PPAC Report To The Community 2013

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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