Top Ten: Sue Richardson and the State Theatre

The Monday Top Ten is a new regular feature that delves into the minds of some of the Modesto region’s movers and shakers; it will run every other week. This week, State Theatre executive director Sue Richardson was asked to share the Top Ten things she’d like people to know about the historic downtown venue, celebrating its 80th birthday this week:

1. The State is the only art film house from Sacramento to Fresno.

2. The State is the only performing arts and art film venue in the region serving cocktails in addition to wine and beer. We partnered with Cold House Premium Vodka – which is locally crafted – so our martinis are quite yummy!

3. The State is the only movie theater in the region with its own dedicated martini bar. For concerts and special events, we hire professional bartenders. But we’re also building out our concession stand this summer so we’ll be able to serve more people far faster than we can now. Our new concession area will include two bartender stations, an espresso machine, and we’re going to finally have two box office windows, which I know patrons will love.

4. The State serves popcorn popped in canola oil and topped with real butter (no “butter topping”). Our popcorn is made with the finest ingredients and we ensure that it’s as healthy a product as possible.

5. The State serves its own “signature” popcorn toppers, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else. The eight toppers, from the bacon-flavored topping aptly named “Kevin Bacon” to “The Godfather,” a savory topping of Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese, are made with the finest ingredients and of our own creation. (We also have Colonel Seasons, for the less adventuresome.)

6. The State is open seven days a week, 362 days a year. An ambitious schedule for a small nonprofit organization.

7. The State not only shows films and stages concerts, it also is a rental facility and is utilized year-round for educational, social and civic events. We also provide a robust schedule of live, math- and science-based performances for area school children, grades K-12, at no charge to the kids or their schools. A lot of people are unaware of our Youth Education Program, but we’re heading into our fifth year, and more than 10,000 kids see these performances in any given school year. We partner with Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) on these programs, and with SCOE and CVAP (Central Valley Autism Project) on our Sensory Friendly Films for children on the autism spectrum.

8. The State is the region’s only remaining historic theater (1934). All of its fellow theaters have been razed or are no longer used as film houses (one is being used by a church; another is vacant).

9. The State is run by a privately funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and overseen by an 18-member board of directors. The nonprofit does not receive any funding from the city, county or state.

10. The State presents an ambitious schedule of film- and performance-based arts literacy programs throughout any given school year, and reaches more than 10,000 children, in grades 2 through 8 with its Youth Education Program at no charge to students or their schools. The State also offers transportation grants at no charge.

This story was originally published May 24, 2015 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Top Ten: Sue Richardson and the State Theatre."