Providence Performing Arts Center

WPRI.com - The Theatre which is now called the Providence Performing Arts Center was opened as a Loew's Movie Palace on October 6, 1928. It was designed by George and C.W. Rapp of Chicago, brothers who became renowned as one of  the finest teams of theatre architects in America. The Loew's philosophy was to sell tickets to theatres - not movies; this was the inspiration for building this opulent theatre which cost $2.5 million upon completion.

On opening day, more than 14,000 people came to see Joe Stoves on the $90,000 Morgan organ and the film "Excess Baggage". Most people came just to see the magnificence of the interior, sparkling with gilding on intricate plasterwork, columns of imported marble, and huge crystal chandeliers.
     
Over the years, the theatre has survived many changes - it was nearly demolished in the seventies. Now, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and plays a vital role in the City's ongoing renaissance. The stagehouse was expanded in 1995, a state-of-the-art sound system was installed in 1996, and the Grand Lobby and Arcade were painstakingly restored to their 1928 splendor in 1998. It is now a world-class facility hosting first-class Broadway touring shows, plays, contemporary acts, concerts, and much more. In place of the Morgan is a rare, five-manual Mighty Wurlitzer organ; the 28' by 51' movie screen again shines brightly with current and classic films.
     
In the Summer of 1999, during Phase 1 of the Auditorium Restoration Project, the proscenium which frames the stage, the wall and ceiling areas under the balcony, and the front edge of the loge were meticulously researched and restored to their original ornate beauty. During Phase 2 in the Summer of 2000, the project completed the restoration work on the ceiling and walls throughout the Auditorium.

In October 2000, PPAC got a facelift with the addition of the Providence vertical and full color LED marquee. The entire Theatre was also re-carpeted in the pattern that duplicates the original from 1928.

The summer of 2002 saw the installation of a state of the art computerized HVAC system which provides patrons with a more comfortable and enjoyable theatre-going experience. Standing ground water and asbestos were also removed from the basement during this project.

During the summer of 2003, additional sprinklers, smoke, and heat detection equipment were installed within the Theatre, along with new lobby audiovisual equipment including plasma televisions.

In summer of 2004, the open fire escapes along Page Street were replaced with covered, closed stairways for safer egress of patrons, branch wiring to fixtures and receptacles throughout the Theatre and Lobby were replaced, and a custom designed and built chandelier was placed in the main dome of the Theatre.

The summer of 2005 saw the replacement of the Theatre's seats and the installation of the elevator that carries patrons from the Lobby to the upper floors of the Theatre.

The beauty of the Theatre combined with the excellence of the productions makes every event at the
Providence Performing Arts Center a work of art.