PPAC Announces "Experience PPAC," A New Education Initiative for Its 2019/2020 Season
Providence, RI – At a press conference held in the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC)’s Grand Lobby this morning, PPAC President J.L. “Lynn” Singleton recapped the Theatre’s recently announced 2019/2020 Season. Singleton introduced Board Chairman Joseph W. Walsh, Esq., who unveiled plans for the Theatre’s brand-new state-wide education initiative, called Experience PPAC.
This program will provide every tenth grader in Rhode Island with an opportunity to see a select touring Broadway performance at PPAC. This education initiative is made possible by PPAC’s Board of Directors and Staff who strongly believe in the value of arts education. Working in partnership with PPAC, bus transportation company FIRST STUDENT will provide transportation to and from these shows. Tickets to these shows and busing is paid for by PPAC. There is no charge to the students or their schools for the theatre tickets or for bus transportation.
Walsh said, “PPAC’s Board of Directors is pleased to be able to offer students the chance to see a live Broadway production right here at the Theatre. Through this program, we are ensuring that every student in Rhode Island will ‘experience PPAC’ and the ‘world of Broadway.’”
Dana Brazil, PPAC’s Director of Education, said, “For the 2019/2020 Season and school year, we are very excited to announce that high school sophomores will have the opportunity to see Thursday morning presentations of COME FROM AWAY or FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Experience PPAC will also offer a third special morning presentation, to be announced at a later time. Participating in and exposure to the arts positively affects the lives of students: it increases self-esteem, inspires creativity, and helps to build communication skills, among many other benefits.”
The initial “Experience PPAC” event took place at the matinee performance of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, on Thursday, March 21, 2019. For many of the students in attendance, this was their first-ever Broadway show experience. After seeing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, students enjoyed a post-show talkback with cast and company members. West Warwick High School English teacher Lisa Narsisi-Stewart, students from West Warwick High School and students from Providence’s Central High School, spoke at the press conference about the impact of seeing “PHANTOM” and what the new program means to them.
Working in close collaboration with each school district, Experience PPAC supports each district’s core curriculum and helps bring it to life through this experiential learning model. Show study guides will be provided to schools prior to their attendance of the specified performance so that they can engage in the educational material, creative concepts, and lessons prior to attending.
For more information on Experience PPAC, please contact Dana Brazil, Director of Education, at dbrazil@ppacri.org or (401) 574-3132.
Experience PPAC Shows – 2019/2020 Broadway Season
These shows are part of the Taco/White Family Foundation Broadway Series
COME FROM AWAY: December 3 – 8, 2019
Experience PPAC performance: Thursday, December 5, 2019
COME FROM AWAY tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them as air traffic was re-rerouted from the U.S. airspace, which was closed in the wake of 9/11. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: February 11 – 16, 2020
Experience PPAC Performance: Thursday, February 13, 2020
A beloved theatrical classic from Tony Award-winner Joseph Stein, and Pulitzer Prize- winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Fiddler on the Roof is directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The King and I); choreographed by the acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter; inspired by the original choreography of Jerome Robbins; and has musical direction by Ted Sperling. Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. This classic musical is rich with Broadway hits, including “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” "Sunrise Sunset,” "Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition.”
A third show will be announced at a later time.
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PPAC Media Contacts:
P.J. Prokop, Director of Marketing:
(401) 574-3103 / pjprokop@ppacri.org
Caitlyn DiPompo, Marketing Projects Specialist:
(401) 574-3112 / cdipompo@ppacri.org