Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Partnership for Providence Parks announced the 2017 Celebrate Providence! Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative. Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative celebrates the culture and creativity rooted in Providence neighborhoods through performances in local parks. Organizations receiving a grant to participate in the initiative this year include Opera Providence, Partnership with Providence Parks, Providence Children’s Film Festival, Fargnoli Park, Stages of Freedom/Jazz is a Rainbow, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Family Service of Rhode Island and Project 401/Alleppo Street Park. All events are located in public parks and are free and open to the public.
Hopkins Square hosts performances produced by Opera Providence at 5pm on July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30. After curating the successful “Opera on the Hill” series, Opera Providence brings entertaining and family friendly favorites from their operatic repertoire to Charles Street. The weekly themes and selections will showcase music from Latin America, Italy and America while providing a festive and welcoming atmosphere to Opera fans and those experiencing the genre for the first time.
Harriet & Sayles Park will host performances produced by Family Service of Rhode Island at 5pm on July 11 and July 25. Artists and performers from the community who empower audiences of all ages are slated to perform during the series, allowing audiences to experience and celebrate the artistic talents that reside in the neighborhood.
Fargnoli Park hosts performances produced by The Partnership for Providence Parks at 5pm on July 11, July 18, July 25, August 3, August 22 and August 29. Each event will feature live performances from local artists, activities and a family film being screened to close out the evening.
Dexter Park hosts performances produced by the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) at 5pm on July 13, July 20 and July 27. Partnering with Farm Fresh Rhode Island, each performance will have a farmer’s market from 3:30pm to dusk while Laughing Gorilla will set up a beer garden. On July 13, a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4pm to welcome two new additions to the park; a bocce court and chess table. Children’s chess games and prizes will follow the ceremony before Karma Band takes the stage at 5:30pm. On July 20, Lindsay Meehan will delight the crowd performing children’s music followed by KC Moaners. At the July 27 event, the Cranston Street Armory Animated by Art project hosts a Masquerade Party beginning at 5pm. At 5:30pm, a bilingual English-Spanish adaptation of Romeo & Juliet will be performed directed by Trinity Repertory Company’s Tyler Dobrowsky. AC+T is sponsoring this creative collaboration between Trinity Rep, Rhode Island Latino Arts, The Steel Yard, and neighborhood residents with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. WBNA will be selling popcorn and water on-site at all events with proceeds to benefit their organization.
Richardson Park will host a performance produced by Oasis International at 1pm on July 29. The African Summer Bash will have something for everyone including food, live music, dance, games, fashion and much more!
The Providence Children’s Film Festival (PCFF) will bring the Festival to five Providence parks every Wednesday in August at 7:30pm in select locations. Bring your own blanket or chairs to enjoy family-friendly movies under the stars. Local youth musicians/artists will warm up the crowd with performances before the screen lights up at dusk with a special curated reel of international short films originally shown at past Festivals.
Prospect Park hosts performances produced by Stages of Freedom & Jazz is a Rainbow at 5:30pm on August 10 & 11. Sixteen students from Providence schools, under the direction of Jazz is a Rainbow, will perform an original musical tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. entitled “Mr. Wonderful,” showcasing his signature songs, such as “The Candy Man” and Mr. Bojangles.” The show not only makes for an entertaining evening but also helps these talented Providence teens develop singing, dancing, acting and teamwork skills.
The Providence Children’s Museum lends imagination to the Celebrate Providence! events this summer, bringing joy and play to the neighborhoods! Keep on the lookout for them at select events all summer or visit their website for more information.
Acting City Council President Sabina Matos and Metro PCS will present a movie night at RiverSide Park in Oyneyville on Saturday, July 15 at 6pm.
For more information and an updated schedule, please visit: http://artculturetourism.com/celebrate-providence-2017-neighborhood-performing-arts-initiative/
The 2017 Celebrate Providence! Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative is sponsored by the City of Providence, Jorge O. Elorza, Mayor, Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, Department of Parks & Recreation, Partnership For Providence Parks and the City’s Eat, Play, Learn Initiative.