Black Rep and The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture & Tourism successful in the production of Sound Session '05 a genre-defying summer music festival.

 

Other news:

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 Company prepares 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.  

 

Xxodus Café Program Profile

 

Neon Soul has recently added a new element to the Saturday evening program, a live band called the Neon Soul Collective. This collective consists of local band Waterbed and some local vocalists and poets. This evening infuses live music with our house DJ spinning the hottest Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop and R&B.

Latin Jazz Legendary Salsero Carlos de Leon

Virtuosity has also had a few new additions. On one Monday every month a Youth Open Mic precedes the regular open mic.  The first night had a fabulous turnout of 175+!! This is now going to be a monthly event. In addition, during the Third Mondays of the month, open mic-goers can enjoy the sounds of house band Waterbed backing up any performer that steps up to the mic. This talented group of 3 men has the ability to incorporate almost any beat or rhythm you ask them to play. This is a great addition to an already fun night.

Equinox will now be starting at 8pm beginning in May.  At 10:30pm, House DJ Brown Hornet will be spinning music from back in tha day! The Friday night program has featured phenomenal musical acts, including: Alvin Terry, The Bill Pierce Group, The Ron Reid Group, The Orville Wright Group, George W. Russell, Leonard Brown, Paul Austerlitz and Real People, and Osmany Paredes, to name a few.  

Saturday Nights also have new changes for May.  8:00pm will be the start of another live Jazz night, which is followed by Neon Soul at 10:30pm.

Monday Evening Black Writers Workshop Series – with a lineup of well known writers

Thursday and Friday Evenings to open at 5:00pm

Thursday Evening Emerging Artist Series 6:00-8:00pm

Friday Evening Jazz Listeners Club – bring your favorite jazz CDs! 6:00-8:00pm

 

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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.