(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey has announced its participation in the Families First Discovery Program with the support of Bank of America, starting in June 2022.  

To help remove economic barriers that prevent access to performing arts, State Theatre New Jersey will allocate a set amount of $10 tickets to every State Theatre presented performance for families and individuals with a New Jersey Families First card (Families First branded electronic benefits transfer card), or an eWIC card (WIC branded electronic benefits transfer or EBT card).  

Families First $10 tickets are redeemable by New Jersey-issued Families First cardholders in-person at State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave in New Brunswick. STNJ Guest Services is open for in-person purchases, Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Seating is subject to availability at the time of purchase. Other restrictions may apply. 

In 2019, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission partnered with the NJ Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) to launch New Jersey’s Families First Discovery Pass program. The free program available to Families First card holders and WIC recipients provides free or highly discounted admissions to arts and history organizations, venues, and programs. Residents who receive benefits through SNAP, WFNJ, Child Care Subsidy and/or WIC are eligible for free or steeply discounted cultural programs throughout the state. 

After major renovations, State Theatre New Jersey has reopened and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater including newly renovated lobbies, all new restrooms, upgraded HVAC systems, a new elevator for access to all levels, and brand-new theater seats. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored by PBS by featuring it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey, in the fall of 2018. “Treasures of New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey” can be streamed online.

Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six million people through its doors since reopening as a non-profit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have featured high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances. 

State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.