Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
It’s a great weekend around the area for theater, with ‘Beautiful — The Carole King Musical,’ ‘Hands on a Hardbody,’ and productions by FUSE and State College Community Theatre all having performances this weekend.
You can also spend some time getting caught up on this year’s Oscar-nominated short films with three days of screenings at the State Theatre.
There’s also concerts, comedy, dancing, art and more happening across the region. We’ve compiled some of the highlights below.
This isn’t all that’s happening, either. There is plenty more around the area for you to enjoy and you can find it all on our calendar page. Explore the weekend’s events and add your own if it isn’t listed. Or see our Bar Tour and Movies pages for more options this weekend or anytime.
FRIDAY
Black History Month Musical Celebration
Celebrate Black History Month in music with two concerts presented by Essence 2, the alumni singers of Penn State’s Essence of Joy. Individuals and ensembles will perform a variety of selections. Performances are 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2221 N. Oak Ln., and 4 p.m. Saturday at State College Presbyterian Church, 132 W. Beaver Ave.
Oscar-Nominated Short Films
The first of three days of screenings of Oscar-nominated short films at the State Theatre features animated shorts at 7 p.m. Suitable for ages 8 and older.
Wise Crackers Comedy Club
Wise Crackers’ comedy season continues at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Basement Night Spot, 112 W. College Ave. This week features Tyler Rothrock, headliner Jimmy Carroll and MC Patrick George. Tickets are $20.
Hands on a Harbody
Penn State Centre Stage presents the musical ‘Hands on a Harbody,’ at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Playhouse Theatre. With book by Doug Wright and music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, the show follows 10 gritty Texans who, under a scorching sun for days on end, fight to keep at least one hand on a brand new truck in order to win it. John Simpkins, head of Penn State’s musical theater program, directs. Performances continue Tuesday through Thursday. [Tickets]
Beautiful — The Carole King Musical
There are still four chances to catch ‘Beautiful — The Carole King Musical‘ at Eisenhower Auditorium. The acclaimed show tells the inspiring story of King’s rise to musical stardom, from chart-topping success as a hit-making songwriter with Gerry Goffin to her wildly popular solo career. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. [Tickets]
Sunday in the Park with George
FUSE Productions presents the Sondheim/Lapine musical ‘Sunday in the Park with George,’ at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Schwab Auditorium. An imaginative and moving take on the life of 19th artist Georges Seurat, the show looks at the challenge of creating art while maintaining a relationship and how art transcends the present and lives on to inspire many generations. [Tickets]
Out Loud
Richard Kopley, distinguished Edgar Allen Poe scholar and author reads a tale by Poe and one of his own stories, for the Out Loud series at 7:30 p.m. at the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, 133 N. Allegheny St.
Urban Fusion
Blending jazz, funk, soul, blues and Latin with original compositions and songs by a diverse array of artists, Urban Fusion takes the stage at 8 p.m. for the State Theatre’s Jazz in the Attic series.
Penn State Hockey
Penn State men’s hockey’s final regular season home series of 2018-19 gets under way against Wisconsin at 6:30 p.m. in Pegula Ice Arena.
SATURDAY
Edible Engineering
Celebrate National Engineering Week with a fun and tasty design challenge from 10 a.m. to noon at Discovery Space. Adults and children ages 5 and up will work together to select a challenge and use the materials provided (graham crackers and frosting) to design a solution. This drop-in program is free with membership or paid admission.
Winter Bird Walk
Meet some of the feathered friends that call Millbrook Marsh Nature Center their home during the winter months. The walk, starting at 2 p.m., will be held at a moderate pace and focus on bird survival techniques. Open to all ages with any level of experience. Some basic binoculars are available for participants to use. Dress to be outside for the duration of the program.
Penns Valley Chili Cook-Off
From 4 to 6:30 p.m. at New Hope Lutheran Church, 119 Cobblestone Court, Spring Mills, taste all the chili and vote for your favorite for $5 at the door.
Winter Thaw Contra Dance & Dessert Auction
Shake off your winter slump starting at 5 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave. A spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. will be followed by a beginner contra dance at 6:15 p.m. and dessert auction at 8 p.m. BYOB. Tickets are $15 in advance by contacting youth@standrewsc.org or stopping by the church office; $20 at the door. Proceeds benefit the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Youth Pilgrimage Fund. Open to ages fourth grade and up.
Almost, Maine
State College Community Theatre presents ‘Almost, Maine’ at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Foxdale Village Auditorium, 500 E. Marylyn Ave. The play by John Cariani tells nine stories of love and loss, set in the mythical Almost, Maine. [Tickets]
Oscar-Nominated Short Films
The second of three days of screenings of Oscar-nominated short films at the State Theatre features live action shorts at 7 p.m. Patrons must be 18 or older.
Screaming Ducks 35th Anniversary
Legendary local band the Screaming Ducks celebrate their 35th anniversary with a 9 p.m. show at the Arena Bar & Grill, 1521 Martin Street. $10 cover.
Penn State Sports
Men’s tennis vs. Buffalo, 1 p.m.; men’s gymnastics vs. Navy & Air Force, 4 p.m.; men’s hockey vs. Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY
Book Signing
Local author, success coach and Penn State hockey great Joe Battista will be signing and discussing his new book, “The Power of Pragmatic Passion,” from 1 to 3 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 365 Benner Pike.
Rural Pennsylvania in Art
Join the Centre County Historical Society at Centre Furnace Mansion, 1001 E. College Ave., for the opening reception of the exhibition ‘Rural Pennsylvania in Art,’ at 2 p.m. The exhibition features the work of The Farmland Preservation Artists of Central Pennsylvania, a group of artists dedicated to promoting the appreciation and preservation of our area’s farmland through the visual arts.
African-American Music Concert
Essence of Joy choral ensemble performs its African-American Music Festival Concert at 3 p.m. in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at University Park.
Oscar-Nominated Short Films
The final day of screenings of Oscar-nominated short films at the State Theatre features documentary shorts at 3 p.m. Patrons must be 18 or older.
Nittany Valley Symphony
Nittany Valley Symphony’s family concert ‘Mr. Smith’s Composition,’ features a piece for narrator and orchestra, the winner of the annual young soloist competition, and works from Chopin, Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov and Strauss. 4 p.m. at Bellefonte Area High School Theatre.
