2019 RI Theater Awards to Take Place at Columbus Theater Sunday
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2019 RI Theater Awards to Take Place at Columbus Theater Sunday
Think Tony Awards in Providence.
The awards show recently made news when it found itself briefly without a location after the Diocese of Providence pulled McVinney Auditorium, which had been the venue in 2018, in response to an op-ed Motif published that was critical of Bishop Tobin’s statements about PRIDE.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMany community venues volunteered their space in the wake of that incident, and one of those was the historic Columbus Theatre. “With its beautiful restoration of its 1920s interior design, its history of supporting the arts and its spacious interior, The Columbus seemed the most theatrically appropriate choice,” said Motif publisher Mike Ryan. Its central location and relatively easy parking were also factors. “We were thrilled and humbled by the generosity of the whole community in reaching out and offering many fine homes for the event, and greatly appreciate the Columbus for working with us.” Last year’s event drew roughly 500 fans of live theater.
Categories in the award ceremony recognize all aspects of production, including honors for outstanding performances in plays and musicals, direction, choreography, costume design, set design, devised theater and even concessions and much more.
Eight different theater groups will perform during the show.
These scenes, mostly musicals, will include shows by The Academy Players, Theater by the Sea, The Community Players of Pawtucket, The Wilbury Group, Community College of RI, Bristol Community Theatre, OutLoud, Contemporary Theater Company and Trinity Repertory Company. That collection of theaters reaches from the East Bay to Narragansett, Wakefield, Pawtucket, Providence and other spots across the state.
According to Motif, 67 awards will be presented - many winners were selected by popular online vote over the past few months, while others were selected by specialists or a panel of critics. There will be a few special achievement awards and an in memoriam segment.
A Community Champion Award will be presented to Bert Silverberg for his lifetime supporting the theatrical arts. Silverberg is a Professor of Theater at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Doors at 6:15, show at 6:45 at The Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway in Providence. This free-to-the-public annual event is an occasion to celebrate the depth and variety of Rhode Island’s professional, community, independent and university theater scenes, as well as recognize the best of the best from this past theater season (July 2018 – June 2019).