All Pawtucket All The Time

 Seating is very limited.  Reserve your seats today. 

“Society in Transformation: Dissent and the Velvet

PAWTUCKET, RI (March 9, 2010) –The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) is pleased to present an exciting series of educational and cultural events for the community celebrating the theater’s upcoming production of Tom Stoppard’s epic play Rock ‘n’ Roll. Inspired by Stoppard’s 2006 masterpiece and focusing on the fall of communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe — specifically 1989’s “Velvet Revolution” in what is now the Czech Republic — The Gamm will engage scholars and audiences in an ambitious series of lectures, panel discussions and talk-backs exploring the role of art, music, and theater in political transformation.

These events are sponsored in part by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and are open to the public at no charge. Seating is very limited. Please call 401-723-4266 ext. 10 to reserve your seats today. 

“Society in Transformation: Dissent and the Velvet Revolution”

Tuesday March 16, 7-9pm

Alexander Levitsky, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Brown University, will provide an in-depth, harrowing overview of Czech politics, describing key figures involved in the “Velvet Revolution,” and his own experiences as a refugee in exile from his homeland, the Czech Republic. Czech food and drinks will be served!

Since coming to Brown over 30 years ago, Professor Levitsky has held semester-long teaching engagements by invitation from Charles University, Prague, Hieronimus Pragensis College, Czech Republic, and Harvard University. Currently, he is a Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Brown University. Prior to 2004, Levitsky served as Chair of the Department of Slavic Languages for seven years and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Slavic Languages at Brown for over fifteen years.

“Ideology, the Arts, and Political Change”

Sunday May 9 following the 2pm performance of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Gary Thurston, Professor of History at the University of Rhode Island, will explore the dramatic events surrounding the complex issues in Stoppard’s play, providing historical and political context including: Eastern European history, political science, revolutions both personal and political, the power (and social role) of music and the arts, and the continuing influence of classical culture.

The timeliness of the issues will provide a springboard for deep discussion and profound examination of our own historical moment. The seismic shifts and revolutions of Eastern Europe resonate with America today as we witness the transformation of political symbols and the transference of power.

Professor Thurston received his Ph.D. from Columbia University and has published and lectured extensively on Russian culture and history. His current project is a book on “Soviet spaces.” Maureen Moakley, Professor of Political Science at URI, will moderate.

More Events to Come

Visit The Gamm’s website at gammtheatre.org for our exciting digital essay filled with music, films, and photographs from the explosive 1960s and ’70s, an era detailed in Rock ‘n’ Roll. Coming March 15.

 “Saved by the Belles”: A Performance Highlighting the Women of Linden Place Mansion

Bristol, RI – Three women played major roles in preserving Linden Place Mansion throughout its 200-year history and in honor of Women’s History Month, these women will be celebrated in Saved by the Belles, a series of living history performances, on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 3:00 PM. These interactive and family-friendly performances will take place inside the 1810 Federal-style mansion located at 500 Hope St. in Bristol, RI. 

Notable East Bay theatrical talents have joined together for the cause to continue the restoration and preservation of Linden Place Mansion which this year is celebrating its 200^th birthday.

Sarah Rogers De Wolf, who rented out rooms in the house during the late 1800’s in order to keep the mansion in the family’s possession, will be played by actress Carol Glanville. Glanville is an Andrews School teacher and facilitator of the well-known ‘History Kids’ at Linden Place.

Attend a poetry reading with Theodora De Wolf Colt, who fled Linden Place by coach with her family on a snowy, December night in 1825. She returned forty years later and spent her days restoring Linden Place to its original grandeur and planted Linden trees, giving the mansion its name. Theodora will be played by Roz Remington, who is an actress with Barker Playhouse, docent and tour guide for Linden Place.

Finally, enjoy a “music lesson” with Linden’s third and final belle, Ethel Colt Miglietta, who for many years summered at Linden Place and gave singing lessons in the mansion’s parlors. Ethel, daughter of actress Ethel Barrymore, will be played by Kate Grana, a talented classical singer, voice-over artist and songwriter.

Saved by the Belles was written and directed by Barbara Blossom, a veteran actress and drama teacher at the Linden Place summer camp.

In conjunction with this performance and the celebration of the mansion’s 200^th birthday, the Linden Place Museum will be open for free guided tours from 12pm – 3pm.  Guests are encouraged to visit the 1810 museum prior to attending the performance.  Admission to the performance is $15, $10 for seniors and students and $8 for Linden Place members.  Space is limited and reservations are recommended.  For more information or to make a reservation, please call 253-0390 or email info@lindenplace.org

Date: Tuesday, March 16th

Time: 3:30 pm

Place: Pawtucket Public Library Main Level in the Deborah Cook Sayles Building.

No RSVP is required

An open Invitation to the Pawtucket Community

The Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library cordially invite one and all to a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening of the newly painted main level of the Deborah Cook Sayles Library. Thanks to a generous grant from the Champlin Foundations, the building has been restored to its original beauty with new paint colors that showcase its decorative moldings and distinctive architecture. The Pawtucket Public Library is a complex of two historical buildings, the Deborah Cook Sayles Public Library and the Gerald S. Burns Building. Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mayor James E. Doyle and Trustee Chair Father Edward St-Godard will be cutting the ribbon at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, March 16 in the library that has proudly served the Pawtucket community since 1902.  Refreshments will be provided.

WHEN MAHALIA SINGS

Written and Directed by Jonathan T. M. Pitts-Wiley Mixed Magic Theatre

 Mixed Magic Theatre of Pawtucket, RI is proud to announce the coming production of When Mahalia Sings, a musically infused play, about the life and works of the “Queen of Gospel Music,” Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972). Mahalia Jackson was one of the greatest music artists ever to have lived. She was the foremost voice in the gospel music tradition and unique not only for her vocal virtuosity but also for the fact that over the course of her long, distinguished career, she remained true to her musical and spiritual roots and never ventured outside of the sacred music realm. She was also a pivotal agent in the progress of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s. This project is intent on exposing people to a legendary artist and political activist.

This performance will include Mixed Magic Theatre’s Exult Gospel Choir under the direction of Kimberly Morrison and will feature Barbara Bryant and Kim Trusty among others.

 What:  When Mahalia Sings

Where:  Mixed Magic Theatre

When:  Thursday March 25^th -Saturday April 17^th 2010

    Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3:00 pm

            Special Matinee Saturday April 17^th at 2:00 pmTickets:  $15.00        (General), $10.00 (Seniors, Students, Groups of 10 or ore)

  Reservations:    mixedmagictheatre@gmail.com  / 401-305-7333

Marc Tiberiis II, a senior here at JMW, won the English Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition on February 7th.  His performance of Shylock’s monologue from The Merchant of Venice, mesmerized his audience. His rendition of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 102 was also captivating.

Competing against 19 other competitors from schools such as Moses Brown, Wheeler, and Providence Country Day, Marc was able to claim the victory. Now that he has won the state competition he moves on to the national level. From April 24 to the 27th, he will get the opportunity to perform his monologue and sonnet at the Lincoln Center in New York City. If (and when) he wins, he will go all the way to England and spend 4 weeks at the British American Drama Academy. 

The JMW student body is extremely proud of him and we wish him the best of luck!

Winter/Spring Film Series Food, Inc.           

When: Wednesday, March 10^th 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Meeting House, 3850 Main Road

   Tiverton Four Corners, RI 02878

Admission: Free and Open to the Public

The Four Corners Arts Center is pleased to present Food, Inc., as part of our ongoing Winter/Spring film series.   This event is free and open to the public.  Please visit www.FourCornersArts.org for more information and directions.

Food, Inc. has been critically acclaimed for its exploration of the food industry’s effects on health and the environment. Filmmaker Robert Kenner documents the practices of our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized systems that have been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.  Currently, the nation’s food supply is controlled by a handful of corporations with potential effects on consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, and the safety of workers and the environment.  Examples include the agri-engineering of larger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad. The film shows how these practices have also produced new strains of E. coli as well as widespread obesity. 

Prior to directing Food, Inc., Robert Kenner received the 2006 Peabody, the Emmy for exceptional merit in Non-Fiction Film-Making, and the Greirson (British Documentary) for his previous film Two Days in October.  The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically by IFC Films and Red Envelopment Entertainment. www.FoodIncMovie.com

The Four Corners Arts Center is a federally approved 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation founded in 1993.  Our mission is to promote the arts at Tiverton Four Corners and the surrounding FarmCoast communities.    

401-624-2600 www.FourCornersArts.org   

 info@FourCornersArts.org

Arts Council ‘Open For Business’ Despite Possible Budget Cuts

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts announced it will hold a series of grant workshops throughout the state for individual artists, non-profit organizations and schools interested in submitting grant applications for the Council’s April 1 application deadline. These grant workshops are free and open to the public, and are being held despite concern over significant cuts proposed to the Arts Council in the coming year’s state budget.

“The arts are too important to our state’s economy and to the jobs of thousands of people who depend on an active arts community,” explained Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Executive Director Randall Rosenbaum. “The only message we can send to the many organizations, schools and individuals who depend on these small grants from the state is that the State Arts Council is ‘open for business’ and ready to support important programs throughout Rhode Island.”

Rosenbaum reported that the arts contribute an estimated $750 million annually to the Rhode Island economy, and employ over 11,500 people in our state, according to industry analysts at Dun & Bradstreet. The arts are a major contributor to the state’s economy, and thousands of other businesses and individuals depend on an active arts community for their livelihood.

Grant workshops for the April 1 deadline will be held in seven locations throughout the state:

• Thursday, March 11 from 3pm to 5pm at Woonsocket City Hall, Woonsocket
• Monday, March 15 from 4pm to 6pm at One Capitol Hill in Providence, as part of a workshop for individual artists on opportunities with Fractured Atlas, an artist service organization based in New York City
• Monday, March 15 from 5pm to 7pm at the Artist Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, in Westerly RI
• Tuesday, March 16 from 5pm to 6pm at the East Greenwich Free Library in East Greenwich
• Tuesday, March 16 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Craftland in downtown Providence
• Wednesday, March 17 from 5pm to 7pm at the International Institute of Rhode Island in Providence
• Monday, March 22 from 5pm to 6pm at the Old Colony House in Newport

Arts Council staff will be present to review current grant guidelines, and will be available to provide information and assistance to those interested in applying for support.

The Arts Council’s April 1 deadline offers opportunities for the support of individual artists, arts organizations, educational and non-profit organizations under the Project Grants category, which supports arts projects and arts in education projects. April 1 is also the deadline for grants to individuals in our Fellowship Program. At this deadline applications will be accepted from individual creative artists working in the disciplines of crafts, film & video, folk arts, fiction, poetry, playwriting/screenwriting, photography and three-dimensional art.

Those interested in attending should contact the State Arts Council offices at 401-222-3880 to reserve a space. All workshop locations are accessible to people with disabilities, but if any special accommodations are required people are encouraged to contact the Arts Council via phone or via email at info@arts.ri.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

Author and legendary local broadcaster Glenn Laxton spoke at the Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library Annual meeting on Saturday, March 06, 2010 about his newly published  book Hidden History of Rhode Island at the Pawtucket Public Library. The Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library was founded in 1962 and is a group of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who work to improve the Pawtucket Public Library’s facilities, collections, staffing, and provide special programs for the benefit of the community.

 William E. Tolman Class of 1990 will hold their 20th Reunion on June 26, 2010 at Twelve Acres in Smithfield, RI. Information on many classmates is still needed! Please contact Sharon Day at 401-374-1146 or postalshar@aol.com for more information.

THINKING DAY!

Recently the Girl Scouts of Pawtucket held their annual Thinking Day Night at St. Teresa Church in Pawtucket. This night helps the girls celebrate World Thinking Day which is held each February so that the girls can learn about issues in other countries and to celebrate international friendships.

Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community-one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

The theme this year was “Together we can end extreme poverty and Hunger.” The night started out with a flag ceremony at 6:15 were  10 troops participated this year and then they visited 5 tables based on other countries such as South Africa, Kuwait, Philippines, Peru and Germany. They learned about foods native to those countries, health issues, geographical concerns and some games & songs. The table on Germany taught the girls about the first Girl Scout troop called a Stamm which was started in 1909.  The table representing Peru, taught the girls about feeding a family of four on $1.00 a day & the table on the Philippines showed them about volcanos and nutrition and information on a traditional dance called the Sinulog.

The girls were treated to ice cream sundaes by the Pawtucket Service team members. Girl Scouts were asked to contribute to Dimes for Daisies and to bring a non-perishable food item(s) which were then donated to St. Leo’s Church food pantry. Over 100 food items were collected.