Featured in the Fall River News!

That's the second time this week!

First about our Family Fun Fest, and now about our headlining act!

Illusionist Ross brings magic to Bright Night

By Linda Murphy

Herald News Life Editor

Posted Dec 29, 2011 @ 04:49 PM

Providence —

Unlike Harry Potter, Brad Ross doesn’t have a lighting-shaped scar on his forehead and he wasn’t born with the natural ability to conjure up magic, but he knew for certain at a young age that he wanted to become an illusionist.

A magician who performed at his fifth birthday party and made it seem as though the youngster had conjured up a rabbit sparked Ross’ imagination. He started taking magic classes after school and by age 13, he was performing for pay at birthday parties. “The art of magic allows you to take a break from reality and let your imagination take over,” said Ross.

He eventually joined up with Disney Live! Presents Mickey’s Magic Show and the 27-year-old spent six years touring 25 countries and five continents with the Disney show. Along the way, he garnered a Merlin Award in recognition of his work entertaining children and families and he’s been featured on hundreds of television shows including the Rosie O’Donnell show.

Now the young illusionist is taking the next step in his career with his own show, with assistants in tow. A native of New Jersey, Ross said his early inspiration was fellow New Jersey native David Copperfield, but these days, he said he’s also drawing inspiration from “the classics” such as Houdini.

The headliner at Providence’s Bright Night New Year’s Eve festivities, Ross will be performing three shows (6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.) of his signature act, “Illusionary Magic.” “I’ve worked in some new illusions that I’ll be premiering at Bright Night,” said Ross. “It’s a very high energy show. I pride myself on incorporating the audience — whether it’s 100 people or a few thousand like Bright Night — into the show. My goal is to make the audience feel like they’re a part of the show.”

Wristbands to Providence’s Bright Night guarantee admission into one of the shows, which attendees will have to select when they purchase a wristband. Wristbands cost $20 adults; $15 for seniors and kids and are available through www.brightnightprovidence.org or on New Year’s Eve at select Bright Night venues including the Bank of America Skating Center, the Convention Center, the RISD Museum and the Providence Children’s Museum.

Email Linda Murphy at lmurphy@heraldnews.com.

Copyright 2011 The Herald News. Some rights reserved

Read more: http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x1569728651/Illusionist-Ross-brings-magic-to-Bright-Night#ixzz1hy3EosKm

Featured in Today's Providence Journal!

Today's Providence Journal features Bright Night Providence!


The article is pretty good and accurate,  although the Family Fun Fair is amazingly in just one room of the Convention Center.  (It's a pretty big room though!) Oh, and Marvin Novogrodski will be teaching a circus workshop, not performing.  (and yes, later he'll be stage managing!)






But overall, everything's right.  Come down and see for yourself!

(AND REMEMBER- tickets are $15 until December 30-- they go up to $20 on December 31.
Save yourself $5 and get them today!)

PRESS RELEASE: Bright Night's Interactive Family Fun Fest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR PRINT
KILL DATE 12/31/11
MEDIA CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV, 401-288-1231 adam@brightnight.org


INTERACTIVE FAMILY FUN FOR ALL AGES AT BRIGHT NIGHT
Bright Night Providence introduces a family fun fair from 12-5 pm that focuses on learning.


12/26/2011, Providence, RI

Learn how to spin a plate at the Bright Night
Family Fun Fest.
Photo courtesy of Bright Night Providence.

If you’ve ever had a hankering to learn how to wrap a sari, spin a plate on a stick, or figure out the dividing line between science and art, Bright Night Providence has just the right program for you. On Saturday, December 31 from 12-5 pm, you can learn how to do those things (and much much more) at the first annual Bright Night Family Fun Fest.


The schedule (see sidebar) will include three exhibits by new museum RIMOSA (the RI Museum of Science and Art), a sari-wrapping workshop by Indian dancer and educator Shanthi Muthi, circus workshops by Marvelous Marvin Novogrodski and participatory art stations supervised by celebrated puppeteer and artist Marc Kohler. Face painters from Creative Chica and well-known air-brush tattoo artist the Mad Tatter will also be on hand to liven up festival goers appearances.

“We’re very excited to be presenting our exhibits at Bright Night,” said Bonnie Epstein, executive director of RIMOSA. “We think this is a great opportunity to introduce our work to families that haven’t met us yet.”

BRIGHT NIGHT FAMILY FUN  FAIR featuring juggling workshops, music workshops, art workshops, RIMOSA exhibits, clowns, jugglers, and lots more. Also features the Bright Night's Got Talent Contest Winners! FAMILY FUN FAIR STAGE, hosted by Improv Comedy Group BYOI. 2 PM: Carolyn Dutra Dancers 3 PM: Keith Munslow- songs and stories 4 PM: The Rhythm Room- world music and rhythms NOTE: Bright Night's Got Talent winners will open for these artists! FAMILY FUN FAIR ACTIVITIES 12-5 PM: Free Facepainting by Creative Chica 12-5 PM: Science exhibits by RIMOSA 12-5 PM: Free Airbrushed Tattoos by the Mad Tatter! 12-5 PM: Free art-making stations by Mark Kohler 12-3 PM: Sari-wrapping workshop by Shanthi Muthi 12-3 PM: Circus arts workshop/juggling with Marvelous Marvin 12-2 PM: Music-making workshop with the Rhythm Room 12-4 PM: Strolling entertainers!

The schedule will also feature performances by the Carolyn Dutra dancers (with over 70 dancers performing!), by Keith Munslow, a well-known local singer/storyteller, and by the Rhythm Room, who will also be teaching a workshop in music. And the shows will be punctuated by short bits by the comedy improv group BYOI and by performances by the four youth winners of the Bright Night’s Got Talent competition.

“We’ve been wanting to do this for some time,” says Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night Providence. “Part of our mission is not only to promote current local artists, but to start preparing the next generation of artists. We hope to inspire kids to consider becoming artists and performers.”

Admission to the Family Fun Fest is $15 for kids, $20 for adults. If purchased before December 30, all tickets are $15. Price includes free admission to the rest of Bright Night Providence, which features over 150 performers in 14+ venues from 12 noon-midnight. Some of those performers include Big Nazo Puppets, Grammy award winner Bill Harley, international star illusionist Brad Ross, magician Lon Cerel, comedian Nick Albanese, and lots more. For a full schedule, visit http://www.brightnight.org

Tickets to Bright Night are available online at the website (listed below). Tickets are $15 each through December 30. On the day of the event tickets are $20 each ($15 for children and seniors) Tickets will be available on the day of the event at the RI Convention Center, the Providence Children’s Museum, the RISD Museum of Art, the Bank of America Skating Center, and the First Baptist Church.

For more information about tickets call 401-288-1231, or visit http://www.brightnight.org. To purchase tickets via telephone call the Brown Paper Tickets 24/7 ticket hotline: 1-800-838-3006

Major sponsors of the event to date include the city of Providence, the state of Rhode Island, AAA, Lite Rock 105, Lamar, Motif Magazine, Bank RI, Empire Guitars, and Open MRI of New England. Donations are still being accepted. To become a donor, visit http://donate.brightnight.org.

To find out more about Bright Night Providence, visit http://www.brightnight.org.

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OUR SCHEDULE/GRID/MAP IS NOW ONLINE!

Our schedule has been up for some time, but we've got it in GRID FORMAT for your viewing pleasure!

You can also see it on our website and download a PDF of our grid/map for printing.

Visit http://www.brightnight.org/grid.html

Please send this to your friends!

We're making a last ditch effort to get everybody out to Bright Night. If you are reading this-- take a moment to click the SHARE THIS button and send it out via Facebook, Twitter, or whatever else you use to Socially media-fy.

We thank you!

Brad Ross Video Trailer

See a video trailer of International Star Illusionist Brad Ross, headlining this year's Bright Night Providence.

Tickets are $15 through Dec 30! On December 31, tickets will be $20 (kids and seniors $15) BUY BY PHONE: 1-800-838-3006. TO BUY ONLINE, CLICK THE RED BUY NOW BUTTON! (Tickets purchased online or by phone are subject to a small service charge. These ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets, our exclusive online agent. All online/phone orders will be able to pick up their wristbands at our WILL CALL TICKET CENTER on December 31) If you'd like to find out where to purchase wristbands in person, visit http://www.brightnight.org/purchase.html

BUY ONLINE!