About
Newport Performing Arts Center
The restoration of the Newport Performing Arts Center will bring year-round performing arts to downtown Newport – dance, music, theater, comedy, speakers, educational programming and much more – and revitalize an architectural treasure in historic Washington Square.
GET TO KNOW US
Board of Directors
John Cratin
Board Chair
Business Management Consultant with over 30 years of experience, Former Co-Chairman of the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Jerry McIntyre
Vice Chair
Managing Partner, McIntyre – Tate LLP. Former President of Jamestown Town Council, Commodore of Conanicut Yacht Club. Graduate of Columbia College, AB, and Fordham School of Law, JD.
Alison Vareika
Secretary
Co-Owner, William Vareika Fine Arts Gallery. Aquidneck Land Trust, President 2003-05; Newport Art Museum 2001-2006; Chair; Newport Art Museum Special Events Committee 1998-2005; Trinity Repertory Company 2011-present; Appointed by Governor Lincoln Chafee to Rhode Island State Council on the Arts 2011-present.
Ed Henry
Treasurer
Former President and CEO of the Doris Duke Foundation. Currently Chair of United States Artists. Holds a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.
Dominique Alfandre
Founding Executive Director of the Newport Contemporary Ballet. Was a 2005 RI Foundation Fellow and received the Arts & Business Council’s Arts Advocate.
Christopher Bicho
President and Founder of Landings Real Estate Group. Holds an MBA from The Carroll School of Management at Boston College and Finance degree from the University of Rhode Island.
Hayden Bates
Serves on the Board of Directors of the Charles Ives Performing Arts Center in Danbury, CT. Holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Phil Bender
Founded Sea Captain Coaching after serving as a Managing Partner in a Fortune 100 firm in the New York City metro area. Holds a B.S from the University of Missouri.
Liz Drayton
Newport resident since 1980 In addition to her continued service to NPAC, Liz is currently Board Chair of the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, RI. Graduate Trinity College.
Marc Lewinstein
With credentials in both finance and law, Marc has worked in investment banking including Berkshire Capital Corporation, Lehman Brothers, and Cantor Fitzgerald. He has also worked as an attorney at Dickstein Shapiro, Cahill Gordon & Reindel and Kirkland & Ellis.
He is a long-time supporter of many Aquidneck Island philanthropies and has been involved actively with many arts-oriented organizations in New York City, including the Frick Collection and the New York Philharmonic.
Jack Murphy
President and CEO of BankNewport. Prior to joining BankNewport, Jack was President of Business Banking at Citizen’s Bank and has over 30 years’ experience in the banking industry.
Donald Sanders
Renowned director, presenter and producer. Executive Artistic Director, Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, Director of Theatrical Production for NYC’s Ensemble for the Romantic Century. Holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
John Shehan
Interior/Architectural Designer; Color Consultant; Historic Restoration Specialist, Founder of Shehan & Estabrook Decorative Arts Former Chair of Newport’s Historic District Commission.
Key Staff
Melissa Caldwell Quinn
Managing Director
NPAC staff since 2016, Melissa is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory [at Berklee]. Melissa has called Aquidneck Island home for over 30 years and, in addition to her management & administrative career, has performed as both Principal Clarinet and concert soloist for over 20 years with regional orchestras and ensembles.
Capital Campaign Leadership Team
Marc Lewinstein
Chair