Archive

Live music, dance, food, and visual art installations transformed the city for a four-day, multi-arts take-over of public spaces, parks, and outdoor stages in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Artists from across the globe joined the Ocean State’s finest for a free outdoor party that inspireed the soul, fireed the spirit, and had thousands dancing in the streets. Produced by the City of Providence with founding partner FirstWorks.

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist and Tony-nominated theater artist chronicles an unseen history of America through a hand-picked selection from his epic 24-decade pop odyssey, ranging from murder ballads to disco and everything in between. Co-Presented by FirstWorks with the Brown Arts Initiative.

FirstWorks brought an eclectic mix of dance, music, and theater to Rhode Island this past season, providing new experiences for arts connoisseurs and young students alike.

Join FirstWorks for a free Artist Up-Close Conversation with Master Choreographer Dwight Rhoden, former Alvin Ailey principal dancer, and the legendary Desmond Richardson, first African American principal dancer of the American Ballet Theater. Moderated by Julie Strandberg, co-founder of The American Dance Legacy Initiative, Artist-In-Residence and Founding Director of Dance at Brown University.

FirstWorks and ASaP (Artists and Scientists as Partners) co-host a Master Class with Jillian Davis from Complexions Contemporary Ballet, in conjunction with the ASaP 2019 Symposium at Brown University.

A screening of short films hand-picked by the daughter of puppetry legend, Jim Henson of Muppets fame. Panel discussion with local stop-motion animators and puppeteers to follow.

A screening of family-focused short films hand-picked by the daughter of puppetry legend, Jim Henson of Muppets fame. Plus, accompanying hands-on activities for children ages 7 and up.

Join FirstWorks for an Artist-Up Close conversation with Heather Henson, innovating contemporary puppeteer and daughter of puppet legend, Jim Henson.

“An immersive environmental spectacle for the whole family” (Broadway World)
from the daughter of puppet legend Jim Henson.

A new chamber opera from Rhode Island composer Eric Nathan based on the incredible 24-year correspondence between poet Emily Dickinson and essayist, abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, and Colonel of the first black regiment in the Civil War, Thomas Wentworth Higginson.

Classical music and hip-hop collide!
The groundbreaking duo Black Violin blurs the lines between musical genres with their one-of-a-kind, family-friendly fusion of groove and strings.

Celebrate FirstWorks’ 15th season with a high-voltage evening featuring the runaway hit, Star Dust, a glorious dance set to the music of David Bowie performed by America’s first fully multicultural ballet company.

Ditch the long speeches and formal dinner for cocktails, music, entertainment and delicious hors d’oeuvres! We hope you will join us for a fun night of party + performance to celebrate fifteen years of FirstWorks.

“Where acrobatics are liquified into poetry” -NY Times
Celebrate FirstWorks 15th season with a “mind-blowing troupe of wildly creative and physically daring dancers who leap, fly, intertwine and break all the rules.”

Powerful, live performance experiences your students will never forget!

Join FirstWorks and Pilobolus for this exciting creative movement program for teens and
adults (ages 14 – 100). Pilobolus dancers and teaching artists will lead participants in a movement class based on physical improvisation.