Fall Arts Preview

For such a small state, we’re huge in artistic talent. Whether your cultural affinity is theatre, dance, music or visual art, there’s something new to enjoy in Rhode Island practically every week in the fall.

Theatre
The Artists’ Exchange hosts art, theatre and music classes, and is home to both a Black Box theatre where their 12th annual production of A Christmas Carol will take place, and Theatre 82, which hosts performances by EPIC Theatre Company. These Ruthless Bitches, a work inspired by Clare Luce Booth’s The Women, goes up September 4-19. After, The Terrifying Tales of the Brothers Grimm takes the stage October 2-17.
50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 401-490-9475, www.artists-exchange.org

Trinity Repertory Company’s 52nd season opens on September 10 with Julius Caesar, the Shakespearean classic, but with a twist: Caesar is played by company veteran Anne Scurria. Holiday classic A Christmas Carol opens on November 7, followed by Wendy Wasserstein’s Tony Award-winning The Heidi Chronicles on December 3.
201 Washington Street, Providence. 401-351-4242, www.trinityrep.com

Pawtucket’s Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre opens its 31st season with the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire, running September 17-October 18. After, The Rant debuts on November 12. The moving drama about racial tensions is more timely and relevant than ever.
172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 401-723-4266, www.gammtheatre.org

Westerly’s Granite Theatre has two unique choices this fall: Agatha Christie’s noir work The Unexpected Guest, running September 4-27, and the Broadway musical version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, running October 9-November 15.
1 Granite St, Westerly. 401-596-2341, www.granitetheatre.com

The always innovative Contemporary Theater Company offers rotating events like improv comedy, and collaborations with local schools, in addition to great theatre. This season, Buyer and Cellar, a hilarious one-man show about a fictional man who works in Barbra Streisand’s basement, opens September 11. The classic musical Sweeney Todd, about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, opens October 16.
327 Main Street, South Kingstown. 401.218-0282, www.contemporarytheater.com

In Warwick, the Ocean State Theatre Company stages The Addams Family from September 30-October 18, and the fun Around the World in 80 Days from November 4-22. Their holiday show, It’s a Wonderful Life, the musical, goes up December 2.
1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. 401-921-1777, www.oceanstatetheatre.org

2nd Story Theatre always chooses unexpected and entertaining works for their UpStage and DownStage theatres, like Dangerous Corner opening September 25, Neighborhood Watch opening November 13, and Story Theatre starting November 20.
28 Market Street, Warren. 401-247-4200, www.2ndstorytheatre.com

Wilbury Theatre Group opens their season with Dry Land, a play that takes place inside the high school locker room, on September 17. The theatre’s Playwright-in-Residence Ben Jolivet debuts his Cain + Abel on October 22.
393 Broad Street, Providence. 401-400-7100, www.thewilburygroup.org

Visual Art
If you want to know where your produce comes from, and that’s a one-day investment, shouldn’t you want to know where your art comes from too? West Bay Open Studios is a unique way to meet nearly 20 South County artists, who open their studios for tours, talks and demonstrations on October 24-25. The tour is self-guided and takes you through East Greenwich, Warwick, Exeter, North Kingstown and Saunderstown. www.westbayopenstudios.com

The Hoparts 10th annual Studio Trail is happening this year on October 17-18. Artists throughout Hopkinton and adjacent communities open their studios to share their creativity and inspiration. www.hoparts.org

Festival Fete brings art all over the state. Their second annual Thayer Street Art Festival takes over Providence’s College Hill on September 20, and their third annual Wakefield Art Festival happens on October 3. Keep your eyes peeled for holiday gifts at their December 3 Holiday Marketplace. www.festivalfete.com

Music and Dance
FirstWorks is an organization unlike any other. Who else can ever claim to have turned Providence’s Superman Building into a musical instrument? They bring in innovative, unmatched performances by national acts every season, starting this year with Cloud Eye Control on November 21 at the Columbus Theatre. www.first-works.org

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 71st year this season, starting off its classical series with Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto on September 26, followed by Beethoven’s Pastoral on October 17 and West Side Story on November 14. For shorter performances, check out the Friday night Amica Rush Hour Series, happening on October 16 and November 13.
1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 401-248-7000, www.riphil.org

Providence’s Festival Ballet starts its 38th season with Ballets Russes Reinvented on October 23. Their innovative, upbeat Up Close on Hope series is back starting November 13, while their beloved annual Nutcracker performances start on December 17.
825 Hope Street, Providence. 401-353-1129, www.festivalballetprovidence.org

Providence Ballet Theatre is staging a holiday production of Twas The Night Before Christmas on December 18-19, bringing the beloved classic to life with members of the company and the Providence Ballet School.
194 Oxford Street Providence. 401-861-4842, www.providenceballet.org