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Providence preps for Bright Night 2010
Celebrate New Year’s in Providence

Updated: Wednesday, 30 Dec 2009, 7:08 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 30 Dec 2009, 6:09 PM EST

* Reported by Nneka Nwosu

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Providence will usher in the New Year with its annual Bright Night celebration.

Events will take place at 15 different venues, including the Convention Center.

Illusionist David Garrity will put on the headlining performance. The last WaterFire of the year will be lit along the Providence River, and work by local artists will be on display.

About 40,000 people are expected to take part in the festivities, now in their seventh year.

Festival Director, Adam Gertsacov, says, “it’s one of the events of the year that really is about the local performers and celebrating, what I call, Rhode Island’s most important cultural asset, its artists.”

He adds, “the biggest thing about Bright Night is the sense of community. It’s an amazing sense of community for downtown Providence this one night, it’s a big city, but this one night it seems like it’s a small town everybody’s friends everybody’s happy having a great time.”

Tickets cost $15 each, or you can get four for $50.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/12/30/go/6691520.txt

The Back Bay Puppeteers Cooperative’s Babe the Blue Ox marches in an earlier First Night Boston Grand Procession. (submitted)

Ah, it’s finally here. Christmas is over (you can tell because Valentine’s Day candy is on store shelves) and it’s the bright dawning of a new decade.

But first, you need to figure out how to say “Good Riddance 2009!” in style and remember that it’s your last night to go crazy before all those pesky resolutions kick in. With the Attleboro area ideally situated between Providence and Boston, deciding where to go can be harder than figuring out what shirt to ring in the new year with.

There has been some chatter that New Year’s Eve isn’t the celebration it used to be. Well, the directors of the two biggest celebrations in New England don’t think so, and have created a lineup that’s jam-packed.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s going down on New Year’s Eve, from Bright Night in Providence to First Night in Boston:

Bright Night

A continuation of First Night Providence, Bright Night was started in 2003 when First Night ended. A group of artists banded together to make sure that New Year’s Eve celebrations weren’t cancelled altogether. This year they came closer than ever to not being able to host the night, especially after the Providence Tourism Council and the City of Providence bailed on funding.

Artists gathered in late November to figure out if they would be able to continue. They decided to go for it, and according to Adam Gertsacov, the festival director of Bright Night, they started a grassroots campaign to raise money. The City Workers Union and the an anonymous donor gave money to not only keep WaterFire lit this year, but the whole night. Forty percent of Bright Night is funded by private donations, and the rest is made of ticket sales.

Gertsacov said they have received a great response from the public, too.

“I don’t think people have lost interest in celebrating New Year’s Eve. Fairs and festivals have done brillantly during the recession. It is harder running them,” Gertsacov said.

Paul Robicheau’s Ice sculptures, above, and fireworks, below, are always a big draw for First Night. (Submitted)

Despite that, Bright Night has enough activities to keep one entertained.

“There’s not much of a difference (this year). It’s not much smaller. There is still the big show at the Convention Center,” Gertsacov said.

That big show is the IllusionQuest, performed by David Garrity. Known for passing things through a person and escaping while suspended upside down over a bed nails, he has wowed audiences all over the world.

Tickets for Bright Night are actually wrist bands. When you buy the band, you also pick the illusion show time you wish to watch (first come, first serve). That will leave you open to pick your events for the rest of the evening.

“I would rather have a festival everybody loves than one that makes a lot of money,” Gertsacov said.

Bright Night will be filled with clowns, puppets, musicians, artists, and Grammy Award-winner Bill Harley will also be among those performing. Harley, a Seekonk resident, is best known for the children’s songs he’s written and performed, and is a contributor to NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Bright Night takes place throughout the downtown. There will be no fireworks, but WaterFire will be lit at two locations: WaterPlace Basin and Memorial Park. After midnight, WaterFire in Memorial Park will be celebrating it’s 15th birthday. Wrist bands are $15, or $50 for four, and are available at www.brightnight.org or by calling 401-621-6123.

First Night

First Night (which should be more aptly named Last Night, as it’s the last night of the year) has everything one could look for while celebrating the advent of a new year. Fireworks, ice sculptors, dancers, and all that jazz (literally) are scattered around the city in such a way that your can pick and choose your pleasure.

“It’s the start of a new decade, so we are trying to have an exciting night,” said Geri Guardino, executive director of First Night.

The Bright Night grand procession goes through downtown Providence. (submitted photos)

Guardino, like Gertsacov, said she has seen little evidence of a waning interest in New Year’s Eve. In fact, she said Monday that there has been an 18 percent sales increase in Web purchases for the First Night button, and that day was also the start of the heaviest buying period.

With so many choices, Guardino recommended looking at a program guide or the Web site to plan the evening.

“You should plan to go to three or four programs and to mix those with the Grand Procession,” she said. The procession leaves from the Hynes Convention Center at 5:30 p.m.

Guardino said families can enjoy the family festival at the Hynes from 1 to 5 p.m. with time to spare to see the procession. For adults, she recommends coming later in the day and making the procession the first activity before grabbing dinner and catching some performances.

Fireworks will be going off at 7 p.m. over Boston Common and at midnight over Boston Harbor.

As for the ice sculptors, they are scattered around Beantown. Donald Chapelle has carved a breathtaking rendition of Michaelangelo sculpting the Statue of David. You will find that on Boston Common. Eric Fontecchio and Alfred Georgs, meanwhile, have created “Venus” and “Fisherman” in Copley Square. “Penguins,” also carved by Chapelle, will be located outside the New England Aquarium, and a creation from “The Secrets of Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000 BC” exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts will be on display near the Boston Common Frog Pond.

First Night highlights you might want to check out include Kaiju Big Battel, described by Guardino as Japanese wrestling and a monster movie; Anat Cohen for two performances at Berklee Performance Center on Mass. Ave., with the second show aired live on WGBH’s “Toast of the Nation”; and a taste of comedy with Tony V and Jimmy Dunn.

“If you want to get a button and go hide and see films all day, you can do that, too,” Guardino said, referring to the Bombay Cinema event taking place from 12:30 to 11 p.m. at the Hynes Convention Center.

First Night buttons are $18 and be purchased at www.firstnight.org.

If you are worried about getting to, from and around the Hub on New Year’s Eve, public transportation services have been expanded, and starting at 8 p.m., they’re free. The Blue, Orange, and Red Line trains will operate on a weekday schedule and will run until about 2 a.m. Commuter rail service will also operate on a weekday schedule. Outbound train from South Station to Providence, which normally leaves at 11:59 p.m., will depart at 12:45 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. There will also be a 1:45 a.m. departure to Providence from South Station. New Year’s Day service will operate on a Sunday schedule. For more information, go online to www.mbta.com or call 617-222-3200.

Patriot Place

If you prefer to ring in the new year closer to home, Patriot Place in Foxboro will host a variety of events, from CBS Scene to Bar Louie and Showcase. Thirty bucks will get you into Bar Louie for their Totally ’80s NYE 2010. It includes a small buffet, champagne toast, and cover.

CBS’s “Countdown to Midnight” includes DJ Mike Pardi, the band Crossing Country, party favors, a champagne toast, and prize giveaways. Starting at 9 p.m., it costs $20 to get in (before that is free).

Showcase Cinemas De Lux will let you choose a late night movie of your choice, reserved seating, champagne toast, dessert buffet, and watching the ball drop on the big screen, all for only $20.10. Showcase Live, on the other hand, is having a prix fixe dinner for $30 that includes a champagne toast and dessert samplers while the band New York Minute performs.

At Tastings Wine Bar and Bistro there will be a champagne toast, music, dancing, and party favors. Reservations are required.

Ring in 2010 with Bright Night event in Providence
see full article online with photos!

By Linda Murphy
Special to The Herald News
Posted Dec 24, 2009 @ 04:06 PM
Providence —

The lights may have gone out for this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Fall River, but the party’s still on in Providence, though its Bright Night celebration almost faced the same fate.

Saved in part by a private anonymous donor, the Bright Night festivities will be illuminated by the ever-popular Waterfire, rather than fireworks, and will feature the magical mayhem of David Garrity’s IllusionQuest for three separate shows at the R.I. Convention Center. “He’ll make your jaw drop in awe,” said Bright Night Festival Director Adam Gertsacov. “Bring an extra pair of socks because he’ll knock your socks off.”

The finale of his show features Garrity escaping from a chained table before 32 steel spikes descend from above the table. Garrity, a master illusionist whose show started at Six Flags New England, has performed the family-friendly magical act all over the United States as well as Finland and Sweden. He’s scheduled for three shows, 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., and because Bright Night organizers are guaranteeing admission to one of the 3,000-seat shows they’re selling only 9,000 Bright Night wristbands, good for free entrance into all festival events.

Some of the events start at noon, including half-price skating at the Bank of America Skating Center in Kennedy Plaza and Gertsacov, a professional clown, P.T. Barnum impersonator and flea circus impresario will lead off the evening opening ceremony at 5 p.m. at the skating center. More than 50 different acts with more than 160 performers are planned at venues throughout the city including the Big Nazo Puppets, who will stage two all ages rock and roll puppet creature extravaganzas at The Roxy Nightclub, 79 Washington St. at 5 and 6:30 p.m.

Multiple shows from mentalist Rory Raven, sword-swallower Matt the Knife and spooky storyteller Mark Binder are on tap at AS220 Café, 95 Empire St. The Beneficent Sanctuary, 300 Weybosset St. will host jazz with Greg Abate, The Knuf Said jazz quartet and the acoustic Celtic sounds of Fishin’ With Finnegan.
The Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. will open at noon and will feature alternating performances by Sparky’s Puppets and Take Two Tandem Tellers: Anne-Marie Forer and Cindy Killavey through 5 p.m.
The R.I. Children’s Chorus, the Ocean State Children’s Chorus and the feminist WomanSpiritRising chorus will perform at Grace Church, 175 Mathewson St., where a candlelight service is slated at 11 p.m.

This year the festival lost all of its funding from its primary sponsor, the city of Providence but organizers have managed to raise funds through individual and business donations. Gertsacov said addition contributions are still needed to ensure payment to this year’s performers. “A lot of people are stepping up and saying, ‘how can we help’,” he said. “Businesses are giving more and the artists are giving more – that’s really exciting to see. The community has made this happen.” Funds continue to be raised through its 2010 campaign, in which they ask people to tell 10 friends to donate $20.

This isn’t the first time the Bright Night group followed the old show biz mantra, “the show must go on.” In 2003 a group of artists took over the annual New Year’s Eve event and refashioned it as Bright Night when a lack of funding threatened to cancel Providence’s First Night. “It worked out better than expected that year; we were able to pay every artist,” said Gertsacov.

To make a donation or for the full lineup of performers and venues, see the festival website at www.brightnight.org.

Wristbands purchased before Dec. 25 cost $10 after that date they sell for $15 each or 4 for $50. Choice of showtime to Garrity’s act must be made at the time of purchase.
To purchase a wristband online see www.ArtTixRI.com or call 401-621-6123. Tickets can be purchased in person at the following sites: ArtTixRI Ticket Booth 155 Westminster Street, all 16 Bank Rhode Island locations, East Side Marketplace, 165 Pitman St., Providence, OOP! Retail gift store, 220 Westminster St., Providence.

Providence Phoenix Picked us as the Editor’s Pick for December 31.
LINK TO PHOENIX

Recently, Mayor Cicilline announced with regret that the municipal subsidy for Bright Night — the successor to First Night — would be slashed by 75 percent. Some performances had to be cut from the schedule. Artists engaged to entertain the public on New Year’s eve would get paid less, or nothing at all.
Now comes “WaterFire Providence” with a gift that will go a long way to keep Bright Night going this year. “WaterFire” approached one of its anonymous donors with a request for a gift to be split evenly with the Bright Night organization. One donor came through big-time, giving $16,000. Anonymously.
We applaud all donors, and “WaterFire,” for their big-heartedness. As “WaterFire” celebrates its 15th anniversary — 11 flaming braziers on First Night of 1994 was the first “WaterFire” — we must not forget that it has been a boon for artists since its beginning (and restaurants, hotels and other local concerns, not to mention the city’s global reputation).
“WaterFire’s” magnanimity is the more laudable because, in spite of its huge popularity over the years, it still must beg and scrape for money to bring each lighting to the public. This year is no different. Folks who attend “WaterFire” this New Year’s eve (till 10 p.m. at Waterplace Park and till 12:20 a.m. at Memorial Park) should keep that in mind.