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 Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) - Providence, Rhode Island USA Posted by:  401Photos
N 41° 49.282 W 071° 24.754
19T E 299633 N 4632756
Opened in 1928 as Loew's Movie Palace, the theater now known as Providence Performing Arts Center is a "world-class facility hosting first-class Broadway touring shows, plays, contemporary acts, concerts, and much more." Fully renovated and stunning.
Waymark Code: WMZVFN
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 01/08/2019
Views: 1
The Providence Performing Arts Center is an absolutely marvelous venue for live events.
The theater's inception was rooted in the opulence and glamour of the 1920's, its interior "sparkling with gilding on intricate plasterwork, columns of imported marble, and huge crystal chandeliers." The business was successful for many decades, even surviving hurricane damages in 1938 and 1954.
It endured mid-century economic downturns and the nation-wide arrival of television, and then escaped demolition in the 1970's. PPAC has since undergone continuous renovations, additions, and improvements to restore its original grandeur and up-to-the-moment modernization.
Check out the "Show Signatures" link on the "History" page for a series of backstage murals by the productions performed at PPAC over the years.
Source: PPAC History
PPAC HISTORY
The Theatre, which is now called the Providence Performing Arts Center, was opened as Loew’s Movie Palace on October 6, 1928. It was designed by George and C.W. Rapp of Chicago, renowned theatre architects.
Loew’s philosophy was to sell tickets to theatres; this was the inspiration for building this opulent theatre which cost $2.5 million upon completion. On opening day, more than 14,000 people came to see Joe Stoves play the $90,000 Robert Morton organ, accompanying the film “Excess Baggage”. Most people came just to see the magnificence of the interior, sparkling with gilding on intricate plasterwork, columns of imported marble, and huge crystal chandeliers.
History and Renaissance
After several decades of sustained success, the theatre’s attendance declined mid-century as televisions gained popularity. In addition to mounting economic hardships, the Theatre suffered damage in the hurricanes of 1938 and 1954. The Theatre narrowly escaped demolition in the 1970's. Now, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and plays a vital role in the City’s ongoing renaissance. The stage house was expanded in 1995, a state-of-the-art sound system was installed in 1996, and the Grand Lobby and Arcade were painstakingly restored to their 1928 splendor in 1998. It is now a world-class facility hosting first-class Broadway touring shows, plays, contemporary acts, concerts, and much more. In place of the organ is a rare, five-manual Mighty Wurlitzer organ; the 28’ by 51’ movie screen again shines brightly with current and classic films.
In the summer of 1999, during Phase 1 of the Auditorium Restoration Project, the proscenium which frames the stage, the wall and ceiling areas under the balcony, and the front edge of the loge were meticulously researched and restored to their original ornate beauty. During Phase 2 in the summer of 2000, the restoration work on the ceiling and walls throughout the Auditorium was completed.
Modernization
In 2000, PPAC got a facelift with the addition of the Providence vertical and full color LED marquee. The entire Theatre was re-carpeted in 2000 in the pattern that duplicates the original from 1928. The summer of 2002 saw the installation of a state of the art computerized HVAC system which provides patrons with a more comfortable and enjoyable theatregoing experience. Standing ground water and asbestos were also removed from the basement during this project.
During the summer of 2003, additional sprinklers, smoke, and heat detection equipment were installed within the Theatre, along with new lobby audiovisual equipment including plasma televisions. In summer of 2004, the open fire escapes along Page Street and Richmond Street were replaced with covered, closed stairways for safer egress of patrons; branch wiring to fixtures and receptacles throughout the Theatre and Lobby were replaced; and a custom designed and built chandelier was placed in the main dome of the Theatre.
In the summer of 2005, the auditorium’s seats were replaced and an elevator that carries patrons between the Lobby and all other levels of the theatre was installed. In 2006, PPAC successfully completed a $7,000,000 Capital Campaign for Facility Improvements, under the leadership of Campaign Co-Chairs and PPAC Trustees Jack Kramer and Mark T. Ryan. This campaign raised funds for further capital improvement projects to complete the restoration of the Theatre to its original 1928 splendor. Today, the beauty of the Theatre combined with the excellence of the productions makes every event at the Providence Performing Arts Center a work of art.
Theater Name: Providence Performing Arts Center
Country: United States
Address:
220 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI US
02903
Web Site: [Web Link]
Venue: Other (specify in narrative)
Type of Productions:
Touring Broadway Productions
Plays
National and International Musicians
Concerts
National and International Dance Ensembles
Contemporary Acts
Restored Building: yes
Date of Construction: 1928
Architect/Designer: Rapp & Rapp Architects (Chicago)
Stage Type: Proscenium
Seating Capacity: 3100
Special Productions/Events/Festivals:
A small sample of shows:
Musicals
42nd Street (2005, 2017)
American Idiot (2013)
Annie (2001, 2006, 2016)
Cats (2007)
Evita (2006)
Hamilton (2019)
In the Heights (2011)
Les Misérables (2011)
Motown the Musical (2015)
Rogers & Hammerstein's South Pacific (2010)
Wicked (2007, 2010, 2014, 2016)
Young Frankenstein (2009)
Dance
Riverdance (2008, 2017)
Rocketts - Radio City Christmas Spectacular (2010)
Shen Yun (2013, 2014, 2017)
The Nutcracker - Festival Ballet Providence (Annually since 2000)
Contemporary
blast! (2016)
Blue Man Group (2011)
Manhnheim Steamroller Christmas (2018)
Movin' Out (2005)
On Your Feet! (2018)
Stomp (2011)
Tap Dogs (2019)
Concerts
The Boston Pops
John Mellencamp (2019)
Lyle Lovett and John Haitt(2019)
Black Violin(2019)
Tony Bennett (2018)
Bob Dylan (2018)
Beck (2014)
Joe Bonamassa (2012)
Alanis Morissette (2008)
The White Stripes (2005)
Living Colour (1991)
R.E.M with 10,000 Maniacs (1987)
Disney
Bear in the Big Blue House (2004)
High School Musical (2007)
Phineas and Ferb (2011, 2012)
The Lion King (2005, 2011, 2017)
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