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BEHIND THE
CURTAIN 2013/2014 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
A BEHIND THE CURTAIN PERSPECTIVE FROM PPAC’S CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT Dear Friends, While Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) prides itself on the world-class performances it showcases each season, we are especially proud of the lasting impact PPAC has on the local arts community through outreach initiatives and ongoing restoration projects. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, PPAC is a cultural and artistic gem for the City and State. Today the Theatre thrives by breathing life, vibrancy, and economic gain into the region, as we welcome more than 400,000 visitors through our doors each year. Our Report to the Community is a means of staying connected by informing you of our initiatives, achievements, and progress. Our Report communicates to the public our mission – to serve, preserve, and maintain - and, most importantly, our Report celebrates PPAC’s strong commitment to community. Recent highlights of our work include: • Achieving a year-over-year increase in Annual Fund donors, raising over $350,000 each year to fully support our Community Outreach Programs (Seats for Service Members, ARTS Scholarships, Arts Showcase, From Books to Broadway, Camp Broadway, Wonders of the Wurlitzer) • Remaining a committed resource for local arts organizations (please visit us online at ppacri.org to see our robust list of non-profit partners and programs) • Completing significant renovation projects such as waterproofing the parapet and installing new finials on the Weybosset Street facade, the planned installation of a new HVAC system in the 2nd dress balcony, and the replacement and upgrade of the existing marquee with new energy efficient LED boards • Maintaining a strong subscriber base and single ticket sales, welcoming nearly 400,000 people into the Theatre each year, and producing more than $26 million in spending for the local community – amidst a difficult economic climate • Ranking 18th for ticket sales and attendance in POLLSTAR’s 2012 top 100 Theatre venues worldwide • Obtaining a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor in 2012 It’s what happens behind the curtain that makes this all possible. Thanks to a committed Board of Trustees, effective staff, devoted volunteers, strong performance schedules, and dedicated donors, PPAC continues to successfully uphold its mission to the community. We strongly encourage you to visit us online at ppacri.org, and follow us on facebook.com/ProvPacRI and twitter.com/ProPacRI. Cover and above photo credit: Corey Martineau
Sincerely,
Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. Chairman of the Board
J.L. “Lynn” Singleton President
SEATS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS PPAC’s Seats for Service Members program gives members of the Rhode Island National Guard and their families the opportunity to experience live theater first-hand by providing free “preferred seating” to the Theatre’s Broadway performances throughout the year. PPAC created the Seats for Service Members program as a means to express the community’s gratitude and appreciation for our service members’ outstanding sacrifices and courageous efforts. This program is fully funded by generous donations from our community and would not be possible without the help of our sponsors.
2013 – 2014 PROGRAM SPONSORS Nordstrom Nortek MetLife Auto & Home Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems The Rhode Island Commodores Taco/The White Family Foundation TD Bank
Cast of Sister Act. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.
Bank of America Coastway Community Bank Thomas and Colette Fay Johnson & Wales University National Grid Navigant Credit Union New England Laborer’s Health & Safety Fund New England Laborer’s Labor Management Cooperation Trust
Photo Credit: Shane Photography
ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS Generously supported in part by The Textron Charitable Trust and Ocean State Charities Trust
Since 1996, PPAC’s ARTS Scholarships programs have provided financial assistance to qualified, talented Rhode Island students who wish to attend local, summer arts education programs that further develop their abilities in a chosen area of study.
Photo Credit: Matthew Pacific
Each year, 30 scholarships are awarded to Rhode Island students aged 11 – 14. Since the program’s inception, PPAC has granted $230,000 in scholarships to nearly 500 youngsters, affording each recipient a summer vacation filled with artistic exploration, challenge, and achievement.
FROM BOOKS TO BROADWAY Generously supported in part by The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation
From Books to Broadway exposes middle and high school students to the Theatre by providing free tickets to Broadway shows combined with a cast member ‘meet and greet.’ The program brings Broadway show information into the schools in a way that emphasizes the show’s educational aspects, as well as information about production values, costumes, and other theater topics. Visiting cast members discuss their education, experience, and how they entered touring theatricals; in some cases, the cast members may even demonstrate some of their skills. To date, this program has given hundreds of students the rare opportunity to attend a live Broadway performance along with the personal connection of meeting cast members and gaining insight into their theatrical careers.
BANK OF AMERICA ARTS SHOWCASE Each year, the Bank of America Arts Showcase enables 10,000 middle school students to attend PPAC during regular school hours to experience for FREE the joy and creativity of live theater. Performed on the PPAC stage by local professional performing arts groups, the Showcase is designed to entertain, educate, and inspire student audiences in new ways. Since the program’s inception in 1998, more than 150,000 Rhode Island middle school students have attended and enjoyed free live performances at PPAC!
ctober 17, 2013 O Carlos de Leon Rhythms of Latin America
March 6, 2014 Keith Michael Johnson Bubbleology
January 23, 2014 Aerplaye (New!) Demystifying Modern Dance
March 20, 2014 Pendragon Music in the Celtic Tradition
February 6, 2014 Andy Kelly’s Jazz Ambassadors (New!) American Jazz – New Orleans to Now
Photo Credit: Caitlyn DiPompo
2013 – 2014 PERFORMANCE DATES
Photo Credit: Shane Photography
CAMP BROADWAY ® Generously supported in part by The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Foundation
The authentic world of Broadway comes to Providence through this one-of-a-kind program, lead by a nine-member staff of New York theater professionals. Each year at Camp Broadway, 100 children ages 10-17 experience the magic of presenting a show in a professional, interactive environment. Held each August, the fun, intensive day camp is designed to teach the fundamentals of a Broadway production, through classes and workshops in singing, dancing, and theater arts; lunch with professional artists; Camp Broadway T-shirts; and a Family Finale performance – all in only five days! Thanks to a generous grant from The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation, PPAC offers ten Camp Broadway scholarships each year to financially needy children, allowing them to attend the Camp for free.
WONDERS OF THE WURLITZER The Theatre’s 1927 Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ is one of only three of its kind left in the country, and PPAC’s organ remains the only fully-functioning Wurlitzer in that group! To highlight this rare treasure, the Wurlitzer free concert series was presented for the first time in the Spring of 1988. Since then, it has remained a regular part of the Theatre’s annual show schedule and has developed its own loyal following. Concerts, which are held from noon – 1pm on select dates throughout the season, are free to the public and attract more than 4,000 people each year.
ANNUAL GALA & RESTORATION Each season, PPAC’s Annual Gala brings together over 500 supporters from within our community for an elegant evening of entertainment and spectacular food prepared by Rhode Island’s top restaurants. Contributions to the Annual Gala benefit the Theatre’s Restoration Fund, which is set aside for building repairs and upgrades. Most recently, PPAC completed brick, parapet, and waterproofing restoration on the Weybosset Street façade. HVAC upgrades will be completed this season to provide better cooling in the Theatre balcony as well as energy-efficient window replacement in the Loew’s office building. Please celebrate PPAC’s Annual Gala immediately following The Phantom of the Opera on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 7:30P.
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
ETHEL MERMAN
DIONNE WARWICK
ANDY WILLIAMS
SANDLER & YOUNG
SERGIO FRANCHI
BEN VEREEN
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
1991
TONY BENNETT
MARVIN HAMLISCH
CATS
LIZA MINNELLI
LES MISERABLES
STARLIGHT EXPRESS
1992
1993
1994
1995
1997
1998
MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBER
JULIO IGLESIAS
WILL ROGERS FOLLIES
PHANTOM MASKED BALL
MISS SAIGON
RIVERDANCE
2000
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
DISNEY’S BEAUTY & THE BEAST
IRISH TENORS
AIDA
HAIRSPRAY
THE PRODUCERS
THE LION KING
2007
2008
2008
2010
2010
2012
WICKED
LIZA MINNELLI
DOLLY PARTON
JERSEY BOYS
RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
MARY POPPINS
Photo credit must be: The Original National Tour Company of MARY POPPINS performs “Step In Time.” ©Disney/CML. Photo by Joan Marcus.
ANNUAL GALA HISTORY
Photo Credit: Matthew Pacific
VOLUNTEER GREETER PROGRAM
Photo Credit: Caitlyn DiPompo
Now in its seventeenth season, PPAC’s Volunteer Greeter Program offers an exciting opportunity for high school students to volunteer their time at the Theatre. Greeters welcome patrons to Broadway performances, answer questions, and assist PPAC’s Marketing Department in implementing surveys and other promotions. Adult Greeter Coordinators, who also volunteer their time, oversee the greeters on performance night. This program provides a great opportunity for students to develop their conversation skills, increase their confidence levels, and experience live Broadway musicals!
VOLUNTEER USHER PROGRAM The PPAC volunteer usher staff is among the most dedicated group of people you’ll ever come in contact with…and if you’ve attended a performance at PPAC, you have been in contact with at least one of the 300 members of that group! Seating, directing, and assisting upward of 3,200 patrons so they can comfortably and safely enjoy the performance is no easy task. They dedicate thousands of hours each season to ensure things run smoothly at every performance. Ushers are students, members of the community, and local business people. Many are senior citizens who have been performing this civic act continuously for more than 15 years. In their service to the Theatre, they have become a family and have forged relationships that last a lifetime.
2013/2014 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. Chairman
Mark T. Ryan, Esq. First Vice Chairman
Thomas A. Tanury
Second Vice Chairman
Ellen Barnes Secretary
J. Joseph Kruse Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS Richard L. Bready Gabriella DiGiacinto Caprio The Honorable Lincoln D. Chafee Scott Connolly Darren Corrente, Esq. Jason M. DaPonte Richard E. DiChiaro Thomas P. Fay Robert G. Flanders, Jr., Esq. The Honorable Gordon D. Fox, Esq.
Gary E. Furtado Ari Gabinet Jay Howell Lowell W. Kinch The Honorable James R. Langevin Cynthia Laughlin Barbara S. Lavine E. Robert Lupone Paul A. MacDonald Lori Merola William D. Moore Terrence P. Moran George H. Nee The Honorable Joseph R. Paolino, Jr. Gary M. Penfield Lawrence E. Purtill Jo-Ann Ragosta The Honorable Jack Reed Thomas J. Rossi David Salit
Stephen Shechtman, Esq. James Skeffington, Esq. Robert F. Stoico Donald R. Sweitzer The Honorable Angel Taveras Zeno Trabucchi Gregory Troy Susan Weiner Stanley Weiss John Hazen White, Jr. William A. White William K. Wray
MARKETING Elizabeth Benedetti
OPERATIONS/HOUSE Nick Berardinelli
Sharon Corcoran
Betsy Menders
Paul Hiatt
Matthew Pawlik
Caitlyn DiPompo
David Luongo
Matthew Pacific
Bruce Ingham
Hayley McGuirl
Bob Armour
Leah Fellman
Stephanie M. Paul
TRUSTEE REPRESENTATIVES Steven Costantino (The Honorable Lincoln D. Chafee)
Gonzalo Cuervo
(The Honorable Angel Taveras)
Seth Klaiman
(The Honorable James R. Langevin)
Raymond D. Simone
(The Honorable Jack Reed)
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF J.L. “Lynn” Singleton President
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTORS Alan J. Chille General Manager
Norbert H. Mongeon, Jr.
Director of Finance & Programming
P.J. Prokop
Director of Marketing
Donna L. Santos
Director of Ticketing
Kelly Milukas
Director of Concerts
Christopher J. Myers
Director of Information Systems
Cynthia A. Goldsmith
Director of Special Projects/ Assistant to the President
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Rosemary A. Sienko-Koehler Office Manager
Adriane Schoen
Executive Assistant for Development
Lisa Crowell
Development Assistant
Inez Bush
Receptionist/Lost & Found Recovery
Senior Marketing Assistant Direct Response A.E. Group Sales Representative Marketing Projects Coordinator New Media Coordinator Marketing Intern Marketing Intern
Jessica Lundquist Marketing Intern
BOX OFFICE Stephanie Santos Box Office Manager
Tara Edwards
Box Office Supervisor/The VETS Box Office Manager
Annette Chaunt
Box Office Supervisor
Richard DeFilippo Box Office Supervisor
Amanda Bonafine
FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES Judy Ferreira
Michael Ceci
Keith J. Labrecque
Elizabeth Rainone
Heather M. Bizon
Dustin Marrs
Linda Haddock
Booking Manager
Programming Assistant Administrative Assistant to the GM IT Assistant/SharePoint Administrator
Operations Manager Events Manager
Concessions Manager Director of Security House Manager
Assistant House Manager President’s Club Liaison
BACKSTAGE Todd Snow
Technical Director
Bill Brackett, III House Carpenter
Anthony Ciaramello, Jr. House Electrician
David Allen
House Sound Engineer
Michael Araujo
Business Agent – I.A.T.S.E.
Peter Vecchio House Propman
Controller
Senior Accountant Accountant
Human Resources Coordinator
Follow us on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/ProvPACRI Follow us on TWITTER at www.twitter.com/ProvPACRI
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2013/2014 Contemporary Classics Series Media Sponsor
The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation
2013/2014 Broadway Season Media Sponsor
2013/2014 Broadway Series Sponsor
The Providence Performing Arts Center would like to thank the following sponsors:
PPAC Square 220 Weybosset Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903-3783
PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER