Archive

Artistic icon Chick Corea has 22 Grammy wins—the most of any jazz artist, ever! He is both one of the most influential jazz artists of his generation and one of the greatest living jazz pianists. Chick and drummer Steve Gadd’s musical partnership is the stuff of legend—but the music is always new. It’s a coup to bring these venerated maestros to Rhode Island—catch them live on the brink of their new album release this fall!

Powerful, live performance experiences your students will never forget!

Live music, dance, food, and visual art installations transformed the city in a four-day, multi-arts take-over of public spaces, parks, and outdoor stages in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Produced by the City of Providence with Founding Partner, FirstWorks

Grab a beer and a delicious homemade pretzel while chatting with Chris Lashua, Artistic Director of Cirque Mechanics. Find out about his biking background, which led to a stint with Cirque du Soleil. Hear about his troupe Cirque Mechanics, who will be kicking off our FirstWorks Artistic Icons Series at The Vets on October 29 with their performance Pedal Punk.

You’ve never seen a circus like this! Hailed as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil” by Spectacle magazine, Cirque Mechanics returns to wow FirstWorks audiences with Pedal Punk, a dazzling whirl of acrobats, cyclists, and one-of-a-kind machines.

Arguably the greatest living choreographer across the 20th and 21st centuries, Paul Taylor continues to create works that are vibrant, powerful, and thoroughly new. This season FirstWorks celebrates Mr. Taylor with an expansive project connecting audiences with art, dance, music and American history.

Cranston St. Armory: Animated by Art uses the arts as a focal point to engage community stakeholders around envisioning a bright future and multiple creative uses for this historic site, built in 1907 in the heart of Providence’s West End neighborhood.

The sensational, world-renowned choreographer Rennie Harris—believed by many to be the best living hip-hop dancer/artist on earth—takes the FirstWorks stage with his namesake company in a 25th anniversary program featuring the most exciting, compelling and acclaimed pieces from their repertoire.

Featuring pipa player Yang Wei of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. Rhode Island’s own performance ensemble with a superb string quartet at its heart.

Professional Development and All-school Assembly. Great opportunity for Social Studies, History and Music teachers! CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FLYER

A day of workshops, community classes, discussion, design, lecture/demonstration, and art installations. In its fourth year, the ASaP Symposium explores holistic, artistic interventions for diverse populations. This year’s focus is on the power of design and the implementation of arts programming in the medical field. FREE REGISTRATION

American Dance Legacy Initiative invites all to participate in their annual Mini-Fest. Designed to build connections within the dance field and between the field and the general public, the event includes dance classes, workshops, presentations, performances, exhibits, and discussions.

The festival partners with FirstWorks, Rites and Reason Theatre, Urban Bush Women, Troupe Yeredon, Dr. Thomas DeFrantz and artists from Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and NYC to engage with students and the larger community in ceremony, performances, discussions, and workshops. TICKETS REQUIRED

Join us and members of Urban Bush Women as we wrap up their FirstWorks residency with a specialty brunch menu created by the culinary team at the Dorrance. Enjoy a mouth-watering buffet, relaxed conversation & soul-nourishing live jazz performed by Rhode Island’s own Travis Colby Band. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED.

A towering jazz masterpiece comes alive onstage with unbridled energy, innovative choreography and live music. TICKETS REQUIRED

Chromatic Fantasy: The World of Ciurlionis. Rhode Island’s own performance ensemble with a superb string quartet at its heart explores the intense cross-pollination of art, poetry and music at the turn of the 20th century.