Artists' Exchange Opens A CHRISTMAS CAROL, 12/6; Hosts Holiday Gala, 12/22

Artists' Exchange and its Black Box Theatre Troupe will be all around town this holiday season, with performances at two Cranston venues, costumed carolers at both the Garden City and Pawtuxet Village strolls, festive trolleys up and down Park Avenue and an exciting holiday gala at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

The 9th annual production of "A Christmas Carol" will open on Thursday, December 6th and will run through Sunday, December 16th in the Black Box Theatre at Artists' Exchange. The show will then move to Park Theatre from December 20th through December 22nd.

Rich Morra, Director of the Black Box Theatre at Artists' Exchange, promises some new surprises to the troupe's award-winning version of "A Christmas Carol". A local favorite actor and native Cranston resident, Mark Carter, who has played "Marley" for the last 8 years, will be shedding his chains for a new leading role. "I'm excited to once again return to the show and even more excited about the opportunity to play Scrooge", says Carter.

The Holiday Gala, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet on December 22nd, will be the grandest gala Artists' Exchange has put on to date. Festive holiday trolleys will be available for guests, for transport to the gala (from the Park Theatre) and back to the Park Theatre for the 8pm show. Jazz piano player Marc Tabor will light up the lobby and the SOS Big Band of RI will liven up the ballroom with sounds of swing, bounce and jazz. Private tables, dancing, and a fashion show are a few more of the new features added to this year's gala. The gala ticket, which includes a ticket to the 8pm performance at the Park Theatre, includes appetizers from local restaurants, private tables for a catered dinner of pear salad, pan seared peppered salmon with chimichurri sauce, raspberry chicken and sautéed squash with green apples and raisins, fancy desserts, an open wine and craft beer bar and a silent auction.

The crew from Rapscallion Brewery will once again come down from Massachusetts to pour their delicious craft beer for the gala guests. And the silent auction will offer over 100 auction items as well as many original art pieces.

Tickets for performances in the Black Box at Artists' Exchange are $15. Tickets for performances at the Park Theatre are $18. All performances are scheduled for 7pm, with the exception of 2pm matinees on December 9th, 16th and 22nd, 10:30am school matinees on December 20th and 21st, and an 8pm performance on closing night, December 22nd.

Tickets to the Holiday Gala are $75, $750 for a table of 10 or $1000 for a sponsorship table, which includes advertising in the playbill, sponsorship reel and Artists' Exchange website. Only 40 tables will be sold for the gala. The gala will begin at 4:00pm and continue festivities until 7:30pm.

Artists' Exchange is located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston. Park Theatre is located at 848 Park Avenue, Cranston RI 02910 (www.parktheatreri.com) Rhodes on the Pawtuxet is located at 60 Rhodes Place Cranston, RI 02905. For more information, visit www.artists-exchange.org or call 401.490.9475 or email elaine.yeaw@artists-exchange.org.

The Artists' Exchange is a nonprofit arts collaborative whose mission is to create an atmosphere in which creativity, learning, and discovery converge and individuality is celebrated. The Artists' Exchange houses The Black Box Theatre and multiple art studios, as well as a gallery, art boutique and café, and offers enriching classes and events in art, theatre, music and film.

The Artists' Exchange is owned and operated by Gateways to Change; a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing of the quality of life for all human beings.

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