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The State Theatre in New Brunswick announces the addition of 49 performances for 2010-2011, featuring a variety of dance, pop, Broadway, classical, family shows, holiday favorites, and more.

2010-2011 performance highlights include Legendary Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band (7/5/10); the Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Septet (9/24/10 at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.); the final farewell tour of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (10/1/10); Magic/comic duo Penn & Teller (11/4/10); the BBC Concert Orchestra (11/7/10); All Shook Up (1/15/11), a musical featuring the music of Elvis Presley; the return of the Broadway sensation, STOMP (2/11-2/12/11); a family performance of Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead (5/15/11); and the return of guitarist BENISE with his new music and dance extravaganza, The Spanish Guitar (11/13/10).

CLASSICAL

This year's classical series includes the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart (11/7/10); the Budapest Festival Orchestra with Conductor Iván Fischer in a program of Haydn and Stravinsky (1/27/11); and the National Philharmonic of Poland with Music Director and Conductor Boguslaw Dawidow in a program of Strauss, Liszt, and Chopin (2/13/11).

The classical series also includes a pop performance of A Salute to John Williams with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Gerald Steichen (4/17/11).

DANCE

Kicking off the State Theatre dance series this year is the "Legacy Tour" of Merce Cunningham Dance Company (10/1/10)-presented by Mason Gross School of the Arts and State Theatre-featuring Nearly 902, a restaged version of Cunningham's final work. Also this year, the innovative dance group, Pilobolus (10/28/10); Philadanco (2/17/11), African American-based dance with ballet, jazz, and modern; Circa (2/25/11), a group that combines dance and circus skills; and the Russian National Ballet Theatre in Romeo and Juliet (4/1/11).

Other dance performances include: The Magnificent MAZOWSZE! A Special Warsaw Christmas (12/12/10), featuring festive Polish carols and dances; the return of dance/extreme action performers STREB (2/4/11); and the seductive and captivating Tango Buenos Aires (3/11/11).

STAGE

The national tour of the musical All Shook Up (1/15/11), featuring the music of Elvis Presley, makes a stop in New Brunswick in 2011. All Shook Up features more than 24 Elvis hits, including "Jailhouse Rock," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "Burning Love," and many more. Also in 2011, the international percussion sensation

STOMP (2/11-2/12/11). The eight-member troupe uses everything from matchboxes, wooden poles, and brooms to garbage cans, Zippo lighters, and hubcaps to create their unique sounds.

Other stage performances include the theatrical stage production of DrumLine Live (2/20/11), back by popular demand; and the return of Chicago-based group 500 Clown-a company of three-in their show, 500 Clown MacBeth (2/2-2/5/11). In true wacky 500 Clown style, the group smashes MacBeth to pieces, then tears through the rubble to forge a wild, unpredictable, and hilarious deconstruction of Shakespeare's classic. The clowns generate a charged environment in which the audience is left to wonder what was planned and what was created for the first time.

HOLIDAY

This holiday season brings a variety of pop, Celtic, and dance performances including Linda Eder in her Christmas show featuring a mix of holiday favorites and popular standards (12/10/10); nine-time all-Ireland fiddle champion and former Riverdance fiddler, Eileen Ivers with her band Immigrant Soul in An Irish Christmas (12/11/10); The Magnificent MAZOWSZE! A Special Warsaw Christmas (12/12/10), featuring festive Polish carols and dances; and seasonal favorite Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker with American Repertory Ballet (12/18-12/19/10).

POPULAR

Legendary Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band (7/5/10), presented by State Theatre and Live Nation, perform a concert filled with wall-to-wall hits, including Ringo classics such as "Yellow Submarine" and "It Don't Come Easy" alongside rock legends Rick Derringer, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Wally Palmar (The Romantics), Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, and drummer Gregg Bissonette. Also, this year, singer Michael Feinstein (11/6/10) performs songs from his latest album The Sinatra Project. The album is a tribute not only to Ol' Blue Eyes, but to arrangers Nelson Riddle and Billy May. The album features new arrangements of classic songs-plus two undiscovered tunes Sinatra never got around to recording.

BLUES & JAZZ

The State Theatre presents the annual return of the New Jersey Blues & Jazz Festival at the Backstage Jazz Club, September 23-26, 2010. It's an all-star musical lineup in an intimate setting for serious and casual jazz and blues fans alike. Featured performances during the festival include Sugar Blue (9/23/10 at 8pm); Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Septet (9/24/10 at 8pm & 10pm); Maria Muldaur and her Red Hot Bluesianna Band (9/25/10 at 8pm & 10pm); and Regina Carter's "Reverse Thread" (9/26/10 at 11:30am) for a jazz brunch performance. All four performances take place in the exclusive 230-seat club-style venue on stage.

FAMILY

The family series begins with a Halloween day performance of Leo Lionni's Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch (10/31/10) by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia; followed by award-winning jugglers Jon Wee and Owen Morse in their audience interactive performance The Passing Zone (11/21/10), a mix of comedy, juggling, and dangerous stunts.

Other family shows include the black light performances of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites on Presidents Day (2/21/11); and The Peking Acrobats (3/13/11) featuring China's top gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers; and a performance of Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead (5/15/11), brought to life through the enchanting use of marionettes.

VARIETY

Magic/comic duo Penn & Teller (11/4/10) whose live show has been a hit on Broadway, Las Vegas, and all around the country bring their edgy, provocative, and hilarious show-which can often involve knives, guns, and various other weapons-to New Brunswick for one-night only. BENISE and his Emmy® Award-winning PBS special Nights of Fire cast returns with a new world music and dance production, The Spanish Guitar (11/13/10).

A few days after Veteran's Day, the Big Band theatrical revue, In the Mood (11/14/10), swings into town featuring the String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra, boogie-woogie singers, and swing dancers. A retro 1940's musical experience, In the Mood pays homage to the music that moved our nation's spirit.

TICKET SALES

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 15 at 10 a.m.

To begin ordering before the general public on March 15, patrons can become a Benefactor Donor or higher by calling 732-247-7200, ext. 512 or donating online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org/donate.

STATE THEATRE, 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, Ticket Office — 732-246-SHOW (7469), Online — www.StateTheatreNJ.org.

— NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM