Black Rep’s 10th Anniversary Season Highlights

Providence, RI – March 6, 2007 –The Providence Black Repertory Company is pleased to announce some of the exciting growth and accomplishments from its 10th anniversary season.

Theater at The Providence Black Repertory Company has crossed the halfway point in a remarkably successful season. Black Rep’s February 2007 production of Black Maria by Kevin Young was featured on the National Public Radio program “On Point” and PBS’s “Newshour with Jim Lehrer.”

Iaddition to making Theater accessible by donating hundreds of tickets to community groups such as the Providence Housing Authority, Youth In Action, Amos House and Dorcas Place, Black Rep has maintained its commitment to pay-what-you-can People’s Matinees each Sunday.

Black Rep’s Theater department made a considerable contribution to the local creative economy by employing more than 150 actors, directors, designers, and playwrights in the 2006-2007 Theater Season. The organization has paid out nearly $50,000 to these artists, most of whom are based regionally and locally. Additionally, In the 2005-2006 Season Black Rep had a $10,000 grant from the NEA for theater artist professional development. In the 2006-2007 Season the grant level was raised to $14,000 for master classes and professional development workshops around each production. In addition to facilitating more opportunities to produce new works such as Black Maria, Done, and The Etymology of Bird, the grant has also enabled eight Black Rep Affiliate Artists to make one-year commitments to develop their own original work collaboratively.

Public Programs at Black Rep have made similarly remarkable strides over the 2006-2007 season. Public Programs and Sound Session served over 240 artists working in the cultural traditions of the African Diaspora over the last year by presenting them on stage, providing them with access to a performance space, and giving them professional development and networking opportunities. The organization has paid out nearly $200,000 to these artists, most of whom are based regionally and locally. This is more than twice the number served in a similar window between 2005 and 2006. The Neon Soul Collective, a group of Black Rep affiliated artists committed to producing a unique sound rooted in the cultural traditions of the African Diaspora, gained two permanent members this year. Comprised of 10 artists, the ensemble workshops new music and performs weekly in the Xxodus Café as part of The Neon Soul Cabaret.

Saturday nights during the 2006-2007 Public Programs season also saw the fruition of the Creole Royale series for genre-defying artists. With three more genre-defying showcases planned this year, there will have been a total of 13 performances by unsigned and independent local, regional, national and international touring artists. Public Programs continues to build Black Rep’s reputation as a venue for emerging talent by increasing outreach and visibility. In the past nine months, Black Rep has established a base of nearly 1,700 friends on Myspace and 3,500 contacts via weekly email blasts in addition to hosting nearly 100,000 web sessions (defined as extended searches on the http://blackrep.org site) over the past year.

The Providence Black Repertory Company’s ability to provide humanities content and context for the art it produces is integral to the organization’s mission. Black Rep was awarded a large grant in fall 2006 from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities to pilot a series of programs featuring lectures, editorial and music produced in collaboration with humanities scholars. Nehassaiu De Gannes has acted as editor in chief for the first of two issues of Black Rep’s burgeoning institutional program zine, Black Notes, in addition to coordinating weekly folk-thought talkbacks for theater. Kera Washington has conducted one of two interactive musical lectures that are helping Black Rep to provide context for the music presented and produced in Public Programs.

Not to be outdone, Black Rep’s Education department continues to create strong institutional alliances with other civically and artistically minded non profits around Providence, including Community Music Works, New Urban Arts, City Arts, AS220’s Broad Street Studio, Everett Dance Theatre, English for Action, DARE, Providence Youth Student Movement, and Camp Street Ministries. Education programs at Black Rep partnered with The Paul Cuffee School, The Birch Vocational School, Very Special Aarts Rhode Island, The Providence Housing Authority, and The Providence Afterschool Alliance to conduct workshops in poetry, dance, theatre, music and video production, serving 360 youth in the Providence community. The classes, which are made available at no-cost to students, stress collaborative artistic creation while valuing each students’ cultural heritage and background.

One of the Education Department’s major highlights this year has been the development of a percussion ensemble comprised of youth from Birch Vocational School. The group, Birch Beats, has begun a 12-week introductory course in West African and Afro-Caribbean percussion. Students will continue to develop techniques in drumming and other percussion instruments while expanding their repertoire of West African and Afro-Caribbean rhythms and deepening their understandings of musical concepts such as tempo, dynamics, harmony, and polyrhythm.

Three youth leaders have been selected from Birch Beats to assist Black Rep Artist Educator, Nisha Purushotham in tasks related to public performances. While developing skills in the arts, these students are gaining valuable vocational skills creating performance set lists, developing instrument and equipment check lists, and overseeing transport of instrument and equipment to performance venues. The group’s first public performance was at the US Post Office in Providence’s unveiling of the Ella Fitzgerald stamp.

Timeless Jazz Returns To The Xxodus Café September 8th

Providence, RI – September 4, 2006 – The Providence Black Repertory Company is proud to announce the re-launch of its classic Jazz series, Equinox, at 7:00pm on September 8th at 276 Westminster Street.

The brainchild of The Black Repertory Company’s Artistic Director, Donald King, and acclaimed Boston saxophonist and professor of Music and African American Studies, Leonard Brown, Equinox began in 2004 with the goal of bringing high quality jazz to Providence and continued into the fall of 2005 with many more performances by artists who love playing to the intimate and receptive audiences in the Xxodus Café. This year musicians will not only be playing earlier sets, they will also be playing on our brand new baby grand Kawai piano.

“Equinox is a series that showcases a collective of jazz musicians who have come to call Black Rep home. By having our own piano, we are better able to create a venue and a home for these professional artists to hone their crafts,” says King. “Like a Providence Buena Vista Social Club, we provide a haven for talented artists to participate in residencies, experiment, and develop new and exciting music right here in Providence” King explains. “Equinox is a perfect example of our commitment to the creative autonomy and growth of our artists, the legacy of African-American musical traditions and to the music of the African Diaspora.”

This year’s series begins with an electrifying reprise performance by Leonard Brown himself, accompanied by George W. Russell, Jr. on piano, Alvin Terry on drums and Ron Madhi on acoustic bass. Traveling the nation with his group Joyful Noise, Dr. Brown has performed with nationally recognized artists including; Milt Jackson, Yusef Lateef, Frank Foster, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Bill Barron, and Ed Blackwell. Dr. Brown and a Joyful Noise open this year’s Equinox Jazz Series on September 8, 2006.

Osmany Paredes, who returns to the Xxodus Café on September 15th, was born in Santa Clara, Cuba. A pianist, composer and arranger whose style blends jazz with his Afro-Cuban rhythmic heritage, Osmany uses techniques derived from years of classical education. He last delighted Xxodus Café audiences during three packed afternoon performances at Sound Session 2006 and will have just played Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola with Jane Bunnett at Lincoln Center the week of his performance.

A self-taught drummer, Alvin Terry’s music is rooted in Funk, R&B, Jazz and Gospel. After moving to the Boston area from North Carolina, Mr. Terry began playing in a band that included guitarists, Felix Carter and Darryl Hubbard as well as bassist, Avery Sharp. Today he plays regularly with the music ministry at Grant AME Church in Boston and employs over 200 musicians in his own company, Flamtop Enterprises. With his strong, vibrant sound, Terry is sure to make his 2006 Equinox appearance on September 22nd a night to remember.

Equinox 2006 begins Friday, September 8th at 7:00pm in Black Rep’s Xxodus Café at 276 Westminster St. Performances continue on Friday, September 15th, and Friday September 22nd.

Black Repertory Company Kicks OffFall with Creole Royale On September 9th

Providence, RI – September 1, 2006 – In the spirit of Sound Session, The Providence Black Repertory Company is proud to announce its fall kick-off event, Creole Royale, at 6:00pm on September 9th at 276 Westminster Street. The event takes its name from the culture and language that speaks to all convergent strands of sound, be they elegant, avant-garde, traditional or funky.

“Creole Royale is a new music showcase for our public programs, which have been collectively designed to reflect the Creole nature and reality of this city, state and nation,” says Don King, artistic director of the Black Repertory Company. “By showcasing artists who work in different genres such as hip hop, rock, soul, house and calypso, we are acknowledging their connectedness and the worldwide musical contributions of the African Diaspora.”

Co-hosted by Salon Marc Harris of Providence, the first Creole Royale fall kickoff will be held in the back yard of the Xxodus Café at the Black Repertory Company on Westminster Street.

“The Black Rep has brought amazing talent to downcity and we’re excited to be working with them on Creole Royale,” said salon owner Marc Harris. “This neighborhood has a growing and diverse group of business owners and events such as Creole Royale show how well we all work together to bring people back to the downcity area.”

The outdoor event plays host to ApSci, an electro-tinged hip-hop duo based in New York City and Miss Fairchild, a Nantucket-based quintet that takes the soul of Sly and The Family Stone and adds a 21st-century flavor. Also performing will be local favorites Zawadi, a poetry-fueled, live funk collective, and Providence’s homegrown, organic hip-hop duo, Riders Against The Storm. Renowned Providence party-starters, DJ duo Certified Bananas, will round out the night, playing their infectious blend of reggaeton, hip hop, house, pop and r&b. In addition, outdoor vendors and street performers will entertain and delight guests.

Inside the Café, The Neon Soul Collective returns after a month-long break to tear the Xxodus roof off, but only after Boston’s hottest fashion designer, Conrad Lamour, premiers his latest line of swimwear and tailored men’s and women’s clothing. Hair and makeup will be provided by event partner Salon Marc Harris.

Creole Royale will be held at 6:00pm Saturday, September 9th at the Black Repertory Company, 276 Westminster Street, Providence. For more information, call the Black Rep at 401-351-0353.

Providence Black Repertory Company Announces Its 10th Season

(Providence RI, August 24, 2006) – The Black Rep's 2006-2007 Tenth Anniversary Theater Season includes an edgy classic, two world premieres, an electric reading series, and bold new ensemble work by the newly inaugurated Affiliate Artist Company.

What better way to kick off a tenth anniversary season than with The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe, a modern classic tracing the history of blacks in America – and yes, it's a comedy. Next up is Black Maria, an original stage adaptation by Artistic Director Donald W. King of Kevin Young's arresting and seductive “noir poetry,” which comes to the Black Rep mainstage after a successful workshop last season. Appropriately, the season finishes with Done by R.N. Sandberg – another world premiere that explores the sophisticated and tragically complex social dynamics between teens, a world all too rarely glimpsed on the American stage. In the midst of the mainstage productions, audiences can catch new plays showcased in the FIRST LOOK reading series.

A new element to the Black Rep’s season is the formal establishment of a group of Affiliate Artists organized under a common philosophy and aesthetic. “We have begun to assemble some of the most talented theatrical minds in New England to train, practice, and create,” comments Artistic Director Donald W. King. “Our Affiliate Artists are in a unique position to make theater that examines and challenges our national perception of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion in this post civil rights era.” Audiences will be able to witness the beginning of this process in December when the Black Rep’s Affiliate Artists present a workshop production.

The fact that this Tenth Anniversary Season is dominated by new plays makes a strong statement about the Black Rep’s ongoing commitment to develop and produce new American dramatic work from traditionally marginalized artists. “I have always been aware of the fact that some stories get told more than others,” says King. “We don’t have many places where our stories get told. I’m mindful of my responsibility to provide a forum for these stories that too often go unheard, to use the stage as a vehicle to make the unseen ‘scene’.”

Providence Black Repertory Company Artistic/Executive Director Donald W. King Teaches Brown University Students About the Social Evolution of Music

Providence, RI, Sept. 27, 2005—Artistic/Executive Director of The Providence Black Repertory Company (PBRC), Donald W. King, will be teaching this fall as an adjunct professor at Brown University, Department of Africana Studies – a relationship that promises to serve both institutions.Mr. King began his teaching relationship with the University during the spring semester of 2005 when he was invited by President Dr. Ruth Simmons to teach Advanced Staging and Playwriting. This semester, Mr. King is teaching a course entitled: From Bebop to HipHop: The Social Evolution of a Music; a course which encompasses the birth and maturity of the genre by analyzing the social, cultural, and political factors that affect and are affected by the existence of Hip Hop. “This class will interrogate Jazz and Hip Hop as a cultural force, ‘flash of the spirit’ and global phenomena emerging primarily out of West Africa, Jamaica, New Orleans and the ghettos of New York City and how it has influenced the world.” says Professor King.

King feels the community based public programs he curates at PBRC serve as a “living example” of the impact of a musical genre for his students. As The Providence Black Repertory Companyprepares to enter its ninth season, the institution’s Theatre, Education and Public Programming such as; Caribbean Culture Series on Tuesdays, Latin Jazz on Wednesdays, Jazz on Fridays and even the summer music festival Sound Session have brought musical genres to the community in a way that inspires hope, provokes thought and creates understanding.

As a life long resident of Providence and a graduate of the Brown class of ’93, Donald W. King recognizes how this association serves the students and people of the city. He states, “As the Artistic/Executive Director of PBRC, it is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my alma mater and engage the next generation of leaders. This partnership between PBRC and Brown University is also advantageous to the community because it creates a synergy between a prestigious university and a burgeoning community based arts institution that serves the people of Rhode Island.”

For more information regarding the public programs offered at the Black Rep. contact Micah Salkind
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Black Rep Becomes a living legacy for Providence Community Leader, Phil Addison

In a moving gathering of dignitaries, community leaders, and long-time supporters, the Black Rep paid tribute to the life and work of Mr. Phil Addison on April 14.  Addison, who became Providence’s first African-American city councilor, touched many lives during his years in public service – including that of U.S. Senator Jack Reed who briefly commented that the reason he came to the gathering “...was because of my grandfather’s love for Phil Addison...” Among other attendees included Mayor David Cicilline, Councilman John Lombardi, and Mr. John Murphy, President/CEO of RI Home Loan & Investment Bank.  Murphy, and Black Rep Chairman Michael Van Leesten, are long-time friends and colleagues of Addison.  Both men jointly collaborated to honor the former city councilor by unveiling the naming rights to the Black Rep’s soon-to-be-completed main stage theatre, “the Phil Addison Stage.”

Addison, in the hearts and minds of many Providence residents, personifies the unique diversity of the City, not just through its citizenship but in its leadership as well.  The community packed into Black Rep’s Xxodus Café where the former boxer, public official, community leader, and mentor to many was given much deserved praise by members of the community. 

“Honoring Mr. Phil Addison by naming our main stage after his legacy provides a unique opportunity for the Providence Black Rep to become a living monument to his life’s work … not just in our hearts, and minds, but in the creative work that will continue to take place on this stage in posterity,” says PBRC Artistic Director, Donald King. 

Van Leesten, a prominent community leader himself and active Chairman of the Black Rep, reflects, “When we honor people like Phil, we acknowledge the solid commitment of past leaders and help to develop a new leadership that will forward the vibrancy of our city’s culture, and secure the success of our robust arts community (that includes the Black Rep.)”

The construction of the main stage theatre is scheduled to follow the erection of a fire-code compliant staircase slated to begin work this summer.  The staircase will lead patrons from the main entrance and up to the second floor facilities where the Phil Addison Stage and other major theatre amenities, such as a lobby, dressing rooms, equipment storage, an A/V room, to name a few, will be housed.  The effort is part of the Campaign for the Black Rep, a comprehensive fundraising effort to renovate its new facilities.  A significant percentage of funds raised is contributed by city funds, and through city council bond allocations. 

Organizations like the Providence Black Repertory Company can provide living legacies for outstanding leaders like Mr. Phil Addison who cherish our City and communities.  If you, or someone you know, would like to make a contribution to the Campaign for the Black Rep, contact Jamie Brunson at (401) 351-0353 x 104.

 

News on Education
by Carissa Baquiran, Education Director

Talented Youth Showcase Work at the Black Rep

On April 8, over 200 students, artist educators, teachers and parents attended PBRC’s Youth Arts performance at the Xxodus Cafe.  The evening began with Seeds of Hope,  (students ages 10-13) guided by PBRC’s education director, Carissa Baquiran and PBRC artist-educators Nisha Purushotham with assistance from PBRC VISTA staffer Yakim Parker.  They re-enacted Eloise Greenfield’s story “African Dream,” about an African American girl who travels to her ancestral land.  The actors combined their own story poems about traveling to their own ancestral land. This project is a collaboration with URI Feinstein School of Continuing Education and was hosted by CITYARTS. This project is also supported by a grant from Verizon.  Seeds of Hope will be touring their show including performances at the CityArts parade on Broad Street (Saturday, May 14) and will be part of PBRC’s Theater Week on May 21. 

Paul Cuffee 5th and 6th grade students then took the stage.  The drumming group, led by Purushotham and Parker, performed five rhythm styles from Liberia, Ghana, Cuba, Columbia, and Haiti. The theater students under the direction of PBRC artist educator Maia Olff and Akela Marsh, performed an original piece inspired by African-American visual artist, Faith Ringgold’s “ Tar Beach”. Both projects are supported by a 21st Century Grant.  The Providence Black Repertory Company will return to Paul Cuffee this summer. 

The evening ended with a theater music project directed by Olff and RI Philharmonic musician Terell Osborne, with an original spoken word performance and group performance of an original song by students.  This program is part of the Drug-Free Communities Initiative of Pawtucket (DFC), enabled by a coalition of community-based entities including the Pawtucket Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, The Music School of the Rhode Island Philharmonic (DFC fiscal agency), The Providence Black Repertory Company, and the Pawtucket Housing Authority (PHA).

 

The Institute of Non-Traditional Leadership

For the last eight months, five non-profit organizations including DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality, PrYSM (Providence Youth Student Movement), EFA (English for Action), Camp Street Ministries, and the PBRC have banned together to learn about each other’s approaches to social change to form The Institute of Non-traditional Leadership. Together members of this group have studied using theater for social change, theories and practices of popular education, direct action strategies, deportation issues & the history of the Southeast Asian Community, and the importance and characteristics of community health workers and economic inequity.  The Institute has been conducted both in English and Spanish.  On June 9, twenty people who represent the communities of Providence, will soon graduate from this leadership development program.

Yakim Parker, an institute fellow and PBRC VISTA says, “During these eight months, we grew from being five separate groups into a family. Each session we welcomed each other into our organizations. We began by sharing a common interest then developed a common bond of social justice.” This graduation is a celebration of the small steps taken towards larger, long-term victories. Graduates from PBRC include: Eliza Domingo, Darryl Jett, LaRon Hanna, Yakim Parker and Angela Richardson.  

 

Reports from the Campaign Trail

THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION has awarded a $38,000 grant in continued support of its comprehensive marketing initiatives.

PROVIDENCE TOURISM COUNCIL has awarded a $30,000 sponsorship of Providence’s newest genre-defying music festival, Sound Session 05.

In partnership with the ARTSLITERACY PROJECT at Brown University, and by support of the ATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, the Black Rep received a $17,000 grant in 2004-05 towards partial support of the salary of the Education Director.  The Black Rep and ArtsLit have been in partnership to design and promote quality arts-literacy based educational programs and artist-educator training since 1999. 

The HARRY C., MIRIAM C., AND WILLIAM C. HORTON CHARITY FUND awarded a $5,000 grant towards general operating support.

GTECH has awarded a $5,000 sponsorship grant towards a new arts-literacy-based Public Program at the Black Rep entitled “The Black Writers Workshop Series.”  The program is designed to promote literacy, creativity, and cultural diversity while giving participants an overview of historic black writings. 

As part of the City of Providence Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative, the Black Rep has been awarded $5,000 to put together a festival in Billy Taylor Park in conjunction with the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association.  This grant will go towards performances by youth and community artists in conjunction with Sound Session ’05. 

If you, or someone you know, would like to make a contribution to the Campaign for the Black Rep, log on to www.blackrep.org and click on “How You Can Help.” Or call Jamie Brunson at 401-351-0353 x 104.