living thousands of miles away and looking to get a quick look at what’s going on back home, Centre County local news and sports will have you covered.

This app is a must-have if you are traveling to Happy Valley. It’s the perfect guide to help you find what you are looking for and make your stay in town as easy as possible. For locals, it's a good way to check out some deals you may not have seen before.                                                

Consider it a Happy Valley Yellow Pages right in your pocket as it's a great way to find businesses as well as savings.

For more information see Happy Valley.

Penn State Performing Arts Events

The arts scene at Penn State is growing, with more opportunities to perform it is becoming a hot spot for theater and music.  Learn more about Penn State's booming arts scene below.

Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture produces some of the best student musicians, actors and artists from around the country. The school is able to nurture and produce some of the performers in the school of music, theatre and visual arts that capture and produce some of the most difficult productions. Faculty and students often use several venues from around the State College area including the Center for the Performing Arts, Music at Penn’s Woods, Penn State Centre Stage, Schwab Auditorium and Eisenhower Auditorium.

Of course, State College maintains a vibrant artistic community by maintaining several theaters throughout the area. These venues are very diverse and well‑organized and known for bringing some of the best acts to the area. Such venues include: The State Theatre or The Boal Barn.

The Center for the Performing Arts provides a context, through artistic connections, to the human experience. The Center for the Performing Arts provides two venues, Schwab Auditorium and Eisenhower Auditorium, to display creative and enriching arts that are both pleasing to the eye and very entertaining. The 2012‑2013 schedule is both impressive and has a wide variety of acts. From the complete Beethoven string quartets, to a duo that ranges between Stravinsky and Radiohead with seamless skill, to a performance of Mozart’s masterpiece The Magic Flute, the season brings unprecedented attention and commitment to classical music in central Pennsylvania. These performances will be shared between Schwab Auditorium and Eisenhower Auditorium, both located on Penn State campus.

Schwab Auditorium houses a proscenium stage and a Preservation Hall Jazz Band play The Center for the Performing Arts on September 28. Plays and Performances around State College 900‑seat, Renaissance‑style seating area. Today, Schwab’s performance space is used for the chamber music, student performances to speeches by noteworthy visitors. Upcoming performances include the Kalichstein‑Laredo‑Robinson Trio whose first performance as a trio was at President Carter’s inauguration on October 3. Actors From the London Stage will perform Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice where actors will use minimal props and costumes to perform this noteworthy comedy on October 10 and 11. And also, a variety of string musicians including world famous violinists, guitarists, cellists, pianists and saxophonists.

Eisenhower Auditorium is larger, has a seating capacity of 2,500 and is Penn State’s primary theatrical performance space. Opened in 1974 and later named for former University President Milton S. Eisenhower, the modern‑style auditorium hosts almost 200 events each year. Most of the events presented by the Center for the Performing Arts occur on the Eisenhower stage. This year’s 2012‑2013 schedule begins with a performance by Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band American Legacies where the high lonesome sound of bluegrass will meet the hot and lively jazz of New Orleans. On October 30, the Pilobolus Dance Theatre will stretch the limits of the human body and balance. The Pilobolus Dance Theatre will be creative and witty during their performance piece. On November 1, the Banjo Summit 2 give an encore presentation and display the “old‑time clawhammer style.” Eisenhower will also feature such performing arts such as The Great Mountain, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, The Addams Family and many more.

Penn State Centre Stage is expression, art and it will test the limits of imagination and structure. Penn State Centre Stage is completely produced by students and faculty. Whether in the studio or on‑stage Penn State’s School of Theatre is almost performing year‑round, tackling difficult productions it is impressive the professionalism of these young performers. Upcoming performances this fall will include “From up here,” “Sweeney Todd” set to perform in October at the Pavilion Theatre on‑campus, “In the Red and Brown Water” set to play for two weeks in November at the Playhouse Theatre and also Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, which would make for the perfect Valentine’s Day date this coming year at the Pavilion Theatre.

There are also several theatres in downtown State College and surrounding areas that rely on professional, traveling performers or they rely on the community’s hard work and dedication to perform. The State Theatre literally has something for everyone: from high drama to children’s musicals to rock n’ roll to featured indie movies. The State Theatre is the place to see community based traveling acts and they will feature many local and regional artists. In the 2012‑2013 season many notable acts plan to perform at the State Theatre including Arlo Guthrie, folk music singer/songwriter Ben Taylor and Brio Dance Company’s fall concert that will benefit THON.

The State College Community Theatre are not professional actors or singers but they are teachers, students and community members that have a love and a knack for the performing arts. With a zip in their step and a twinkle in their eye, the Community Theatre performs all of their plays at the Boalsburg Boal Barn Playhouse along Old Boalsburg Road. Considered a “Theater in the round” the Boal Barn Playhouse has all around seating with the stage in the middle of the room! Upcoming performances include The Man Who Came To Dinner, James and the Giant Peach and David Auburn’s “Proof.”

For more information see Happy Valley.