ANNUAL SPRING FUNDRAISER
The Rhode Island Historical Society will host their annual Spring fundraiser reimagined as a virtual event titled “Showtime on the Homefront: A Spring Forward Fallback Event” on Thursday, May 28th from 6-8 pm.
RHODE ISLAND–Join the Rhode Island Historical Society for “Showtime on the Homefront: A Spring Forward Fallback Event”.
This first-of-its-kind virtual fundraiser will allow guests to travel back to the 1940’s via Zoom as we celebrate the historical, the cultural, and the performing arts of Rhode Island’s World War II-era homefront.
Join us on the main stage for vignette history presentations, musical selections, costume contests, trivia games, and more!
Private party rooms are also available for reservation so you can bring your friends and family.
Guests will enjoy a menu of period party games, archival film screenings, and other exciting choices. We can even make you dinner!
In addition, all party-goers will receive a pre-party digital download featuring virtual backgrounds, historic recipes, cutout decorations, playlists, movie selections, and everything they need to get prepped for time travel.
Pull out those party dresses, dust off Grandma’s hat, shine your shoes, and get your dance cards ready! Tickets are available at a variety of price points: a single ticket at the “soloist” rate of $25, two tickets at the “duet” rate of $40, and a group ticket at the “band” rate of $50 Benefactor and patron tickets are $100 and $250
Tickets available at:
https://www.rihs.org/buy-tickets/
The evening’s program includes a walk through RIHS collections with Deputy Executive Director for Collections and Interpretation Rick Ring. He will bring examples of ration books, civil defense posters, scrapbooks kept by soldier’s wives, letters home from men and women, newspaper accounts of major events (VE Day, Surrender at Tokyo Bay), and war bride wedding pictures from the RIHS collections.
Enjoy the incomparable vocal stylings of Miss Wensday, Filmmaker and President of the World War II Foundation Tim Gray will talk about the innovative, dance and dance lessons with Chifferobe productions, special projects from Rhode Island’s National History Day competition, and special guest judge for the hat and costume contest, Miss Haley Starr.
Zoom rooms named after popular wartime landmarks like the Arcadia Ballroom will feature trivia, games, and time to socialize with friends and new acquaintances.
For an additional price, guests are invited to purchase a specially prepared boxed dinner from Pranzi events with your choice of entrees. It will truly be a spectacular Showtime on the Homefront.
Generous sponsors for the event include Esten & Richard Insurance, Washington Trust Bank, Bank of America, Hilb Group New England, Mandel & Tracy, and Alpha Pension.
In conjunction with the event, RIHS will also be hosting a virtual auction featuring local artists and makers, as well as unique experiences, merchandise and services. The Auction will run from May 25th through June 5th and can be accessed via rihs.org. Artists are able to submit their work and set their own reserves.
The auction platform will also provide marketing opportunities to drive visitors to websites or social media channels. All sales through the auction will result in a 50-50 split between the Rhode Island Historical Society and the artists, Submissions are still being accepted, and those interested in participating can reach out to Miguel Youngs at myoungs@rihs.org for details.
Deadline for submission: May 21st.
COVID-19 has had a profound effect on the arts and cultural communities in Rhode Island, including the history and heritage sectors. This is a fantastic opportunity for collaboration and to express strong mutual support. Tickets are available at rihs.org
About the Rhode Island Historical Society:
Founded in 1822, the RIHS, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the fourth-oldest historical society in the United States and is Rhode Island’s largest and oldest historical organization. In Providence, the RIHS owns and operates the John Brown House Museum, a designated National Historic Landmark, built in 1788; the Aldrich House, built in 1822 and used for administration and public programs; and the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, where archival, book and image collections are housed. In Woonsocket, the RIHS manages the Museum of Work and Culture, a community museum examining the industrial history of northern Rhode Island and of the workers and settlers, especially French-Canadians, who made it one of the state’s most distinctive areas.