by PAUL GAITA
All About
the Benjamin
A new look at the
founding father
The enduring legacy of Benjamin Franklin—
scholar, inventor, founding father and patriot
(and don’t forget that famous kite flight)—is
explored in Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a
Better World at the Providence Public Library
from April 10-May 23. The national traveling
exhibit, based on a major exhibition launched
ave
Date
CITYWIDE
the
Theater/
Spoken
Word
Through March 8
Until the Violence
Stops: Providence is
a festival of performance and community
events that strives to
raise awareness about
violence against women.
401-714-2388;
rafi productions.com
PROVIDENCE
Contemporary
Dance
March 8-29
The Festival Ballet
performs the award-
winning Up CLOSE
on HOPE, program II,
which includes several
world premieres.
401-353-1129;
festivalballet.com
CITY GUIDE
Providence
by the nonprofit Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary in 2006 to celebrate the 300th
anniversary of his birth, examines Franklin’s
life and extraordinary achievements through
original documents and artifacts, including
maps, paintings and Franklin’s own possessions. The Providence Public Library is the
sole site in New England to host this exhibit
and has slated several guest speakers to
provide their own insight into Franklin’s accomplishments; the Opening Day Reception
and Event on April 13 features comments by
Pulitzer Prize winner and Brown University
history professor Gordon Wood, as well as a
performance by Franklin himself (in the
form of actor Bill Ochester) for family audiences. Other guests scheduled to attend
include author Philip Dray (April 20) and
glass Armonica performer Cecila Brauer
(April 28). 401-455-8000;
provlib.org/happening/events/exhibit.html.
Eye on Documentaries
Since 2006, the
Rhode Island
International Film
Festival has turned
a spotlight on the
drama and comedy
generated in the
real world through
its month-long
Roving Eye Docu-
mentary Festival.
The third annual
fest kicks off in
April and promises
to offer the same
dazzling array
of documentary
shorts and fea-
tures as in previ-
ous years; 2007’s
lineup included
looks at author
Andre Dubus and
jazz bassist Dave
Holland, as well as
the Muslim experi-
ence in Europe
and the current
state of our food
system. Screen-
ings take place in
Providence and
across Rhode
Island, and unless
otherwise noted,
are free to the pub-
lic. 401-861-4445;
fi lm-festival.org.
DOWNTOWN
Blithe Spirit
March 28-April 27
The acclaimed Trinity
Repertory Company
welcomes this production of Noel Coward’s
wickedly funny play
about unwelcome
ghosts. 401-351-4242;
trinityrep.com
PROVIDENCE
The Producers
April 11-13
Mel Brooks’ hilarious
Tony Award-winning
hit musical touches
do wn—at last—at the
Providence Performing
Arts Center.
401-421-2997; ppacri.org
EAST SIDE
American Idyll
Ongoing
The Rhode Island
School of Design plays
host to this collection
of paintings by 19th-
century American art-
ists, including Winslow
Homer. 401-454-6500;
risdmuseum.org
