Bright Night News & Information

Featured in the Fall River News!

2011-12-29T18:09:00.000-05:00

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

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.

Featured in Today's Providence Journal!

2011-12-29T08:42:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-28T12:43:00.000-05:00

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.

###

OUR SCHEDULE/GRID/MAP IS NOW ONLINE!

2011-12-27T08:41:00.001-05:00

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!

2011-12-26T14:28:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-23T22:23:00.002-05:00

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!

PRESS RELEASE: Get Discounts on other shows at Bright Night

2011-12-21T10:30:00.003-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT’S GOT DISCOUNTS! PARTNERSHIPS ANNOUNCED.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR PRINT
KILL DATE 12/31/11
MEDIA CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV, 401-288-1231 adam@brightnight.org

DISCOUNTS ABOUND AT BRIGHT NIGHT
Bright Night Wristbands give discounts at 3 other New Year's Eve events.
12/21/2012

Bright Night Wristbands are typically a magic ticket to New Year's Eve in Providence. Your wristband guarantees you admission to one showing of the big show (this year its magic superstar Brad Ross, International Star Illusionist at the RI Convention Center at 6, 8, and 10 pm) and gets you in to see over 50 different performances at 14 venues in the downtown area, including the Bright Night Family Fun Fair at the RI Convention Center (12-5), the Bright Night Blues Bash at the Beneficent Church (7-11), and the Bright Night at the Improv at the URI PAFF Auditorium (9-midnight), to name a few.

This year, your wristband will get you discounts at 3 other events going on for New Year's Eve (and one on New Year's Day too!) Please look at the offers carefully, as most of them require bringing your Bright Night wristband to the box office to receive a discount.

TRINITY REP
At Trinity Repertory Company, your Bright Night wristband will get you a discount of $10 off the regular price of a ticket to see IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. The show features five actors who create more than fifty memorable characters to bring to life Frank Capra’s beloved film. This unique stage adaptation is performed as a radio play, broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1949. Everyman George Bailey gets the chance to see what the world would be like if he’d never been born.
This discount is available for the 5 pm performance on 12/31/11 only. No other discounts apply. Bring your Bright Night Wristband to the box office (201 Washington Street) to receive your discount.

DISNEY ON ICE

Disney On Ice's presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey playing holiday vacation week, Dec. 28 - Jan.1, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence. The show features world-class skating and brings to life some of Disney's most magical characters, including Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Simba, Nala, Ariel, and of course Mickey and Minnie.

Your Bright Night Wristband gets you a $5 discount on regularly priced $17 or $22 tickets for Disney On Ice shows on December 31 (11 AM and 3 PM) and on January 1( 1PM and 4 PM) . No double discounts, other fees may apply. Valid in person only at the Dunkin' Donuts Box Office (One Lasalle Square) with your Bright Night wristband.

SECOND MASQUERADE BALL
This last discount is for adults 21+ only. Your Bright Night wristband will get you a $10 discount to the 2ND ANNUAL MASQUERADE BALL. Normally $60, the ball is a semi-formal attire affair that features passed hors d'oeuvres, 6 different bar stations, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, a Masqearade Ball Fashion show featuring I Wink Clothing, 3 DJ's, live music by Santa Mamba and more. The event is hosted by former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci and television personality Claudia Jordan, and Patriot players Troy Brown and Patrick Pass will also make an appearance. Masks are optional, and will be provided at the event. Proceeds partially support the Gloria Gemma Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to raise breast cancer awareness, increase breast health education, and generate funding for critical breast health programs.

To receive your discount at the Ball, visit the Masquerade Box Office at the RI Convention Center Fifth floor. with your wristband.
____

ABOUT BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE
Bright Night Providence is an artist-run New Year’s Eve Celebration now in its Ninth year. The festival features over 160 performers in 14+ venues throughout the downtown Providence area. Shows go from 12 noon to 12 midnight and beyond.

Other artists on the Bright Night bill include international star illusionist Brad Ross, local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Grammy-winning storyteller/singer Bill Harley, bebop sensation Greg Abate, the Extraordinary Rendition Band, a blues swing/dance party featuring the Black and White Blues Band, mentalist Rory Raven, storyteller Mark Binder, and a host of other artists and events. A full schedule is available on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets to Bright Night are available online at http://www.brightnight.org/purchase.html, and in person at all BankRI locations and at the EastSide Marketplace. In addition, tickets are available at the RISD Museum of Art and the Providence Children's Museum. Tickets are $15 each through December 30. On the day of the event tickets are $20 each ($15 for children and seniors)

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)

Donation and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. Major sponsors of the event to date include the city of Providence, the State of Rhode Island, AAA, Lite Rock 105, GoLocalProv, Lamar, Motif Magazine, Bank RI, Empire Guitars, and Open MRI of New England. To become a donor, visit http://donate.brightnight.org.

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

###

PRESS RELEASE: Bright Night's Got Talent Winners Announced!

2011-12-12T13:00:00.006-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT’S GOT TALENT WINNERS ANNOUNCED.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR PRINT
KILL DATE 12/31/11
MEDIA CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV, 401-288-1231 adam@brightnight.org

BRIGHT NIGHT HAS GREAT TALENT
From Opera to Rap, Four young artists earn spots on Bright Night roster

Rapper Adonis Da Don of Providence.

(12/12/2011, Providence, RI) On Saturday afternoon, in a club in downtown Providence, over one dozen young performers and their families anxiously awaited the results of a tabulation.

The contestants, who ranged in age from 11-19, had all given up their afternoon to pursue their dreams of fame, fortune, and the life of a performer. The prize today was four paid performance slots at Bright Night Providence, the largest New Year’s Eve Festival in the state.

“Our mission is not only to support and showcase current local artists, but to help nurture and develop the next generation of artists as well,” said Adam Gertsacov, festival director of Bright Night, and a professional clown.

A.S.M., a 7 member dance troupe from Warwick.

“This was the first year for the Bright Night's Got Talent Program, and we are so pleased with the response from these fine young performers.”

Judge Al Gomes agreed. “There was a lot of talent on the stage today. It’s really great to come to an event like this and have such high quality performers. That’s not always the case.”

Alison Hornung of North Kingstown

Gomes should know. He is the head of Big Noise, a local record marketing agency that has worked with the likes of Christine Aguilera, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Beach Boys. He is also on several Grammy committees, and has been a regional judge for American Idol.

Other judges included stage magician Chris Carbone; accordion virtuoso (and former accordion prodigy) John Juxo; and actress, director, and theatre educator Elizabeth Keiser.

The results from the judges were all in, and Gertsacov gathered everyone to announce the winners. “Even if I don’t call your name today, don’t give up your dreams, “ Gertsacov told the assembled group. “Part of show business is not getting selected, and learning to keep your vision and drive to continue to perform.” He also announced that every performer who tried out, regardless of how they did in the competition, would receive a free ticket to Bright Night.

16 year old self-taught opera singer Ariel Ayotte of Cumberland

He then revealed the winners, a diverse bunch from all over the state. They include: 16 year old self-taught opera singer Ariel Ayotte of Cumberland; 11 year old Providence rapper Adonis Da Don; singer Alison Hornung of North Kingstown, and A.S.M., a group of 7 dancers aged 12-17 from Warwick.

They will all take the stage as part of the Bright Night Celebration at the RI Convention Center on New Year’s Eve. The young performers will open for more established artists performing at the Bright Night Family Fun Fair at the RI Convention Center from 12 noon to 5pm.

“I guess I’ll have to prepare a couple more songs,” said Alison Hornung, one of the winners. “It will be a lot of fun.”

VIDEO OF THE FOUR WINNERS AUDITIONS COURTESY OF BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE
____

ABOUT BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE
Bright Night Providence is an artist-run New Year’s Eve Celebration now in its Ninth year. The festival features over 160 performers in 14+ venues throughout the downtown Providence area. Shows go from 12 noon to 12 midnight and beyond.

Other artists on the Bright Night bill include international star illusionist Brad Ross, local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Grammy-winning storyteller/singer Bill Harley, bebop sensation Greg Abate, the Extraordinary Rendition Band, a blues swing/dance party featuring the Black and White Blues Band, mentalist Rory Raven, storyteller Mark Binder, and a host of other artists and events. A full schedule will be available in mid-December on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets to Bright Night are available online at http://www.brightnight.org/purchase.html, and in person at all BankRI locations and at the EastSide Marketplace. Tickets are $10 each if purchased on or before December 15. Starting December 16, tickets are $15 each through December 30. On the day of the event tickets are $20 each ($15 for children and seniors)

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)

Donation and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. Major sponsors of the event to date include the city of Providence, the State of Rhode Island, AAA, Lite Rock 105, GoLocalProv, Lamar, Motif Magazine, Bank RI, Empire Guitars, and Open MRI of New England. To become a donor, visit http://donate.brightnight.org.

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

###

PRESS RELEASE: Bright Night 2012 Promises To Be Magical

2011-11-30T08:53:00.002-05:00

HEADLINING ACT FOR BRIGHT NIGHT 2012 ANNOUNCED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR PRINT
KILL DATE 12/31/11
MEDIA CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV, 401-288-1231 adam@brightnight.org

BRIGHT NIGHT 2012 PROMISES TO BE MAGICAL
International star illusionist Brad Ross will perform feats of magic at Bright Night Providence.

International star Illusionist Brad Ross
will perform feats of magic at Bright Night.
CLICK PHOTO FOR LARGER SIZE
Photo courtesy of bradross.com

11/30/2011, Providence, RI
Bright Night Providence is always a magical night for audiences and performers. This year, it’s going to be even more magical, when international illusionist Brad Ross takes the stage for 3 shows at the RI Convention Center.

Ross is an international magic sensation. He has appeared on every major US television network, and on over 500 television programs around the world. He just finished six consecutive years starring in Disney LIVE! presents Mickey's Magic Show, the biggest touring family illusion show in the world. He estimates that he’s performed for literally millions of people in his lifetime. And in 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Merlin award by the International Magician’s Society. Previous recipients include Sigfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Criss Angell. And - Brad is only in his late 20’s!

“We’re really excited to be presenting Brad Ross,” says Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence. “This is our ninth year, and we wanted this show to really be something special. Brad's show has universal appeal, for kids and adults alike. He’s got a goofy humor that kids adore, and combined with his boy-next door charm and his magical virtuosity and his showmanship- well, let’s just say there’s something for just about everybody in this show. By the end of the night people will be wowed. ”

Brad will perform three shows in Providence as part of the ninth edition of Bright Night. The shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm at the RI Convention Center. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those three performances, plus more than 40 other performances at 12 other venues throughout the day and evening (on a space available basis).

At Brad Ross's Illusion Show, there's plenty of
audience participation.
CLICK PHOTO FOR LARGER SIZE
photo courtesy of bradross.com

Other artists on the Bright Night bill include local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Grammy-winning storyteller/singer Bill Harley, bebop sensation Greg Abate, the Extraordinary Rendition Band, a blues swing/dance party featuring the Black and White Blues Band, mentalist Rory Raven, storyteller Mark Binder, and a host of other artists and events. New this year is a showcase of winners of the Bright Night's Got Talent Competition, a kid-friendly talent competition. A full schedule will be available in mid-December on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets to Bright Night are available online starting December 1 and in person at all BankRI locations and at the EastSide Marketplace starting December 6.

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

Tickets are $10 each if purchased on or before December 15. Starting December 16, tickets are $15 each through December 30. On the day of the event tickets are $20 each ($15 for children and seniors)

Donation and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. 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. To become a donor, visit http://donate.brightnight.org.

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

To find out more about Brad Ross and his amazing illusions, visit http://www.bradross.com
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BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE LOOKING FOR TALENTED KIDS

2011-11-16T07:06:00.000-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE LOOKING FOR TALENTED KIDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR LIST
KILL DATE 12/17/2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Alexandra Kreher, talent@brightnight.org

(Providence, RI: 11/15/2011)

Bright Night Providence, Rhode Island’s largest New Year’s Eve Celebration, is proud to present the First Annual “Bright Night’s Got Talent” Competition. This event is for the Rhode Island community, and the preliminary and semi-final rounds will be held at the PVD Social Club (271 Richmond Street) in downtown Providence.

We are searching for Rhode Island students ages 6-19 who would like an opportunity to showcase their special talent, ie singing, dancing, poetry, magic, ventriloquism, acting, etc. There will be auditions for all that are interested, followed by a semi-final round and concluding with the grand prize in each age category* : a paid appearance/performance at Bright Night Providence! There are four age categories: Ages 6-8, Ages 9-11, Ages 12-15, Ages 16-19. (*provided there are enough entries in each category)

The first round of auditions is on Saturday, December 10. The semi-finals will be held on Saturday December 17. The final performances will be held on Saturday December 31 at Bright Night Providence.

This event is open to both individual and group performances. Due to time constraints, each performance will be allotted a two minute time slot in the first round. Semi-finalists will receive a five minute time slot in the second round. Finalists will get a 10 minute performance showcase at Bright Night Providence, and a $100 performance fee.

To apply visit http://www.talent.brightnight.org or email talent@brightnight.org,

The deadline for application is Sunday, December 4 at 5 pm.

To find out more about Bright Night Providence, please visit http://www.brightnight.org
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PRESS RELEASE: CALL FOR ARTISTS- BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE 2012.

2011-07-27T15:22:00.000-04:00

PRESS RELEASE
PLEASE POST, LIST, OR PASS ON
KILL DATE: 9/10/11
PRESS CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV
info@brightnight.org
401-351-2596

CALL FOR ARTISTS- BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE 2012

7/25/2011
PROVIDENCE, RI
Individual artists, cultural organizations, community groups and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply to be part of Bright Night Providence, Rhode Island’s largest New Year’s Eve Celebration.

The Banished Fools, one of Bright Night's roving bands
of characters, lights up the New Year.

Bright Night is an artist-run arts oriented New Year’s Eve Celebration that features some of Rhode Island’s best musicians, actors, singers, dancers, storytellers, acrobats, magicians, visual artists, and clowns. Last year, over 40 groups performed, featuring over 150 performers on 15 stages. This year will be the ninth year of the festival.

Commissioned Bright Night artists will be paid for their work and have the chance to use downtown Providence as their canvas. Proposals from artists of all types – theater performers, storytellers, musicians, filmmakers, visual and large installations artists, performance artists, dancers, digital media artists and spoken-word performers – are sought. Artists are encouraged to be adventurous, try new forms and further their own creative processes.

The deadline for submission is September 1, 2011. Applications will be accepted late, but earlier submissions are given preference. Preference is also given to local artists, although no one will be excluded due to geography alone.

The application is available online at
http://www.brightnight.org/perform.html

For more information visit http://www.brightnight.org, or call festival director Adam Gertsacov at 401-351-2596
###

Arts funding in Rhode Island needs some help!

2011-06-16T13:23:00.000-04:00

This in from Lisa Carnevale, head of RI Citizens for the Arts. If you like Bright Night, please respond. Our funding from the state has been cut 75% over the last 5 years. Don't let us get cut out entirely!

The House Finance Committee's recommendations for FY12 budget will come out tomorrow. RI CFA is hearing from legislators that the cut to RISCA funding will likely move forward. We need to send the message to our legislative leaders that this small saving in the overall budget deficit (0.03%) will have a hugely negative impact on the community at large.

Get this message to Chairman Melo and Speaker Fox TODAY:

Governor Chafee's proposed budget included a $100,000 cut from RI State Council on the Arts' discretionary grants - a 17% cut in this pool of funds. Combined with a cut to RI from National Endowment for the Arts, our creative community faces a 20% cut overall. Funding to RISCA is the only way the state invests in this growing economic sector. These funds produce a positive return on investment for our state: Every $1 spent through RISCA yields an additional $11 in additional funds, supporting over 13,000 jobs, creating nearly $500 million in economic impact, and plugging school budgets by providing arts education inside our schools.

Over the past nine years, arts funding has whittled away to what is now a concerning level. A cut this year will jeopardize this significant asset in the state of RI - causing loss of jobs, loss of social services and programming, as well as the cultural vitality that attracts many to live, work and visit in our state.

Call:

House Finance Chairman Helio Melo: 401-222-2738

Speaker of the House Gordon Fox: 401-2466

AND

In addition, Chairman Melo has expressed that his committee need also weigh in on the issue. We've spoken to many who are supportive. Help them take this message to the speaker! Email the rest of the House Finance Committee members.

The arts and creative sector in RI is a strength and an asset. The state's small investment in this sector has continued to reap high return and yet, has been whittled away at over time. To cut a proven economic asset is bad business and bad policy.

The Big Noise-- and Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T22:43:00.001-05:00

Bright Night culminated this year with a new phenomenon that we called the Big Noise--

We encouraged everyone to gather at Kennedy Plaza at 11:45 for a "Battle of the Bands" that wasn't a battle at all. At around 11:55 we had a trial run of making some noise, and then we all counted down together and made the loudest noise we could. It was really spectacular, and a really great feeling of community right there on the steps of City Hall. We had about 600 people or so in Kennedy Plaza at the time, with about 200 dancing and singing and playing along with ERB (Extraordinary Rendition Band) and the Banished Fools.

It was a really special moment of community, and we hope to continue to spark and continue this feeling.

Happy New Year from the whole group of Bright Night artists to you and yours!

We hope to see you next year, dancing and singing and celebrating with us!

Travel & Leisure Picks Providence as one of the Top NYE Cities!

2010-12-31T00:51:00.000-05:00

That's right, Bright Night was a major factor in making Providence one of the top destinations for New Year's Eve!

See the article and the rest of the cities.

Bambouk featured in Projo

2010-12-30T07:32:00.000-05:00

They juggle, they make music, they entertain, and you’ll have a ball laughing at Bambouk (Matthew Duncan and Brian Foley) on Bright Night on Friday at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Internationally renowned Bambouk is two guys making people laugh — at Bright Night
12/30/2010 01:00 AM EST
By Rick Massimo

Journal Pop Music Writer The New York-based clown duo Bambouk, comprising Brian Foley and Matthew Duncan, are making their first visit to Rhode Island on Friday to headline the Bright Night celebration, but the pair has a lot of miles under their belts.
The red-nosed, bald-headed, formally dressed duo juggle, ride a six-foot unicycle, play the accordion, make music by bouncing balls off bass drums and more, combining the simplicity of wordless movement with impressive showbiz skills.
New York magazine said “This duo will instill a love of the clowning that mostly expired with Buster Keaton,” and a quick look at any of their videos (available on their website, www.bambouk.com, or on YouTube) will confirm that.
Foley and Duncan met in 2003 at a theme park where they were both jugglers, and Foley says, “we both realized that we had skill sets that were complementary. I was a vocalist and he was an instrumentalist. He was a juggler and I was a magician with a few juggling skills as well. And when you put all that together it makes for a pretty good variety show.”
It’s a pretty good variety show that has gone from the Midwest to California, China, Puerto Rico and Alaska, to comedy festivals and theaters, cruise ships and more.
“Everywhere we go,” Foley says, “we learn something different, but we always learn that people love to laugh.”
One reason the duo gets to do so many international shows is their mostly language-free show. Silent comedy (“we like to say we’re a mostly silent show. I tend to have a hard time keeping my big mouth shut”) affords them the opportunity to get around language barriers, but it also has aesthetic advantages.
“That’s what our heroes did,” Foley says, citing influences such as Victor Borge, Bill Irwin and Dick Franco, all of whom had “these tight acts that could play anywhere in the world.
“And when you’re not a slave to the text, you need to key into something that is more at the core of humanity. And that’s something that everyone can relate to. You leave the comedy more open to interpretation, and hopefully everyone can find something that relates to them directly.”
Bright Night runs noon to midnight on Friday at various venues throughout downtown Providence. For a full schedule, map of venues and ticket locations, go to www.brightnight.org or call (401) 621-6123.
rmassimo@projo.com

The Weather is looking good for Bright Night

2010-12-28T13:14:00.001-05:00

Bright Night on Channel 10

2010-12-28T10:53:00.001-05:00

A preview of the Bright Night Festivities on Channel 10 last night!

Along with Big Nazo's own Rusty Dawg, Bright Night festival director Adam Gertsacov talks about some of the great events happening in Providence on New Year's Eve. Let's not forget aliens, monkeys, robots, and talking dogs!

FALL RIVER HERALD: BRIGHT IDEA: Providence plans family friendly New Year's Eve celebration

2010-12-23T07:15:00.000-05:00

BRIGHT IDEA: Providence plans family friendly New Year's Eve celebration

By Linda Murphy

Special to The Herald News

Posted Dec 22, 2010 @ 03:49 PM

Last update Dec 22, 2010 @ 03:52 PM

PROVIDENCE —

They’ll be plenty of clowning around at this year’s Bright Night Providence festival on New Year’s Eve. “We’re really excited about it this year, it’s going to be a great festival,” said Festival Director Adam Gertsacov.

This year’s festivities feature more than 160 performers in various locales throughout downtown Providence, new partnerships with performing arts venues, ice skating, a masquerade ball, and Bambouk, a headlining clown act staging three shows at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Bambouk’s Brian Foley and Mathew Duncan, bald-headed clowns sporting snappy tuxedos and old-school red clown noses are a vaudevillian style physical comedy act that’s taking New York’s off Broadway scene by storm. “They sacrifice their dignity for people’s enjoyment. I saw them off Broadway and I thought they were amazing. And I’m a professional clown, so that says a lot,” said Gertsacov, who hangs up his clown gear on New Year’s Eve to act as ringleader of the artist-run Bright Night, Providence.

In addition to sharing the stage with the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil, Bambouk also won the prestigious Sherman Brothers Award for Best Clown Duo and the 2010 Golden Nose Award winners for Audience Choice Best Clown Act. “The headlining act has to have broad appeal. They’re silly enough for kids to enjoy them, and smart and talented enough for adults to appreciate them,” said Gertsacov. “There’s also a fair amount of audience interaction.”

The festival gets under way at noon with strolling performers, half-priced skating at the Bank of America Center in Biltmore Park and storytellers, clowns, jugglers and performers taking the stage at four different venues. The Providence Children’s Museum will host puppet shows and other children’s activities, storytellers will take the stage at Perishable Theater from 1 to 5 p.m., the Beneficent Center will feature jugglers, clowns and acrobats, and URI’s Shepard Building offers up a circus workshop with Marvelous Marvin, Indian story and dance workshops with Shanti Muthu, storyteller/performer Keith Munslow and the ever-popular Big Nazo Puppet Band at 5:30 and 7 p.m.

The performances at all of the venues, which also include the AS220 Cafe, Grace Church and the First Baptist Church, start at 6 p.m. after the official opening ceremony in Biltmore Park at 5 p.m.

Singer/songwriters take the stage at Perishable Theater from 6 to 10 p.m. at the annual Bright Night Acoustic Coffeehouse followed by A Night at the Disco: The 70s Strike Back performing a fun retro tour through the gilded age of mirrored disco balls and leisure suits at 10 and 11 p.m.

The First Baptist Church is host to local jazz legend Greg Abate, Fishin’ with Finnegan, a Celtic music act, and Rhythm Room, a first at the festival. “They’re kind of a rogue music group with 10 players and 40 different instruments,” said Gertsacov. “They have a wonderful, danceable sound: I’m expecting the place to be rockin’ it out.”

Two other Bright Night favorites, mentalist Rory Raven, and sideshow artist Matt the Knife are slated to perform at AS220 in advance of the annual Bright Night Poetry Slam at 10 p.m. flowed by an array of bands on the AS220 stage performing up to 2 p.m.

The Bright Night Blues Bash with the Black and White Blues Band kicks off at 8:30 p.m. at the Beneficent Center, and an array of performers are also scheduled to perform in its sanctuary starting at 6 p.m. with master steel drummer Jason Roseman. “I’m really excited about him,” said Gertscov. “He learned how to make steel drums from his father and he’s been performing for 35 years. He plays calypso music, but he also plays jazz.”

The Rhode Island Children’s Chorus and the feminist chorus, Woman Spirit Rising are scheduled to perform at the Grace Church, which will also feature storytellers Mark Binder and Bill Harley.

“There’s a wide diversity of performers, and we also have some extraordinary street performers too,” said Gertsacov.

Bright Night Providence is also pairing up with the Providence Performing Arts Center, which is offering discounted tickets to 8 p.m. performances of Mama Mia on Friday and Saturday, and Trinity Repertory Company is also discounting tickets to its New Year’s Eve plays: “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Another partnership this year offers a reduced ticket to the World Masquerade Ball, a black tie, 21 and older event at the Rhode Island Convention Center. See the Bright Night website for the fine print details on these partnerships.

Bambouk: A New Vaudevillian Escape will be held at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. at the R.I. Convention Center. A Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantees admission to one of those three performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 12 other venues throughout the day and evening (on a space available basis).

With New Year’s Eve taking place on a Friday, Gertsacov is expecting a good turnout at this year’s artist-run New Year’s Eve event. Tickets purchased before Dec. 24 cost $10. Tickets after the 24th cost $15; group discounts are also available.

Check out www.brightnight.org for a full schedule of events and a listing of ticket sellers.

Bright Night has lots of new artists this year!

2010-12-22T09:53:00.002-05:00

BUY TICKETS NOW!

$10 before Dec 24/ $15 afterwards

We've got over 10 new artists this year!
Here's a list with a little background information on each of the new artists. (These are artists and groups that haven't worked with us before. )

We have over 50 acts working that night, to see them all, visit the artists webpage.

And just a reminder-- Tickets are going fast, and after December 24 they go up $5. Get a tremendous savings by purchasing them before December 25!

	BAMBOUK: New Vaudeville Escapade (RI CONVENTION CENTER @ 6, 8, & 10 pm) Our featured act this year is BAMBOUK, a new vaudeville escapade that features a blend of juggling, magic and physical comedy, performed by two elegantly dressed bald men in clown noses. The show is a seamless blend of character comedy, circus skills, and theatrics that will tickle your funnybone and strum your heart strings. BAMBOUK has opened for the Drifters, the Platters, and Charo, and shared the stage with award-winning circus artists from the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil. Together and individually they have been the featured physical comedians in stage productions, ice shows, cruise ships and theme parks since 1990. BAMBOUK has been seen multiple times in China, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and throughout the continental U.S. In 2009, they won the prestigious Sherman Brothers Award for Best Clown Duo, and are 2010 Golden Nose Award winners for Audience Choice Best Clown Act. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS! WEBSITE
	DREAMS BEFORE WAKING (9 PM, BENEFICENT SANCTUARY) Dreams Before Waking will take you on a journey of complex rhythms and original compositions as well as imaginative re-workings of dark and traditional English ballads. From the unique musical framework of the group's genre fusing approach, one may be reminded of Michael Brook, Dead Can Dance, David Sylvian and Rain Tree Crow. Come along with Dreams Before Waking on an atmospheric journey into Myth, Magic and Mayhem and experience the dreamworld made tangible. WEBSITE
	ERB- EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION BAND (9:30 PM- 12 Midnight, STROLLING) The Extraordinary Rendition Band (ERB) is a Providence-based street band of reeds, brass and percussion. They are a democratic organization that plays a wide variety of music (from Klezmer to Michael Jackson) that uplifts everybody within earshot. They will be popping up all throughout downtown during Bright Night, bringing silly antics, divine raiments, and spontaneous moments of raucous musical joy. WEBSITE
	JASON ROSEMAN- STEEL DRUMS ( 6 PM, BENEFICENT CHURCH SANCTUARY) A native of Trinidad/Tobago Jason Roseman is a master steel drum performer, builder and educator. Steel drums were born as a means of playing music when drums were banned in Trinidad. Jason plays the classic calypso tunes the island is known for as well as jazz and his own compositions. Jason has over 30 years of experience performing all over the world, and is now based in Rhode Island. WEBSITE
	JON CAMPBELL (7 PM, PERISHABLE THEATRE) Jon Campbell is a prolific composer of contemporary maritime music based in New England. A multi-instrumentalist and reluctant singer, his songs address issues relevant to inhabitants of any of the four coasts (East, West, Gulf, Alaska). He has been a RISCA Folk Artist since 1982. WEBSITE
	LAUGHLETICS (10 PM, URI PAFF AUDITORIUM) Laughletics is a competitive improv comedy show that plays like a sports match complete with a referee. Teams compete in improvised games in order to win laughs and applause from the audience. The teams will play both games that they choose and games that they are challenged to. Let the comedy begin! WEBSITE
	A NIGHT AT THE DISCO: THE 70'S STRIKE BACK (10 PM & 11 PM, PERISHABLE THEATRE) The 70's Strike Back is a local troupe of singers and musicians that will bring you back to the nights of platform shoes and disco balls. Bringing you the sounds of the disco era, The 70's Strike Back pride themselves on creating an authentic disco atmosphere through music, costumes and good times. So don your leisure suit and get ready to groove to the best disco tunes the 70's had to offer!
	PICCOLINI TRIO (5 PM, BENEFICENT ROUNDTOP CENTER) The Piccolini trio, features 3 young clowns (all trained at Vermont's Circus Smirkus) who arrive at the theater with an antique trunk full of circus props, and discovers that the audience is already waiting, but the show is late. When the circus doesn't show up, they decide to perform the show themselves, playing all the roles and creating an amazing and hilarious performance full of clever surprises. They have recently finished taking New York by storm with an Off-Broadway run at the Canal Street Playhouse.WEBSITE
	RHYTHM ROOM (10 PM -11:30 PM, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH) The Rhythm Room interweaves the energy and power of percussion with dynamic vocals to create an explosive, captivating show that sticks with the audience long after it’s over. Integrating world percussion, horns, drums, guitars, piano, and keyboard, the Rhythm Room creates a rich, full flavored melodic sound that provides a visually-stimulating experience for audiences of all ages. WEBSITE
	ROCK-A-BABY (1:30 PM & 3:30 PM, Providence Children's Museum) A widely successful music program in NYC, Rock-a-Baby is now making music in Rhode Island. Rock-a-Baby is an interactive, educational music experience for young children. Three energetic musicians/teachers lead an exploration of rock, pop, blues, traditional, and classical music genres by singing songs, playing games and dancing... Along with the help of whimsical puppets - Rhythm, Melody and Harmony! WEBSITE
	THEA HOPKINS ( 6 PM. PERISHABLE THEATRE) Critically acclaimed Boston performing songwriter Thea Hopkins calls her music American Short Story Folk: concise, striking narratives, they tell of American romance and tragedy in modern terms. In 2004, folk icons Peter, Paul & Mary recorded one of her songs, and described her song as a "compelling composition with a riveting story-telling style. This is one of the most important songs we have sung in recent years." Her album Birds of Mystery was declared one of the top ten local albums of the year by the Boston Herald. She'll be accompanied by Andy Hollinger on mandolin. WEBSITE

Bright Night discounts at PPAC-- Mamma Mia!

2010-12-14T23:22:00.000-05:00

We're happy to report that Providence Performing Arts Center has agreed to give $35 tickets for the December 31 8 pm performance of Mamma Mia!, the fantastic Broadway musical based on the music by ABBA.

Tickets are typically $66, so this is a HUGE discount!

Here are the details (please be sure to read the fine print!)

For Friday evenings 8pm performance, 2 ways to purchase:
1) Purchase your Bright Night wristband in advance, and show it at the PPAC Box Office window for a special $35.00 ticket at least 30 minutes before show time, best available at the time of the purchase. These seats will go fast – purchase sooner than later!

2) Purchase your $35.00 tickets ahead of time using the Validation Code “BRIGHT”, either online at http://www.ppacri.org, by phone at 401-421-ARTS (2787), or in person at the Box Office window (Mon – Fri 10am to 5pm, Sat 10am - 2pm). Applicable fees will apply. This special offer is also available to Bright Night fans for Saturday, January 1, 2011 8pm show. (Saturday 2pm matinee excluded.)

Restrictions do apply: Special pricing excludes Golden Circle and Loge; no adjustments on prior purchases; tickets subject to availability; all tickets sales final, no exchanges or refunds.

All PPAC / VMA RI ticket prices are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

BRIGHT NIGHT 2011 TO FEATURE BALD NEW VAUDEVILLIANS

2010-12-06T12:18:00.002-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT ANNOUNCES HEADLINING ACT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR PRINT
KILL DATE 12/31/10
MEDIA CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV, 401-351-2596 adam@brightnight.org
PRESS PHOTOS AVAILABLE VIA EMAIL.

BRIGHT NIGHT 2011 TO FEATURE BALD NEW VAUDEVILLIANS

December 6, 2010, Providence, RI
This New Year's Eve, don't be surprised if you see two bald men in clown noses and tuxedos. It's not a new fashion trend- it's the headlining act of this year's Bright Night Providence. The show, called BAMBOUK, is a New Vaudevillian escapade that features a blend of juggling, magic and physical comedy, performed by two elegantly dressed bald men in clown noses.

Masters of the variety arts, the clown duo juggle plates, flip hats, ride a 6 foot unicycle, play the accordion, and juggle all manners of objects. Their show is a seamless blend of character comedy, circus skills, and theatrics that will tickle your funny bone and strum your heart strings.

SEE VIDEO OF BAMBOUK ON YOUTUBE!

Brian Foley and Mathew Duncan, the performers of BAMBOUK, are favorites in the NY downtown variety scene, and have shared stages around the world with award-winning circus artists from the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil. They've also opened for the Drifters, the Platters, and Charo. Together and individually they have been the featured physical comedians in stage productions, ice shows, cruise ships and theme parks since 1990. BAMBOUK has been seen multiple times in China, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and throughout the continental U.S. In 2009, they won the prestigious Sherman Brothers Award for Best Clown Duo, and are 2010 Golden Nose Award winners for Audience Choice Best Clown Act.

“These guys are out and out hilarious,” says Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence. “I saw their Off-Broadway show a couple of years ago, and have been thinking about having them for Bright Night ever since. It’s the kind of show that's silly enough for kids and smart enough for adults. It will leave the whole family laughing. "

"Bright Night will be great fun," says one of BAMBOUK's founders and performers Brian Foley. "We're really looking forward to being part of the festivities. We love what the artists of Providence are doing, and are excited to be part of it."

BAMBOUK will perform three shows in Providence as part of Bright Night. The shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm at the RI Convention Center. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those three performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 12 other venues throughout the day and evening (on a space available basis).

Other artists on the Bright Night bill include local legends Big Nazo Puppets, bebop great Greg Abate, Grammy-winning storyteller/singer Bill Harley, magician Chris Carbone, storyteller Mark Binder, The Rhode Island Children's Chorus, a special Bright Night Poetry Slam, and a host of other artists and events. A full schedule will be available in mid-December on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets to Bright Night are available online at www.ArtTixRI.com, and in person at all BankRI locations, the Providence Children's Museum, and at the EastSide Marketplace.

For more information about tickets call 401-621-6123 or visit http://www.brightnight.org

Tickets are $10 each if purchased on or before December 24. Starting December 25, tickets are $15 each or a family fourpack for $50. There are a limited amount of tickets, so purchase early to insure getting your choice of times for the BAMBOUK show.

Donation and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. To donate to Bright Night's GIVE $20, TELL 10 campaign, visit http://donate.brightnight.org

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

To find out more about the clown duo BAMBOUK, visit http://www.bambouk.com

###

Special Day of Event Discount at World Party Masquerade Ball

2010-12-06T08:01:00.002-05:00

By special arrangement with the producers of the WORLD PARTY 2011 MASQUERADE BALL, we've arranged day-of-event discounts for Bright Night bracelet holders at this 21+ special event taking place in the RI Convention Center Ballroom from 9pm- 3 am.

Tickets are normally $50 each to the event, but if you purchase your ticket on the day of the event, you can get in for $40! That means if you pre-buy your Bright Night wristband (before December 24) you are getting into all of Bright Night Providence for free! (and if you buy both tickets day of the event, your Bright Night wristband only costs $5!)

Day of event tickets for both events will be sold at the RI Convention Center Box office.

Advance Bright Night tickets are available at a number of locations. Visit http://www.brightnight.org/purchase.html for more information.

Here's the skinny on the World Masquerade Ball

WORLD PARTY 2011 MASQUERADE BALL (9PM-3AM, RICC Ballroom)
21+ ONLY EVENT- STRICT DRESS CODE (BLACK & WHITE SEMI-FORMAL ATTIRE).

Join the first annual World Party Masquerade Ball for an evening of dancing, drinking, and fun. Tickets are $50 each and features live music by Rob Soul, 3 DJ's CR, Joint & Vibe, and a comedy act by Improv Uprising Comedians. There will also be celebrity Patriot guest appearances, a cash bar, available food, and a complimentary champagne toast at Midnight. Masks are optional, and will be provided at the event. Proceeds partially support the Free Your Mind Foundation,a non-profit that fights bullying in schools.
Show your Bright Night wristband on the night of the event, and get in for only $40. That's $55 to go to both the Masquerade Ball and all of Bright Night. A strict dress code will be enforced. Suits for men, cocktail dresses for ladies.

For more information go to www.worldparty2011.com

Please note that this event is not being produced by Bright Night Providence-- this event is separately produced.

PSA

2010-12-04T22:22:00.003-05:00

Here's the video for the Bright Night Providence 2011 New Year's Eve Celebration, graciously designed by Ramp Media Lab

Blog Review of Big Nazo Show.

2010-01-04T16:55:00.000-05:00

http://therhodelesstraveled.com/2010/01/03/big-nazo/

Big Nazo at Bright Night

January 3, 2010 by michelemeek

A performance of Big Nazo.

I love that Providence has its own nonconformist version of First Night. Unlike First Night, Bright Night is not alcohol free but it maintains the mission of kicking off the New Year as an arts celebration incorporating theater, music, arts and films. This year marked its seventh year with events at over a dozen venues in Providence, along with a mini-WaterFire lighting.
We decided to see a live show by Big Nazo, an international performance group that happens to reside here in Providence and makes large-as-life (and larger) puppets, masks and other creatures. The 6:30 pm event at Lupo’s attracted quite a number of families with kids ranging from a few-months-old and up, yet it was a thin enough crowd that everyone easily could enjoy an unobstructed view. The performance itself was, well, weird, a kind of bizarre ride through a wonderfully twisted imagination. Picture a giant horse that removes his mask to become an enormous old white man to remove his mask to become a small-headed dog to remove his mask to become a gloved hand to then reveal his true identity as a mad scientist and your MC for the evening. And that was only the opening. Not surprisingly, Mirabelle was perfectly riveted and never budged from the front row seat she secured for herself. And she’s been talking about it ever since.

Pass by the windows of Big Nazo on Eddy Street in Providence to see a sample of the weird characters that comprise Big Nazo.

Big Nazo!
60 Eddy St
Providence, RI
www.bignazo.com Bright Night
www.brightnight.org

Video/Story from WPRI

2009-12-30T21:40:00.000-05:00

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.

Sun Chronicle Go Magazine: The Celebration Must Go On

2009-12-30T16:54:00.000-05:00

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)

BY MEREDITH TIBBETTS STAFF WRITER

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.

Latest News

The celebration must go on

Despite the tough economy, Boston and Providence are forging ahead with their New Year's Eve festivities

Projo Article: Bright Ideas For New Year's Eve

2009-12-30T16:49:00.001-05:00

http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/wk-bright_night_12-31-09_JLGQN2K_v26.217f49c.html

Bright ideas for New Year’s Eve

12/30/2009 10:36 AM EST

By Bryan Rourke

Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE — To go or not to go out? That is the question.
The answer is obvious: Get your coat.
Seriously, what’s the alternative?
“You could stay home and never leave your house,” says Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night Providence. “You could have Chinese food delivered and you could download videos” — definitely not something he recommends.
“There is no substitute for live entertainment. You can’t get the same feeling at home. It’s people being together. There is just a special feeling in the streets. There is a great sense of community that’s not like any other night.”

Video

Puppet dance band: Big Nazo rehearses for Bright Night

Bright Night is usually the biggest New Year’s Eve offering in the area. And it certainly is this year. Thanks to the recession, many communities, including Newport, Westerly and Fall River, have canceled their New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Gertsacov, however, sees a silver lining. “I encourage all those people from those communities to come to Bright Night,” he says.
You can see dozens of performances for just $15. But it’s not your only choice. There are parties, concerts and shows going on that aren’t part of Bright Night.
There’s also a “WaterFire.” The lighting celebrates the organization’s 15th anniversary, and supports Bright Night, which is in its seventh year.
“WaterFire” is putting on its event with a $16,000 anonymous donation. In the spirit of the season, it’s also sharing the money with Bright Night, which lost 75 percent of its city funding this year.
“We were in a hole. Now we’re in less of a hole. Depending on ticket sales, this could be our last Bright Night.”
The basin of WaterPlace Park will be lit from 5:30 to 10 p.m., while a dozen braziers at Memorial Park will burn past midnight. That should draw people downtown and bolster Bright Night, a festival of some 150 performers at 15 downtown venues, offering all forms of art: music and magic, puppetry and poetry, ice sculpture and storytelling, dance and improvisational theater.
“I really try to program something for everybody,” Gertsacov says.
Most of Bright Night’s budget comes from the sale of tickets, most of which will be sold Thursday, beginning at noon, at 155 Westminster St., and at the Rhode Island Convention Center on Sabin Street, site of the festival’s headline performer: David Garrity, a magician.
“[He] is a nice guy and that comes through in his performances,” Gertsacov says. “He has comedy in his act, but mostly jaw-dropping amazement.”
The show, called IllusionQuest, involves audience members disappearing and levitating, and sawing Garrity’s assistant in half, among other tricks. Performances are at 6, 8 and 10 p.m.
Garrity comes from East Hartford, which is actually far for this festival. Of the 150 performers, 95 percent live within an hour of Providence, according to Gertsacov. The lineup is a who’s who of notable local performers: storytellers Val Tutson, Mark Binder and Carolyn Martino; improv theater groups such as Improv Jones, Speed of Thought Players and the Trinity Zoo; and musicians Greg Abate, Keith Munslow and Bill Harley, a two-time Grammy Award winner.
“He’s one of the top children’s singers in the country,” says Gertsacov.
All the shows are indoors, although walking between venues you may encounter some impromptu performances. The Banished Fools, a group of roving musicians and makers of merriment and noise, will be out and about.
“They roam around town like a crazy band. They go in places and disrupt them. It’s just costumed craziness.”
Bright Night Providence tickets are $15 and available at 155 Westminster St., and at the R.I. Convention Center on Sabin Street. The event starts at 6 p.m. and runs past midnight at 15 downtown venues. For more information, including a schedule of events, visit brightnight.org.
Try a dinner-show and concert package
Not in the mood to roam? Here are some other options:
In Providence, the downtown Marriott at One Orms St. is giving revelers several ways to ring in the New Year, including a dinner-show and concert package. The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 with a performance by Charlie Hall and the Ocean State Follies, followed by a concert by Steve Smith & The Nakeds at 9:45 p.m. Admission, which includes a room rental, is $329 per couple.
Another option is a four-course dinner without a show, followed by the concert. Admission for that is $150 per couple.
And the third option is attending just the concert, which is $30 per person. For reservations and more information, call (401) 272-2400.
Hear Gregg Allman, J Geils Band perform
Two rock legends and a legendary tribute will help you ring in the New Year.
Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers will be in concert at Twin River, 100 Twin River Rd., Lincoln, Thursday at 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7:30. The event is open to those 18 and older. For tickets, $40.50 to $50.50, visit twinriver.com.
The J. Geils Band, which began in Worcester in the ’60s and made it big with such songs as “Centerfold” and “Must of Got Lost,” is playing at Mohegan Sun, One Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn., Thursday at 9 p.m. For tickets, $50, visit mohegansun.com.
And Foxwoods, 39 Norwich-Westerly Rd., Ledyard, Conn., is presenting the “Legends in Concert” show Thursday at 10:30 p.m. It’s a tribute show to Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli and The Temptations. Tickets are $25: foxwoods.com.
Ring in 2010 at Belcourt Castle
Belcourt Castle, 657 Bellevue Ave., Newport, presents a New Year’s Eve celebration, a fundraiser for the Royal Arts Foundation. There’s a dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with Larry Brown’s Swinglane Orchestra. There will be appetizers, a chocolate buffet and an open bar. Admission is $95 per person. For reservations and more information, call (401) 846-0669.
Join ‘Venetian Masquerade’ and ‘WaterFire’
“WaterFire” is conducting a “Venetian Masquerade” at the Old Stone Bank, 86 South Main St., Providence. There will be Champagne and a buffet dinner, art exhibits and art performances: tenor Nathan Granner of the “Three American Tenors,” and Quixotic Fusion, an aerialist ensemble. Tickets are $250 to attend the event from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; $500 to attend from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit waterfire.org.
brourke@projo.com

Fall River Herald News Article

2009-12-24T16:57:00.000-05:00

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.

EDITOR'S PICK FOR THE PROVIDENCE PHOENIX

2009-12-24T13:01:00.000-05:00

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

ProJo Editorial: BrighterFire Night

2009-12-23T06:51:00.000-05:00

From the Projo Editorial Desk
Editorial: BrighterFire Night
01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 22, 2009
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.

Win some free tickets at KidoInfo

2009-12-18T12:44:00.000-05:00

Kidoinfo, one of our media sponsors, is giving out some free tickets to Bright Night.
Enter their contest at http://www.kidoinfo.com

If you don't know about kidoinfo, they are a great resource for parents and people with kids-- lots of great info and intel on what to do with kids and families in the Providence area.

2009-12-17T14:25:00.000-05:00

WaterFire, Bright Night to Light Up New Year’s Eve
Two Providence arts organizations come together to ring in 2010 with circles of fire at Waterplace Basin, a Venetian masquerade, and a full-stage magic show

Watch on

Mayor David N. Cicilline joined WaterFire Director Barnaby Evans, Bright Night Providence Director Adam Gerstacov, and members of the Big Nazo Puppets this past Tuesday to announce the line up for Bright Night Providence, the Creative Capital’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Also at the announcement were Business Manager of Local 1033, Donald S. Iannazzi and Vicki Virgilio, President of Local 1033.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous WaterFire donor, Providence will enjoy another brightly lit and spectacular New Year’s Eve on the 15th Anniversary of WaterFire.

“As we prepare to ring in the New Year we are optimistic about the future and thankful for life's many blessings,” said Mayor Cicilline. “Providence is especially thankful for the generosity exhibited by a long-time WaterFire donor, and the contributions of Local 1033, in coming together to support this very important event for the city. This is the kind of partnership between the arts and community that makes the Creative Capital such a unique and wonderful place.”
Executive Director of WaterFire Providence Barnaby Evans said, “Like every other arts group we are struggling financially, but our mission is to use the arts to enliven the City of Providence. We felt we had to keep the fires burning to make it a bright New Year’s Eve. I am delighted our staff, volunteers, and donors have stepped forward to make a lighting on our 15th anniversary possible. And we are tremendously pleased we could help Bright Night and its wonderful artists as well.”
"We're so thrilled to be working with WaterFire on their fifteenth anniversary celebration" said Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence, "and of course immensely grateful for this donation. This has been a tough year. It's really making a big difference for us to ensure that this New Year's Eve remains Bright."

WaterFire to light Waterplace Basin and Memorial Park
The circle of fires in Waterplace Basin will burn from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. and the 12 fires in Memorial Park will burn until after midnight. Please join us in Memorial Park for the stroke of midnight and a group singing of Auld Lange Syne and Happy Birthday to WaterFire, to start off the New Year!

Eyes Wide Open Masquerade celebrates WaterFire’s 15th Anniversary
Also on New Year’s Eve, WaterFire will host a Venetian Masquerade Gala, Eyes Wide Open, celebrating fifteen years of WaterFire. This fundraising gala hosted by Barrett Bready and the WaterFire Board of Directors is going to be a sensational event in the historic Old Stone Bank Building on South Main Street. The evening will include a performance by Quixotic Fusion, a Kansas-City based ensemble of inventive, avant-garde musicians, dancers, aerialists and composers, some of whom will perform mid-air, while suspended from the Gold Dome. The event will also feature world renowned tenor Nathan Granner, one of the Three American Tenors, who will present a range of wonderful offerings. For more information please visit www.waterfire.org/newyears.

Bright Night announces headliners
This year's Bright Night Providence will feature over 150 performers in 15 venues throughout downtown Providence. Highlights include IllusionQuest, a full-stage magic and illusion spectacular featuring master illusionist David Garrity, local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Grammy-winner Bill Harley, Jazz saxophonist Greg Abate, the RI Children's Chorus, blues band Black and White and a host of other performers.

Tickets for Bright Night Providence are $10 if purchased before 12/24/09, $15 beginning December 25. Schedules, tickets, and more information are available online at www.brightnight.org or by calling 401-621-6123.

Press Release: WaterFire To Help Bright Night

2009-12-16T08:38:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 15, 2009
PRESS CONTACT:
John Crisafulli
(401) 255-3739
john@waterfire.org

Updates for New Year’s Eve 2009

WaterFire to light Waterplace Basin and Memorial Park
Bright Night announces headliners
Eyes Wide Open Masquerade celebrates WaterFire’s 15^th Anniversary

PROVIDENCE – The fires will burn brightly this New Year’s Eve thanks to a generous gift from a longtime donor to WaterFire. WaterFire was first lit on New Year’s Eve in Waterplace Basin exactly fifteen years ago, so when WaterFire heard that Bright Night Providence was struggling and that the city might be dark on New Year’s Eve, they asked a long-time donor to help both WaterFire and Bright Night. WaterFire is pleased to join with Bright Night and Mayor David N. Cicilline to announce they will share this anonymous gift with Bright Night Providence to ensure that the Capital City is alive with light, art, and community this New Year’s Eve. Join WaterFire in Waterplace Basin at Waterplace Park at 5:30 p.m. on December 31^st to kick off the evenings’ events! Enjoy the fires and then explore all the great performances that Bright Night is offering.

WaterFire to light Waterplace Basin and Memorial Park
The circle of fires in Waterplace Basin will burn from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. and the 12 fires in Memorial Park will burn until after midnight. Please join us in Memorial Park for the stroke of midnight and a group singing of Auld Lange Syne and Happy Birthday to WaterFire, to start off the New Year!

Executive Director of WaterFire Providence Barnaby Evans said, “Like every other arts group we are struggling financially, but our mission is to use the arts to enliven the City of Providence. We felt we had to keep the fires burning to make it a bright New Year’s Eve. I am delighted our staff, volunteers, and donors have stepped forward to make a lighting on our 15^th anniversary possible. And we are tremendously pleased we could help Bright Night and its wonderful artists as well.”

Bright Night announces headliners
"We're so thrilled to be working with WaterFire on their fifteenth anniversary celebration" said Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence, "and of course immensely grateful for this donation. This has been a tough year. It's really making a big difference for us to ensure that this New Year's Eve remains Bright."
Bright Night Providence is Rhode Island's Largest New Year's Eve Celebration. Begun in 2003 when First Night Providence announced it could not go forward, this artist-run festival creates a family-friendly and fun atmosphere to ring in the New Year, with a focus on showcasing local artists and performers.

This year's festival will feature over 150 performers in 15 venues throughout downtown Providence. Highlights include IllusionQuest, a full-stage magic and illusion spectacular featuring master illusionist David Garrity, local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Grammy-winner Bill Harley, Jazz saxophonist Greg Abate, the RI Children's Chorus, blues band Black and White and a host of other performers.

Tickets for Bright Night Providence are $10 if purchased before 12/24/09, $15 beginning December 25. Schedules, tickets, and more information are available online at http://www.brightnight.org or by calling 401-621-6123.

“Providence is fortunate to have two great arts organizations--Bright Night and WaterFire--that will join together on New Year's Eve to light up the city,” said Mayor David N. Cicilline. “Grammy Award-winning musicians, illusionists, Big Nazo puppets and many more exciting entertainers will contribute to in the inimitable energy and joy shared by our community on Bright Night.”

Eyes Wide Open Masquerade celebrates WaterFire’s 15^th Anniversary
Also on New Year’s Eve, WaterFire will host a Venetian Masquerade Gala, Eyes Wide Open, celebrating fifteen years of WaterFire. This fundraising gala hosted by Barrett Bready and the WaterFire Board of Directors is going to be a sensational event in the historic Old Stone Bank Building on South Main Street. The evening will include a performance by Quixotic Fusion, a Kansas-City based ensemble of inventive, avant-garde musicians, dancers, aerialists and composers, some of whom will perform mid-air, while suspended from the Gold Dome. The event will also feature world renowned tenor Nathan Granner, one of the Three American Tenors, who will present a range of wonderful offerings. For more information please visit www.waterfire.org/newyears.

BRIGHT NIGHT ANNOUNCES HEADLINING ACT

2009-12-09T10:42:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST OR PRINT
KILL DATE 12/31/09
MEDIA CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV, 401-351-2596 adam@brightnight.org
PRESS PHOTOS AVAILABLE VIA EMAIL.

BRIGHT NIGHT 2010 PROMISES TO BE MAGICAL
Master Illusionist David Garrity will headline the seventh year of Bright Night Providence.

December 9, 2009, Providence, RI
This year, New Year’s Eve in Providence promises to be a magical evening. That’s because the headlining act for this year’s artist-run celebration Bright Night Providence will be master illusionist David Garrity in a show called IllusionQuest.

IllusionQuest is an exciting, full-stage, magic and illusion spectacular. Illusionist Garrity and his team magically appear, vanish, pass through solid objects and even float people from the audience.

Highlights from the performance include a comical illusion where David's assistant ends up all twisted up; David also teaches a volunteer from the audience how to cut his assistant in half; and the finale features a breathtaking escape where David is chained to a table with 32 steel spikes suspended above him and he must escape before the spikes fall.

“We’re really excited to be presenting IllusionQuest this year,” says Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence. “David is one of the top performers in his field, and he’s been wowing people in a variety of places, from Six Flags to Sweden, and lots of places in between. We’re happy to bring him to Providence. It’s the kind of family friendly show that's got something for everybody. I really think he’s going to make more than a few people’s jaws drop in amazement.”

IllusionQuest will perform three shows in Providence as part of Bright Night. The shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm at the RI Convention Center. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those three performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 12 other venues throughout the day and evening (on a space available basis).

Other artists on the Bright Night bill include local legends Big Nazo Puppets, bebop great Greg Abate, Grammy-winning storyteller/singer Bill Harley, a blues swing/dance party featuring the Black and White Blues Band, mentalist Rory Raven, storyteller Mark Binder, a special Bright Night Poetry Slam, and a host of other artists and events. A full schedule will be available in mid-December on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets to Bright Night are available online at www.ArtTixRI.com, and in person at all BankRI locations, all OOP! stores, and at the EastSide Marketplace.

For more information about tickets call 401-621-6123 or visit http://www.brightnight.org

Tickets are $10 each if purchased on or before December 24. Starting December 25, tickets are $15 each or a family fourpack for $50. There are a limited amount of tickets, so purchase early to insure getting your choice of times for the IllusionQuest show.

Donation and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. To donate to Bright Night's GIVE $20, TELL 10 campaign, visit http://donate.brightnight.org

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

To find out more about David Garrity’s IllusionQuest, visit http://www.magicalartist.com.

###

PROJO COVERAGE: Bright Night Has been a Bright Spot on City Scene

2009-12-08T21:09:00.000-05:00

FROM THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Ed Fitzpatrick: Bright Night has been a bright spot on city scene
01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 8, 2009

If we’re looking for low-cost options for this year’s Bright Night Providence, I’ll bet the White House party crashers, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, would make an appearance. (Though they might be more likely to come if they’re not invited.)
I’m guessing Sarah Palin would come to “Rogue Island” for the state’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration if we give her a chance to peddle her new book, “Going Rogue.” (My favorite part is when she misattributes a quote from American Indian activist John Wooden Legs to former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.)
And if we can work something out with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, perhaps disbarred Providence lawyer John M. Cicilline, the imprisoned brother of Mayor David N. Cicilline, could sit on a stool, play the ukulele and set off sparklers. (Sentenced to 18 months after pleading guilty to conspiring to shake down drug-dealer clients, he is scheduled to be released to a halfway house on Dec. 29, so maybe his performance could count as community service.)
Of course, I’m joking. (Everyone knows Cicilline can’t play the ukulele.)
I’m actually a big fan of Bright Night. We brought our kids downtown last year despite frigid temperatures, 8 inches of snow and 25-mph winds, and since so many people stayed home, we had great seats at the Providence College/St. John’s basketball game. We wandered over to the Convention Center to see the Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Thrill Show. And later, we saw a performer that we referred to as the “existential clown.” (She had a trombone and talked about the apocalypse.)
So I was sorry to hear that Bright Night Providence is slashing expenses and making an emergency appeal for donations. The city usually provides Bright Night with $20,000, but amid this year’s fiscal crisis, the city has committed to providing just $5,000 in city services and no cash. The festival has applied for a grant from the Providence Tourism Council, which in the past has provided $25,000 for a fireworks display. But since the festival won’t have fireworks this year, it’s unclear if it can get the grant.
I understand why the city is cutting its contribution. The state unemployment rate stands at 12.9 percent (the third-highest rate in the country). And this year the city raised property taxes even as it slashed millions of dollars from the city budget, froze wages and axed jobs.
You’d have to be an existential clown to spend $20,000 in taxpayer money on New Year’s Eve fun. Still, Bright Night does provide a civic beacon, a magnet that draws thousands of families together to see musicians, magicians, actors, dancers, singers, acrobats, clowns, puppeteers and storytellers.
So I hope businesses and everyday residents heed the call of festival director Adam G. Gertsacov, who hopes 2,010 people will donate $20 and pass on the appeal to 10 other people. (Go to www.brightnight.org.)
Gertsacov noted that local artists launched Bright Night Providence seven years ago after First Night Providence faltered. He said the event boosts the local economy, bringing up to 20,000 people downtown, and 90 percent of the performers come from the Rhode Island area. Most importantly, the event offers a chance to “come out and celebrate the New Year in a family-friendly way and celebrate Rhode Island’s most important cultural asset, which is its artists,” he said.
“We make people happy,” Gertsacov said. “And we don’t want the city to go dark on New Year’s Eve.”
efitzpat@projo.com

PROJO BLOG Coverage

2009-12-03T16:05:00.001-05:00

With funding cut, Bright Night looks for donations

1:08 PM Thu, Dec 03, 2009 | Permalink
Philip Marcelo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Bright Night Providence, an arts-oriented festival that is billed as the state's largest New Year's Eve celebration, is cutting expenses and making emergency appeals for major donations after losing city funding, according to Festival Director Adam G. Gertsacov.
The city normally covers about one-third of the festival's $120,000 to $125,000 budget, said Gertsacov. But city Director of Art, Culture and Tourism Lynne McCormack has told Gertsacov that the city will be unable to come up with its $20,000 allocation for the festival.
The Providence Tourism Council, a city board that is financed by proceeds from the hotel tax, normally contributes an additional $25,000, but the festival's request for funding has not yet been approved, said Gertsacov.
"The mayor has been one of strongest supporters to date," Gertsacov said Thursday. "But this year the state budget crisis has affected the city, and it is unable to provide the support it has given us in previous years. This has put the festival in peril."
Gertsacov says the festival is still moving forward, but "cutting costs like crazy."
It has launched a grass roots campaign to get 2,010 people to give $20 and pass on the appeal to ten other people. Gertsacov says that artists have agreed to take a pay cut in order to assure that the festival has the same number of performers as in year's past. He says he is also making "emergency proposals to corporate donors."
Started in 2003 by a group of local artists and performers, Bright Night Providence was the successor to the city's long-running First Night Providence event.
Last year, it featured 150 performers at 22 downtown venues from noon to midnight, including poetry, magic, music, skating, storytelling and dancing.

CHANNEL 10 COVERAGE

2009-12-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

Channel 10 covered our money woes.

But they didn't mention our website--or how people can donate.

GIVE $20, TELL 10

A DARK HOUR FOR BRIGHT NIGHT

2009-12-03T09:41:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KILL DATE DECEMBER 31, 2009

A DARK HOUR FOR BRIGHT NIGHT

Severe Economic Times Threaten Festival:
Bright Night Seeks Community Support
To Keep the Lights Bright on New Year's Eve

12/3/09 (Providence RI)

For almost half a dozen years, a group of local performers have been lighting up the Creative Capitol's New Year's Eve with song, dance, magic, story and excitement.

This year, though, the festival, which has drawn as many as 20,000 people to downtown Providence, has had its brush with the dark side of the economy.

"Mayor Cicilline and the city of Providence have been one of strongest supporters to date," said Festival Director Adam G. Gertsacov. "But this year the state budget crisis has effected them, and therefore us, and the city is unable to provide the support they have given us in previous years. This has put the festival in peril."

"The City recognizes the intrinsic value that Bright Night provides to our community. Over the past six years we have invested over 100 thousand dollars and provided extensive technical support. Bright Night provides our city's artists with important work opportunities and our city's residents access to arts experiences. We are committed to continuing to work with the organization but the success of Bright Night requires a committment from the entire community especially during these economic times," said Lynne McCormack, Director of Art, Culture + Tourism.

Rather than cancel the festivities, the artists and performers of Bright Night are making the risky decision to go forward anyway. And they're not raising the ticket prices either. Tickets will be available for $10 and $15, depending on when you buy them, just as they were last year.

"We are committed to making this an affordable festival", says Gertsacov.

So how are they going to make up the short fall?

"We're starting a grass roots 20/10 campaign to get 2010 people to give $20 and then tell 10 people. We're making emergency proposals to corporate donors. And we're cutting costs like crazy (even though we've already been operating on a shoestring.) And nearly every artist I've talked to has agreed to take a paycut in order to make sure the festival happens."

Gertsacov adds " It is a risky proposition, but life is about risk. And after speaking with a number of the performers, it seemed clear that this option is preferable to just letting the city go dark on New Year's Eve".

It's the performers of Bright Night. who are taking the real risk, says Gertsacov. "Our contract has a disaster/bonus clause that states that if there's a financial disaster, that the artist fee may be cut in order that everybody gets paid something." adds Gertsacov. "Over the last six years, we've paid out over $35,000 in artist bonuses, and never had to invoke the disaster clause, even after last year's snow storm. I'm hoping that we'll be able to make it through this year too."

"This is one of my favorite events to perform at," said Providence author and storyteller Mark Binder, who has performed at Bright Night for the last six years. "I bring my family and get to share my work with people who are always appreciative. Maybe I won't get paid for my work this year, but I look at it as a contribution to my community."

-----
To find out more about Bright Night Providence, please visit their website at http://www.brightnight.org.

To donate to Bright Night Providence, please visit http://www.donate.brightnight.org

To purchase tickets ($10 if purchased before December 24, $15 afterwards, visit http://www.brightnight.org or call Art-Tix 401-621-6123.

###

Family of Musicians Plays a New Tune.

2009-05-29T11:53:00.004-04:00

FAMILY OF MUSICIANS PLAYS A NEW TUNE- IT’S CALLED PHILANTHROPY

(May 29, 2009) PROVIDENCE, RI-- Fishing With Finnegan, a local family musical act from Mapleville, RI, are learning how to play a whole new tune and it’s not “We’re In the Money.” The group, which plays original and traditional Irish music and is comprised of four siblings with the last name Ryan, have agreed to donate one third of all of their June CD sales to Bright Night Providence, Rhode Island’s non-profit artist-run New Year’s Eve celebration.

"We were raised that it’s important to give back to the community, and so that’s what we’re doing. This is clearly a great cause and, as Mom and Dad always remind us...charity begins at home," says Mike Ryan, the eldest of the siblings. “We think that Bright Night is such a great event and we’re glad to help in whatever way we can.”

“It’s about keeping things local”, says Mary Ryan, coordinator of the group and life-long Rhode Islander. “Rhode Island is such a great place to be. We have a duty to make it the best we can. By supporting organizations like Bright Night Providence, we are building Rhode Island's economy, supporting local artists, families and businesses and helping us to be a better state.”

“Their generosity is a lot of what Bright Night is all about, “ says Adam Gertsacov, festival director for Bright Night. “Every little bit helps. We’re now entering our seventh year, and it’s thanks to the generosity and community spirit of artists like the Ryan’s that we’ve managed to keep on coming back.”

Bright Night Providence started in 2003 when First Night Providence announced it couldn’t go forward. A group of RI artists, with Gertsacov at the fore, have been producing the festival since then. The festival focuses on local artists- over 90% of the 150 performers that performed last year were from Rhode Island.

Fishing With Finnegan have been playing their family brand of Celtic, Irish, Scottish, English and American music since 2006. They are the recent nominees for the Best Celtic Act of the Year and Best New Act of the Year by Motif Magazine’s 2009 Awards contest, and they were awarded Best New Americana Act for 2009.

Their self-titled CD Fishing With Finnegan features 12 tracks of traditional and original Gaelic music and is available via the mail, and at all of their performances. Sample tracks are available on their website (listed below)

To purchase a CD and help Bright Night Providence send a check or money order for $15.00 U.S. (plus $1.90 for domestic shipping, or $4.00 international) to:

Fishing With Finnegan
P.O. Box 346
Mapleville, RI 02839

$5 of your sale will be donated to Bright Night at the end of the month.
http://www.fishingwithfinnegan.com

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

Sample Tracks from the Album Fishing With Finnegan
Haul Away, Joe (live)
Em Set (live)
General Taylor (live)
Wild Rover (live)
Flower of Maherally

Bill Harley wins Grammy Award!

2009-02-09T06:55:00.002-05:00

Yes To Running! Bill Harley Live
Bill Harley
[Round River Records]

Bill Harley, a regular Bright Night Performer won a Grammy award last night. That makes his second award in 3 years!

"Go find this guy! Harley has the heart of a child and a love of life we can all share." -- LA Parent

* This live double CD captures the essence of Grammy Award winner Bill Harley's vibrant, hilarious, tender, and wise songwriting and storytelling.
* Back to school stories provide an irreverent and true look at elementary school days.
* Live versions of fan favorite songs and stories.

"Harley's witty ebullient performance will have listeners young and old laughing out loud." -- Publishers Weekly

"When national treasure Bill Harley releases a new kids' album, it's good reason to celebrate." -- Family Fun

"Bill Harley's never forgotten the day-to-day reality of being a kid, and it's one of his greatest assets." -- Billboard

CONGRATULATIONS BILL!

The Show Goes On, Whatever the Weather!

2008-12-30T08:40:00.002-05:00

The forecast is currently for snow.

That was true last year, too, and it didn't snow at all.

This is just a reminder that, whatever the weather, the show will go on tomorrow, rain or snow!

Some helpful tips in case you needed them.

Plan extra time to get where you are going- you don't want to be late for a performance!
If it's snowing tomorrow, parking in the RI Convention Center lot is recommended.
If it's snowing during the laser show, it will look extra special, as the precipitant will act as a prism for the laser-beams.
If it's snowing very hard we may cancel a couple of the outdoor events (the figure-skating display, the opening ceremonies- but 3/4 of the events we do are indoors, and those will all go on as planned!

Looking forward to a beautiful and wonderful Bright Night!

See you on the streets or on the stages (or in the audience!)

Adam

Bright Night Article in the Projo

2008-12-28T12:12:00.002-05:00

Providence Journal did a roundup of New Year's Eve Festivals in the area-- Bright Night, Newport, Westerly, and Fall River.

Got everything mostly right, (spelled Marvin Novogrodski's name with a Y and at one point called our festival wristbands "First Night wristbands")

At least they didn't publish my home phone number (as they did one year!)

The article in the paper had some great photos of the event from previous years, some that I'd never seen before. And featured a lot of our performers. Definitely worth picking up. Photographs of vendors, of Chris Carbone, Davey the Clown, Keith Munslow, Bill Harley, and the Banished Fools.

To make it easier to forward, I created a tinyurl of the article:

http://tinyurl.com/brightnight-projo

Feel free to forward the url to your friends!

Remember, the discount for tickets ($10 instead of $15 ends on Tuesday!)

===========================
Fewer stars and fireworks, but New Year celebrations will go on
01:00 AM EST on Sunday, December 28, 2008
By Richard Salit

Journal Staff Writer

Performers converged Tuesday on Providence City Hall for the mayor’s announcement of Bright Night festivities. Among them, Big Nazo, Snow Queen (Clare Vadeboncoeur), Mark Kohler and Marvelous Marvin Novogrodsky. In front is Bright Night director Adam Gertsacov.

The Providence Journal / Sandor Bodo

The Scrooge-like economy may be forcing some communities to scale back their New Year’s Eve celebrations, but revelers in Providence, Newport, Fall River and Westerly will still be treated to everything from fireworks to the Friars, music to magicians and storytellers to sword swallowers.

Budget shortages threatened to snuff out Newport’s annual pyrotechnics display and the rest of the City-by-the-Sea’s celebration, but First Night Newport survived and will go off as planned, complete with fireworks over the harbor.

While Bright Night Providence had to cancel its fireworks — out of safety concerns, not financial problems — the city will replace it with a laser show. In addition, for the second year in a row, the festival has teamed up with the Providence College Friars men’s basketball squad, which will be playing Big East rival St. John’s University at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center during Bright Night festivities.

“The big thing is for everyone to gather together and ring in the New Year right,” said Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night Providence, the artist-run, nonprofit group that has organized the New Year’s Eve celebration in the capital city for the past six years.

While Bright Night’s budget this year is “slightly smaller,” Gertsacov said it will still feature close to 160 performers in 22 venues.

“The big focus of our event has always been the performers. We want to celebrate Rhode Island’s most important asset — its performers,” Gertsacov said.

Every year, Bright Night selects a different act to take center stage in the event. This year, the featured group is the Nerveless Nocks, a family of daredevil circus acrobats. The ninth generation family, which was formed in Switzerland and used to perform during the summers at the now-defunct Rocky Point Amusement Park, will give three shows at Rhode Island Convention Center.

In one act, Michelangelo Nock will climb a 20-foot-tall tower of chairs and do handstands on top. The troupe will also use a pendulum to perform leaps and somersaults.

“You definitely don’t want to miss this, but you definitely don’t want to try it at home,” said Gertsacov. “These guys are courageous and virtuosos at what they do. They’ve performed for kings and queens, on television and for the Super Bowl.”

Admission to the Nerveless Nocks is guaranteed with the purchase of a First Night wristband, which designates which of the three shows, either 6, 8 or 10 p.m., its holder may attend.

Wristbands, which provide free admission to all of the Bright Night venues, cost $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event (when a family four-pack may be purchased for $50). They are for sale at BankRI locations, OOP! Stores, the East Side Marketplace and ArtTixRI, 155 Westminster St. They may also be bought online at www.brightnight.org or by calling (401) 621-6123.

The first 3,000 people with wristbands to go to the Dunkin’ Donuts center will get free tickets to see the Friars game. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.

Like the fireworks display (which fire officials said could not continue for lack of a safe location to shoot them off), the laser show will begin at midnight. It will last nearly 20 minutes and feature music.

“That’s one thing we were never able to do with the fireworks was coordinate sound and music,” Gertsacov said.

Among the other performers are the Big Nazo Puppets, bebop artist Greg Abate and Grammy winning storyteller and singer Bill Harley.

In Newport, the grand event of the family-oriented New Year festivities is a fireworks display that you don’t have to wait until midnight to see. The pyrotechnics begin at 9:15, shortly after a parade from Thompson Middle School, on Broadway, ends at the harbor.

The Brazilian Capoeira Dancers will give three 45-minute shows––at 6, 7 and 8 p.m.—in the cafeteria of the middle school. Downstairs, in the gym, there will also be face painting, balloon sculpture, a kids bounce and slide, a clown, a magician and dancing for kids.

Next door, at City Hall, folk performers will turn the council chambers into a concert venue featuring Ed McGuirl and Mike Fischmen, The Remnants and Leroy White. Bluegrass music will be played live at the Florence Murray Judicial Complex.

Other venues include the Newport Marriott, the Gateway Visitors Center, and the Jane Pickens Theater.

Buttons cost $10 and may be purchased online at www.firstnightnewport.org. Children under age 5 may enter venues at no charge. Buttons may also be purchased at the Gateway Visitors Center and the Music Box, 160 Thames St., in Jamestown at Baker’s Pharmacy, in Portsmouth at Clements’ Marketplace and in Middletown at AAA of Southern New England.

Fireworks will also be shot off as part of First Night Westerly. In the past, there would be one pyrotechnics display early in the evening and one at midnight. This year, however, there will be just one show, at 9 p.m., a time meant to accommodate families, and that will conclude the evening.

“It’s a simpler event,” said organizer Ray Jones, pastor of the Lighthouse Community Baptist Church. “Basically what we did was we looked at the economy and we looked at our community and we just decided we were going to tailor our event to young families and just make it really cost-effective.”

Last year for example, American Idol contestant Chris Sligh performed.at First Night Westerly. This year, there will be no such headliner and there will be fewer venues for a shorter period of time. The price is $5, down from $13 last year.

But children’s activities will abound. At the library and YMCA, there will be arts and crafts, a mime, face painting and inflatable toys, while teen activities will take place at the Armory. Jazz and big band drummer Bobby Selvidio will perform on High Street. The best place to watch the fireworks will be from the YMCA parking lot, Jones said.

“It’s a nice wholesome time for people with their kids and teens. What our event is tailored around is providing a substance-free New Year’s Eve,” he said.

Buttons for First Night Westerly may be purchased on the day of the event at theYMCA or in advance at NewportFed and Washington Trust. For more information, go to www.firstnightwesterly.com.

Fall River also has downsized its celebration. The city announced that it would not be able to finance another First Night Fall River, but then community activists stepped up and produced a more modest replacement event, which they have dubbed “Back to Main Street: New Year’s Eve in the Neighborhood.”

“It’s an old-fashioned block party,” said Patrice Cloutier, the city’s director of cultural development and tourism, who with businessman Jerry Donovan, led the effort to rescue Fall River’s celebration .

The event, as always, will be free. It will feature horse and carriage rides as well as trolley tours, in addition to a variety of street performers, including jugglers and stilt walkers. A children’s venue, with arts and crafts, will be set up in a vacant storefront at 25 North Main St.

One of the highlights of the event will be a 7:30 p.m. performance by the Chinese Folk Troupe at the Eagle Performing Arts Center, 33 North Main St. There will be a dragon dance, a lion dance, umbrella dancing and drumming, said Cloutier. Seating for the nearly 1 ½-hour performance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Bonaparte, a Boston magician, will take the stage afterward.

In the past, Fall River would bring in the New Year with the dropping of a ball from the Armory. This year, with the events taking place in just a one-block area, the ball will be dropped at midnight from Government Center.

“It’s really a community event put together with a lot of heart and private donations,” Cloutier said. “It really brings you back to Main Street. It’s about quality and simplicity at the same time.”

For more information, go to www.fallriverma.org.

rsalit@projo.com

Featured in the Metrowest papers

2008-12-25T14:13:00.003-05:00

Along with First Night Worcester & First Night Boston, we are mentioned. I think our line-up of artists compares very favorably to both of the other festivals.

http://www.dailynewstribune.com/arts/x1277297681/New-Years-Eve-A-Festivity-Trifecta

New Year's Eve: A Festivity Trifecta

Photos

contributed

Fireworks display is part of First Night Boston.

More related photos

By Chris Bergeron/Daily News Staff and Jody Feinberg/Gatehouse News Service

GateHouse News Service

Posted Dec 25, 2008 @ 10:00 AM

ASHLAND —

MetroWesters looking for New Year's Eve fun can choose from three distinct choices to welcome 2009, all less than an hour's drive away.

First Night Boston 2009, the granddaddy of all New Year's festivals, is throwing the biggest bash of all with arts and activities spread across Bean Town.

With size come innovative opportunities, hot acts and complications, including parking hassles, packed public transportation and crowds reminiscent of Shanghai.

Throwing its 27th party, First Night Worcester 2009 provides accessible and varied family fun.
Rising to the challenge after economic woes ended First Night activities in Providence, area artists have been throwing their own party called Bright Night Providence since 2003.

Intimate, eclectic and an obvious labor of love, this festival provides a perfect example of committed artists sharing their passion with the public.
You can't lose with this trifecta.

WORCESTER: Just up the Pike:
Just a short hop from MetroWest, First Night Worcester 2009 lets revelers greet the New Year with a mixed bag of arts activities from a multicultural Global Village to indoor kite flying, from comedian Casey Carle's soapy ``Bubblemania'' to two Á count 'em Á fireworks displays.

Executive Director Joyce Kressler promised, ``We've got something for everybody, for every taste and for every interest.

``Every year we make sure 80 percent of our performances and activities are new so nobody can say `I'm not going. I saw that last year,'' she said. ``This year we've got probably more than 500 artists and performers participating in about 120 acts and activities at 20 venues.''

While most events take place at indoor venues clustered around downtown Main Street, Kressler said several first-time sites like the New Hanover Theatre near the center and off-site events at Mass. College of Pharmacy, Worcester Craft Center and the EcoTarium provide more seats and larger stages for new performances.

Worcester's First Night is an affiliate of the nonprofit group which organized the first such festival in Boston in 1976 for the bicentennial. Kressler said the Worcester group ``was born in 1981 for 1982.''{ is hosting its 27th First Night this week.-said this in intro}
``Each First Night is like a snowflake,'' she said. ``At first they look alike but under a microscope, each is different in its own special way.''

Events kick off at 3 p.m. with a scavenger hunt, music, magic, storytelling and more at several sites and concludes from 11:30 p.m. to midnight with a Nipmuk Unity Circle and fireworks at Lincoln Square.

Over the last several years, Kressler said, attendance has been ``good and pretty stable'' ranging between 30,000 and 40,000 annually.

Visitors can attend any event, providing there's room, by purchasing a First Night Worcester 2009 button. Buttons sold for $10 before Christmas, and are $12 until Dec. 31 and $15 at the gate. Children under 10 are free. If a group purchases more than 50 buttons in advance, the price is reduced to $8 for each.

To see the schedule for First Night Worcester 2009, visit www.firstnightworcester.org.

BOSTON: The first and fabulous First Night

First Night Boston is thriving, offering even more events this year than last.

The arts celebration promises not just a good time, but a way to enjoy the city's music, theater, dance and cultural destinations for less money. That's because the $18 First Night Button offers entry to scores of performances, not just on New Year's Eve, but during the afternoon of Dec. 31 and through January.

``People come and do the free stuff, but I don't think a lot of them understand what the button is,'' said Geri Guardino, executive director of the 33rd First Night. ``It's really a great value not just for the night. There's more programming this year in the afternoon, and if you hold onto the button, you get a lot of benefits.''

As in past years, the button gives you access to performances by the city's leading arts groups, as well as cutting edge talent from afar. It's a massive undertaking by a staff who work year-round turning a budget of about $1.3 million and in kind contributions of about $850,000 into a celebration that attracts about 1 million people.

``We're expecting a good crowd, maybe bigger than usual,'' Guardino said.

Traditionally, the afternoon programming has been for children, with a Family Festival packed with stunt teams, magicians, puppeteers, singers and more. This year, there's also a non-stop lineup of classical and jazz singers and musicians at St. Paul's Cathedral and music at The Mary Baker Eddy Library. A festival of short international films runs all afternoon at the Museum of Fine Arts. And free admission is available all day to the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, and in the morning to the New England Aquarium.

But First Night goes into full gear in the evening, starting with the Grand Procession, where giant puppets, festive bands, colorful floats and hundreds of costumed revelers parade down Boylston Street.

Commonwealth Shakespeare, Opera Boston and the dance company Monkeyhouse are among the local performers. A highlight is the jazz phenomenon Hiromi and her group, Sonicbloom. Her concert, which includes students and alumni from Berklee College of Music, will be broadcast live nationwide by WGBH radio as part of National Public Radio's new year's celebration, ``A Toast to the Nation,'' a first for First Night.

``She is just such fun to watch and has fabulous musicians playing with her,'' Guardino said. ``She's renowned, and it's very exciting for us that it will be broadcast live across the nation.''

Guardino also is looking forward to sound artist Sxip Shirey, who has performed at Symphony Hall.

``Sxip sets up a landscape of sound and visuals that's really cool and a bit like performance art,'' Guardino said. ``It's fun for us to have some fringe stuff.''

Guitar buffs may want to catch the West African guitarist and drummer Mamaou Diop, who blends samba, salsa and reggae with Senegalese rhythms, and the Nashville group Scissormen, who play slide guitar blues.

You can find the humor in tough times when comedians Tony V and Kenny Rogerson take on the economy in ``700 Billion Laughs: A Bailout of Humor From Some Serious Stupidity.'' And be part of the humor in the sketches of ImprovBoston and Improv Asylum.

Of course, New Year's Eve is a party and you can celebrate by dancing with the Fulani Haynes and the Jazz Collaborative or the Swingin' Eve Dance Party with Marie Lawlor, who instructs at the top of each set.

Even without a button, there's plenty of opportunity to dance. Two high-energy bands, Downbeat 5 and Black Taxi, play on Boston Common, and DJs host a dance party in Copley Square with a laser and light show. Take a break from dancing, and admire the massive ice sculptures on the Common and in Copley Square.

A short round of fireworks starts at 7 p.m. over Boston Common, and the midnight grand finale is over the waterfront. For the first time, you can see the fireworks from a harbor cruise, part of First Night's new collaboration with the Boston Harbor Association. During the day on the waterfront, you also can tour pilot, fire and Coast Guard boats and ride the trolley from Christopher Columbus Park to the Boston Children's Museum and the ICA.

``The waterfront is a great part of town, and we want to send people down there and use more of the city,'' Guardino said.

On New Year's Day, the button gives free admission to a child to the Boston Children's Museum. Through January, you can bring a child to the New England Aquarium for free, receive a 30 percent discount to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and get $10 off each ticket to ``The Seagull'' at the American Repertory Theatre. And that's just a sample.
``We want to give value to the First Night button,'' she said.

First Night Boston buttons are $18 at Shaw's and other outlets and at First Night. Children under age 4 are free. Complete schedules and descriptions can be downloaded. For more information, go to www.firstnight.org.

PROVIDENCE: Let there be `Bright Night'
Facing the prospect of New Year's Eve without a citywide celebration, Rhode Island artists created their own festival -- Bright Night Providence.

Since 2003 about 100 artists, led by Adam Gertsacov, have combined their talents and passions to organize a new ``family-friendly tradition'' offering arts and activities at 22 venues within walking distance of downtown Providence.

More than 150 performers will be brightening this year's last night with an eclectic mix of dance and music, martial arts and an international circus act, and ending with an 11:45 p.m. laser show at Kennedy Plaza.

Talk about a potpourri! From noon to midnight, visitors can enjoy an improvisational accordionist, the larger-than-life-sized puppets of Big Nazo, Grammy award-winning storyteller Bill Harley, slam poetry, Clare Vadeboncoeur's ``Snow Queen'' and lots more.
For a bouncy first time event, the ``first 3,000 people'' at the door can watch the Providence College Friars play Saint John's College.

``When First Night Providence canceled for financial reasons, local artists got together and decided `Instead of a dark night, we'll give the public a bright night,'' said Gertsacov, P.T. Barnum impersonator, flea circus impresario, and Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Md., when he's not Festival Director for Bright Night.

Preparing for his sixth festival, Gertsacov said organizers don't exclude any Rhode Island artists but tend to hire performers from the capital area. To balance the emphasis on homegrown talent, he said, each year the show features "one big out-of-town act'' with major name recognition.

For this year's showcase performance, the Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Thrill Show will give 6, 8 and 10 p.m. shows at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Billed as the ``world's greatest stuntman,'' family patriarch Michaelangelo Nock will thrill the audience performing daredevil stunts on the Wheel of Destiny, Aerial Fabric and Tower of Chairs.

Late night owls can choose between a 10 p.m. Swing Dance Blues Bash at the Beneficent Roundtop Center or an 11 p.m. candlelight service of holy communion at Grace Church.
While exact figures aren't available, Gertsacov said attendance has been rising over the last several years to an estimated 20,000 visitors annually.

Rather than using buttons, Bright Night Providence uses wristbands for admission to all venues, space allowing. Wristbands cost $10 when purchased in advance and $15 at the event. A family 4-pack sells for $50.

"Times are tough because of the economy. But so far, so great,'' said Gertsacov. "We've got some things in common with other First Nights but we've got our own special things. Bright Night Providence is about local artists saving a festival for Providence.''
To see the schedule for Bright Night Providence, visit www.brightnight.org.

Featured on Projo Blog

2008-12-23T16:48:00.001-05:00

After the press conference, projo blogged about us:

http://newsblog.projo.com/2008/12/bright-night-or.html#432361

Bright Night organizers unveil New Year's Eve events

11:58 AM Tue, Dec 23, 2008 | Permalink

By Richard Salit
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- Since the city hadn't levied a new tax on costumes, there had to be another reason for the boisterous gathering at City Hall of the Snow Queen, Casey Jones and several Big Nazo characters

And indeed there was.

The group assembled inside on the grand staircase to publicize Bright Night Providence, the sixth annual New Year's Eve celebration put on in the Capitol City by a non-profit, artist-run organization. Still, it was hard to keep the rowdy characters focused on that.

"Many politicians have thrown themselves under my train," quipped the Casey Jones character getting caught up in the City Hall scene.

This year's event replaces fireworks with a midnight laser show, headlines an acrobatic act called the Nerveless Nocks and features 160 performers at 22 venues. It also incorporates a Providence Friars basketball game at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The first 3,000 people with Bright Night wristbands may enter the game versus St. John's University for free.

Tickets to Bright Night are $10 in advance, $15 on the day of the event (when a family four-pack may be purchased for $50). Tickets are on sale online at www.brightnight.org, by calling (401) 621-6123 or by visiting ArtTixRI, on Westminster Street, any BankRI location, all OOP! locations and the East Side Marketplace.

For more information, including the schedule of Bright Night events, visit www.brightnight.org.

New Year's Eve Will Be Bright In Providence

2008-12-23T12:25:00.003-05:00

Bright Night Providence to Produce
its Sixth New Year’s Eve Celebration

Providence, RI, 12/23/08

Bright Night Providence, Rhode Island's Largest New Year's Festival, will produce its sixth New Year’s Eve Celebration. The event will feature a daredevil thrill show, a basketball game, a laser show, children’s activities, and over 160 performers in 22 venues throughout downtown Providence.

New Year's Eve Will Be Bright in Providence.

Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year’s celebration now in its sixth year, will continue its tradition of ringing in the New Year. This year the festival will feature expanded children’s activities, more great local artists, and a free laser show in Kennedy Plaza to start the New Year with a spectacular display of lights.

Bright Night, led by local performer and festival director Adam Gertsacov, has a number of events planned for this year. The day will start with children’s events at a number of local venues, including the RISD Museum, the Providence Children’s Museum, Mathewson Street Church, Beneficent Church, and several other venues.

After official opening ceremonies at the Bank of America Skating Rink, a number of venues around downtown will host over one hundred performers, including singers, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and magicians.

The evening will be headlined by the Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Thrill Show, featuring the Nock family, a ninth generation circus family that will perform acts of courage and derring-do.

The evening will culminate with a midnight laser show in Kennedy Plaza that will count down the New Year.

"This is our sixth year," said Gertsacov. "Each year, the event gets a little bigger and a little brighter. Despite the economy, this year may be our best yet. We’ve had to be a little bit more creative, but fortunately, that’s our strength. Rhode Island’s artist community is an amazing wealth of talent and resilience. We’ve also had strong support from our sponsors, including the City of Providence, David N. Cicilline, Mayor, the Providence Tourism Council, and the State of Rhode Island. “

Tickets to Bright Night are $10 in advance, $15 on the day of event (on the day of event, a family fourpack for $50 will also be available) Tickets are on sale online at http://www.brightnight.org, via telephone and internet from ArtTixRI, and available at all BankRI locations, all OOP! locations, and the East Side Marketplace.

For more information about Bright Night, visit http://www.brightnight.org or call 401-621-6123.

Sponsors and donors should contact Gertsacov directly via the website: http://www.brightnight.org

About Bright Night Providence

Bright Night was founded in 2003 after Providence's long-running New Year's Eve festival, First Night, was cancelled. Organized in less than three months, the event drew over 12,000 people to downtown Providence, making Bright Night the largest New Year's Eve party in the state. The festival features local artists and performers at venues throughout downtown Providence, and provides a fun, vibrant, and family friendly atmosphere for the people of Rhode Island.

The festival's director, Adam Gertsacov, is an actor, director, and clown. He wears many hats, including that of a flea circus impresario, a local author, the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, and many others. He became the Festival director of Bright Night Providence in 2003 when a group of local artists (himself included) didn't want to see the city go dark on New Year's Eve.

Other members of the artist group include Erminio Pinque, Josh Bell, Chris Turner, Rachel Maloney, Marvin Novogrodski, Al Gomes, Carolyn Martino, Val Tutson, Deb Meunier, Tom Sgouros, and Mark Binder.

BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE ADDS HOOPS TO FESTIVITIES.

2008-12-12T12:05:00.000-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE ADDS HOOPS TO FESTIVITIES.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE LIST, POST, & DISSEMINATE
KILL DATE 12/31/08
PRESS CONTACT: Adam Gertsacov for Bright Night Providence
401-351-2596 adam@brightnight.org
================================================

Through a partnership with the PC Friars, New Year's Eve festival goers can enjoy a basketball game in addition to arts performances.

DEC 12, 2008 (Providence RI)

Bright Night Providence is usually known for the wide variety of artists that perform during the New Year's Eve Celebration. Musicians, actors, dancers, storytellers, clowns, magicians all grace the stages of the festival each year. This year, you can add point guards and power forwards to that list. That's because on December 31, the Providence Friars are taking on St. John's University in a Big East league game at 4:00 pm at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and Bright Night wristband wearers are eligible for free admission.

"We're so pleased that we can work with the Friars on this event," said Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night Providence. "It brings a whole new dimension to the family friendly fun that we've been providing downtown for the last six years. And it adds another great activity for our audiences to take part in. "

"We're glad to be part of the festivities," said Katie Moore, Director of Athletic Marketing at Providence College. "Bright Night is such a fantastic event, full of families celebrating. Last year's event went so well, we wanted to do it again. This year will be even better. After all, it's a Big East game this year."

Bright Night has been going on since 2003, but this is only the second year that a basketball game has been included on the schedule of events. The first 3000 festival goers who show their wristbands at a special table inside the Dunkin' Donuts Center lobby will get a free ticket to the game against St. John's. Only one wristband per ticket. The lobby will open at 2 pm, two hours before game time (4:00 pm)
Ticket prices to the basketball games begin at $12, and a ticket to Bright Night (if purchased in advance) is $10. Day of event ticket sales to Bright Night are $15 each, or a family fourpack is $50. Tickets to Bright Night are available by calling 401-621-6123 or online at http://www.brightnight.org. Wristbands will also be available for sale at the Dunkin' Donuts Center

Wristbands allow access to all of the events of the festival on a space available basis, and guarantee admission at one of three showings (at 6, 8, and 10 pm) at the Providence Convention Center. This year's show is the Nerveless Nock's Daredevil Thrill Show, a spectacular circus-like show that features amazing acts and stunts.

For a complete schedule of information, or to purchase tickets, visit the website listed below.

ABOUT BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE: Bright Night Providence is an artist-run New Year's Eve Celebration that features over 150 performers in 22 venues throughout downtown Providence. It is sponsored in part by the city of Providence, the State of Rhode Island, and many corporations and individuals. For more information about Bright Night Providence, or to purchase tickets, call the box office 401-621-6123 or visit the website: http://www.brightnight.org

ABOUT THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS: The PC Friars Men's Basketball Team is one of the top basketball teams in New England. They have sent 27 players to the NBA, made 15 appearances in the NCAA championships, 17 appearances in the NIT championships (including 2 championships), and compete in the BIG EAST Conference, the most televised conference in the country. To find out more, please visit their website http://www.friars.com

Bright Night Providence Announces Headlining Act

2008-11-30T22:38:00.005-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT WILL THRILL AND CHILL
The Nerveless Nocks, a world renowned daredevil troupe, will headline the sixth year of Bright Night Providence

PROVIDENCE, RI., 11/30/08
This year Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year's Eve Festival now in its sixth year, will really start the new year with a thrill. That's because The Nerveless Nocks, a family of daredevil circus performers, will be the featured performers in what is known as Rhode Island's Largest New Year's Eve Celebration.

The Nocks have a storied past: they are a ninth generation family of circus performers, starting back as early as 1840 in Switzerland. Today's troupe is run by Michelangelo Nock, whose father arrived from Switzerland in 1954 to star in the Greatest Show on Earth. The family has performed throughout the world for kings and queens, at gigantic festivals (including a number of Superbowl and television events) and as the featured act on most of the great circuses of the world. It was Queen Elizabeth who dubbed them the "Nerveless" Nocks.

The shows for Bright Night will feature Michelangelo Nock, who has been dubbed the world's greatest circus stuntman. Some of the acts featured in the show will be the Wheel of Destiny, in which the Nocks perform leaps, somersaults, handstands on a moving aerial pendulum; and the Tower of Chairs, where Michelangelo will climb a 20 foot tall tower made of chairs and do breath-taking handstands while completely unsupported from the ceiling.

"This is going to be a fantastic show," says Adam Gertsacov, festival director of Bright Night. "The Nocks are absolute circus royalty. They've performed for kings and queens, on television and for the Superbowl. They are one of the premier acts in the business. And their courage and skill is breath-taking. I think this will be one of the best shows we've ever produced!"

"We're really excited to be performing back in Rhode Island," said Michelangelo Nock. "We grew up here. Our family used to do the sway pole act at Rocky Point during the summer for many years. We all have such fond memories of the area. And the Bright Night event- it's incredible, that the artists and performers have made this all possible. We love it! We're pleased to be a part of it."

The Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Thrill Show will perform three shows in Providence as part of Bright Night. Their shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm at the RI Convention Center. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those three performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 17 other venues throughout the day (on a space available basis).

Some of the other artists on the Bright Night bill include local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Celtic group Pendragon, bebop great Greg Abate, Grammy winner storyteller/singer Bill Harley, a blues swing/dance party featuring the Black and White Blues Band and the Superchief Trio, dance group Carolyn Dutra Dancers, a special Bright Night Poetry Slam, and a host of other artists and events. A full schedule will be available in early December on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets and complete schedules to Bright Night will be available in early December online at www.ArtTixRI.com, and available in person at all BankRI locations. all OOP! stores, and at the EastSide Marketplace starting December 6.

For more information about tickets call 401-621-6123 or visit http://www.brightnight.org

Tickets are $10 each if purchased in advance, $15 on the day of event. Family fourpacks for $50 will also be available. There are a limited amount of tickets, so purchase early to avoid getting closed out.

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

To find out more about The Nerveless Nocks, visit http://www.nervelessnocks.com
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Volunteer for Bright Night!

2008-11-14T13:04:00.004-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS!

Bright Night Providence, Rhode Island's largest New Year's Eve Celebration is seeking over 100 volunteers to help make this year's New Year's Eve Celebration safe and fun for everyone.

Come and be part of the magic.

On New Year's Eve, volunteers will work 3-4 hour shifts, giving information to patrons, checking wristbands, putting up posters, and doing other work to make sure that the festival runs smoothly. We also have limited opportunities for volunteering in the weeks before New Year's Eve and in the weeks after the festival.

All volunteers will get a free wristband to enjoy the rest of the festival.

For more information please visit our website http://www.brightnight.org or email us at volunteering@brightnight.org.

We are also seeking donations and sponsorships. In these tough economic times, even a small donation can make a big difference. To donate, visit http://www.brightnight.org/donate.html

PBN Newsmaker

2008-01-17T11:28:00.000-05:00

Posted Jan. 14, 2008

newsmakers

Clowning is a serious business for this entrepreneur

PBN PHOTO/BRIAN MCDONALD

ADAM GERTSACOV says Bright Night Providence is growing slowly, as planned. He says more corporate sponsors would ensure its survival.

By Natalie Myers
PBN Staff Writer

Adam Gertsacov likes to call himself the most educated clown in America, excluding certain elected officials. As a performer, he understands the important role the arts and artists play in the world. He saw the need to preserve that five years ago when First Night Providence, a franchise of First Night International, which provides guidelines and discounts for the branded New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country, went bankrupt.

He and a few other artists in the city banded together to save the New Year’s Eve festival from extinction and they created Bright Night Providence. This year was the festival’s sixth year. In a recent interview with Providence Business News, Gertsacov discussed how the festival fared this year compared with previous years and what the plans are for its future.

PBN: How well did the festival do this year with ticket sales?

GERTSACOV: We sold 6,800 to 7,000 tickets, which is a little bit less than last year [when 7,500 tickets were sold] and I attribute it to a couple of things. Number one: last year [the festival] was on a Sunday. This year it was on a Monday. The weekend is traditionally a little bit better for a festival. And last year our big act of the year was a circus … This year our main act was a high-energy, drum-band spectacular [called SLAMM!] … which is much harder to explain than a circus. … We took a bit of a risk and went a little bit older on our main show. We may have lost a few customers because of it. … [And] last year was 48 degrees and this year was 32.

PBN: What is the festival’s financial status as of right now?

GERTSACOV: We definitely have broken even. Last year was a completely banner year. The best year we’ve had so far. And if last year didn’t exist this year would be a banner year by far. It could be that I need to produce a circus every year. It’s hard to say.

PBN: Why don’t you produce a circus every year if it increases profit margins?

GERTSACOV: I wouldn’t want to do that. … My goal is not to sell the most amount of tickets. My goal is to create the best community celebration possible. And that means not repeating the things that work every year. … For me that doesn’t bode for success.

PBN: So this year you decided to do a slightly more mature main show and have a Bright Night Kids Fair to appeal to younger children?

GERTSACOV: This is the first time that we’ve done that. It was very successful … we had nearly 1,000 people come to [the kids fair]. And this year we also had the PC Friars game. It went pretty well. We had almost 200 people show up for it. It would have been amazing if we had 1,000 people. … If I could have something for everyone I would. It’s a question of resources.

PBN: If you had the financial and technical resources, how big would you grow the festival?

GERTSACOV: My goal for the festival is to do exactly what we’re doing, to [grow] very slow and organically … I think the 9,000-ticket cap is about the right number. Above that we don’t really have the capacity to allow everybody to have a great time.

PBN: How does the festival contribute to the creative economy?

GERTSACOV: About 80 percent of the artists we contract are repeats. They’re not the same [artists] every year, but most of them have worked with us before. … The reason why is, No. 1, they’re local. … From an economic perspective … if the festival does better than expected every artist will receive a bonus ... Last year it was a $200 bonus [per performer or act] … in the last four years, not including this year, our pay out was $25,000 in artist bonuses.

PBN: Why is it important to you to take care of these artists in this way?

GERTSACOV: Number one, I’m an artist … I think that’s one of our most important cultural assets. But I’ve performed at a lot of festivals. I’m a clown. I’ve toured around the country, around the world. I’ve been treated great, and I’ve been treated poorly. And running my own festival I want to treat people great.

PBN: Bright Night gets 60 percent of its budget from ticket sales and 40 percent from donations and corporate sponsors. How do you build the sponsorships to keep the festival going?

GERTSACOV: I would love to know. From my perspective, I don’t see why every business in Rhode Island doesn’t give us $100 at the minimum. … Bright Night Providence is something that really enhances the value of the city, of living in the city, and that in turn enhances that value of every business in the city and the state.

PBN: If you did get $100 per business, what would you use it for?

GERTSACOV: I think we’d do more advertising, we’d give out more free tickets … to low-income communities. … We do that now, but on a limited basis. … There’s at least one more venue I’m not using, the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, which I can’t afford.

PBN: If you don’t want the festival to get too big, why is increased sponsorship important?

GERTSACOV: It’s important so that we’re less reliant on weather. … We need to grow … to ensure the continuity of the festival. One of the things we’ll be doing in the next couple years is to figure out how to ensure the continuity of the festival, whether it’s a fund at the Rhode Island Foundation or our own fund, to do a fundraising effort … If I raise $2 million … that would be enough to ensure the festival lived forever. ·

INTERVIEW: Adam Gertsacov

POSITION: Executive director of the What Cheer Art Company, festival director of Bright Night Providence.

BACKGROUND: Gertsacov started his career as a young actor at Trinity Repertory Company in the late 1980s. He left after a year because he didn’t want to work the 10 to 15 years it takes professional actors to gain recognition in the industry. Instead he went to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Sarasota, Fla. Afterward he studied physical comedy at Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake, Calif., and then he went to the Czech Republic to study under the famous mime artist, Ctibor Turba, He became festival director of Bright Night Providence in 2003 hoping to save the New Year’s Eve celebration from extinction.

EDUCATION: B.A. in theoretical communications, 1986, University of Pennsylvania; studied acting, 1988, Trinity Repertory Conservatory; M.A. in theater and group psychology, 1990, Rhode Island College

RESIDENCE: Providence

Age: 43

Bright Night Featured in ProJo today

2007-12-27T09:52:00.000-05:00

We've got the cover of the Lifebeat section, as well as a lion's share of the article inside! Good stuff!
Read the article online

Lighting up the Nights
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 27, 2007
By Channing Gray

Journal Arts Writer
The featured Bright Night act is Carmine Appice’s SLAMM! From left are Appice, Zoilo “Zman”, “Mad” Matty Alger and Mark “Voodoo” Joseph. Along with Veronica Bellino, not pictured, they create a high-energy show that has been called “Stomp on Steroids.” SLAMM! performs at PPAC at 6, 8 and 10 p.m.

There will be fireworks over Providence Monday night as Bright Night once again ushers in the New Year in the capital city.
This year’s celebration will be “bigger and bolder than ever,” said producer Adam Gertsacov, a Providence entertainer. Look for clowns, jugglers, storytellers, magic acts and two fireworks displays over the State House, at 5:35 p.m. and midnight. In all, more than 200 performers will be working their magic at venues across the city.
The highlight of the festival, which runs from noon to midnight and beyond, is a high-energy band of drummers put together by Carmine Appice, former drummer for Rod Stewart.
The five musicians, known collectively as Slamm, will be banging on everything from garbage cans to Dixie cups, said Gertsacov.
“It’s like Stomp on steroids,” he said.
Slamm will perform three times at the Providence Performing Arts Center, at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. A Bright Night wristband — $10 in advance, $15 the day of the event — guarantees admission to one of the shows. Space permitting, you can catch a second performance.
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

Providence Bright Again For New Year's Eve

2007-12-22T08:15:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE POST, CIRCULATE, OR DISTRIBUTE
KILL DATE 12/31/2007
PRESS CONTACT: ADAM GERTSACOV 401-351-2596 adam@brightnight.org

PROVIDENCE BRIGHT AGAIN FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE
Mayor David N. Cicilline and Bright Night Providence Festival Director Adam Gertsacov announce Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year’s Eve celebration now in its fifth year.

PROVIDENCE, RI.,December 21,2007 - Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year's celebration now in its fifth year, will continue to keep New Year ‘s Eve bright in Providence. This year the arts festival will feature performances from 12 noon to 12 midnight, including a Kid’s Fun Fair at the Providence Convention Center, a swing dance party (also at the Convention Center), the high energy drum and dance spectacular SLAMM at the Providence Performing Arts Center, admission to a PC Friars game at the Dunk for the first 3000 ticket-holders, and over 150 performers at venues around the city, and two spectacular display of fireworks sponsored by the Providence Tourism Council to start the New Year with a bang.

I’m very excited about this year,” says Adam Gertsacov, director of the festival, “Each year our festival has been able to grow a little more, and offer even more to our audiences. We’re now in our fifth year, and I’m amazed at how quickly its gone by, and how much fun its been. Each year we get to entertain, astonish, and celebrate with our audiences, and to showcase a little more of Rhode Island’s most important cultural asset- its artists.”

“Bright Night Providence is truly an exciting, fun-filled New Year’s Eve celebration that brings premier performances to our city and showcases the tremendous talent of the artists and performers who live and work in our city,” said Mayor Cicilline. The artist-run celebration has a number of sponsors and partners, including the Providence Tourism Council, the City of Providence, the Providence Foundation, the State of Rhode Island, Open MRI of New England, AAA, Cameron & Mittleman, the Providence Renaissance Hotel, Motif Magazine, the PC Friars, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, NBC-10, Coast 93.3, and others.

Activities this year will include performances by Carmine Appice’s SLAMM!, a high energy drum and dance spectacular in which rock icon Appice (drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, & Jeff Beck) and his handpicked crew will drum on just about anything they can get their hands on, including garbage cans, dixie cups, oil drums, and even drums : a special kids event from 1-5 pm at the RI Convention Center, featuring Bill Harley, Keith Munslow, Marvin Novogrodski, and Val Tutson; the twenty fifth anniversary of Pendragon, the local Celtic group, the 20th anniversary of Big Nazo Puppets, and performances by Greg Abate, classical pianist Cecile Grobe, the Bright Night Poetry Slam, bellydance troupe Scherezade’s Sisters, the Ocean State Children’s Chorus, The Trinity Zoo, the Rhode Island Children’s Chorus, Improv Jones, Womanspiritrising, Fusionworks Dance Company, the Chinese Folk Art Society, Carolyn Dutra Dancers, the Gnomes, Trouz Bras, Inca Son, Fishel Bresler, juggler Greg Frisbee, storyteller Jackson Gillman, magician Peter Gross, Mark Binder & the Wippets, Black and White Blues band, and scores of other performers. Performances will run from 12 noon to 12 midnight at a number of venues throughout downtown Providence. A complete schedule is available online at their website http://www.brightnight.org, as well as at every venue on the day of the performance

Tickets to Bright Night are $10 in advance, $15 day of the event, and available online at http://www.brightnight.org, over the phone at 401-621-6123 (ArtTixRI), and available at all BankRI locations, OOP! stores, and the East Side Marketplace. Day of event tickets will be also sold at Providence Performing Arts Center, ArtTixRI Office, RI Convention Center, the Providence Children’s Museum, and several other venues.

About Bright Night

Bright Night was founded in 2003 after Providence's long-running New Year's Eve festival, First Night, was cancelled. Organized in less than three months, the event drew over 12,000 people to downtown Providence, making Bright Night the largest New Year's Eve party in the state. The festival features local artists and performers at venues throughout downtown Providence, and provides a fun, vibrant, and family friendly atmosphere for the people of Rhode Island. It has since grown— last year’s festival drew over 20,000 people to downtown Providence.

The festival's director, Adam Gertsacov, is an actor, director, and clown. He wears many hats, including that of a flea circus impresario, a published author, the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, and many others. He became the Festival director of Bright Night Providence in 2003 when a group of local artists (himself included) didn't want to see the city go dark on New Year's Eve.

The festival is sponsored in part by the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island, as well as a number of corporate and individual donors.

For more information about sponsorship, history, and activities, please visit the website http://www.brightnight.org
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Bright Night Partners with Providence Renaissance Hotel

2007-12-21T07:01:00.000-05:00

Renaissance Providence Hotel is Official Partner of Providence Bright Night

The Renaissance Providence Hotel, the new official partner of Bright Night Providence, is offering two special packages aimed to attract revelers to the city and to bring an elegant and sophisticated element to the 2008 New Year's celebration.

Providence, RI (PRWEB) December 21, 2007 -- The Renaissance Providence Hotel, the new official partner of Bright Night Providence, is offering two special packages aimed to attract revelers to the city and to bring an elegant and sophisticated element to the 2008 New Year's celebration.

The couple's Bright Night package is just $259 and includes accommodations in one of the Renaissance Providence Hotel's elegantly appointed rooms with a king or two queen beds; two wristbands to gain admittance to all Bright Night events; a complimentary bottle of fine champagne, and a New Year's Day breakfast buffet for two served in the hotel's exquisite ballroom. The family package is $289 and includes all of the above amenities plus Bright Night wristbands and breakfast buffet for four.

Guests who take advantage of the Bright Night New England vacation packages at the Renaissance Providence Hotel can linger a little longer over complimentary Starbucks coffee and Tazo teas on New Year's Day, as check out will be extended to 2 pm.

Renaissance Providence Hotel is proud to extend its commitment to the arts of Providence by being the official partner of Bright Night Providence 2008, an artist-run, arts-oriented New Year's Eve Celebration that features over 150 performers in over 22 downtown venues, along with expanded kid's activities, fireworks, and opening ceremonies at the Fleet Skating Center. More than 20,000 revelers enjoyed last year's family-friendly festivities.

"We have envisioned the Renaissance Providence luxury hotel as inspiring everyone who enters it, revealing the soul of the artist who lives in each and every one of us," said Angelo De Peri, General Manager of Renaissance Providence Hotel. "This partnership with Bright Night Providence is an expression of that commitment to the creative arts and the life of this city."

"We're excited to partner with the Renaissance Providence Hotel," said Adam Gertsacov, festival director of Bright Night Providence. "We feel that there is a strong connection between our two missions, which makes this a win/win for everyone, including the citizens of Providence."

Bright Night Providence is Rhode Island's largest New Year's Eve Celebration. Started by Providence artists in 2003 when First Night Providence couldn't continue, Bright Night has become an artist-run family friendly festival that celebrates Rhode Island's most important cultural asset: its artists. This year's fifth annual festival features over 150 performers in 22 venues throughout the city, including some of Rhode Island's best actors, dancers, singers, magicians, musicians, acrobats, storytellers, and clowns. To find out more, visit http://www.brightnight.org

The keystone of Providence's new Avenue of the Arts, the Renaissance Providence Hotel features deluxe Rhode Island accommodations highlighted by 272 guest-rooms, 10,000 square feet of state-of-the art meeting space, an independent freestanding destination restaurant, a lounge, fitness center, and a 49-room club level, as well as a dramatic theater-like lobby with stunning views of the neighboring Rhode Island State House.

A nine-story addition, mirroring the Neo-Classical style of the hotel houses guest rooms and the conference/ballroom space and links the hotel with the VMA Arts and Cultural Center, home to the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Festival Ballet and Opera Providence as well as many fine arts performances.

About Renaissance Providence Hotel:
Stimulate your senses at a dramatic Providence, RI hotel boasting a fully orchestrated experience that celebrates the visual arts, music, drama, and dance at the Renaissance Providence Hotel. Originally built in 1929 as a Masonic temple, the remarkable neoclassical architecture has been meticulously restored to its natural beauty, while the interior has been transformed into an elegant reflection of modern day sophistication, creating a unique Providence, Rhode Island hotel. Beyond the iconic columns and grand entrance, visitors are welcomed by a theatrical backdrop that sets the stage for in an inspiring experience. Stylish downtown Providence hotel rooms offer timeless luxury, stunning detail, and refined comforts, as well as innovative technology. A central location in the Capitol District allows guests to visit the area's timeless sites, such as the Rhode Island Statehouse. Reacquaint yourself with creativity and explore an expression of the arts at the glorious Renaissance Hotel in Providence, RI. For more information or to make a reservation, call 401-276-0010 or visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvdbr-renaissance-providence-hotel/

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BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE ADDS HOOPS TO FESTIVITIES.

2007-12-10T17:23:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE LIST, POST, & DISSEMINATE
KILL DATE 12/31/07
PRESS CONTACT: Adam Gertsacov for Bright Night Providence
401-351-2596 adam@brightnight.org
================================================

Through a partnership with the PC Friars, New Year's Eve festival goers can enjoy a basketball game in addition to arts performances.

DEC 10, 2007 (Providence RI)
Bright Night Providence is usually known for the wide variety of artists that perform during the New Year's Eve Celebration. Musicians, actors, dancers, storytellers, clowns, magicians all grace the stages of the festival each year. This year, you can add point guards and power forwards to that list. That's because on December 31, the Providence Friars are taking on Saint Peter’s at 2:00 pm at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and Bright Night wristband wearers are eligible for free admission.

"We're very excited to be working with the Friars on this project," said Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night Providence. "It brings a whole new dimension to the family friendly fun that we've been providing downtown for the last five years. And it adds another great activity for our audiences to take part in."

"We're glad to be part of the festivities," said Katie Moore, Sports Marketing Director at Providence College. "Bright Night is such a fantastic event, and the Friars are glad to help make this New Year's Eve a great night out for families and adults."

Bright Night has been going on since 2003, but this is the first time that a basketball game has been included on the schedule of events. The first 3000 festival goers who show their wristbands at a special table inside the Dunkin' Donuts Center lobby will get a free ticket to the game against Saint Peter’s. Only one wristband per ticket. The lobby will open at noon, two hours before game time (2:00 pm)

Tickets to the basketball game are normally $10, and a ticket to Bright Night (if purchased in advance) is $10. Day of event ticket sales to Bright Night are $15 each, or a family fourpack $50. Tickets to Bright Night are available by calling 401-621-6123 or online at http://www.brightnight.org.

Wristbands allow access to all of the events of the festival on a space available basis, and guarantee admission at one of three showings (at 6, 8, and 10 pm) at the Providence Performing Arts Center. This year's show is rock drummer Carmine Appice's new drum/dance group SLAMM!, a high energy drum and dance spectacular.

For a complete schedule of information, or to purchase tickets, visit the website listed below.

ABOUT BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE: Bright Night Providence is an artist-run New Year's Eve Celebration that features over 150 performers in 22 venues throughout downtown Providence. It is sponsored in part by the city of Providence, the State of Rhode Island, and many corporations and individuals. For more information about Bright Night Providence, or to purchase tickets, call the box office 401-621-6123 or visit the website: http://www.brightnight.org

Bright Night Featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer

2007-12-09T18:39:00.000-05:00

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a list of 10 holiday events to go to that are within a 1 day's drive of the City of Brother Love.

Bright Night Providence makes the cut!

BRIGHT NIGHT WILL START THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG.

2007-11-29T14:05:00.000-05:00

Rock Icon Carmine Appice and his new drum show SLAMM! will headline the fifth year of Bright Night Providence.

PROVIDENCE, RI., 11/29/07
This year Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year’s Eve Festival now in its fifth year, will really start the new year with a bang. That’s because Carmine Appice, the drummer for groups like Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, and others, will bring his newest group SLAMM! to the Providence Performing Arts Center for three shows on December 31.

The group, which has been described as “Stomp on steroids”, features Appice and four hot young drummers who use garbage cans, trampolines, oil drums, drain pipes, ladders, and even dixie cups to create an exhilarating physically combustible high energy show that is perfect for all ages.

“They can drum on just about anything,” says Adam Gertsacov, festival director for Bright Night Providence. “Carmine has really brought together some amazing drummers from all over to create this show. I’m so pleased that their schedule worked out, and we are able to bring them here for New Year’s Eve.” In 2008, SLAMM is expected to go on a national and international tour.

“Providence is such a wonderful city to play,” said Appice. “The audiences are always great. We love how the artists of Providence have organized this festival, and are really looking forward to doing our family-friendly all ages show for Bright Night, and rocking out on New Year’s Eve in Providence.”

SLAMM! will perform three shows in Providence as part of Bright Night. Their shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those three performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 17 other venues throughout the day (on a space available basis).

Some of the other artists on the Bright Night bill include local legends Big Nazo Puppets, Celtic group Pendragon, bebop great Greg Abate, Grammy winner storyteller/singer Bill Harley, a blues swing/dance party featuring the Black and White Blues Band and the Superchief Trio, dance troupe Fusionworks, Peruvian band Inca Son, and a host of other artists. A full schedule will be available in early December on the Bright Night website, http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets and complete schedules to Bright Night will be available in early December online at www.ArtTixRI.com, and available in person at all BankRI locations. all OOP! stores, and at the EastSide Marketplace starting December 6.
For more information about tickets call 401-621-6123 or visit http://www.brightnight.org

Tickets are $10 each if purchased in advance, $15 on the day of event. Family fourpacks for $50 will also be available. There are a limited amount of tickets, so purchase early to avoid getting closed out.

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

To find out more about Carmine Appice’s SLAMM!, visit http://www.carmineappice.com
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BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS!

2007-11-20T18:32:00.000-05:00

Bright Night Providence, Rhode Island's largest New Year's Eve Celebration is seeking over 100 volunteers to help make this year's New Year's Eve Celebration safe and fun for everyone. Come and be part of the magic.

On New Year's Eve, volunteers will work 3-4 hour shifts, giving information to patrons, checking wristbands, putting up posters, and doing other work to make sure that the festival runs smoothly. We also have limited opportunities for volunteering in the weeks before New Year's Eve and in the weeks after the festival.

All volunteers will get a free wristband to enjoy the rest of the festival. For more information please visit our website http://www.brightnight.org or email us at volunteer@brightnight.org.

Bright Night Providence Works Its Magic

2006-12-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE LIST, POST, & DISSEMINATE
KILL DATE 12/31/06
PRESS CONTACT: Marc Gilday for Gilday Magic 1-877 4-GILDAY
marc@gildaymagic.com
Adam Gertsacov for Bright Night Providence
401-351-2596 adam@brightnight.org
================================================

BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE WORKS ITS MAGIC

PROVIDENCE (12/21/06) New Year's Eve is a most magical time of year. For
Marc Gilday, this year's New Year's Eve will be especially magical. That's
because Gilday, a Rhode Island resident and magician who was seen this past
summer on NBC¹s hit show "America's Got Talent" will be premiering his latest
touring show on New Year's Eve as part of Bright Night Providence.

The show which has an ensemble of 20, will feature an entertaining mix of
vaudeville, musical theatre, virtuoso sleight of hand, and grand illusions.
"This show will be my best work yet," says Gilday, "I'm delighted that the
audiences of Bright Night Providence will get a chance to see what may be
the largest touring magic show in 25 years."

Gilday is no stranger to large shows. At age sixteen, he toured for three
years with the world premier edition of Walt Disney's World on Ice,
performing in nearly every major city in the United States. At age nineteen,
he levitated a brand new Porsche and made it disappear in thin air,
mystifying some of the leading magicians of the day. Since that time, he has
continued to hone his craft and skill as a master magician, performing
throughout the country.

Gilday and his troupe will perform two shows on New Year's Eve at 6 and 9 pm
at the VMA Cultural Arts Center in downtown Providence. The show will then
go on tour in 2007, visiting many major American cities. "We've spared no
expense to make this show the best one possible," says Gilday. "You won't
believe your eyes!"

SIDEBAR

WHAT: Gilday Magic Show, "The Largest Touring Magic Show in 25 Years."
WHEN: Sunday, 12/31/06 at 6 pm and 9 pm
WHERE: VMA Arts & Cultural Center, One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI
COST: $10 if purchased in advance, $15 day of event.
Ticket (a wristband) also allows you access to over 50 performances of
Bright Night Providence. Tickets will be available at the door of the VMA,
online at http://www.brightnight.org, via telephone (401-621-6123) and at
locations throughout the city. For complete information, including schedule
of other events, please visit http://www.brightnight.org or call the box
office 401-621-6123.

MORE INFORMATION:
Bright Night Providence: http://www.brightnight.org
401-621-6123 (box office)

Gilday Magic: http://www.gildaymagic.com
1-877 4-GILDAY

###

SUPPORTING GRAPHIC MATERIALS:

PHOTO IMAGES ONLINE:
http://www.brightnight.org/pressphotos2007/gilday1.jpg
http://www.brightnight.org/pressphotos2007/gilday2.jpg
http://www.brightnight.org/pressphotos2007/gilday3.jpg

CIRCUS OF WONDERS TO RING IN PROVIDENCE NEW YEAR

2006-12-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE TO FEATURE ORIGINAL CIRCUS

This year Providence’s New Year’s Eve Festival is going to be colorful, fun, funny, and just a little bit dangerous. That’s because Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year’s Eve Festival now in its fourth year, is bringing the circus to town. And it’s not just any circus. The show, titled the Bright Night Circus of Wonders, will feature national and international circus stars that are guaranteed to thrill, chill, amaze, and entertain audiences of all ages.

“I’ve wanted to produce a circus as the main act for the last couple of years,” says Adam Gertsacov, Bright Night’s artistic and executive director, who is a professional clown himself and a graduate of Ringling Brother’s Clown College. “It’s the perfect family friendly show. But I couldn’t find just the right circus that would fit all of our requirements. That’s why we had to produce our own!”

Gertsacov got together with Chris Allison, a fellow Ringling graduate and the producer of Cirque du Jour, a circus production company based in Connecticut. Together, they built a “dream team” of virtuoso performers that are sure to bring the house down. The performers, while not household names, have performed in some of the top national and international circuses, including Big Apple Circus, Ringling Brothers, and Cirque du Soleil.

The circus dream team is headed by ringmaster Billy Martin, one of the foremost ringmasters of his generation. Mr. Martin has performed with nearly every circus in North America, and currently spends most of the year announcing acts for the Royal Hanneford Circus. “Billy is the perfect ringmaster, “ says Allison. “If you looked up ringmaster in the dictionary, you’d find his picture.”

Not only is the Bright Night Circus of Wonders a family-friendly show, it’s also a family show. Ringmaster Martin will be joined by his wife Angela, an award-winning aerialist And Allison's wife Gina will join them in the ring as her clown character Gigi. “ We are looking forward to playing Bright Night this year,” says Gina. “It’s really going to be a lot of fun. We really applaud what the Rhode Island artists are doing, and are excited to be a part of it.”

The Bright Night Circus of Wonders will perform three shows in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 17 other venues throughout the day (on a space available basis)

For a complete schedule of performances, visit http://www.brightnight.org.

Tickets to Bright Night are now on sale at ArtTixRI.com, and available at all BankRI locations, all OOP! stores, and at the EastSide Marketplace. Tickets are $10 each if purchased in advance. Tickets purchased on December 31 are $15 each, or 4 for $50.

For more information about tickets or Bright Night Providence call 401-621-6123 or visit http://www.brightnight.org .

###

Bank RI to sell tickets for Bright Night Providence

2006-11-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: William C. DeWitt, SVP 401-456-5015 x1541
Charles Conway 401-456-5015 x1545

Bank Rhode Island Branches Will Be Ticket Outlets For Bright Night Providence 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I., (November 20, 2006) – Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) announced today that all 16 of its branches in Providence, Kent and Washington Counties will serve as ticket outlets for Bright Night Providence 2007.

The festival will take place on December 31, from approximately 12 noon to Midnight. Tickets and wristbands will be on sale at BankRI branches from Friday, December 1 through Sunday, December 31. Advance purchases are $10 each. Tickets purchased on December 31 are $15 each or four for $50.

Wristbands can be purchased for a 6 p.m., 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. Convention Center performance. Each wristband guarantees admission to the Convention Center performance at that specific time, plus first-come, first-served seating at every other venue. For a complete list of venues and schedule, please visit www.brightnight.org.

Bright Night is Rhode Island’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration. It is an artists-run, arts-oriented event started in October 2003. The festival is produced by What Cheer Art Company, a nonprofit 501c(3) organization.

The BankRI branches selling Bright Night tickets and wristbands are:

* Atwood Avenue—383 Atwood Ave., Cranston
* Buttonwoods—2975 West Shore Rd., Warwick
* Centerville Road—1062 Centerville Rd., Warwick
* East Greenwich—1269 South County Trail
* East Side—137 Pitman St., Providence
* Johnston—1440 Hartford Ave.
* Lincoln—625B George Washington Highway
* North Kingstown—1140 Ten Rod Rd.
* Park Avenue—1047 Park Ave., Cranston
* Plainfield Pike—2104 Plainfield Pike, Cranston
* Smithfield—445 Putnam Pike
* South Broadway—999 South Broadway, East Providence
* Taunton Avenue—195 Taunton Ave., East Providence
* Turks Head—One Turks Head Place, Providence
* Warwick Avenue—1300 Warwick Ave., Warwick
* Woonsocket—1175 Cumberland Hill Rd.

Bank Rhode Island, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. (NASDAQ:BARI), is a full-service, FDIC-insured financial institution headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The bank operates 16 branches throughout Providence, Kent and Washington Counties. As of September 30, 2006, Bancorp Rhode Island’s total assets stood at $1.5 billion and total deposits were $987.6 million.

Bright Night Providence - Rhode Island's Largest New Year's Eve Party

2006-11-15T13:47:00.000-05:00

PROVIDENCE, RI., November 15, 2006 -- Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year’s celebration now in its fourth year, will continue its tradition of ringing in the New Year. This year the festival will feature expanded children’s activities, more great local artists, and a spectacular display of fireworks to start the New Year with a bang.

Bright Night, led by local performer and festival director Adam Gertsacov, already has a number of events planned for this year. The day will start with children’s events at a number of local venues, including the RISD Museum, the Providence Children’s Museum, Mathewson Street Church, Beneficent Church, and several other venues. After official opening ceremonies at the Bank of America Skating Rink, a number of venues around downtown will host over one hundred performers, including singers, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and magicians. The evening will be headlined by a special Bright Night Circus of Wonders, featuring circus stars from Ringling, Cirque du Soleil, and other circuses. The Circus will take place in the Providence Convention Center. A large fireworks display will take place at midnight.

"Our fourth year will be our best yet," said Gertsacov. "As an artist myself, I know how important and exciting this event is for area performers, and we’re looking forward to building on our past successes. We have received strong support from the City of Providence, from the state, and from our corporate donors, and we are confident that our audience will come out and make this year's the biggest Bright Night ever."

Tickets to Bright Night will be available in early December from ArtTixRI, and available at all BankRI locations. Anyone interested in sponsoring Bright Night should contact Gertsacov at (401) 351-2596, or visit www.brightnight.org

ABOUT BRIGHT NIGHT PROVIDENCE

Bright Night was founded in 2003 after Providence's long-running New Year's Eve festival, First Night, was cancelled. Organized in less than three months, the event drew over 12,000 people to downtown Providence, making Bright Night the largest New Year's Eve party in the state. The festival features local artists and performers at venues throughout downtown Providence, and provides a fun, vibrant, and family friendly atmosphere for the people of Rhode Island.

The festival's director, Adam Gertsacov, is an actor, director, and clown based in Providence, RI. He wears many hats, including that of a flea circus impresario, a local author, the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, and many others. He became the Festival director of Bright Night Providence in 2003 when a group of local artists (himself included) didn't want to see the city go dark on New Year's Eve.

Other members of the artist group include Erminio Pinque, Josh Bell, Chris Turner, Rachel Maloney, Mark Binder, Carolyn Martino, Val Tutson, Deb Meunier, Tom Sgouros, and Mark Binder.

BRIGHT NIGHT INFORMATION/SIDEBAR

The 2007 Celebration will feature:

• Over 125 Performers in 17 venues throughout downtown Providence.
• Amazing performances by some of the top musicians, storytellers, dancers, puppeteers, acrobats, and actors in town.
• Expanded children and family activities in the afternoon.
• Early Evening and Midnight Fireworks displays.
• Sponsorship opportunities for civic-minded & entrepreneurial corporations and individuals.

Tickets for Bright Night Providence 2007 will be available in early December.

Tickets are $10 each, if purchased in advance.
On the day of the event (Sunday, December 31) tickets will be $15 each, or 4 for $50.

Tickets will be available via www.arttixri.com and also at the following locations:

•All Bank RI Branches
•All OOP! Locations (Providence Place Mall & Ives Street)
•East Side Marketplace (Pitman Street)
•ArtTix Office (Dorrance Street)
•Providence Convention Center (Dec. 31 only!)

For more information, visit www.brightnight.org or call 401-351-2596 (administrative office) or 401-621-6123 (box office)

Show your support for the festival in style.

2006-10-19T03:20:00.000-04:00

Our latest t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other memorabilia are now available via cafepress.com.

Profits from the shirts will be used to support Bright Night Providence artists.

CALL FOR ARTISTS/VOLUNTEERS

2006-08-14T03:10:00.000-04:00

Call for Artists and Volunteers: Bright Night Providence 2007

Bright Night Providence is Rhode Island’s largest New Year’s Eve Celebration. It is an artist-run arts oriented New Year’s Eve Celebration that features some of Rhode Island’s best musicians, actors, singers, dancers, storytellers, acrobats, magicians, and clowns. Last year, over 50 groups performed, featuring over 150 performers on 23 stages, and over 20,000 people enjoyed one of our events.

If you are interested in being part of the wonderful fun that is Bright Night, visit www.brightnight.org to find out more about the opportunities available. At the current time, we are seeking volunteers to help plan and execute the festival, volunteers for the night of the event to make sure the festival runs smoothly, and donors to help fill our coffers and make sure that the festival can occur. We are also taking applications from performers and groups to fill our stages.

Be part of Providence’s Artist Renaissance. Get involved today!

For more information, visit www.brightnight.org or call Festival Director Adam Gertsacov at 401-351-2596.

Bright Night Festivities sparks couple to wed

2006-04-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

Bright Night Providence 2006 had a lot of accomplishments. The third year of the artist-run arts oriented New Year's Eve Celebration featured two fireworks displays, a special edition of Waterfire, over 75 performances of local stars, and one bonafide marriage proposal. Yes, that's right. A marriage proposal.

Writes John Thibeault of Taunton, MA:

We had a room at the Biltmore and I was going to wait until the opening fireworks. I was looking from our room window for a good spot to pop the question. I saw that there was an area where I could set up the camera, then run across the street, get down on one knee and propose, all the while getting a picture of the moment. I couldn’t wait until the fireworks, so we went downstairs in the snow, to the area that I had seen from our room. I was about to set the camera up, when a teenager was walking by. I asked him if he could take our picture. I ran across the street, got down on my knee and then I heard the kid say, ‘Oh my God!!!’ As you can see from the picture, Melissa was surprised. Then we enjoyed the rest of Bright Night as a newly engaged couple and ended the evening with an incredible fireworks display.

The couple is planning to be married in October 2006 in Rockville Centre, New York.

On behalf of all of the artists, volunteers, and audience members of our festival, we wish the couple the very best, and hope that their wedding day will be a Bright Night indeed.

Bright Night Podcast

2006-01-01T07:18:00.000-05:00

Mark Binder, one of Bright Night's storytellers, posted this podcast from his performance last night.

Getting Baked with Grandma
Recorded Live at Bright Night Providence.
AS220 New Years Eve, 2005

Special Parking Deal for Bright Night Ticket Holders!

2005-12-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

If you are a Bright Night Ticket holder, you can get half-price parking at the Rhode Island Convention Center!

Here's How:

1) Park in the Convention Center sometime before 5:30 pm on Saturday, December 31. Don't forget to take your time-stamped ticket.

2) Go to the Providence Performing Arts Center (220 Weybosset St) between 12 noon & 10 pm)

3) Ask for your Parking "Chaser Ticket" You must have a Bright Night wristband.

4) Enjoy the festival!

5) Present both of your tickets to the attendant when you leave the garage (which is open 24/7)

6) Pay $4 instead of the normal price of $8.

Not sure where everything is? See a map of the festival

BRIGHT NIGHT - SCHEDULE CHANGES

2005-12-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

These are changes to the schedule that have occurred after 12/18/2005.

TIME CHANGE:	Joan Merwyn Physical Theatre at the Perishable Theatre Show is at 6 pm, not 5:30 pm.
ADDED ARTIST:	Krist Martel- avant pop piano diva & trio Grace Church from 9-10:30 pm
ADDED ARTIST:	What Cheer Brigade (AKA Robot Monkey Marching Band) Marching all around town from 5-10:30 pm

Great Weather Forecast for Bright Night!

2005-12-21T07:42:00.000-05:00

Checking the Accuweather forecast (and hopefully not jinxing it), they've said that they expect pretty good weather for New Year's Eve in Providence.

High of 53!

PROVIDENCE NEW YEAR’S WILL BE BRIGHT

2005-12-19T14:31:00.000-05:00

Third Annual Bright Night Providence Celebration to feature two Fireworks Displays, a WaterFire, Chainsaw Juggling Ballet, & over 140 performers.

PROVIDENCE, RI.,December 19,2005 - Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year's celebration now in its third year, will continue to keep New Year ‘s Eve bright in Providence. This year the festival will feature expanded children's activities, a WaterFire, and two spectacular display of fireworks to start the New Year with a bang.

I’m very excited about this year,” says Adam Gertsacov, director of the festival, “Each year our festival has been able to grow a little. Being able to provide a family fireworks display, and additional afternoon kids’ activities is great for us, great for our audience, and great for the city.” The dual fireworks display is being sponsored by the Providence Tourism Council, Mohegan Sun, and Bluechip Properties, the developers of One Ten Luxury Residences. Other major sponsors include Sandler Sales Institute (Sales PHD), Open MRI of New England, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and the City of Providence.

“Bright Night Providence is one of the most vibrant arts organizations in the city” says Providence Mayor David Cicilline, “Adam and the artists are doing a great job. We’re happy to do what we can to support their efforts.”

Corporate sponsors are also pleased with the work of the Providence run festival. Says Mitchell Etess, President and CEO of Mohegan Sun, “I commend Bright Night organizers for their continued commitment to making New Year’s Eve fun for everyone young and old. Mohegan Sun is glad to be able to support the artists’ efforts to bring fireworks to the Providence skyllne.” Eamon O’Marah, Managing Partner of BlueChip Properties LLC, the developers of One Ten Luxury Residences in downtown Providence , echoed those sentiments. “BlueChip Properties is proud to be a new sponsor of the Bright Night fireworks, and we applaud the work of the many artists who make Bright Night a world class New Year’s Eve Celebration.”

Activities this year will include performances by Guinness record-holding jugglers The Passing Zone, who will juggle bowling balls, thighmasters, and running chainsaws for three shows at PPAC; a special edition of WaterFire (sponsored by BellaVista restaurant), and performances, art displays, and art workshops by over 140 performers throughout downtown Providence. Some of those artists & performers include Bill Harley, Big Nazo Puppets, the Lucky Band, Fusionworks Dance Company, Joan Merwyn Physical Theatre, the American Story Theatre, East West Black Belt Academy, Val Tutson, the Lucky Band, Michael Bresler, Mark Binder, the Providence Mandolin Orchestra, Davey the Clown, Marvelous Marvin Novogrodski, the Ocean State Children’s Chorus, the Narragansett Bay Chorus, Carolyn Martino, Lon Cerel, Chris Carbone, and scores of others.

Tickets to Bright Night are $10 in advance, $15 day of the event, and available online at http://www.brightnight.org, over the phone at 401-621-6123 (ArtTixRI), and available at all BankRI locations, OOP! stores, and the East Side Marketplace. Day of event tickets will be also sold at Providence Performing Arts Center, ArtTixRI Office, RISD Museum, the Providence Children’s Museum, and several other venues.

About Bright Night

Bright Night was founded in 2003 after Providence's long-running New Year's Eve festival, First Night, was cancelled. Organized in less than three months, the event drew over 12,000 people to downtown Providence, making Bright Night the largest New Year's Eve party in the state. The festival features local artists and performers at venues throughout downtown Providence, and provides a fun, vibrant, and family friendly atmosphere for the people of Rhode Island.

The festival's director, Adam Gertsacov, is an actor, director, and clown based in Providence, RI. He wears many hats, including that of a flea circus impresario, a local author, the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, and many others. He became the Festival director of Bright Night Providence in 2003 when a group of local artists (himself included) didn't want to see the city go dark on New Year's Eve.

Bright Night Merchandise Now Available

2005-12-14T10:32:00.000-05:00

We've got Bright Night T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other memorabilia available through cafepress.com Show your support for the festival in style.

Profits from the shirts will be used to support Bright Night Providence artists.

NEW YEAR'S EVE HEADLINERS WON'T DROP THE BALL

2005-12-05T19:50:00.000-05:00

Sensational Jugglers The Passing Zone to Perform
for Bright Night Providence

PROVIDENCE, RI., 12/3/05
This year Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year’s Eve Festival now in its third year, will feature two men with rather unusual credentials. Yes, they have 5 Guinness world records between them, have shared the stage with such celebrities as George Carlin, Penn & Teller, Bob Hope, and Tony Bennett, and have been featured on film and television, but their real claim to fame is their remarkable ability to juggle and manipulate three running chain saws. Yes, real, running, gas-powered chain saws.

The men are Owen Morse and Jon Wee, and they have been performing their blend of juggling comedy together as The Passing Zone for over 17 years. “We met at a juggling convention in 1986”, says Wee, “and neither of us wanted to get a real job.” The duo have been juggling together ever since.

"The Passing Zone is one of the top juggling acts in the country" says Adam Gertsacov, director of the festival. "I met them this summer in Boulder Colorado when we were performing at the same festival. They were a big hit in Boulder. What I thought was so amazing about their act is that not only are they phenomenal jugglers, they are also incredibly funny. And when I saw their finale (a chainsaw-juggling ballet), I knew that The Passing Zone was something that would really rock Providence.”

“Their eyes lit up when I told them about our homegrown New Year’s Eve festival,” Gertsacov adds, “They were really excited about the artist-run aspect of Bright Night. "

“We are really looking forward to our shows in Providence,” says Morse. “Bright Night seems like a great way for people to get out and have fun, and our show is perfect for people of all ages."

The Passing Zone will perform three shows in Providence as part of Bright Night. In addition to the chainsaws, they will also juggle bowling balls, Chia pets, Garden Weasels, Thighmasters, and just about anything else they can throw. The shows will be performed at 6, 8, and 10 pm. Your Bright Night ticket (a Tyvek wristband) will guarantee you admission to one of those performances, plus more than 50 other performances at 17 other venues throughout the day (on a space available basis) For a complete schedule of performances, visit http://www.brightnight.org

Tickets to Bright Night will be available in early December at www.ArtTixRI.com, and available at all BankRI locations. all OOP! stores, and at the EastSide Marketplace . For more information about tickets call 401-621-6123 or visit http://www.brightnight.org
.

To find out more about the Passing Zone, visit http://www.passingzone.com.

Bright Night Providence to be featured on Radio Disney

2005-12-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night Providence, will be a featured guest on Radio Disney's Backyard Show, a local community affair show on Sundays at 7 am.

Unfortunately, it's not on the internet, so if you want to listen, you'll have to get up very very early!

It's 550 AM in the Providence area.

Bright Night Providence Featured On The City!

2005-12-01T10:22:00.000-05:00

Festival director Adam Gertsacov and Big Nazo director Erminio Pinque will be appearing on Mayor Cicilline's cable access show The City throughout the month of December.

It's a very funny program (there's a surprise entrance that really surprises the Mayor about 9 minutes in! It changes the whole demeanor of the stately talking head show. And the Mayor's expression is priceless!)
(The picture to the left was taken two years ago at a Press conference...Left to right it features Adam Gertsacov, a Big Nazo chicken character, and Mayor David Cicilline.

If you have Cox Cable, this is the basic schedule....

Program runs December 1—December 30

If you live in Providence:Channel 18 Thursdays at 10 pm & Fridays at 9 am

If you live anywhere in the State: Channel 15 Mondays at 6:30 pm & Wednesdays at 8:30 pm.

So if you live in Providence, you have 4 chances a week to see it!

NEW YEAR'S EVE FESTIVAL TO GROW IN THIRD YEAR

2005-11-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

NEW YEAR'S EVE TO BE BRIGHT AGAIN.
Providence's New Year's Eve Festival Will Grow in its Third Year

PROVIDENCE, RI., November 22, 2005 - Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year's celebration now in its third year, will continue this December 31 to keep the New Year bright in Providence. This year the festival will feature expanded children's activities, more great local artists, and a spectacular display of fireworks to start the New Year with a bang.

Bright Night, led by local performer and festival director Adam Gertsacov, already has a number of events planned for this year. The day will start with children's events at a number of local venues, including the RISD Museum, the Providence Children's Museum, Mathewson Street Church, Beneficent Church, and several other venues.. After official opening ceremonies at the Bank of America Skating Rink, a number of venues around downtown will host over one hundred performers, including singers, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and magicians. The evening will be headlined by national juggling sensations The Passing Zone, performing three shows at the Providence Performing Arts Center. A large fireworks display will take place at midnight,

"Our third year will be our best yet," said Gertsacov. "As an artist myself, I know how important and exciting this event is for area performers, and we're looking forward to building on our past successes. We have received strong support from the City of Providence, from the state, and from our corporate donors, and we are confident that the business community will play the same part they did last year in making Bright Night a success."

Tickets to Bright Night will be available in early December from ArtTixRI, and available at all BankRI locations. Anyone interested in sponsoring Bright Night should contact Gertsacov at (401) 351-2596, or visit www.brightnight.org.

About Bright Night

Bright Night was founded in 2003 after Providence's long-running New Year's Eve festival, First Night, was cancelled. Organized in less than three months, the event drew over 12,000 people to downtown Providence, making Bright Night the largest New Year's Eve party in the state. The festival features local artists and performers at venues throughout downtown Providence, and provides a fun, vibrant, and family friendly atmosphere for the people of Rhode Island.

The festival's director, Adam Gertsacov, is an actor, director, and clown based in Providence, RI. He wears many hats, including that of a flea circus impresario, a local author, the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, and many others. He became the Festival director of Bright Night Providence in 2003 when a group of local artists (himself included) didn't want to see the city go dark on New Year's Eve.

Other members of the artist group include Erminio Pinque, Josh Bell, Chris Turner, Rachel Maloney, Carolyn Martino, Val Tutson, Deb Meunier, Tom Sgouros, and Mark Binder.

###

BRIGHT NIGHT INFORMATION/SIDEBAR

The 2006 Celebration will feature:

• Over 125 Performers in 17 venues throughout downtown Providence.
• Amazing performances by some of the top musicians, storytellers, dancers, puppeteers, acrobats, and actors in town.
• Expanded children and family activities in the afternoon.
• Midnight Fireworks (last year's display was featured on CNN)
• Sponsorship opportunities for civic-minded & entrepreneurial corporations and individuals.

Tickets for Bright Night Providence 2006 will be available in early December.

Tickets are $10 each, if purchased in advance. On the day of the event (December 31) tickets will be $15 each, or 4 for $50.

Tickets will be available via http://www.ArtTixRI.com and also at the following locations:

All Bank RI Branches
All OOP! Locations (Providence Place Mall & Thayer Street) East Side Marketplace (Pitman Street)
ArtTix Office (Dorrance Street)
Providence Performing Arts Center (Dec. 31 only!)
Other venues-- please check our website.

For more information, visit http://www.brightnight.org or call 401-351-2596 (administrative office) or 401-621-6123 (box office)

Bright Night Providence Needs Volunteers!

2005-11-16T08:51:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

PLEASE LIST, POST, OR SEND TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
Bright Night Providence , Rhode Island's largest New Year's Eve Festival, is seeking volunteers!

Bright Night Providence is an artist-run arts oriented New Years Eve Celebration that celebrates and focuses on Rhode Island's most important cultural asset: its artists. On the night of the event,over 150 of Rhode Island's best storytellers, actors, musicians, magicians, puppeteers, dancers, acrobats, and clowns will do their thing, strut their stuff, and help families from around the state ring in the New Year in a fun and exciting fashion. The festival this year will feature expanded afternoon children's activities, a resounding midnight fireworks display, and a whole plethora of entertainment. There's something fun for everyone!

To help this all run smoothly, we need approximately 150 volunteers on the night of the event. Volunteers perform in a number of capacities.
1) Ticket sellers in several venues throughout the city.
2) Venue ushers and managers-- checking wristbands, answering questions, making sure that venues are not over-crowded, counting people, passing out surveys, etc.
3) Delivering additional wristbands, posters, programs, food, etc. to venues around the city.
4) Other jobs that are similar in nature to the above.

Each volunteer shift will be approximately 3-4 hours long (depending on how many volunteers we are able to schedule) (Of course, people are welcome to work longer, if they desire!)
Each volunteer will get a free wristband to enjoy the rest of the festivities, as well as the thanks and appreciation of the more than 150 artists involved in the festival.
All Volunteers will be expected to attend a pre-event training/information session in mid-late December.

If you are interested in volunteering, we need the following information from you. (Please email this information to volunteer@brightnight.org)

1) Contact Name
2) Contact information (telephone numbers, email address)
3) Number of people that would like to volunteer with you
4) A brief description of your previous volunteer experience (if any)
5) Any special skills you might have (stage management, cash register, technical skills, etc.)
6) Anything we should know that might help us match you in the right place.
7) On the day of the event, when are you available? We generally need volunteers from 4pm- 11:30 pm, with a limited amount of slots available earlier in the day.

Thank you for your interest in helping us to ring in the New Year right. We look forward to celebrating New Year's Eve with you.