95 Empire is a black box theatre, an arts school and a home for the diverse activities of diverse individuals working in theatre, dance, film, literary arts, sound and more. 95 Empire will support new and emerging artists, while providing affordable education, unique audience experiences, and access to the resources of a theater and dance studio to the community-at-large.

In addition to regular programming, special events and classes, 95 Empire is dedicated to the presentation of original performance works through the Residence@95 Program, which focuses on local companies and/or artists working in theatre arts.

Make 95 Empire yours by presenting your work with us.

Lightly Seasoned

Spring marks the first official season of events at 95 Empire. March-May will feature an introductory dose of the vibrant live programming at 95 Empire, including new productions by Strange Attractor Theatre (March), Wilbury Group (April) and Elemental Theatre (April/May) as part of the new Residence@95 program. Our old friends at Live Bait, Blood from a Turnip, Improv Jones and Bring Your Own Improv will be joined by new mix of late night performance as part of our Live@95 series, and new forays into music, film, and more  will be sprinkled throughout the next three months as part of Screens@95 and Sounds@95. Onward we go!


Residence@95

Strange Attractor Theatre Co presents A Terrific Fire

Residence@95, the centerpiece series in the freshly minted programming model at 95 Empire, is a 1-3 week residency for theatre or dance companies, solo performers or performance groups presenting new performance/original work at 95 Empire.  We're happy to introduce Strange Attractor Theatre Co. as our premier resident company, who will be sharing their theatrical adventure A Terrific Fire with us March 15-24 (Thursday through Sunday, with previews on March 9-11).

With members living in Juneau, AK; Philadelphia, PA; and Providence, RI, Strange Attractor's four core actor/creators are gathering in Providence to collaborate with a team of two writers (Mia Chung and Adara Meyers), an outside eye (D'Arcy Dersham), stage manager Amy Beckwith, lighting designer Ted Boyce-Smith, and technical director Jeremy Radtke to inaugurate the activities at 95 Empire in a most bright and terrific way

Part haunted house and part adventure novel, A Terrific Fire follows Dr. Wishniak, a Victorian writer fraught with anachronisms, on his quest for moderation. As he leads the audience deeper into his psyche, new extremists emerge from the shadows, the theatre changes shape, perspectives shift, the guides are no longer trustworthy, and the journey gets personal. Using themes from Henrik Ibsen's epic morality play Brand, A Terrific Fire examines the extreme nature of modern life and refutes all claims that anyone ever seeks moderation. 

A Terrific Fire runs March 15-24, Thursday through Sunday, with previews March 9-11 at 95 Empire, AS220's Black Box, 95 Empire St in Providence, RI. All shows at 8pm. Tickets are $15, $10 for students/seniors. All previews and Sunday nights are Pay-What-You-Can. Tickets are available at the door or online through Brown Paper Tickets. To reserve a seat at one of the Pay-What-You-Can-Shows e-mail strange.attractor.theatre@gmail.com.

Runs March 15-24 (with previews: March 9-11); all shows 8pm
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012

Live@95

Live Bait - True Stories from Real People

Live Bait is a grown-up, true-life storytelling show held at 95 Empire. If you have a true story that in any way, shape or form fits our monthly theme, put your name in the fishbowl and when your name is called, you have six minutes to tell that story. Even if you don't have a story, you are more than welcome to come and listen.
  This March, Live Bait's theme is "Ready or Not" - for a change of pace, the evening's theme will be drawn from the fishbowl! Think fast!
Friday, March 2, 2012 / 10-11:30pm / $7

Improv Jones

Since 1992 Improv Jones has brought together the finest improv performers of Rhode Island and Southern New England to create fantastic improvised worlds of delight.

All Shows are 10pm-11pm, Admission $5
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012

BYOI - Bring Your Own Improv

BYOI is an interactive improv show that welcomes voluntary audience participation! You can participate in one of three ways: Applaud at a scene you like, yell out fantastic suggestions, or if you feel you're ready, jump up and get involved with us on stage!
All Shows 10:30pm-1am, Admission $5

Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012

Blood from a Turnip

Screens@95

Films and Videos by Stephanie Barber, Xander Marro, and more.

School@95

Drop In Dance Classes At 95 Empire, 3rd Floor Dance Studio

Intermediate Ballet Drop In Class
with Stephanie Lyon Albanese
Dreaming of a ballet class that gives you a great workout and makes you feel beautiful?  This one makes classical dance a joy!  Instructor Stephanie Lyon-Albanese, a graduate of the School of American Ballet in New York, focuses on fundamentals in her adult classes. Sunday's classes begin with a thorough warm up at the barre and progress to the center for choreographed combinations.  Students build muscle as they refine body alignment and learn weight placement to develop coordination. Stephanie's deep knowledge of her craft combines with a warm, good-humored manner to create a comfortable yet challenging learning environment. This is the perfect class for people who have some prior ballet experience.
Sundays / 12:30-2pm / $13 per class

Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance Drop In Class
With Olase Freeman & Katie McNamara
Katie and Olase's Wednesday evening classes at 95 Empire are designed to be a physical experience in movement dynamic and connection. It offers engaging and accessible ways of conditioning and mobility, which are then encompassed in movement exercises and sequences. Generally the class starts in fundamental release floor work, conditioning and stretch. It then progresses to combine this work with the myriad of ways to move on and off our centers of gravity. Yoga, Capoeira, Salsa, Hip-Hop and Contemporary Modern forms inspire much of the movement. Overall the intent is to create a class where learning is enjoyable and the experience is energizing and passionate. The Wednesday evening class assumes participants have significant prior dance experience.
Wednesdays / 6:30-8pm / $13 per class