The State Theatre Center for the Arts has announced the public phase of its “Your Seat is Waiting” recovery campaign.

Since March 13, performances were postponed or cancelled at the State Theatre because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The theater has lost 100 percent of its ticket revenue during this closure.

Nearly half of the campaign’s financial goal has been achieved through private funding. Public contributions will help the non-profit State Theatre reach its goal of $800,000 to continue to fulfill its mission to the region and beyond.

“The State Theatre has been an iconic institution in the Lehigh Valley for almost 100 years. The pandemic has forced our closure, and our industry will be among the last to re-open,” said Denise Smith, State Theatre Vice President of Development.

“We are dedicated to coming back as soon as it’s safe for us to do so but are facing the devastating financial impact of a prolonged closure in the meantime,” Smith said.

Performances at the State Theatre are scheduled to begin January 2021. Decisions by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may delay that time even further.

Social distancing and other guidelines are not only financially prohibitive but create a diminished theater experience for patrons. The entertainment industry was the first to close and is expected to be the last open.

“Arts and entertainment performances are essential economic elements in the success of our cities and towns. They create tourism and drive people into surrounding restaurants and retail shops,” said Smith.

“Their financial viability is largely dependent upon the traffic generated by venues such as the State Theatre.

“Getting our venue, and industry, back up and running is critical for the future vitality of many other businesses in addition to our own,” Smith said.

The State Theatre is determined to return with not only a new performance schedule, but also its commitment to the Freddy Awards program, which highlights the region’s high school musicals.

The Freddys have provided $1.5 million in scholarships and awards to students and participating schools.

The State Theatre hosts an annual Acting Camp every summer for students Grades 1-12, which was cancelled this summer. Registration for the 2021 Camp is open.

The State Theatre building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of less than 100 theaters of its kind left in the United States.

“We continue to maintain our beautiful and historic building and plan for 2021 programming, and we need the help of our community to bridge our financial gap until the curtain can rise again,” said Smith.

“Donations to the ‘Your Seat is Waiting’ campaign will do just that, and will ensure that this incredible theater will once again enrich people’s lives and help promote economic vitality in our region.”

Donors to the State Theatre may access a Go Fund Me page at http://charity.gofundme.com/your-seat-is-waiting