(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey will host Fête at the Farm, a gala event to Celebrate State Theatre New Jersey's Centennial Anniversary on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The State Theatre Benefit Gala will be hosted at historic Suydam Farms in Somerset, NJ. The event will include a seasonal, farm-to-table menu, beer specially brewed for State Theatre by Suydam Farms' own master brewers, and a performance by Tony(R) Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Fête at the Farm brings together several historic Central New Jersey institutions for the 100th Anniversary Gala to celebrate a shared history and honor those who made the return to the stage possible. These institutions include: Suydam Farms, a 300-year-old farm founded by some of the first settlers to our area; Magyar Bank, a steadfast supporter of the State Theatre who is also celebrating their centennial anniversary; and our healthcare heroes, on behalf of Johnson & Johnson, whose commitment to caring for our community throughout this pandemic has made it possible for us to welcome the public back to the theater once again. 

The Gala festivities begin at 5:00pm and will include a cocktail hour, a silent auction, dinner, dancing, and an intimate performance featuring the incomparable Brian Stokes Mitchell performing songs from the American Songbook.  

All proceeds from the State Theatre New Jersey Gala help provide education and community engagement programs for children, families, and underserved residents and support the continued excellence of its world-class mainstage performances. A portion of each ticket price represents a tax-deductible contribution to the State Theatre. Benefit Gala tickets start at $700. For more information or to reserve Benefit Gala tickets email [email protected]  

State Theatre's Gala features two-time Tony® Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell live in concert! Dubbed “the last leading man” by The New York Times, Stokes will perform songs from the American Songbook for this special Centennial Gala. 

A multi-faceted performer, Stokes has enjoyed a career that spans Broadway, television, film, and concert appearances with the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. He received Tony®, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards for his star turn in Kiss Me, Kate. He also gave Tony®-nominated performances in Man of La Mancha, August Wilson’s King Hedley II, and Ragtime. Other notable Broadway shows include Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jelly’s Last Jam, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Shuffle Along.  

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.