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 The Blackstone River Theatre (BRT), a 501 (c)(3)
nonprofit cultural arts center where the music, dance and folk arts
traditions of the Blackstone River Valley come to life, celebrated its eighth anniversary in September, 2008! With an emphasis on the culture
of the ethnic groups that settled in the Valley, BRT presents weekly
acoustic-based music concerts, monthly folk dances and children's
events, as well as special events on a year-round basis.
BRT is dedicated to supporting, promoting and developing the arts for our community and its artists by creating awareness, and providing both educational and performance opportunities. As part of our Heritage Arts Studio initiative, BRT pursues arts education outreach by offering classes and workshops at the theatre. This school for the traditional arts allows the local community to discover or reconnect with traditional art forms and become participants in our area's rich arts heritage.
Since re-opening in late 2000, BRT has seen over 52,000 audience members attend over 850 events. BRT also rents out its space for private and corporate functions and maintains a rotating art gallery showcasing works by local visual artists. To serve our community, we have hosted adult ESL classes, self-defense classes for women offered by the Cumberland Police Department, and several programs and classes offered by Cumberland's Office of Children, Youth and Learning.
Blackstone River Theatre also presented a 2007 and 2008 Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival in July at Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland. The event drew more than 2,000 people in its first year and still saw more than 1,000 people in 2008 despite temperatures over 95 degrees. Look for the Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival to return to Diamond Hill Park in June, 2010.
"The Blackstone River Theatre may be the best place to see a show in Rhode Island and they celebrate their seventh anniversary with Celtic heavyweights Pendragon..."- Rick Massimo, Music Editor Providence Journal
"...the Corridor's premier institution for promoting the traditional
arts."- John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National
Heritage Corridor 2003 Annual Report
" ...one of the greatest venues to hear live music in in this country!" - Award-winning blues artist Duke Robillard (who recorded a live DVD at BRT in 2004)
"Our fedoras are off to ye, BRT. The fully renovated and beautiful sounding venue has done an amazing job for eight years. Despite the recent economic downturn, the hall had its most successful five-month stint yet and looking at their short-term agenda, there's a lot to like." - 2008 Providence Phoenix
Voted "Best New Folkie Haven" in the 2000 Providence PhoenixTHE BEST issue, Editor's choice
"At the Blackstone River Theatre, the four-year renovation effort has resulted in the most comfortable hall and best acoustics that I have ever experienced for a folk show." - Mark Flanagan, The Sun Chronicle
"The Blackstone River Theatre is a magnificent new venue, not far from Providence or Boston. Housed in a beautifully restored old Mason's lodge... it hosted a rare live performance by Jacqui McShee and John Renbourn who obviously enjoyed playing together again, especially in the acoustically fine main hall." - Lahri Bond, Dirty Linen,Aug-Sept. 2003
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