How Long Would You Wait For State Theatre Tickets?

Tickets for the State Theatre's 2013-2014 season go on sale Thursday morning at 6 a.m..

So for Marlene Frew, that naturally meant getting in line two days in advance.

For 12 years, she's been part of an unofficial family of theater members who camp out in front of the State to snatch up season tickets. And she came prepared.

"I've got my Kindle, I've got my book, I've got my puzzle book," Frew said.

Theater members will be able to buy tickets over the phone and online starting at noon tomorrow. But for some members, it's not soon enough. 

So they wait. Frew was first in line, but others soon followed. By 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, there were about a dozen people waiting outside the theater on Northampton Street. The line was expected to grow significantly by early Thursday morning.

It's always something of an event in Easton, more so this year with magician David Caserta—whose Haunted Illusions show comes to the theater in October—expected to place his predictions of future headlines, theater ticket sales and other events in a locked box.

Caserta's show is one of many in a line-up that includes comedian Wanda Sykes, the Beach Boys, and TV's Cake Boss.

For most of the people in line Wednesday, there wasn't any one show on the calendar pulling them. 

Davina Gallich, a hairdresser from Freemansburg, said it's just nice to have a venue that doesn't require her to brave the rain or the heat to see a show.

"This is it," she said. "I mean, Musikfest doesn't cater to us."

Like a lot of people in line, Gallich brought something to keep her busy: the books from her hairdressing business.

"If I'm going to be out here for 12 hours, I might as well be doing something constructive," she said. "This way I get my books caught up until the end of July."

Earlier in the week, people waited in shifts. One woman's son took her place while she went home to sleep.

But Wednesday?

"Tonight everyone's here all night," Frew said.

Keeping each other's place during breaks is just part of the ritual, said Kathi Smith, of Phillipsburg.

"We've all become best friends," she said, "to the point that if someone has tickets, and can't get anyone else to go, we'll go with them."