AS220 is proud to announce the Sixth Annual Fools Ball, an event that outdoes itself every year. What began as a simple fundraising dinner has grown into a weeklong spectacular showcasing the talent of Rhode Island artists and the hard work of over 100 volunteers. Art lovers are urged to orbit AS220 from May 2 to 6 for six nights of music, art and performance culminating in the cataclysmic Three Story House Party. Fools Week 2000 will also include the return of the Fools Ball Parade, led by the Marching Mob, which will rattle through downtown Providence on the afternoon of Thursday May 4th.
For this celebration, AS220 calls on one and all to contribute their creativity and enthusiasm at the Community Studio. Cornish Associates has generously lent AS220 use of the old Woolworth's (Westminster Street, next to Lupo's) to use as an open workspace. Volunteers are already at work creating decorations for AS220 and floats for the parade, and all are invited to drop in and help out. The Community Studio is open Mon.-Wed from 3:30 to 5:30, Thu and Fri from 3:30 to 11pm and Sat Noon-5pm.
As always, the week centers on Saturday's Fools Ball. For this year's Sponsors Reception and Dinner, Citizen's Bank will loan AS220 the beautiful building at 87 Empire Street. Guests will enjoy food and drink catered by Guy Abelson with the sounds of internationally-renowned acapella choir Voices From Moses Brown. The theme for this year's Ball is Havana. Don't miss the party that people are calling the fundraising dinner of the year!
At 10pm, the Marching Mob will lead the party back to AS220, where the doors will be thrown open for the Three Story House Party. This is the only evening of the year when the entire building is thrown open to the public, and revelers will be able to explore artists studios, play games of skill to win hand-crafted clay insects, win raffles, drink potent Mojitos and enjoy continuous music from artists including The Smoking Jackets, The Eyesores, Buck Dewey Big Band, and the Neo-90s Dance Band. Guests will be able to explore every corner of the building, and at 11pm 87 Empire Street will reopen for the Latin dance music of Los Pleneros del Coco, a 15-piece salsa band.
All of this fun comes at the end of a week of fabulous music and theater. From Tuesday through Friday AS220 will be hosting performers that range from puppeteers to hard rockers including The Hal Crook Group, Melissa Ferrick, Mother Jefferson, Purple Ivy Shadows, Improv Jones and String Builder. All of these evenings begin at 8pm, and offer up to five hours of fun for only $10.
But wait! There's more: At noon on Thursday May 4, the second annual Fools Parade will happen. Come march along as revelers aged 3-90 transform lunch hour for hundreds of downtown denizens. Floats and costumes from the Community Studio will be called into service, as will musicians and other noisemakers. Gather on the State House lawn at 11am if you want to help raise a racket.
The Schedule
Tuesday May 2nd 8pm $10- Rick and Keith's Show of Shows
An astonishing variety hour. Or two.
The Hal Crook Group
Top notch jazz with amazing guests to be named later
- Whispering to the Deaf
Puppetry by Beth Nixon
Eric Fontana
Erin McKeown
Help Erin celebrate her CD release
- Fools Ball Parade
Through Downtown Providence - Music, marchers and people-powered floats. Meet at the State House side of the Train Station.
Rain date: Friday May 5th
- Havanarama
String Builder
Lori McKenna
Megan Toohey
Melissa Ferrick
- Ted Only Knows
Improv Jones
Plymouth Rock
Purple Ivy Shadows
Mother Jefferson
- Fools Ball Sponsors Dinner
Call 401 831-9327 for reservations.
- Fools Ball Three Story House Party
with..
The Smoking Jackets
Eyesores
Buck Dewey Big Band
Neo-90s Dance Band
Los Pleneros del Coco
(full scale Latin dance band at 87 Empire)
Plus...
Mohitos
Ambient Rooms
Carnival Games
Raffles
Mayhem
The Sponsors
The Lead Sponsor for this event is Cox Communications. Key sponsors for the Fools Ball are Citizens Bank, Liz and Kim Chace and McLaughlin & Moran. Supporting sponsors include BankRI, Johnnie and Buff Chace, Dimeo Companies, Fleet Bank, KPMG, Morris Nathanson and Kristine & David Wasserman. Media sponsors are the Providence Phoenix and WBRU-FM. Additional foolishness provided by Oop!Proceeds from Fools Week support AS220's community arts and presentation programs. Thanks to all of the artists for their hard work and support!
