It’s no secret that the last few years have been difficult for the performing arts industry, as theaters grappled with quarantine, audience size limitations and adapting live event-reliant art mediums for virtual spaces. However, as the pandemic worries subsided and live events and festivals filled calendars once again, things have started to look — at least a little bit — like normal.

There are still, of course, changes and challenges. No industry is completely the same following a pandemic. Now, according to Cynthia Mazzant, co-founder of Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest, more and more audience members want choice and flexibility — and that’s exactly what Mazzant hopes to give audiences, as much as possible, during the four-day Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest, June 22–25.

“On Friday night, there’ll be an improv show and a dance show for you to choose from, and then there’s our theater show, ‘Macbeth,’ running all weekend,” explained Mazzant. “We also have two puppeteers, one in residency at Three Dots Downtown. He’ll have his art show up and the puppets on display; then, he’s doing workshops and performances throughout the weekend.”

Prior to the pandemic, the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest welcomed approximately 10,000 guests to its packed schedule of performances taking place across downtown State College. At the time, audiences could find multiple performances occurring simultaneously, and some events welcomed more than 300 audience members at a time, making it virtually impossible for attendees to see everything. Now, though, the newly revamped festival schedule allows audience members to more thoroughly experience a range of events without missing a beat, and in primarily intimate settings.

“Instead of coming to see 300-plus artists over the three days, we might have close to 100 artists, but you can see them all throughout the whole weekend,” explained Mazzant.

In 2020 and 2021, the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest was held virtually and, while a virtual platform wasn’t ideal, it still provided a few benefits that the event continues to take advantage of this year.

“We run the Central Pennsylvania Playwriting Competition,” Mazzant said. “During [the event], we share these plays and, during our virtual years, we performed them via Zoom and received wonderful feedback.”

Mazzant further explained that, in a traditional theater setting, a play reading comes with its limitations. On Zoom, though, audiences can often more clearly hear actors, as well as more clearly see each actor and their facial expressions. A virtual setting also allows for audience members to attend the readings from anywhere, which is particularly helpful given that the competition attracts playwrights from all over the globe.

Attended the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest in the past? You’ll notice that most of your favorite performers are back, but there are also a few new additions to the festival lineup that you may want to be sure you check out.

“We have some new improv workshops. We have a new storytelling showcase … ‘Macbeth’ will be our first big Shakespeare production [at the festival],” detailed Mazzant.

Whatever your reason for attending the festival, though, you can expect to find something new, innovative and out of the box, no matter what performances you attend (for example, Mazzant revealed the festival’s ‘Macbeth’ receives a steampunk carnival twist, incorporating circus arts and dance). All of that innovation fuels Mazzant’s overall goal to infuse downtown State College with a greater appreciation for the performing arts.

“If we can create a sustainable downtown creative and performing arts [scene], we’ll also be building a strong cultural center … We can open the door for local artists and give them a place [to work],” she said.

You can find the full lineup of Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest events at centralpatheatre.com. The first event is Thursday evening, June 22, with an artist meet-and-greet, 5:30–7 p.m. at MLK Plaza, before performances and workshops get underway Friday morning. For ticketed events, Mazzant recommends buying tickets in advance, as many of the performance venues are on the intimate side, 40–65 seats.

“Why theater? Why the performing arts? Why dance? Why not?” Mazzant posed, in summary. “What I love about the festival most is that there are opportunities to see professionals perform, but also opportunities at every level for someone to step in and try something new.”