Published: January 04, 2008 09:46 am         

State of the State: It's busy

Lots of events on the schedule for the month

TRAVERSE CITY -- It's a new year, and the State Theatre is getting down to business.

The State Theatre's whirlwind opening dovetailed into a busy holiday season marked with steady crowds and sell-outs of special events.

"Our booker is floored by how we're doing," said Deb Lake, executive director of the Traverse City Film Festival, which owns and operates the newly renovated and reopened downtown movie house. "We're doing well. People are just loving coming down here."

Now the theater is rolling out several new offerings starting with a Sunday Brunch Subscription Series kicking off this weekend.

The State Theatre will host special noon screenings each Sunday, with themes changing by the month. January's is based on the Sundance Film Festival, which Lake attended last year. The movies to be shown the next four Sundays are based on her recommendation and start with "King of California" featuring Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood this weekend.

"It's a really great film," said Lake. "I really wanted to bring it last year to the (Traverse City Film) festival, but we had so many.

"It was funny, and touching and warm and riveting and I just really enjoyed it."

Other films on the schedule include "Eagle v. Shark" on Jan. 13, "Starting Out in the Evening" on Jan. 20 and "Padre Nuestro" (tentative) on Jan. 27. As a special subscription series, tickets to these films aren't part of regular State Theatre season passes; cost is $10* each.

All of the films start at noon except for the one on Jan. 27, which will be at 3:30 p.m. to make way for a free live screening of the Michigan State University vs. University of Michigan basketball game. Tickets for the game are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the box office, limited to four per person. Game starts at noon; doors open at 11 a.m.

Other highlights ahead this month include Wednesday Morning Matinees and Saturday morning children's matinees. The State is also kicking off Community Nights, offering programming planned by area organizations.

This month's theme for Wednesday matinees is John Wayne. Films to be shown include "Stagecoach" on Jan. 9; "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" on Jan. 16; "The Quiet Man" on Jan. 23; and "The Searchers" on Jan. 30. Tickets for the Wednesday matinees are $5. All screenings are at 11 a.m. except for Jan. 30, which is set for 1 p.m.

"The idea is that mainly seniors might want to go to these, but not necessarily (limited to seniors)," said Lake of the 11 a.m. start time. "A lot of seniors have told us that they want to come in, see a movie, go shopping, get their groceries and get home."

Saturday morning matinees for children continue, starting with "The Iron Giant" this weekend. Other films on the schedule this month include "The Best of the Three Stooges" Jan. 12, "The Princess Bride" Jan. 19, and "Bugs Bunny Marathon" Jan. 26. All films start at 10:30 a.m.; tickets are $6.

Community Night kicks off Jan. 14 with IndyFlix@theState presenting "Blood Car." The Traverse City West Film Club presents "This is Spinal Tap" on Jan. 21; "Soldiers of Conscience" shows for Interfaith/Peace Night Jan. 28; and the Traverse Area District Library's Cinema Curiosa offers "Gates of Heaven" and "Vernon, Florida" Feb. 4. Many of the groups were already showing films, but relocating to the State gives them more seating, not to mention superior picture and sound. Times will be approximately 7 p.m., depending on the length of the first-run feature that is playing; admission will likely be $8.

It's all part of a schedule of events that will only continue to grow as the theater continues to establish its footing and gets a manager on board, Lake said.

"It's just beautiful in there," said Lake. "It looks great, it sounds great and it's just really going well."

For more details, visit the Web site, www.statetheatretc.org or call the State Theatre information line at 947-4800.