COHAN

This weekend, make it a twofer. Celebrate the Stars and Stripes and the composer of “You’re a Grand Old Flag”: George M. Cohan.

The late great singer, dancer, actor, writer, composer and otherwise giant of Broadway, was born in Providence on July 3, 1878. His parents were both vaudeville performers, and theater was his life. And his life began here.

So the City of Providence and the ad hoc George M. Cohan committee are marking the occasion by marking a spot in the city’s Fox Point section. On Friday at 6:30 p.m., at the intersection of Wickenden and Governor Streets, in the vicinity of Cohan’s birthplace, officials will name the area the George M. Cohan Plaza.

A sculpture of Cohan, created by Robert Shure, will be unveiled. The Navy Band Northeast Ceremonial Band will perform, as will singer Ian O’Brian and jazz musician Mike Miller.

Mayor David Cicilline will declare July 3 as George M. Cohan Day, and bestow the first annual George M. Cohan Award for Excellence in Art and Culture to Curt Columbus, artistic director of Trinity Repertory Company.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., the Rhode Island Historical Society picks up the Cohan trail, with a walking tour of Fox Point. (Participation is $10 and reservations are requested: [401] 331-8575 ext. 45.) The tour starts at the newly named George M. Cohan Plaza. At 2 p.m., there’s a lecture about Cohan’s life given by Mike Fink, a RISD professor, presented at the French-American School, 75 John St. Immediately after the lecture, there’s a screening of the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy, which stars James Cagney as Cohan.

At 6 p.m., there’s entertainment in India Point Park, followed by fireworks at dark.