Ocean State Theatre to Host 'New Classics from Current Composers' Benefit Concert, 12/13

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit professional theatre company, which recently opened its fourth season in its state-of-the-art theatre in Warwick, is pleased to present New Classics from Current Composers, a benefit concert to support both OSTC's Live Music Initiative and the The Raymond Picozzi Endowed Fund for Musical Theatre, for one performance only on Sunday, December 13, 2015.

"Over the years, we have had the opportunity to work with quite a few students and alumni from Rhode Island College," said Amiee Turner, CEO of Ocean State Theatre Company. "We are thrilled to have been a small part of their journey and have invited them back to showcase their amazing talent!"

The concert will feature songs written by the new generation of composers including Andrew Lippa, Jason Robert Brown, O'Keefe and Benjamin, Kerrigan and Lowdermilk, and more. Performers currently scheduled to appear include Nicole Calkins, David Groccia, Neil Jeronimo, Jennifer Mischley, Sarah Pothier, Juliette Sallaway, Marissa Silva, and Helena Trafuri.

Although many theatres across the country have replaced their musicians with recordings in order to cut costs, OSTC firmly believes that live musicians enhance the audience's experience, when attending a musical production. Ocean State Theatre Company established its Live Music Initiative in 2008 in order to support the $80,000 annual cost of continuing the tradition of professional musicians playing live during all musical theatre performances. Proceeds from the performance will benefit the initiative.

The Raymond Picozzi Endowed Fund for Musical Theatre, named for Raymond Picozzi, a devoted teacher and professional leader who manifested the highest ideals of academia and Performing Arts at Rhode Island College from 1961-1997. The fund is used to support the activities of the Musical Theatre Performance program at Rhode Island College including: supporting the performances of RIC Musical Theatre productions at regional and national festivals like the American College Theatre Festival, supporting the funding of guest artists like Kari Margolis of the Margolis/Brown Adaptors Acting Company, nationally known cabaret singer and vocal coach Beckie Menzie, Andrew Fitch from the Broadway companies of Pippin and Chicago, and other leading artists in the field.

New Classics from Current Composers will be presented on Sunday, December 13 at 7:30 pm. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $39. "Access to the Cast Party," which will take place on stage following the performance, may be added for $15. OSTC 2015-16 Season Subscribers qualify for a $5 discount for each ticket ordered at the box office or over the phone (Discount not available online.) Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800. Additional donations to OSTC's Live Music Initiative are always welcome.

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