Tag Archives: State Theatre

The Forger’s Apprentice — August 9

THE FORGER’S APPRENTICE

FREE presentation at 8 PM at the State Theatre, Friday, August 9

In the late 1960s Elmyr de Hory was the world’s most talented and successful art forger. In 1967 his chicanery ended in a scandal that rocked the art world, although this monocle-wearing charmer’s artful deception did not end there. Join Mark Forgy, de Hory’s former personal assistant, for a showing of the BBC documentary, “Elmyr: The True Picture?” followed by a Q&A with Forgy. The event takes place immediately following the opening reception for “Stolen Goods,” the August art exhibit at Crossings.

“Stolen Goods,” is a group show featuring artwork inspired by Old Masters, but modified to reveal the actual artist’s own truth. The opening reception is Friday, August 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both the reception and the de Hory presentation next door at the State Theatre are free and open to the public.

For more than 20 years de Hory’s bogus masterpieces filtered into prestigious collections on five continents. He seduced almost everyone he met, counting Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Rita Hayworth, and Orson Welles among his friends. As a young American Midwesterner, Forgy fell under his spell when he met de Hory in 1969 on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza, becoming his personal assistant while de Hory became Forgy’s mentor and closest friend.

Forgy’s book, The Forger’s Apprentice, is a coming-of-age journey of discovery providing the most personal account of this “famously infamous” faker, through the eyes of his protégé—the Forger’s Apprentice. His book is available at Crossings.

Crossings’ August exhibit in conjunction with this presentation takes a wry look at artistic appropriation. Artists were invited to express what fakery means to them or to “fudge the truth” visually. The exhibit is on display through the month of August and may be seen free of charge during regular open hours.

Elmyr de Hory: The Official Website by Mark Forgy

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information, call 507-732-5210.

Shawn Phillips — August 2

Crossings brings Shawn Phillips to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Friday, August 2, at 8 pm. Tickets are $21 in advance, $24 the day of the show and can be purchased by calling Crossings at 507-732-7616. Doors open at 7 pm.

Critically acclaimed and with a star-studded “played with” list, Shawn Phillips has the goods. Audiences will thrill to his voice and guitar.

Phillips has sung with the Beatles, recorded with Traffic members Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Jim Capaldi, taught Joni Mitchell 12-string guitar techniques, and was the first to use an Indian sitar in popular music. He’s recorded four albums that made it on Billboard’s Top 100, and four of his singles have reached Billboard’s Top 40.

In September, he released “Reflections,” a CD recorded, engineered, mastered and duplicated by Phillips in his home studio, featuring just voice and guitar. His current project is “Perspectives,” a 17-song double CD. He is raising money through his website to complete the album.

“A lot of work goes into a project like this,” Phillips said of “Reflections.”

“I am concerned with excellence in what I do. I also want to maintain a strong relationship with my fans and I feel that by doing something like ‘Reflections,’ I am making more of myself available to my fans in some way. They are the people who have put me where I am today and I will always be grateful for their support.”

Phillips is the kind of artist who seeks critical acclaim and appreciates his loyal fans – who quietly push his albums into multigold and platinum status in North America and overseas.

Phillips, the son of best-selling spy novelist Philip Atlee, traveled the world with his family, and as an adult settled in a small Italian village after spending time in the ’60s culture of England and San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. Reviewers have expressed awe at Phillips’ ability to play electric and acoustic six- and 12-string guitars (single- and double-necked), the sitar, and at his three-octave vocal range. His lyrics and melodies – running the gamut from folk to pop, classical to jazz – astound.

Music fans won’t want to miss this opportunity to spend an intimate evening with this ought-to-be-a-legend!

Shawn Phillips

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

Mason Jennings — July 26

Crossings brings Mason Jennings to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Friday, July 26, at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 the day of the show and can be purchased by calling Crossings at 507-732-7616. Doors open at 7 pm.

Mason Jennings tackles the exponentially growing responsibilities of adulthood in his latest release, “Minnesota.” As one grows into adulthood, remaining steadfastly single-minded about one’s pursuits gets increasingly difficult. In this album, Jennings crafts a collage of love trying to survive the transition into being a grown-up in a complex world.

“The album is called ‘Minnesota’ because it’s a metaphor for an ever-changing landscape. More than any place I’ve ever been, things change so much here, even month to month. But even as things change, Minnesota is where my home is, where my center is,” Jennings said.

“Minnesota” represents a step toward the light after the darkness of “Blood of Man,” Jennings’ last album. A case in point is the first song on the album, “Bitter Heart,” which manages to be simultaneously plaintive and hopeful. Musically, Mason paints from a more varied palette than ever. For instance, piano is featured more prominently than on any of his previous albums.

Mason Jennings

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information call 507-732-5210.

Songs of Hope — July 14

Children from around the world celebrate music with Songs of Hope, Sunday, July 14 at 2 pm at Zumbrota's State Theatre. The concert is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. A freewill offering box will be at the theatre entrance. The Zumbrota Area Arts Council and Crossings are sponsoring the performance.

The children, ages 9 to young adult, are participants in a six-week performing arts summer camp in St. Paul. This is their third appearance in Zumbrota.

The performers entertain with songs and dances from their native countries, plus some special numbers providing fun summer entertainment. The concert program often includes a few modern hits as well as traditional songs from around the world.

More than just a performing arts camp, the nonprofit Songs of Hope™ offers participants a unique opportunity to live in community with kids from other cultures while learning and performing music from many countries. Campers learn to look past prejudices, misconceptions and newspaper headlines as they live, sing and dance together. They practice six hours a day, six days a week for six weeks. Then, they take these songs of peace, love, and respect into neighboring communities in a joyous celebration of cultural unity, delighting their audiences along the way.

The whole company performs on every song, which means the performers from more than a dozen countries will be singing in several languages that may be entirely new to them. An additional pleasure is the chance to see rich and beautiful traditional costumes of many cultures.

“We are really excited to be returning to the State Theatre. It is such a small, cozy venue. The audience is near, and filling the stage with 55 performers will guarantee a high energy show with great acoustics. Many thanks to Crossings and the Zumbrota Area Arts Council for working with us,” said camp founder Tom Suprenant.

All ages will enjoy this inspirational concert, making it the perfect family event for a summer afternoon!

Zumbrota's State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For additional information, call Crossings at 507-732-7616.

Ready, Set, BID! Art On Main is UP!

Take an old-fashioned Memorial Day Weekend drive down Main Street Zumbrota to view Art on Main.

We'd like to give a shout out to the city crew for installing the banners on our downtown lightpoles. If you can't manage a drive down Main Street at the moment, you can view all the artwork under our Art On Main tab.

After you've had a peek at the artwork, visit our auction page for your chance to bid on your favorite pieces. You can choose between the original artwork or the banner. Banners will remain in place through mid-September. Funds raised will benefit the State Theatre Encore Renovation project.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day!

Peter Mayer in Concert — May 18

Crossings brings Minnesota musician Peter Mayer to Zumbrota's State Theatre at 8 pm on Saturday, May 18. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 the day of the show. To purchase tickets, call Crossings at 507-732-7616. Doors open at 7 pm.

“He is unafraid of complicated topics and always strives to look beyond the easy sentiment…Peter does nothing less than address the very nature of our existence…Trust me, most songwriters can’t pull this off. Peter Mayer does.”
–Dale Connelly, Morning Show Host, Minnesota Public Radio

Peter Mayer’s songs have been compared to Shaker furniture – clean and light, yet hardly simple. His superb guitar skills make playing his music seem deceptively easy. Mayer’s songs are about interconnectedness and the human journey–about the beauty and the mystery of the world. But there’s plenty of humor, too, in songs like “Snuffleupagus” and “Fake Plant.”

Mayer, who once studied at seminary before pursuing a career in music, has toured full-time since 1995. Since then, he has gathered a dedicated following, selling out shows from Minnesota to Texas, New England to Colorado. He has nine CDs to his credit, and has sold over 50,000 of them independently.

Mayer is an artist of relevance and insight whose music is not to be missed. Peter Mayer

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota.

Monroe Crossing — May 11

Crossings brings Monroe Crossing to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 the day of the show. To purchase tickets, call Crossings at 507-732-7830. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Monroe Crossing dazzles audiences with an electrifying blend of classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and heartfelt originals. Audiences will delight in their airtight harmonies, razor sharp arrangements, and on-stage rapport.

The five-member band is back by popular demand after near sell-out crowds in 2011 and 2012. Based in Minnesota, the group plays an average of 125 shows a year at major venues and festivals, frequently for non-bluegrass audiences — and people often comment that they’d never really liked bluegrass music until they attended a Monroe Crossing concert!

Monroe Crossing is made up of five very distinct personalities with differing musical backgrounds and tastes, combining for a very unique ensemble sound. They are Derek Johnson: guitar, lead & harmony vocals; Lisa Fuglie: fiddle, mandolin, lead and harmony vocals; Matt Thompson: mandolin, fiddle, baritone vocals; Mark Anderson: bass and bass vocals; and David Robinson: banjo. Their paths crossed through the music of Bill Monroe so they like to say they had a “Monroe Crossing.”

Among many honors, Monroe Crossing showcased at the International Bluegrass Music Association Convention and was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. The only bluegrass band ever nominated as “Artist of the Year” by the Minnesota Music Academy (MMA), Monroe Crossing has won an MMA “Bluegrass Album of the Year” award.

Monroe Crossing has recorded 13 CDs and one DVD to date. Their lucky 13th CD, “The Road Has No End,” showcases both the band’s unique originality and its high regard for the classic bluegrass tradition.

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota.

Monroe Crossing

Mary Jane Alm and the Tex Pistols– April 27

Crossings brings Mary Jane Alm and the Tex Pistols to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, April 27 for a 7:30 pm performance of "Now & Then." Tickets are $28 in advance and $30 the day of the show. To purchase tickets, call 507-732-7616. Doors open at 6:30. A new CD of 19 songs will be available at the show.

"The Mary Jane Alm Band's music was superb, with polished instrumentals and solid vocal harmony added to a voice so solid it could make a lot of well known pop singers envious." "Alm was recently voted best female vocalist in the Twin Cities by two different entertainment magazines. After listening to her sing, one could wonder why they bothered to count the votes."
Rochester Post-Bulletin

Throughout the last 20 years, Mary Jane Alm has mesmerized audiences with her expressive voice, authentic songwriting and charming stage presence. Alm is one of the Twin Cities' best loved singer/songwriters and a recent inductee into the Mid-America Music Hall Of Fame. With her band, she takes audiences on a journey through time, performing songs that made her a household name in the Midwest, as well as previously unreleased songs spanning three decades. For the first time her critically acclaimed 1986 album “Prisoner Of The Heart” will be released digitally re-mastered on CD, along with 10 unreleased recordings from the last two decades. The new CD of 19 original recordings called “Now & Then” will be available at the show.

The “Now & Then” show will feature songs from Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benatar, The Pretenders, Bonnie Raitt and many more favorites, along with signature Alm originals. A multimedia video featuring clips from the 80's to the present will fill the screen behind the band.

Riding shotgun on the journey is The Tex Pistols Band, aka the Mary Jane Alm Band! Recently featured on the PBS TV show MN Originals, The Pistols combine rock, Americana, and country with awesome musicianship, killer vocals, and clever writing. It’s a fresh sound, with a healthy dose of good humor. Band members have shared the stage with the likes of: Lynard Skynard, The Beach Boys, Prince, Reba McEntire, The Judds, and many more.

The Mary Jane Alm Band includes Boyd Lee on acoustic guitar and vocals, Gordy Johnson on bass, Dik Shopteau on bass, Scooter Nelson on percussion and vocals and Brian Peters on guitar and pedal steel.

Alm is currently teaching music theory and vocal techniques at The Institute of Production and Recording in downtown Minneapolis.

“I think the reason I have been able to have such a long career in this crazy business is that I have always been open to doing anything as long as it involves music and is done with class and involves great players and singers,” Alm said.

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota.

Mary Jane Alm

The Tex Pistols Band

Backstage Sale — April 25 and 26

Thursday, 1–5pm

Friday, 9–5pm

Enjoy a little treasure hunting this Thursday and Friday! You get your own backstage pass into the mysteries of the State Theatre. Among the treasures we have for sale are Red Wing pottery coping tiles that were removed when the roof was replaced last fall, two historic upright pianos, multiple cinema projectors of varying ages, theatre seats, CDs, theatre concessions (candy, pop, water) and freshly popped popcorn!

This is a joint venture with the Zumbrota Historical Society, so don't forget to cross the parking lot and peruse the treasures at the History Center.

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. Please enter through the back of the building.

Crossings’ 12th Annual Poet-Artist Collaboration — April 19

Celebrate National Poetry Month! Come to the Gala Reception for Crossings' 12th Annual Poet-Artist Collaboration on Friday, April 19. The evening begins at 6:30 at Crossings at Carnegie, 320 East Ave, Zumbrota. There you can meet the artists and poets and enjoy refreshments. Then join the party as it moves down the block to the State Theatre at 7:30 for a poetry reading and slideshow of the accompanying artwork.

Some 150 poets and artists participated in this year’s event by entering up to three poems each, or submitting artistic work samples. Jurors winnowed nearly 300 poems down to just 26. Other jurors halved the artistic pool to match the number of poems. For this exhibit, each selected artist then chose one selected poem from which to create an artwork. Poems and the work they inspired are displayed together.

“The response this year was almost overwhelming, and we’re gratified to see so many talented people participating in our event. Poet-Artist Collaboration holds a special place in our hearts and never fails to produce lovely and surprising results as art and poetry intertwine,” said Crossings owner Marie Marvin.

The public is invited and admission is free.

The 51 participating poets and artists come from around Minnesota, including Rochester, Minneapolis, Northfield, Wabasha and elsewhere; two are from Wisconsin.

The State Theatre is located at 96 East 4th Street in Zumbrota. For more information visit http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com

Pictured Above: "Li Bai," pastel by Mike Schad from the 2013 Collaboration