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.
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