Bright Night Providence to Celebrate Third New Year's
Eve.
This will be the third year that Bright Night has brought dozens of performances,
fireworks and other hallmarks of the holiday to downtown Providence. Before
2003, the celebration was First Night Providence. When the organization
realized that it lacked the funds to continue the show, a consortium of
area performers and artists, led by Adam Gertsacov, stepped in to organize
an alternative—a smaller-scaled, but still exciting and family-friendly
New Year's Eve celebration for Providence.
Gertsacov, who has since become Bright Night's director, was dressed
in a dramatic
purple topcoat and top hat for yesterday's press conference at the Providence
Children's Museum. He introduced Mayor David Cicilline to a small crowd
of reporters and performers in the Water Ways exhibit room of the museum.
"It's great to have this opportunity to highlight the artists of
Bright Night who help to showcase the city," Cicilline said. "Last
year, more than 60 performances took place in the downtown neighborhood
thanks to Bright Night."
Providing comic relief at the press conference, a couple of human puppets
of the popular Big Nazo troupe cavorted for the crowd after the mayor's
comments.
Then Gertsacov highlighted some of the performances and events scheduled
for this years New Year's Eve, including a first-time-in-Providence performance
by Chainsaw Juggling Ballet of a show called "Passing Zone"
at the Performing Arts Center. There will also be two fireworks displays,
one at 5:30 p.m. and the other at midnight, both from the State House
area and visible from the downtown arts venues.
This year more than ever, Gertsacov said, family is the focus, "with
something for everyone to do all day Saturday from noon on."
There will also be an emphasis on music, with performances by folk groups
including Atwater Donnelly, for the the first time at Bright Night. The
Providence Mandolin Orchestra will perform two sets. A Bright Night Blues
Bash will feature music by such groups as the Superchief Trio (formerly
the Smoking Jackets), and Dave Howard and the High Rollers. There will
also be a New Year's presentation of WaterFire, the bonfire display on
the city's rivers.
Tickets to Bright Night are sold for $10 as bracelets if purchased in
advance, and $15 on Dec. 31. They are available through ArtTixRI.com,
as well as at all branches of Bank RI, Eastside Marketplace, and OOP!
Stores in Providence Place and on Thayer Street.
For more information on Bright Night and the 2005-2006 performers visit
the event's Web site at www.brightnight.org
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