The State Theatre Hosts 2 Classic Ways to Get in the Holiday Spirit

Christmas is just a few days away and this weekend the State Theatre will play host to a pair of holiday traditions.

Ted Christopher, artistic director of Penn State Opera Theatre, will present a reading of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic ‘A Christmas Carol,’ at 7 p.m. on Friday. Celebrating its 175th year, the book has become a holiday tradition over the years since Dickens himself adapted it for public performances in front of sold-out audiences.

See Christopher tell the story of the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge’s last chance at redemption on a memorable Christmas Eve in a performance fit for the whole family. General admission tickets are $5.

On Friday and Saturday, the theater will offer multiple screenings of the original ‘It’s A Wonderful Life,’ from 1946.

Directed by Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, who, on the verge of ending his own life on Christmas Eve, is shown by his guardian angel, Clarence, all the lives he has made better and what would have happened if he never lived.

Showings are at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $7.

It’s also the last week for the annual Bill Welch Memorial Cartoon Series. Enjoy an hour of your favorite Looney Tunes classics for free at 10 a.m. on Saturday.