June 23, 2011 - - Newport, RI - - The Board of Directors of the Newport Performing Arts Center announced today that it has received a $100,000 grant from the Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust to assist in its efforts to restore the Opera House Theater on Washington Square to an active live entertainment venue.

Alison Vareika, Board Chair, said: "We are extremely pleased to receive this generous grant, and are very grateful to the officers of the McBean Charitable Trust for choosing to invest in this very important economic development community project that will help to bring live entertainment back to historic Washington Square on a year round basis."

The grant is being used to begin the process of renovating and stabilizing the 1867 Opera House Theater building. The original decorative panels and ceilings, which were covered when a triplex movie theater was installed in the 1970's, will be revealed along with the original 50 ft. tall procenium arch. The ultimate goal of the Board is to make the theater operational in order to attract professional live entertainment including a wide variety of stage productions, dance, music and more. Because of the buildings location in Washington Square, it is expected to attract both locals and visitors to enjoy a dynamic program of a variety of performing arts while also stimulating business for the area's restaurants, hotels and retail shops.

The mission of the Newport Performing Arts Center is to provide the Greater Newport area with a unique, sustainable community asset that will provide a dynamic center for culture, the arts, education and civic interaction while contributing to the positive economic and cultural well-being of our region.

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