ARTS SHOWCASE AT
PROVIDENCE PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
For the 2021/22 academic school year, the Providence Performing Arts Center is again committed to bringing our Arts Showcase performances to the students of Rhode Island via our virtual platform. We began delivering pre-recorded live performances filmed at PPAC last year due to COVID-19 and we were able to reach so many more students. Due to the varying plans among school districts during our planning and booking season, we decided to stay safe and virtual for another year. We have been working with our national and local artists to have a full filmed schedule of performances in place which will be released between October 2021 and April of 2022. This virtual platform is available at no cost to all Rhode Island students grades K – 8.
In years past, the Arts Showcase brings Rhode Island students and teachers to the Providence Performing Arts Center to share in the experience of live entertainment. Each year, approximately 10,000 students attend free live performances of dance, music, or theatre with transportation provided. Last season, we were able to reach over 17,200 virtual viewers of our Arts Showcase Performances. This successful program creates an equal opportunity to expose all student to the arts!
Performances presented in the PPAC Arts Showcase feature both New England and nationally acclaimed touring artists. The artists are selected by PPAC based on artistic quality, cultural diversity, educational value and the positive message of the performances. Prior to each performance, the contact teacher receives a study guide to share with colleagues and to help in the development of curriculum activities. Following each performance, students and teachers are asked to submit a “report card,” grading the performance and offering feedback. This is sent out electronically through a digital platform. Following the performance each registered teacher will receive a link to distribute to their colleagues and students, so the student and teacher report cards can be completed electronically. You and your students’ feedback are very important to us. Your feedback helps us collect useful data for future funding, improve and build upon our program and helps with our show selection.
Viewing PPAC Arts Showcase performances is FREE; these performances are not available to the public. This program is an outreach program offered to Rhode Island school children and teachers only. YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE. Teachers who are interested in virtually viewing PPAC Arts Showcase performances with their students can complete a registration form from our website or request registration materials from Betsy Rinaldi at brinaldi@ppacri.org. (Please specify the PPAC Arts Showcase performance you are interested in registering for when reaching out.)
There will be a three-week viewing window for all performances except Finding North, which will only have a limited two-week run.
2021-2022 Virtual Arts Showcase Performances
HAVANA HOP: A CHILDREN’S TALE OF CULTURE AND CONFIDENCE
PAIGE HERNANDEZ – NEW!
OCTOBER 25 - NOVEMBER 15, 2021
Young Yeila dreams of being a superstar but her lack of confidence gives her awful stage fright. With advice from her mother and mentors, Yeila begins her journey to find her roots, get confidence and be amazing! Travel with Yeila who visits her grandmother in Cuba to add a salsa flavor to her own hip-hop style! The audience gets to dance along in this dynamic participation play where one actress creates three generations of lively women. Journey with Yeila as she discovers the fun of her multi-cultural heritage.
This performance is best for Grades Pre-K - 4.
Curriculum Connections: World Geography/Culture, Fine Arts, English/Language Arts, Storytelling, Music, Emotional Development, Self-Esteem, and Dance.
Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes
PAIGE IN FULL: A B-GIRL’S VISUAL MIXTAPE
PAIGE HERNANDEZ – NEW!
NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 17, 2021
Paige in Full is a visual mixtape that blends poetry, dance, visual arts, and music to tell the tale of a multicultural girl growing up in Baltimore, MD. The production explores how a young woman’s identity is shaped by her ethnicity and popular culture, telling a personal, yet universal, story through the lens of hip-hop.
To create Paige in Full, sibling-duo Paige Hernandez (writer and performer) and Nick tha 1da (musician) worked with Danielle A. Drakes (director) and Bryan Joseph Lee (dramaturg) to develop a story that speaks to a dynamic hip-hop influenced generation. Paige in Full draws upon a range of creative disciplines such as literary, musical, and visual arts.
This performance is best for Grades 6 - 8.
Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts, Biography, Culture, Self-Esteem, Character Development, Dance and Storytelling.
Runtime: Approximately 60 minutes
**Some content may be adult in nature; please review the study guide for more details.**
SHAKESPEARE’S TIME-TRAVELING SPEAKEASY
SHAKESPEARE TO HIP-HOP
JANUARY 10 – JANUARY 31, 2022
Shakespeare to Hip-Hop’s Shakespeare's Time-Traveling Speakeasy is a literary concert that provides an excellent, educational, and highly enjoyable introduction to the life and works of William Shakespeare (think: Shakespeare meets Hamilton). This multimedia presentation, featuring a slideshow and live band, engages and inspires students with lively original songs in a variety of American music styles including jazz blues, rock, hip-hop, and country, which provide information about Shakespeare’s life and his influence on our culture.
This performance is best for Grades 4 - 8.
Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts, Biography, Language Arts, History, Music and Storytelling.
Runtime: Approximately 55 minutes
FINDING NORTH
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DAVID GONZALEZ AND DANIEL CARLTON – NEW!
FEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 18, 2022
Finding North brings to life the powerful stories of the strivings, sacrifices, and dreams of John P. Parker, a former enslaved man who dedicated his life to helping enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad in southern Ohio. Drawn from historical research, Parker’s tale is woven together with verbatim interview material and oral histories from contemporary community members who tell their stories of searching for haven. A timely and provocative contribution to the national conversation about prejudice, privilege, and human rights, the play is both an exploration and celebration of the continuing quest for justice and freedom in America. Carlton will captivate the audience with his one-man performance of John Parker and all the other characters, while accompanied by Gonzalez playing blues guitar.
This performance is best for Grades 5 - 8.
Curriculum Connections: Biography, Language Arts, World Geography, History, Culture, and Storytelling.
Runtime: Approximately 50 minutes
EMERGENCE
FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 21, 2022
Emergence will feature excerpts from acclaimed ballets and new works. Same, by choreographer Yury Yanowsky, uses incredible visual effects and dynamic movement sequences paired with live music to show the power of artistic collaboration. Musician Josh Knowles accompanies the dancers on-stage, weaving his music throughout the dancing, both figuratively and literally. The score is improvised and set to enhance the live performance. Also featuring a world premiere choreographed by company dancer Eugenia Zinovieva, a new solo piece created by Yanosky, and exciting classical excerpts, this program celebrates Festival Ballet Providence’s return to the stage after more than a year and showcases the resilience of both the arts and the community.
This performance is best for Grades K - 8.
Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts, Dance, Storytelling, Music and Self-Expression.
Runtime: Approximately 67 minutes [ABLE TO BE VIEWED IN INCREMENTS; SEE STUDY GUIDE FOR DETAILS]
(for Grades K-3)
(for Grades 4-8)
RHYTHMS OF RESILIENCE
RHYTHM KITCHEN
MARCH 28 – APRIL 15, 2022
Rhythms of Resilience is a performance piece exploring music, dance, and spoken word sources of resilience, hope, and joy that connect us all as human beings. Celebrating the cultures of African diaspora, our musical journey begins with story and songs from the twelfth century Malian empire and goes on to span three continents and the Caribbean Islands. We land united in hope in present day America, looking forward to a bright future.
This performance is best for Grades K - 8.
Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts, World Geography/Culture, Language Arts, Music, Science, Mathematics and Self- Expression.
Runtime: Approximately 55 minutes