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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A 3-WEEK WINTER FESTIVAL REIGNS @ THE STATE THEATRE

Hub city carnivaleA Festival for Families and Kids Ages 1 to 100

WHEN: February 2 - February 25, 2011
WHERE:
State Theatre, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
TICKETS: This year, the theater continues its mission to bring the best artists and entertainers to central New Jersey at an affordable price by offering a “MakeNoise” promotion of either $23 or $13 per ticket for every Hub City Carnivale main attraction. (scroll down for ordering details)
Ticket Office: 732.246.SHOW (7469)

500 clown macbethNew Brunswick’s State Theatre is proud to present the 5th annual Hub City Carnivale, a three-week winter festival, with performances ranging from the Off Broadway sensation STOMP to a glow-in-the dark puppetry performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to a romantic Valentine’s weekend concert and U.S. premiere tour of the Philharmonic of Poland. Also featured this month are various workshops; social events such as Thomas Sweets’ pre-show chocolate tastings, and much more—suited for audiences of all ages.

For a complete listing of events and prices, visit www.StateTheatreNJ.org.

STREB: braveThe official Hub City Carnivale kicks off with Brooklyn’s extreme dance group STREB and their new show, BRAVE (2/4/11). STREB’s performances combine dance, gymnastics, circus skills, and stunt-work with high-tech, cutting-edge set design. In their new show BRAVE, STREB joins forces with adventurous artists from other disciplines, including composer David Van Tiegham, the MIT Media Lab and the trapeze virtuosos, Noe and Ivan EspaƱa. Prior to the performance will be the Hub City Carnivale opening festivities, from 7-8 PM in the State Theatre lobby. The pre-show celebration will include live musical performances and free popcorn for the first 50 people in attendance.

Also in the first week of February, Chicago’s 500 Clown—a troupe of three actors that use physical comedy, improvisation, and audience participation to tell their stories—open up the month with five performances of their wild, unpredictable, and hilarious deconstruction of Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth (2/2-5/11).

Watch 500 Clown Macbeth here!

Other festival shows include:

  • Three performances of the explosive international percussion sensation STOMP (2/11-12/11)
  • A U.S. premiere tour performance by the Philharmonic of Poland (2/13/11) in a program of Strauss, Liszt and Chopin
  • The Philadelphia Dance Company, Philadanco (2/17/11) with a Philadancoprogram that includes Bolero Too and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s By Way of the Funk (music by Parliament-Funkadelic).

    Additionally, on the night of the Philandanco performance, college students majoring in science or technology will take part in the FREE Scientists Exploring the Arts event. The program offers young scientists an opportunity to learn about the arts and to meet personnel from National Starch, a world leader in creating unique ingredients for the food and paper making industries. For more information on the program or to register call 732.246.7469, ext. 545. (Eligibility requirements apply.)
  • Six-time Grammy® Award-winners, The Chieftains (2/18/11)
  • A John Lennon 70th Birthday Celebration with Glen Burtnik & Friends (2/19/11)
  • The exhilarating, percussion and marching band theatrical presentation, DrumLine Live (2/20/11) featuring performers from Florida A&M, Southern University, the University of Georgia, and more
  • Presidents Day (2/21/11) is Family Day at the State Theatre. The very hungry caterpillarFamilies can spend the school-day holiday enjoying dozens of performances, workshops, and hands-on activities—many of them free—plus costumed characters, the Philadelphia Zoo’s Zoo on Wheels, face painting, balloon animals, a live deejay, food and more. The festival, which runs from 10 AM to 4 PM, encompasses multiple venues: the State Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Crossroads Theatre, United Methodist Church and the popular Herr’s Hub City Big Top, an enormous tent set up in front of the State Theatre.

    The mainstage event for Family Day is The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites (2/21/11), a delightful black-light puppetry performance by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia.Circa
  • A special performance by Australia’s dance-circus group, Circa (2/25/11). From daring free-falls and acrobatic stunts to graceful aerial work and brilliantly-integrated sound and lighting design, Circa’s highflying “circus re-imagined” is simply breathtaking as they barrel, bolt and balance at breakneck speeds. Closing festivities to be announced.

The Hub City Carnivale also features a number of school-day performances, all at 10:30 AM: STREB (2/4), 500 Clown Macbeth (2/4), Philadanco (2/17), Drumline Live (2/22), and Circa (2/24). For information and ordering, call the State Theatre Education Department at 732.246.7469, ext. 545.

Four Ways to Buy discounted MakeNoise Tickets at $23 or $13 per ticket.
1. Buy online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org/login. First, log in (or create a new account) with your user name, password, and promo code “MakeNoise.” Then, proceed to your desired events and purchase tickets. You must be logged in with the promo code prior to ordering tickets.
2. Call 732.246.SHOW (7469) and mention promo code “MakeNoise”
3. Visit the Ticket Office at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 and mention promo code “MakeNoise.”
4. For groups of 12 or more, call 732.247.7200 ext., 517 or e-mail groups@StateTheatreNJ.org and mention promo code “MakeNoise.”

“MakeNoise” $23 and $13 tickets are available for listed shows for select sections. Limited seating is available first-come first-served. Discounts are not retroactive, and additional fees may apply.

Festival partners and event sponsors include American Repertory Ballet, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Gannett Foundation, The Garback Agency, George Street Playhouse, Herr’s, Magyar Bank, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Miller’s Rentals, New England Foundation for the Arts, Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, the Philadelphia Zoo, PSE&G Foundation, MomsLikeMe.com, Roberts Florals, and Rutgers