MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to our 2016/2017 Broadway Season! Thank you for joining us in celebrating 39 years of bringing the best of Broadway to Rhode Island! We are pleased to share some noteworthy information with you. PPAC will be launching the National Tour of MISS SAIGON in the fall of 2018, after a limited Broadway engagement in 2017. We were highlighted nationally via Playbill regarding this exciting tour launch. Have you ever wondered what PPAC’s backstage looks like? We are offering our patrons a behind-the-scenes look on our website with our brand new SHOW SIGNATURES gallery – read more on page 22. Providence Monthly did a special highlight on the backstage murals in their “Hidden PVD” series, which you can see in their September 2016 issue. Our community outreach program Camp Broadway® received a Special Drama Desk Award for introducing young people to the magic of theatre. Our Camp Broadway® attendees had the special opportunity to see this award while camp was in session. Our five-day program culminates in a Family Finalé performance, where invited Broadway actors perform with our young artists. Javier Muñoz, current star of HAMILTON, was a Featured Player in the 2004 and 2005 Family Finalés. Speaking of HAMILTON, stay tuned for more information about when HAMILTON will make its Providence debut at PPAC. PPAC values our longstanding relationships with our sponsors. We are thankful for the generous and continuing support of our Broadway Series title sponsor the Taco/White Family Foundation, our Broadway Season media sponsor WPRI 12, and our Encore Series media sponsor Cox. We also appreciate Navigant Credit Union for their sponsorship of ONCE and Coastway Community Bank for their sponsorship of 42nd STREET. Our Taco/White Family Foundation Broadway Series opens with the return of WICKED. PPAC has been proud to launch a total of twelve National Tours in recent years; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I brings that number to thirteen this November. A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER won the 2014 Tony Award® for Best Musical. The 2015 Tony Award®-winner for Best Play, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, has touched Broadway audiences with its sensitive portrayal of an extraordinary teenager named Christopher. The entire Serengeti will come to life for three weeks when Disney’s THE LION KING returns. CHICAGO just celebrated its 20th year on Broadway, making it the longest-running Broadway musical in American history. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA THE MUSICAL tells the story of a determined and brilliant young girl who takes charge of her own destiny. The Encore Series takes audiences on a roundtrip flight to Ireland, via New York City, with the return of the breathtaking love story, ONCE, set in Dublin. The quintessential backstage musical comedy, 42nd STREET chronicles Peggy Sawyer’s rise to stardom on Broadway. Finally, the international Irish dance phenomenon RIVERDANCE – The 20th Anniversary World Tour wraps up the Season in June 2017. Our Broadway Season also features RENT as a Special. The show is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of revolutionizing Broadway. We invite you to engage with us on social media. “Like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/ProvPacRI and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ProvPacRI. On behalf of myself and the staff at PPAC, thank you for making PPAC a part of your cultural life. Enjoy the show and Broadway Season! Warm Regards,
J.L. “Lynn” Singleton President, Providence Performing Arts Center 11