Return to the Lyceum: Two important Black voices from our past

475 Valley St,Providence RI 02908

04 August, 2021

Description

Return to the Lyceum: Two important Black voices from our past: The Rev. Mahlon Van Horne (1887) and Mr. Frederick Douglass (1865) Rev. Mahlon Van Horne of Newport often opened speaking programs in Rhode Island that featured Frederick Douglass. Ricardo Pitts-Wiley of Mixed Magic Theatre (Pawtucket, RI) portrays Rev. Van Horne delivering his speech “The Negro in Rhode Island: Past, Present and Future.” Rev. Van Horne was a much respected leader of the Black community in Newport, whose leadership led him on to a political career, in addition to his philanthropy. The second half of the show will be Frederick Douglass portrayed by Mr. Freeman T. Freeman reciting from Douglass’ lecture on photography “Pictures and Progress” (1865). Douglass’ interest in photography was integral to his brilliance on the stage, where he was one of the most sought after orators of the day. He was also the most photographed individual of his period as well. Orated in period dress by Mr. Freeman presented along with the projected record of all of Douglass’ carefully considered portraits presented in chronological order. Pictured above: Rev. Mahlon Van Horne (right) and Frederick Douglass (left) This WFAC program is part of exhibition related programming presented by WaterFire Providence in association with the current exhibition at the WaterFire Arts Center, “EYE TO EYE Photographs and Projects MARY BETH MEEHAN” and “ANNYE RAYE PITTS: WITNESS” an installation by Mary Beth Meehan and Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, open until August 22, 2021. For a full listing of programming visit, waterfire.org/eyetoteye-programming. This program is funded in part by the Rhode Island Foundation. Presented in cooperation with Leadership Rhode Island. ABOUT RICARDO PITTS-WILEY In 2000 Ricardo Pitts-Wiley and his wife Bernadet formed Mixed Magic Theatre & Cultural Events, a non-profit arts organization, dedicated to presenting a diversity of cultural and ethnic images and ideas on the stage. Ricardo served as the company’s Artistic Director until 2010 when his son Jonathan, a 2007 Yale grad became the new director. Ricardo Pitts-Wiley is an accomplished actor, director, playwright and composer. He has performed at noted theaters throughout the United States including The Actor’s Shakespeare Project in Boston, Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI, The Old Globe Theater and San Diego Repertory in San Diego, North Carolina Black Repertory, Rites and Reason and Perishable Theater. He has also performed at the North Shore Music Theatre, Foxborough Orpheum, New Repertory Theatre, Worcester Forum, Westerly Shakespeare in the Park, The People’s Light and Theatre in Westchester, PA and the Providence Black Repertory. He has directed over 50 plays and musicals. Read more about Ricardo Pitts-Wiley. ABOUT THE EXHIBIT WaterFire Providence presents EYE TO EYE Photographs and Projects Mary Beth Meehan at the WaterFire Arts Center (WFAC), an exhibition of work from all four of Mary Beth Meehan’s most recent in-depth projects – from Brockton, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island, to Newnan, Georgia, to her newest project and book on Silicon Valley, California. A collaborative installation, ANNYE RAYE PITTS: WITNESS an installation by Jonathan Pitts-Wiley and Mary Beth Meehan will be on display in the Visitor Center Gallery. This exhibition will be at the WFAC from Wednesday, June 30 – Sunday, August 22, 2021. (Photograph above: "EYE TO EYE" exhibition during keynote speaker event, photograph by Jared Winslow) The WaterFire Arts Center is available for your next event! From Galas and Weddings to Business Lunches and Town Hall Meetings, we can make your event in Providence a success. Initially built in 1929 for the US Rubber Company as a multi-purpose manufacturing facility, WaterFire Providence completed renovation of the WaterFire Arts Center in the summer of 2017.