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Summer Pops is Produced, Presented and Performed by
THE CHORUS OF WESTERLY
with the Pops Festival Orchestra
Fireworks by Grucci and The Newport Artillery
Andrew Howell, conductor
SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023 (RAIN DATE JUNE 25, 2023)
Pre-show begins at 6:15 pm, Main Show at 8 pm, Wilcox Park
Program will be complete near to 10 pm.
PRE-SHOW, 6:15 PM
ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
MAIN SHOW, 8 PM
PROGRAM TO BE ANNOUNCED
Featuring
THE CHORUS OF WESTERLY
THE POPS FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
ANDREW HOWELL, CONDUCTOR
With
Fireworks by Grucci, The Artillery Company of Newport
and Ryan Saunders on the Bells of Christ Church
SUMMER POPS 2023: PREP FOR POPS
THE EVENT IS FREE - YOU CAN PUT DOWN A BLANKET
To reserve your spot, blankets can be put down in the park and left unattended beginning at 5 PM on Friday, June 23, 2023. Nothing else can be left unattended - including chairs, bags, coolers, or anything else unattended. Such items may be removed if found.
Per Westerly Library & Wilcox Park rules, you may not leave/use a plastic tarp (it will be removed) or use spikes to secure your blanket at any time.
Please note: Only low level sand chairs are permitted in the two main center sections.
Higher chairs are permitted in the side sections just off center, on the far side sections, and in the back sections. Thank you for your understanding.
The Fireworks are launching from the north side of the pond in the park. Best viewing will be from the hill on the Grove Avenue side of the park OR right near the fence, so you can see under the trees, on the pond/High Street side.
The entire program should be done just before 10 pm (subject to change or weather changes).
By event/library/park guidelines –
Pets and animals are not permitted in Wilcox Park during Summer Pops.
Smoking is not permitted in Wilcox Park.
**Be aware that there are LOUD noises at Pops including cannon fire and fireworks.**
The Artillery Company of Newport usually fires a cannon shot or two (blanks) at the beginning of the show. They also fire (blanks) at several points during the finale. Fireworks by Grucci fire their shells during the finale and just after and they can be loud.
The Fireworks show is short, but be aware it makes a lot of noise.
For the most up-to-date information please
visit our social media pages
http://facebook.com/westerlypops
http://facebook.com/chorusofwesterly
on Twitter @choruswesterly
POPS NOTES
Blankets may put down in the park and be left in the park unattended beginning at 5 pm on Friday, June 23, 2023 before the Pops concert. Blankets may not be left in the park prior to this time.
The Chorus, Library, Park, and all others involved are not responsible for your blanket. If it is moved for some reason there is nothing we can do about it. You leave your blanket at your own risk. No items besides blankets may then left in the park unattended (no chairs may left, no other items).
PARKING
Note that parking for Summer Pops is not in any way controlled by event organizers, the Chorus of Westerly, the Library, or the staff of Wilcox Park. However, we strongly recommend you come early to find a place to park.
Performers and patrons can park in these locations on performance day. All parking facilities noted are FREE and are approximately a 3-10 minute walk to Wilcox Park. Allow extra time for parking.
1. Washington Trust parking garage (enter off Broad Street)
2. Washington Trust parking lots on Main Street
3. In the parking lots near the train station INCLUDING the very large new lot on Canal Street (just near the train underpass across from Hilltop Cafe) near the south end of Friendship Street.
4. Most area side streets just outside the center downtown area UNLESS they are marked 'no parking'.
Parking in these lots is at your own risk, first come, first serve, and spaces are not guaranteed to anyone. The Chorus does not control or own any of these lots or any of the parking for this event, so please do not contact us with parking related issues. You can talk with WPD officers if you have any issues.
Accessible parking
Limited handicapped/accessible parking will be available on Grove Avenue, Broad Street, across from the Westerly Town Hall and extending to the Westerly Public Library, as well as parking areas in front of the United States Post Office and in other areas throughout town. This parking is first come, first serve and spaces are not guaranteed to anyone.
Street Closures
Grove Avenue and Wilcox Avenue will be closed to all vehicular traffic as of 5 pm on June 24th (June 25th if the rain date is needed). Exceptions will be made for those needing handicapped parking until all spaces are filled. Other motorists will be detoured onto Newton Avenue or other adjacent streets.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
Please note no bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or similar riding devices are permitted in the park. Dogs are also prohibited in the park for the event.
At the conclusion of the event, all vehicular traffic will be delayed for approximately ten minutes to fifteen minutes to allow pedestrians to freely return to their vehicles. Motorists on Railroad Avenue heading south will be directed onto Canal Street in a westerly direction. Motorists on Canal Street heading east will be directed onto High Street in a northerly direction in order to alleviate the congestion in the Downtown Westerly area. Officers and/or traffic control signals will control all other traffic.
Last year's guest artists...
Nicholas King
Summer Pops Special Guest Artist
NICOLAS KING, a Westerly native, has been performing since he was 4 years old. Having been in 3 Broadway productions before the age of 12 is no small feat. Aside from appearing opposite Tom Selleck in “A Thousand Clowns", and Carol Burnett's "Hollywood Arms" directed by Hal Prince, he was Broadway’s longest running Chip in Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast”. King has also appeared in dozens of national TV commercials, including his award winning 'Oscar Mayer Lunchables' commercial. King has appeared on many TV talk shows such as "The View", "The Today Show", "Sally Jesse Raphael", "Liza & David", and twice on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno (including Leno's final week as host in 2014). His latest album, "Act One - Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings", was released in 2021 with Club 44 Records and features collaborations with Jane Monheit, Norm Lewis, hit-maker Charles Calello, and longtime musical director Mike Renzi. He performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for 8 consecutive years live in Las Vegas, originated the voice of "Oscar" on Discovery Kids' "Kenny The Shark" and is the recipient of the 1995 and 1996 Talent America Award, 2010 Julie Wilson Award, 2015 AMG Award for Artist of the Year, the 2012 Bistro Award for 'Outstanding Performer of the Year', and the 2019 Legends Award for his contribution to the preservation of the Great American Songbook. Aside from having performed with artists as Tony Danza, Andrea McArdle, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Donna McKechnie, Faith Prince, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, Debby Boone, and Linda Lavin, he has also performed alongside his mentor, the legendary Liza Minnelli, since he was 11 years old as her opening act from 2002-2012, touring all over the country. King has performed on many iconic stages including concerts and appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, 54 Below, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and aboard Silversea and Crystal Cruises. Follow him on Instagram @itsnicolasking!
The United House Band
Summer Pops Special Guest Artist
THE UNITED HOUSE BAND, comprised of music educators and staff members at the Rhode Island Philharmonic School at the United Theatre, features (from left to right) Mike Chicoria, Ryan Piccolo, Chris Gonsalves, and Tom Foley. They will perform with special guest Nicolas King in the Summer Pops 2022 main show. More information about the RI Philharmonic Music School at the United Theatre can be found here.
Kala Farnham
Summer Pops Pre-Show Artist
Armed with a voice and an entourage of instruments, KALA FARNHAM set out with one vision: To inspire through the power of musical storytelling. Drawing from a classical and theatrical background, she presents a hallmark reinvention of the folk tradition, drawing audiences into imaginative vantagescapes of the familiar world. Learn more about her at https://www.kalafarnham.com/.
The Kleyla
Family Band
Summer Pops Pre-Show Artist
THE KLEYLA FAMILY BAND (KFB) is a Providence-based rock band formed by brother and sister duo, Brad and Katie Kleyla. Along with their brother Chris Kleyla and Brad's wife Olivia, the Kleylas (and friends) deliver a high quality, high energy performance of a wide variety of genres from Rock and Blues, to Soul and Pop that span generations. Learn more about them at https://www.kleylafamilyband.com/.
The Westerly
Morris Men
Summer Pops Pre-Show Artist
The Westerly Morris Men is a traditional English men's Morris dancing team based in Westerly, Rhode Island. They were founded in 1974 by Peter Leibert and are one of the oldest continuously active Morris teams in the United States. Learn more about them at https://westerlymorrismen.org/.
