When I spoke with Zan Berube recently, she told me that “Back to the Future: The Musical” was a “tech heavy” show. Berube plays Lorraine, Marty McFly’s mother, in the musical now on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The musical is based on the 1985 film starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea […]
PPAC
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Chicago’ heats up PPAC with Ellie Roddy as Roxie Hart
Ellie Roddy is only 25 years old, and she’s already checking off parts on her Dream Roles list. “The fact that I’ve gotten to play Roxie Hart is a big check mark.” Roddy is traveling with the national tour of CHICAGO, opening at the Providence Performing Arts Center this weekend. A native of Orlando, Roddy […]
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What’s Up Interview: Rob Barraco of Dark Star Orchestra, band playing PPAC Wednesday, March 12
The Music Never Stopped … Deadheads and fellow travelers, get ready to party … Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra is coming to town. The band will play their 3224th show (yes, they keep track) and their first show ever at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30. They surpassed […]
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As Real as it Gets – Jason Isbell provides a clinic in great songwriting in solo concert at PPAC
If you weren’t at the Providence Performing Arts Center last night, you missed one of the best shows of the year. Yup, already! On what felt like the coldest night of winter, the Alabama-born singer warmed hearts with a solo performance in a show that rivals anything I’ve seen in recent years. Isbell excels in […]
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Theater Review: ‘Life of Pi,’ a story of hope and survival, a major hit at PPAC
Great theater can take you away for a couple of hours, immersing you in a story as your connection to the narrative deepens. Life of Pi, playing at the Providence Performing Arts Center through Sunday, February 16, does just that. It’s a powerful, captivating, and unforgettable tale, filled with fascinating characters, both human and animal. […]
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What’s Up in Music this season: We preview the statewide winter concert scene
Things aren’t slowing down at all on the local music scene, with a wide variety of concerts scheduled over the next three months ranging from indie-rock to classical. Here’s a statewide rundown of some notable shows coming your way over this winter season. Ragged Island Brewing brings back the popular Barn Sessions with shows highlighting […]
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Meet cast members of HAMILTON, playing PPAC through December 22
The blockbuster musical Hamilton has returned to the Providence Performing Arts Center, and by all accounts, the show is as strong as ever. The Broadway spectacle, now on its third run in Providence, plays through Sunday, December 22. Very few tickets remain – Click here for details. For those unfamiliar with the groundbreaking musical, here’s […]
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Concert Photos: Mannheim Steamroller brings holiday spirit to PPAC
A holiday tradition returned to Providence on Friday, December 6, when Mannheim Steamroller stopped by the Providence Performing Arts Center. The award-winning 15-piece ensemble presented their Christmas show, featuring popular hits along with dazzling effects, before a near-sell-out crowd. Percussionist/composer Chip Davis founded the American neoclassical collaborative in 1974. They’re known for blending classical music […]
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What’s Up Interview: Newport native Nora Eschenheimer, starring in Trinity’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
NOTE: The 2024 production of Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol at the Providence Performing Arts Center runs through December 4, and again from December 26-29. The show is on hiatus from December 5-25 when the theater hosts HAMILTON. Click here for details. A Rhode Island tradition for theater lovers is back – Trinity Rep’s production […]
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MAMMA MIA! breaks box office records at PPAC
The smash-hit musical MAMMA MIA! has broken box office records at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), becoming the highest grossing one-week Encore Series engagement in the venue’s history. The production, which played November 12-17, 2024, grossed over $1,572,000 and welcomed nearly 24,000 attendees over its eight performances. This success smashes the previous record-holder, LES […]
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Theater Review: ‘A Beautiful Noise’ indeed – Neil Diamond musical is a hit at PPAC
The hype is real. The Broadway hit A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: The Neil Diamond Musical, which kicks off its national tour this week at the Providence Performing Arts Center, is an entertaining night of song and storytelling packed with the legendary singer’s hits along with a peek into the life of the character who shaped them. […]
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Meet the cast of ‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: The Neil Diamond Musical,’ playing PPAC September 21-28
The National Tour of A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: The Neil Diamond Musical kicks off this weekend at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The show runs Saturday, September 21, through Saturday, September 28, with limited tickets still available. Click here for details. A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is the story of an artist’s rise from struggling songwriter to international […]
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Tickets for ‘Hamilton’ at PPAC go on sale on August 13
The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) has announced that tickets for the highly anticipated ‘Hamilton’ musical will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. The tickets for the 11 Tony Award winning musical will be available for performances at the PPAC box office and online via pp lacri.org. When the […]
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MAMMA MIA! coming to PPAC in November
The smash hit musical “MAMMA MIA!” will be in Providence, R.I., this November, the Providence Performing Arts Center announced Monday. “MAMMA MIA!” will be performed at the Providence Performing Arts Center from Nov. 12 to 17, 2024. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. A box office window […]
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What’s Up Interview: Tommy Gardner, aka Tommy Buoy of Yachtley Crew, playing PPAC July 27
Yacht Rock enthusiasts, prepare “sail away” with Yachtley Crew, a band guaranteed to “make your dreams come true.” The band cruises on into the Providence Performing Arts Center where they’d “really like to see you tonight,” (well, July 27), and even better, you don’t have to be a “Rich Girl” or boy to attend. Appearing […]
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Providence Performing Arts Center offering Arts Scholarships to Middle School Students
The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) has announced that 60 to 80 middle school students will have the opportunity to receive $600 scholarships to enroll in summer arts classes. Donations from the Textron Charitable Trust, the Ocean State Charities Trust, PPAC’s Annual Fund donors, and WPRI 12 made the Arts Scholarships program possible. The program […]
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Meet the cast of Moulin Rouge! – Playing PPAC through December 31
Looking for some vacation week fun or a last-minute Christmas gift? Look no further than the Tony Award-winning musical Moulin Rouge!, playing at the Providence Performing Arts Center through December 31. Tickets are still available here for most performances of the stage show, based on Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 2001 film which starred Nicole Kidman and […]
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Concert Photos: Bush rocks Providence Performing Arts Center in high-energy show
A capacity crowd was on its feet all night long as rock stalwarts Bush brought a high-energy show to the Providence Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, November 21. Thirty years after they broke out of the London rock scene, the band brought hits from throughout their career, including “Everything Zen,” “Glycerine,” and “Comedown.” Next up […]
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What’s Up Interview and Ticket Giveaway: We speak to Mike Love of the Beach Boys
Only one music group gets the designation of “America’s Band.” That band, of course, is The Beach Boys. Under the leadership of founding member Mike Love, the band tours regularly, averaging about 150 shows a year. They’ll be appearing at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 16, and we’ve got two free pairs […]
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Ticket Giveaway: Tower of Power to play PPAC with RI Philharmonic October 28
Need a dose of soul power? We’ve got the cure! Legendary Oakland, CA band Tower of Power will join the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra for a special concert at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 28. Thanks to our friends at PPAC, What’sUpNewp has two pairs of tickets to give away to the […]
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Concert Recap and Photos: Van Morrison as good as ever at the Providence Performing Arts Center
Van Morrison thrilled fans in the first of two shows at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 22. The legendary artist, known for hits like “Have I Told You Lately,” “Brown-Eyed Girl,” and “Moondance,” was particularly strong Friday night, driving his band through a high-energy set of rock, country, and skiffle classics along […]
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Bob Dylan returning to Providence Performing Arts Center November 10
Award-winning singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is returning to the Providence Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 10 for an 8PM concert. Tickets for the show go on sale Friday, September 15 at 10AM here. Considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan is known for such classics as “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Blowin’ in the […]
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Concert Recap and Photos: Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional rock PPAC
Longtime fans were on their feet for a high-energy show at the Providence Performing Arts Center on a warm Tuesday night in mid-July when 90s rockers Counting Crows and openers Dashboard Confessional took the PVD stage. Both bands rocked the house with their hits and more and shared the stage for a pair of encores, […]
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What’s Up Interview: Rus Anderson, star of ‘The Rocket Man Show’ at PPAC Friday, June 16
The Providence Performing Arts Center’s “Cool Summer Nights” concert series continues Friday, June 16, with the Elton John tribute band “The Rocket Man Show.” I spoke with Rus Anderson, star of the show last week, as he was preparing for an East Coast swing ahead of a tour of the UK. “I’m very grateful that […]
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‘Six Picks’ Events: What’s Up in RI this weekend (May 12-14)
Get ready for a very busy Mother’s Day weekend with events happening all over Rhode Island. Here are a few good ones in our weekly column, “Six Picks Events.” All Weekend: Celebrate sailing and more and this weekend with nine days of fun at the Ocean Race Stopover at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. […]