PPAC salutes 90th anniversary with day of free events
PROVIDENCE – When Loew’s Movie Palace opened Oct. 6, 1928, nobody could have foreseen events of the next 90 years.
Television cut into movie audience attendance. The building was damaged by hurricanes in 1938 and 1954, and in the late 1970s was slated for demolition.
Thanks to the work of visionaries and preservationists, however, the theater was not just saved but restored, expanded and re-invented as the Providence Performing Arts Center.
In honor of that history of endurance, PPAC invites everyone to a free 90th birthday celebration taking place all day and into the night of Saturday, Oct. 13.
The daytime portion of the celebration will take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the former Loew’s Theatre Building, now the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St. On the agenda:
Theater tours with general manager Alan J. Chille, at 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Magic shows with Mike Super at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Super is the winner of the NBC series “Phenomenon” and a top finalist on “America’s Got Talent,” who says he performs a new form of magic that goes beyond the trick.
Anniversary Celebration on the PPAC stage from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. with performances by School of Rock Attleboro, Billy Gilman, and organist Peter Krasinski on our Mighty Wurlitzer.
The School of Rock At- tleboro team comprises exemplary music students who study privately and rehearse together to “rock out” at community events including Cumberland fest and at McCoy Stadium.
Rhode Island resident Billy Gilman had his first hit single, “One Voice,” in 2000, and he was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts. He has sold 10 million albums worldwide and garnered awards and nods from the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, Billboard Magazine and the American Music Association. He was a fan favorite and finalist on NBC’s The Voice: Season 11.
Everyone sings “Happy Birthday” – and enjoys birthday cupcakes. This is all free, but PPAC asks for RSVPs with your name and number of people attending to make sure there are enough cupcakes; email Betty Benedetti at bbenedetti@ppacri.org.
The evening portion of the celebration will take place at Waterplace Park from 7 to 9 p.m. with a free concert by LA’s BackStage Pass – and fireworks.
LA’s BackStage Pass is described as “all things ’80s”: big hair, spandex, and exuberant rock music. The band covers hits from the era, including “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol, “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick, “Shook Me all Night Long” by AC/DC.