It’s preview time! Get a jump on what’s happening this coming festival season when you join the 20 participating companies for their preview kickoff announcing new events and upcoming festival activities. There are samplings of performances, readings, and workshops for all ages!

Feature Performances and Events:

Friday, April 5 6pm Kick-off Reception

Saturday, April 6

Tempest Productions StoryBook Theatre (ages 4-10)

9:30am So You Wanna Be a Pirate ($6.50)

11am So You Wanna Be a Pirate ($6.50)

3pm Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing ($14.50)

8pm Lady Grey hosts Fast and Loose-A Community Cabaret ($20.50)

Sunday, April 7

7:30pm Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing ($14.50)

FREE Readings, Workshops, Discussions, and More!

Friday April 5
1:30pm A Room of One’s Own with Elaine Meder-Wilgus

3pm 27 rue de Fleurus with Stephanie Gates, Alison Jaenicke, Rachael Lyon, Lisa Mangini, Mary Rohrer-Dann, and Camille Yvette Welsch

4:30pm Next Stage Theatre Company presents Time Flies with Caitlin Osborne and John Austin

7:30pm Playwriting Festival Short Readings (come for any or all!)
Biscuits & Bacon by Sharece M. Sellem, Fluent by Chuck Smith
The Naughty List by Trevor Suthers, Theories by Jenell Abram, Therapy Dog by Les Abromovitz

Saturday, April 6
1:30pm Sneak Peak: A Student Dance Sharing with Central PA Dance Workshop and Centre Dance

6:00pm Uncovering Choreography – Discussions and Demonstrations
with Dance Makers hosted by Allied Motion Dance Company

Sunday, April 7

1:30-4:30pm Playwriting Festival Readings
1:30pm Drive by Robert Weinstein
2:30pm Factory Treasure by Amy Oestreicher.
3:30pm All in the Numbers by Evan W. Saunder

6pm Dance & Theatre Sampler with VanDance Inc. and others.

Our 20 Legacy Companies are meeting and planning to create programming for our 2nd Annual Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest. So make sure to save the dates, June 21-23, 2019! And the months of Feb-June are hopping with classes, workshops, performances and more. So as we count the days to spring and the summer festival season, don’t forget to check out our Festival Inaugural Members and try to catch a performance!

• Allied Motion
• Black Cat Belly Dance
• Boundless Bodies Contemporary Ballet
• The Central PA Dance Workshop
• Centre Dance
• FUSE Productions
• Happy Valley Improv
• Lady Grey’s Lovelies
• Loaves & Fish Theater
• MindBodyArtDance
• Dmitry Myers
• The Next Stage Theatre Inc
• Nittany Ballet
• Singing Onstage
• State College Community Theatre
• State High Thespians
• Adam Swartz Puppets
• Tempest Productions
• TrioArts Project
• VanDance Inc.

We’re finalizing our reports for the 2018 Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest and moving into the pre-planning stage for 2019! We’ll be holding some open houses and town hall meetings and want to see many artists and companies from Central PA join us as we begin planning! So please, make sure you’re on our mailing list, make sure to follow our Facebook Page, and reach out to your friends and colleagues! Our first set of meetings is slated for mid-August. Hope to see you then.

12 Days to go! Have you purchased your BackStage Pass and ordered your tickets yet? And while you’re waiting for the Fest to begin, make sure to catch founding member Happy Valley Improv’s Community Jam!

Happy Valley Improv
June 11th: Community Jam!
Attic of the State Theatre, 8 p.m.
https://www.happyvalleyimprov.com
http://thestatetheatre.org/happy-valley-improv-community-j…/

Shout out to the winners of the 2018 Playwriting Competition for the Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest!

Short Shorts

• Biscuits & Bacon by Sharece M. Sellem
• Fluent by Chuck Smith
• The Naughty List by Trevor Suthers?
• Theories by Jenell Abram
• Therapy Dog by Les Abromovitz

One-Acts

• All in the Numbers by Evan W. Saunders
• Drive by Robert Weinstein
• Factory Treasure by Amy Oestreicher.

Catch the readings of these new plays Friday-Sunday, June 22-24, during the Central PA Theatre Fest. Schedule for readings to be announced shortly – so check back!
 

June 7th, 8th, and 9th: Spring Recital
The State Theatre, 6 p.m.
https://www.centredance2121.org

We’ve got openings and premiere shows happening this weekend – make sure to check them out!

Saturday, May 19

MindBodyArt School of Dance Grand Opening
Free Dance Workshops
9 am – 12pm, 1pm – 4pm, 5pm – 8pm
https://www.mindbodyartdance.com

Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania presents:
Coppélia at The State Theatre
3 pm & 7:30 pm
http://thestatetheatre.org/pascp-presents-coppelia/

And it’s up and running – over 105 events planned for the 3-day festival. Ticket sales begin this coming weekend. We have 3 types of events – Ticketed (you purchase a ticket for each event), Backstage Pass (you purchase one backstage pass for $35 AND GET into any event marked BSP!), and Free events in MLK Plaza and Friedman Park!

Check out the schedule page for a preview of what’s to come in June!

Many many thanks to all of our volunteers and sponsors for helping make our April 3rd Pre-Launch a success! Special Thanks to:

Mayor Donald M. Hahn

County Commissioner Mark Higgins

Lori Miller, Director of Visitor and Member Services, CPCVB

Pam Salokangas, Director Centre Region Parks & Recreation

and Karen Gregg (Executive Director, The State Theatre) and the staff of The State Theatre for hosting our pre-launch event!

Make sure to check out our event Picture Portfolio! Again, many thanks and looking forward to seeing everyone in June!