A Legendary RI Treasure Takes Grand Stage

Just when The Providence Performing Arts Center was grappling with final arrangements for its 2024-25 season – kicking off with back-to-back premiers of two national stage tours (A Beautiful Noise, Shucked) – President and CEO J.L. “Lynn” Singleton received an interesting email from Trinity Repertory and its executive director, Kate Liberman. A grand stage inspired a grand idea. Would it be possible for Trinity Rep to stage its annual rendition of A Christmas Carol at PPAC? Singleton, already ensconced in 2027 season prep, asked a simple question, “2025?” Liberman’s response took him by surprise. “Our scheduling is advanced, so, I’m sort of living in 2027 and 2028 right now,” remembers Singleton. “It looked like Charles Dickens’ holiday production required a venue change more immediate than expected.”

In fact, Liberman had anticipated displacement of Trinity Rep’s 48th season of A Christmas Carol due to imminent construction. The contingency plan however, to perform A Christmas Carol in Hope High School’s newly constructed auditorium, was fizzling as finishing touches (including the sound system) remained pending with no guarantee for holiday performance dates. So, the search for a theatrical venue began anew. “We started reaching out to all sorts of theaters and venues,” muses Liberman. “What happened was just extraordinary.” Lynn said, ‘What do you need?  How can we help?’ We feel so lucky and special to have this opportunity in Downcity Providence.” And so, the plotting began.

PPAC had two holiday shows long-booked for December – an encore run of Hamilton (Dec 11-Dec 22) and the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (Dec 6). “The major challenge was the two weeks of Hamilton smack in the middle of December, but, otherwise, the theater was available,” reports Singleton, “It will be a great experiment.” Since both shows were amenable, Trinity Rep booked the stage Nov 23 to Dec 4th and then Dec 26-29. “We are so grateful to our colleagues and friends at PPAC who have welcomed us to their venue to ensure our holiday tradition can continue,” affirms Liberman. Founding artistic director, Adrian Hall, launched Trinity Rep’s first installment of A Christmas Carol in 1976. Each year, the fable is reimagined, recast, and this year directed and adapted by Tatyana-Marie Carlo. Trinity Rep Resident Company member, Artistic Associate, and MFA faculty. Anne Scurria in her 46th season at Trinity Rep, stars as Scrooge. “We approach each new show with fresh eyes and a fresh team – new design, music, perspective. The scope of PPAC, with its storied tradition and history, of course impacts the production and how our director is approaching it,” says Liberman. Adapting to the scale of PPAC is a welcomed challenge for Trinity Rep.

The opulent gold leaf and red-velvet-embellished historic venue with its custom-crafted chandelier is an enchanting backdrop. The change will involve more layers of audience, and fewer performance dates. Singleton points out that Trinity Rep “won’t be engaging the entire 3,000 seat theater, instead about 2,000 seats which incorporate the main orchestra and Loge (primary balcony).” The collaboration emphasizes both theaters’ commitment to the Providence community. The economic impact of moving the month-long production out of the City of Providence during the holiday season was of primary importance. “So many businesses – besides our theater – would be impacted if we moved out of the city. Many theater goers are off to a holiday dinner or festive drinks at local restaurants, shopping, hotels and of course parking,” reports Liberman. Dating to 1917, Trinity Rep’s current building is on the National Historic Register but struggles to make physically accessible spaces available to all theater enthusiasts and community members who use it.

The Elizabeth and Malcolm Chase Theater, the upstairs theater, has not had a complete renovation since Trinity took residence in the building in 1972. The master renovation plan features innovative, reconfigurable performance and educational spaces, an LED-equipped lighting grid, new seats, and other significant upgrades, most notably an elevator, which will transform the experience for artists and audiences. Construction is expected to take 18 months.  Singleton confirms that PPAC will assist with marketing, sales, and social media as well as special offers and pre-sales to existing subscribers of both Trinity Rep and PPAC. Trinity Rep benefits from PPAC’s extensive customer base, which is eclectic due to its range of entertainment options: from Broadway to rock and roll. Long-time presenter, Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses, also donates billboard advertisements. Amica Insurance is the supporting sponsor for this production. “The production itself has been monumental. We have all learned new things and new ways of doing them,” summarizes Singleton. •

A Christmas Carol is adapted from the novella by Charles Dickens. Original music by Richard Cumming. Nov 23 – Dec 29, 2024. Show duration approx. 2 hours with one intermission. Tickets: trinityrep.com.