Report to the Community
Message From The Chair & President
For nearly a century, PPAC has been a shining beacon of culture and artistry for Providence and the State of Rhode Island. Today, the Theatre continues to thrive, breathing life and energy into the region while driving economic growth, preserving the Ocean State’s rich cultural heritage and sparking passion in generations of theater enthusiasts.
The Report to the Community is your window into the heart of PPAC, offering a closer look at our initiatives, achievements and ongoing progress. We aim to share our mission - to serve, connect, preserve and maintain - while celebrating PPAC’s steadfast commitment to enriching the lives of people in our community. Here we highlight some of our remarkable accomplishments:
PPAC subscribers are thrilled with the 2025/26 Broadway series featuring titles direct from New York. The Encore series brings back fan favorites, ensuring a season filled with unforgettable performances.
PPAC has gained national recognition for launching Broadway tours. Last fall, we premiered A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL and SHUCKED. These productions not only serve as an economic catalyst for PPAC and Providence but also gives you the exclusive opportunity to experience these shows before they tour the rest of the country.
Each year, ARTS Showcase enables over 30,000 elementary and middle school students with the opportunity to experience the magic of live theater at PPAC during school hours or through virtual access designed to entertain, educate and inspire them in exciting and meaningful ways.
Experience PPAC creates the opportunity for every 10th grade student in Rhode Island to see a select touring Broadway performance at no cost including transportation, making participation accessible to every student. This year, almost 7,000 students enjoyed productions of MAMMA MIA!, & JULIET and SOME LIKE IT HOT.
Next Stop BROADWAY® transports participants aged 10-17 to the “Golden Age of Broadway” for a rigorous, five-day immersion into musical theater. The cast learns the music and choreography of iconic chorus numbers and the week culminates in experiencing the thrill of an Opening Night performance for family and friends.
The Ocean State Star Awards celebrates the achievements of students, teachers and designers involved in high school musical theater programs. In 2024, Abby Tuchon and Sebastian Rosa were selected as the Rhode Island nominees for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, otherwise known as The Jimmy Awards®. They made their Broadway debut on the Minskoff stage in New York City.
PPAC hosted a sensory-friendly performance of THE VANISHING ELEPHANT, an inspiring tale of resilience and friendship told through puppetry, illusion and magic. These performances provide a welcoming, judgment-free and inclusive experience for guests with diverse sensory, learning and physical needs.
With your continued patronage and support, PPAC remains steadfast in upholding our mission to the community. We invite you to stay connected with us by visiting ppacri.org and following us on facebook.com/ProvPacRI, x.com/ProvPacRI and instagram.com/ProvPacRI.
Thank you for being a part of the PPAC family. Together, we celebrate the magic of live theater and its power to transform lives!
Sincerely,
Joseph W. Walsh, Esq.
J.L. “Lynn” Singleton Chair, PPAC’s Board of Directors President & CEO
PPAC’S MISSION
To serve the entertainment needs of the State’s various populations by presenting the widest possible variety of high-quality arts and cultural events
To maintain fiscal responsibility 1 2 3 4
To connect the community to engaging creative performances and educational opportunities
To preserve the historic integrity and beauty of the building
PPAC is a non-profit organization with an ongoing commitment to give back to and demonstrate arts leadership in the community by:
Presenting community programs
Providing resources to local non-profits
Engaging in community collaborations
42,556 42,556 served through PPAC’s Community Outreach Programs during the 2023/24 season
Community Outreach Programs
Every dollar donated to PPAC’s Annual Fund and raised through the Theatre’s Gala Celebration is used to support our Community Outreach Initiative. Each year, this Initiative brings theater to life for thousands of audience members and emerging artists by making available low or no-cost programming.
• ARTS Scholarships
• ARTS Showcase
• Big Dreams Begin with Broadway (Seats for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island)
• Disney Musicals in Schools
• Experience PPAC
• From Books to Broadway
• Next Stop BROADWAY®
• Ocean State Star Awards
• PPAC High School Greeters
• Reignite Professional Development Series
• Seats for Service Members
• Sensory-Friendly Performances
• Teen Ambassador Program
• Wonders of the Wurlitzer
ARTS Scholarships
Since 1996, PPAC’s ARTS Scholarships program has opened doorways to the arts for Rhode Island students in grades 6 to 8 by providing financial assistance to enroll in summer education programs spanning the breadth of artistic pursuits. By providing opportunity when many students’ interests and capacities are rapidly evolving and coalescing, the ARTS Scholarships program provides critical access to the cultivation of creative thinking, confidence and selfawareness unique to artistic endeavors. Since the program’s inception, PPAC has granted over $375,000 in scholarships to over 800 students and counting!
ARTS Showcase
Each year, the ARTS Showcase enables over 30,000 elementary and middle school students to attend PPAC during regular school hours or virtually experience the joy and creativity of live theater. Performed on the PPAC stage by local professional performing arts groups and nationally acclaimed touring theater artists, the ARTS Showcase is designed to entertain, educate and inspire student audiences in new ways.
Since the program’s inception in 1998, more than 264,000 Rhode Island students have attended and enjoyed underwritten live performances at PPAC! ARTS Showcase performances are being presented both live to an audience and prerecorded at PPAC and virtually distributed at no cost to all registered Rhode Island students grades K-8. Transportation is reimbursed thus expanding the number of students who are able to participate.
34,033 SERVED DURING THE 2023/24 SEASON STUDENTS
In-Person – 13,472 Virtual – 20,561
Disney Musicals in Schools
In 2019, PPAC was selected as an affiliate organization for Disney Musicals in Schools which creates sustainable musical theater programs in under-resourced schools. We are currently able to serve schools in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket, Cranston, East Providence, Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick and North Providence. They are provided with free performance materials, professional development and in-school support from professional PPAC teaching artists to produce a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical at their school. Disney Musicals in Schools culminates with students performing at a Student Share Celebration on PPAC’s stage in June.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS for the 2025/26 SEASON EXPANDING TO
Experience PPAC
Experience PPAC creates the opportunity for every 10th grade student in Rhode Island to see a select touring Broadway performance at no cost including transportation, making participation accessible to every student. Show study guides are provided to schools prior to their specified performance so that they can engage in the educational material and creative concepts prior to attending. Working in close partnership with each school district, Experience PPAC supports the core curriculum work that teachers and students are doing in the classroom, bringing it to life through this experiential learning opportunity.
5,021 SERVED DURING THE 2023/24 SEASON STUDENTS
From Books to Broadway
From Books to Broadway exposes middle and high school students to the Theatre by providing underwritten 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.
PPAC High School Greeters
The PPAC Greeter program recruits high school students, aged 15 – 18, to welcome patrons by handing out program books and answering questions during Broadway performances. Adult Greeter Coordinators, who also volunteer their time, oversee the greeters on performance nights. This program provides a great opportunity for students to develop their conversation skills, increase their confidence levels and experience live Broadway musicals! If requested, students may receive community service hours for participating in this program.
Next Stop Broadway
Next Stop BROADWAY® transports local theater-loving youth ages 10-17 to the “Golden Age of Broadway.” Through workshops, classes and rehearsals, they tap their creativity, hone their skills and cultivate their passions in the collaborative context of the ensemble – all in one of the nation’s foremost independent theaters! This five-day, rigorous immersion into the music and choreography of iconic chorus numbers culminates in an “Opening Night” performance on the PPAC stage for families and friends.
NEXT STOP BROADWAY of the cast of 50%50%
received financial aid
in
2024 2024
In memory of Robert F. Stoico 1940 - 2025
PPAC would like to honor the legacy of Robert Francis Stoico and the tremendous support he gave to our From Books to Broadway and Next Stop BROADWAY® programs through the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation. The Foundation has generously supported these programs for decades; this funding has enabled students to attend Broadway shows at PPAC and to learn more about elements of theatrical production and performance.
Mr. Stoico, fondly known by all as Bob, was a man of outstanding character who worked tirelessly for 30 years to build FIRSTFED from a small federal savings and loan to a multi-million dollar financial services institution; he created the Foundation in 1977 to give back to the communities that FIRSTFED served. PPAC, and the many students who have benefitted from these programs, will be forever grateful for Bob’s vision, kindness and generosity.
Ocean State Star Awards
The Ocean State Star Awards program is designed to celebrate, support and advocate for high school musical theater education throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The program celebrates high school musicals, students and teachers by formally recognizing the extraordinary achievements of our region’s high school productions. To participate, schools register to have their production reviewed by a qualified team of adjudicators.
During the spring of each review period, PPAC hosts an award showcase to recognize the outstanding achievements of high school musical theater productions and students that is modeled after the Tony Awards®. The Ocean State Star Awards becomes a feeder program to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy® Awards in New York City.
Pictured on the right, Abby Tuchon from West Warwick High School and Sebastian Rosa from West Warwick High School were selected as nominees to represent Rhode Island at the Jimmy Awards in 2024.
2,057 2,057
28 PARTICIPANTS IN PRODUCTIONS
28
During the 2024/25 Season
Sensory-Friendly Performances
PPAC’s sensory-friendly performances create a guest experience that is welcoming, judgment-free and inclusive of guests with a wide range of sensory, learning and physical differences. The performance is modified for individuals with sensory needs as a regular performance may be too loud, too bright or too busy for people with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, anxiety or other cognitive/physical disabilities. PPAC works closely with our partners at The Autism Project to train staff, create break spaces for use during the performance and identify potential audiences.
Noise levels are capped at
Jason Mraz performed at PPAC in June 2024
The Vanishing Elephant performed at PPAC in March 2025
Family Magic featuring Bill Blagg Saturday, May 16, 2026
Big Dreams Begin with Broadway
LARGEST YOUTH MENTORING ORGANIZATION in Rhode Island
Big Dreams Begin with Broadway offers prime orchestra seats for Broadway or Encore performances throughout the season to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island (BBBS) to distribute to their “bigs” (mentors) and “littles” (children). For many children in the BBBS program, this may be the very first time they get to experience live theater or their first visit to PPAC.
Seats for Service Members
PPAC has been providing RHODE ISLAND SERVICE MEMBERS tickets since
PPAC’s Seats for Service Members program gives members of the Rhode Island National Guard/USO New England and their families the opportunity to experience live theater firsthand by providing underwritten “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.
Reignite DevelopmentProfessional Series
The Reignite Professional Development Series is an educational tool based in the performing arts and features over 50 videos on Costuming, Theatrical Lighting, Theatrical Sound, Scene Design, Theatre Arts, Movement/Choreography and Music/Vocal Arts. These videos are free to all Rhode Island educators who can earn professional learning units towards their certification. This gives educators tools they may need to put on a musical in their schools as well as use the arts to enhance the work they are already doing in their classrooms and provide additional support to schools participating in our Disney Musicals in Schools program. This video series was designed to assist schools that may be under-resourced or on a tight budget, so much of the content addresses how to work, create and find resources for free or low cost.
Workshops
Through the Ocean State Star Awards, PPAC hosts Workshops which provide participants with additional learning opportunities through the touring Broadway shows that come through the Theatre. Students receive feedback from industry professionals through artistic and technical performance training opportunities. These are only offered to schools registered in PPAC’s Ocean State Star Awards program.
by teachers since 2021/22
Wonders of the Wurlitzer
PPAC’s “Mighty Wurlitzer” is one of only three five-manual keyboard consoles ever built by America’s Wurlitzer Company. Built in 1927 to provide full musical accompaniment to silent films, the Wurlitzer was purchased by the City of Providence in 1982. Today, under the direction of House Organist Peter Edwin Krasinski, the Wurlitzer continues to wow audiences! Patrons attending select PPAC shows are treated to a special pre-show musicale. An annual calendar of free WOW@PPAC events invite audiences to unique community experiences featuring the magic of the Wurlitzer. Additionally, PPAC continues to grow an on-line library of free, holiday-themed entertainment available at ppacri.org/wow.
1
3 OF ONLY built by America’s Wurlitzer Company FIVE-MANUAL ORGANS 1 3
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 200 members of that group!
Seating, directing and assisting upward of 3,100 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 show. Ushers are students, members of the community, local business people and retired senior citizens - many have been performing this civic act continuously for more than 25 years! In their service to the Theatre, they have become a family and have forged relationships that last a lifetime.
During the 2023/24 Season, the usher staff served more than
29,000 HOURS 29,000
Teen Ambassador Program
PPAC is thrilled to launch our NEW Teen Ambassador Program for the 2024/25 season. This program is a vital leadership opportunity within our arts education programming for high school students. Each month, Teen Ambassadors are exposed to a different career track in the arts management industry and get firsthand knowledge from industry professionals.
Theatre Restoration
Restoration projects at PPAC are crucial for preserving its historical and cultural significance while ensuring the Theatre remains a vibrant, functional venue for contemporary audiences.
The marquee is the visual signature of PPAC, instantly recognizable and synonymous with the Theatre’s identity and it was in dire need of a makeover. The letters were removed and restored, the entire marquee was painted and a new filigree was added inside to light up the coil on the outside. Restoring the marquee preserves the architectural heritage of the building and ensures that is continues to light up the Providence skyline – drawing locals and tourists alike!
Gala Celebration
Each season, PPAC’s Gala Celebration brings together over 600 supporters from within our community for an elegant evening of entertainment and spectacular food prepared by some of Rhode Island’s top restaurants and catering companies.
Contributions to the Gala Celebration support PPAC’s Community Outreach Initiative which brings theater to life for thousands of audience members and emerging artists by making available low or no-cost programming.
GALA GROSSES OVER
Gala Celebration History
for PPAC’s Community Outreach Initiative
Board of Directors
Officers
Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. Chair
Mark T. Ryan, Esq. First Vice Chair
Thomas A. Tanury Second Vice Chair
Lowell W. Kinch
Treasurer
Ellen Barnes Secretary
Board Members
Kristen L. Adamo
Michael A. Bucci, LL.M., CPA
Gabriella DiGiacinto Caprio
William J. Conley, Jr., Esq.
Darren Corrente, Esq.
Jason M. DaPonte
Alison Eichler
Thomas P. Fay, CFA
Janet S. Fogarty, Esq.
David A. Fontaine, CPA
David L. Fried, MD
Inez H. Friedman-Boyce
Gary E. Furtado
Cynthia Laughlin
Barbara S. Lavine
Matthew A. Lopes Jr., Esq.
Paul A. MacDonald
Robin L. Main, Esq.
The Honorable Daniel McKee (Ex-Officio)*
Rick Metters
A. Ralph Mollis
Terrence P. Moran
George H. Nee
Nina Pande
Gary M. Penfield
Lawrence E. Purtill
David Salit
Christopher Satti
Stephen Shechtman, Esq.
The Honorable Brett P. Smiley (Ex-Officio)*
Robert Vincent
John Hazen White, Jr.*
William A. White
Patrick Wholey
William K. Wray
*Director Representatives
Antonio Afonso (The Honorable Daniel McKee)
Matthew Shumate (The Honorable Brett P. Smiley)
Benjamin White (John Hazen White, Jr.)
Administrative Staff
J.L.
“Lynn” Singleton President/CEO
Administrative Directors
Alan J. Chille
General Manager
Judy Ferreira
Chief Financial Officer
P.J. Prokop
Director of Marketing
Stephanie Santos
Director of Ticketing
Donna L. Santos
Director of Ticketing Projects
Janice Anderson
Director of Theatrical Programming
Amanda Bonafine
Director of Concerts & Comedy
Claudia Zompa
Director of Development
Dana Brazil
Director of Education, Outreach & Engagement
Ricky Gresh
Director of Community Programs / Executive Assistant to the President
Anthony Mylers
Director of IT Services
Administrative Support
Elizabeth Rainone
Executive Assistant to the General Manager
Lisa Viall
Office Manager
Pamela Halloway
Front Desk Receptionist
Brandon DeCesare
Junior Systems Administrator
Programming
Kathryn DeAmaral
Concert Buyer
Matthew Beaune
Programming Admin: Broadway & Theatrical
Jarrod White
Programming Admin: Concerts & Comedy
Board
Education, Outreach & Engagement
Betsy Rinaldi Manager
Grace Madeya Associate
Kathryn Dudeck Associate
Marketing
Sharon Corcoran
New Subs/CenterStage
Sales Rep
Paul Hiatt
Group Sales Specialist
Caitlyn DiPompo
Marketing/PR Projects Manager
Nick McNeish
Digital Media Specialist
Sophia Semco
Digital Media Assistant
Ella Menoche
Digital Creative Assistant
Box Office
Richard DeFilippo
Assistant Director of Ticketing
Tara Edwards
Box Office Supervisor/ The VETS Box Office Manager
Kelly Prudent
Box Office Supervisor
Marissa Curley
Box Office Supervisor
Domenic Arlia
Box Office Supervisor
Finance & Human Resources
Keith J. Labrecque
Senior Accountant
Heather M. Bizon Accountant
Jillian Robillard
Accountant
Linda Haddock
Director of Human Resources
House
David Luongo Director of Security
Mario Nasisi
Assistant Director of Security
Bruce Ingham
House Manager
Peter Edwin Krasinski
House Organist
Operations
Nick Berardinelli
Operations Manager
Matthew Pawlik
Concessions Manager
Jonathan Taylor Assistant Operations Manager
Ollie Huth
Assistant Concessions Manager
Backstage
Zachary Remson
Technical Director
Liam Newberry
Assistant Technical Director
Bill Brackett, III
House Carpenter
Charles Ryan
IATSE Business Agent
Peter Vecchio
House Properties
Amy Fernandez
House Electrician
David Allen House Sound Engineer
