Ceiling Collapse Temporarily Shuts Black Rep

On Thursday December 27, a large piece of the ceiling and the attached ductwork above the Xxodus Café and Providence Black Rep's performance space gave way.  Two employees were in the building, on the second floor, when the ceiling collapsed. They were not harmed.

 "First and foremost, thank God no one got hurt", said Black Rep's Artistic Director Donald King when we spoke by phone. "Two of our employees were working on the second floor when they heard a sound like a freight train hitting the building.  They came downstairs and discovered that the ceiling by the stage and in the back where we store our equipment had fallen in."  King continued.

"We are working with a variety of officials including adjusters, structural engineers, insurance agents and contractors to ensure our building's safety and adherence to code." added King.

"We want to get in front of the rumors that The Black Rep has closed its doors.  People have heard that the Black Rep has shut down, and that is simply not true", responded King, when I asked him why he was doing press interviews about the collapse.  "The back office is open, rehearsals have begun for The Bluest Eye.  The Xxodus Café' is closed, which has an immediate impact on our cash flow, but we are moving forward and expect to reopen our space in about a week." King concluded.

According to King, The Bluest Eye, adapted from Toni Morrison's novel, will open at The Black Rep, on schedule, February 8, 2008.

For more information about the Providence Black Repertory Company visit www.blackrep.org.

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