New Brunswick Life

New Brunswick, New Jersey -

State Theatre presents the 2^nd Annual

HUB CITY CARNIVALE

A Festival of the Imagination at Play

February 1-24, 2008
Sponsored by
PSE&G
Box Office: 732-246-SHOW

New Brunswick, NJ (January 11, 2008)—New Brunswick’s State Theatre is proud to present the 2^nd annual Hub City Carnivale. A three-week winter festival of the imagination at play, February 1 – 24, the Carnivale is sponsored by PSE&G, with performances, workshops, parties, games, and more, for families and kids ages 1 to 100. PSE&G is joined by additional festival sponsors, MATRIX, Central Jersey Moms.com, and Magic 98.3. Other partners and event sponsors include American Repertory Ballet, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, George Street Playhouse, and Rutgers Student Affairs.

State Theatre President & CEO Wes Brustad adds, “February is getting to be the most fun time of the year for us at the State Theatre. It’s a great time to let your imagination loose and come to play with us. We are so pleased that we have a partner in this festival, PSE&G, who shares our commitment to the community. Come out and join us for The Carnivale!”

Starting the festivities on February 1st is a 7:30pm Kick-off (free), featuring live music and other entertainment. Following the opening ceremonies is an 8pm performance of family-friendly comedian Sinbad.

Hub City Carnivale highlights include performances by Bill Cosby (2/24); the biggest Mardi Gras Party in New Brunswick featuring Buckwheat Zydeco (“one of the best party bands in America” —NY Times) with opener Kevin Dorn’s Traditional Jazz Collective (2/2); the family show, Trinity Irish Dance Company (2/8); a one-week residency and two performances by the innovative California dance group, Diavolo (2/15 & 2/16); The State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico (2/23); a semi-staged performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto by Opera New Jersey (2/10); and the return of the amateur talent show, Showtime at the Apollo on Tour (2/9).

Once again during the Hub City Carnivale, President’s Day (2/18) is Family Day at the State Theatre, with a nonstop schedule of both free and paid activities at the State Theatre, George Street Playhouse, and Crossroads Theatre from 10am to 3pm. Family Day is geared to children ages 4-10 and their families. The featured event is the glow-in-the-dark performances of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites at the State Theatre at 11:30am and 1:30pm. Crossroads Theatre hosts four FREE shows. At 10am and 2:30pm American Repertory Ballet performs Dance Alive –Ballet Rocks!, a lively introduction to the world of dance. At 11:30am and 12:30pm, singer/guitarist Big Jeff leads a family sing-a-long with fun, interactive songs that both entertain and educate. A variety of hands-on workshops take place throughout the day including three sessions at Crossroads Theatre led by American Repertory Ballet (ARB)—Dancing with Eric Carle (10:30am), and Hand-in Hand (12pm & 1:30pm); and three workshops led by George Street Playhouse (GSP) at their own venue—Playing with Eric Carle (10am), Making Character Masks (11:30am), and a Theater Improvisation workshop (2pm). To sign up for the workshops, call 732-247-7200, ext. 545. Adding to the festival atmosphere is a new venue—the Hub City Big Top—set up on Livingston Avenue in front of the State Theatre. Under the Big Top families can enjoy food, FREE face painting and balloon animals, live characters from popular children’s shows, Radio Disney’s DJ Mickey, games, and more.

In conjunction with the Buckwheat Zydeco performance, the State Theatre presents a Mardi Gras Party on February 2. The evening kicks off at 5pm with a Pre-Concert Party at the Crossroads Theatre with unlimited food and drink; live music by local band The Roadside Graves, hailed by rock critic Tris McCall as “the best independent rock band in New Jersey”; free beads and masks; and a live auction. The party continues with an After Party Celebration on the State Theatre stage after the Buckwheat Zydeco performance. The After Party includes unlimited bar, live music, and dessert. Tickets for Pre-Concert Party are $85, and tickets for the Pre-Concert Party, concert, and After Party On Stage at the State Theatre are $125. Call 732-247-7200, ext. 543 for details. All proceeds from this event will benefit the State Theatre’s Kids Meet the Arts Program.

PSE&G is New Jersey’s oldest and largest electric and gas utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state’s population, including the state’s six largest cities. Named America’s most reliable electric utility for the second year in a row, PSE&G has a reputation for providing safe, reliable service to the people and businesses that power New Jersey.

FEBRUARY LINE-UP FOR HUB CITY CARNIVALE, FEBRUARY 1 - 24

FRI 1

7:30pm Kickoff Event with live music FREE (with a ticket to Sinbad)

8pm Sinbad $30-60

SAT 2

5pm Mardi Gras Party $85 CROSSROADS

Enjoy unlimited food and drink

8pm Buckwheat Zydeco $30-55

Drink specials, free beads, amazing music

Immediately following the performance

After Party Celebration On Stage $125 (include Pre-Party)

WED 6

10am & 12pm A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD (performance for schools—sold out)

THU 7

8pm AEROS $30-50

Romanian dancer-gymnasts

FRI 8

6:30pm Happy Hour FREE (with a ticket to Trinity)

8pm Trinity Irish Dance Company $25-55

SAT 9

8pm Showtime at the Apollo on Tour $20-45

SUN 10

2pm Italian wine tasting

3pm Rigoletto – OperaNJ $35-90

Includes live orchestra, chorus, and international opera stars Richard Zeller, John Osborn, and Eglise Gutiérrez of the MET Opera, New York City Opera, and Seattle Opera.

TBA Post-Rigoletto Artist Reception $25 (must attend the opera)

MON 11

10am & 11:30am DIAVOLO Workshops (not open to the public)

2:15pm DIAVOLO Lecture (not open to the public)

TUE 12

10am DIAVOLO Workshop (not open to the public)

1pm DIAVOLO Open Rehearsal FREE

4pm DIAVOLO Workshop for Teachers (registration required)

WED 13

10:30am DIAVOLO $9 (performance for schools)

1:30pm DIAVOLO Open Rehearsal FREE

4pm DIAVOLO Workshop (not open to the public)

THU 14

9:30am, 10:45am, & 1pm DIAVOLO Workshops (not open to the public)

FRI 15

11am & 1pm DIAVOLO Workshops (not open to the public)

7pm Diavolo Pre-Performance Insights FREE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

8pm Diavolo $20-55

SAT 16
3pm DIAVOLO Symposium FREE

8pm Diavolo $20-55

MON 18

Presidents Day is Family Day—Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of kid-friendly entertainment, food, balloon making, face painting, special guest Radio Disney’s DJ Mickey and…

10am Dance Alive–Ballet Rocks! ARB FREE CROSSROADS

10am Playing with Eric Carle Workshop GSP $5* GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE

10:30am Dancing with Eric Carle Workshop ARB $5* CROSSROADS

11am & 1:30pm The Very Hungry Caterpillar $10-20

11:30am Sing-A-long with Big Jeff FREE CROSSROADS

11:30am Making Character Masks Workshop GSP $5* GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE

12pm Hand-in-Hand Workshop ARB $5* CROSSROADS

12:30pm Sing-A-long with Big Jeff FREE CROSSROADS

1:30pm Hand-in-Hand Workshop ARB $5* CROSSROADS

2pm Theater Improv Workshop GSP $5* GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE

2:30pm Dance Alive–Ballet Rocks! ARB FREE CROSSROADS

*ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR FAMILY DAY WORKSHOPS. $5 WORKSHOP FEE IS PAYABLE AT THE DOOR. TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOPS, CALL 732-247-7200, EXT. 545.

TUE 19

10am & 12pm THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR (performance for schools—sold out)

SAT 23

6pm Scientists Exploring the Arts (not open to the public)

7pm The State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico

Pre-Performance Insights FREE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

7pm Spanish wine tasting

7:30pm Pre-orchestra ceremony FREE (with a ticket to the orchestra)

8pm The State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico $45-75

Enrique Bátiz, music director—Featuring Revueltas’ “Sensemaya”

The Snake Killing Ritual and other exciting repertoire

10pm Closing event balloon drop FREE (with a ticket to the orchestra)

SUN 24

3pm & 7pm Bill Cosby $25-60

HAPPENINGS ARE AT THE STATE THEATRE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

All discounts cannot be combined and restrictions/fees may apply.

Other partners and event sponsors include American Repertory Ballet, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, George Street Playhouse, and Rutgers Student Affairs.

For tickets (or a brochure), call the State Theatre box office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org. The State Theatre box office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm and at least one hour prior to curtain on performance dates. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 536.

The State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Continental Airlines is the official airline of the State Theatre. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. The State Theatre’s restoration was made possible with the generous financial assistance from Middlesex County and the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the administrative support of the New Brunswick Cultural Center and New Brunswick Development Corporation.

STATE THEATRE

15 Livingston Ave

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Box Office - 732-246-SHOW (7469)

Online - www.StateTheatreNJ.org

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS FURNISHED UPON REQUEST

Please contact Kelly Skinner at

732-247-7200, ext. 542 or by email at kskinner@StateTheatreNJ.org.

For up-to-the-minute information on events and State Theatre news,

visit the State Theatre online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org.

Please forward all media inquiries to:
Kelly Skinner, Director of Public Relations
kskinner@StateTheatreNJ.org
732-247-7200, ext. 542

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