(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- On Thursday, September 25, 2025, award-winning actor, producer, and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds will appear live at State Theatre New Jersey to host a special screening of John Candy: I Like Me. The event is part of a nationwide tour celebrating the life and legacy of beloved comedian John Candy. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Co-produced by Mills Entertainment and Maximum Effort, in association withAmazon MGM Studios and presented by Clearly Canadian, the tour offers fans a rare opportunity to experience the film together on the big screen and hear directly from Reynolds in person.
Directed by Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Colin Hanks, the new documentary features never-before-seen archival footage, personal stories, and interviews that highlight Candy’s extraordinary career and enduring cultural impact.
Following the screening, Reynolds will take the stage live with surprise guests, including Candy’s friends and family for a moderated conversation reflecting on Candy’s artistry, generosity, and lasting influence.
Tickets start at $59 (plus applicable service fees) and are available for purchase online starting Wednesday, September 10th at 10:00am. Tickets are also available by calling State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469). Honoring Candy’s spirit of giving, net proceeds from the tour will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
Canadian actor, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur. Ryan Reynolds is the star of the Deadpool franchise which has grossed over 2 billion dollars worldwide. He is a successful entrepreneur and award-winning marketer, creating breakthrough campaigns for multiple brands. He has been recognized as one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company, The Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal and AdWeek among others. He is an owner of Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, Wrexham Football Club, Chief Creative Officer of MNTN, and a co-founder of Maximum Effort, a production company and marketing firm. He also launched The Group Effort Initiative and The Creative Ladder, nonprofits that help make creative careers more accessible to all—especially those from underrepresented communities.
Maximum Effort makes movies, tv series, content and cocktails for the personal amusement of Hollywood Star Ryan Reynolds. They occasionally share them with the general public. Producers of the Deadpool films, Free Guy, The Adam Project and Welcome to Wrexham.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear:Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness.
Clearly Canadian (The Clearly Food & Beverage Company LLC) was founded in 1987 and is one of North America’s signature premium food and beverage brands. They believe that you should feel good about what you drink. They also believe that life shouldn’t be gulped, it should be sipped and savoured. Clearly Canadian’s distinct pure taste is crafted from award-winning Canadian spring water, made from simple natural ingredients inspired by Canadian nature, with natural hydrating minerals, and bottled in recyclable materials only. They invite you to Live Clearly.
Mills Entertainment is a leading producer of touring live entertainment, partnering with world-class talent and IP to create unique, fan-forward experiences across North America and beyond.
After major renovations, State Theatre New Jersey celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater. 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 nonprofit 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, Tom Jones, 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. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
