A patio concert, a poster reveal and a little sugar in your bowl
Maura's Three for the Week in Charleston, 5/13 - 5/19
The arts abound throughout town this week. Charleston’s literary scene continues to gain impressive momentum, with best-selling author Erik Larson taking the Charleston Gaillard Center stage. Its music scene fans out, too, with a concert series on the patio of Huriyali and New Muse Concerts landing at Cannon Street Arts Center to celebrate the artistry of Nina Simone. And Spoleto is set for its annual arts infusion, with its poster reveal and new Spoleto Piazza at The Charleston Place. Read it and reap.
Explore a Civil War saga with a bestselling icon
Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St, downtown Charleston, Thurs., May 16, 7:30 p.m.
The Charleston Gaillard Center and Buxton Books present A Conversation with Erik Larson in celebration of his new book, The Demon of Unrest. Larson is the New York Times bestselling author of titles like The Splendid and the Vile, The Devil in the White City, and In the Garden of Beasts. Spend an evening with Larson, just minutes (and a boat ride) away from where “the passions of North and South came to focus on a lonely federal fortress in Charleston Harbor: Fort Sumter.” The conversation will be moderated by Charleston-based writer and journalist Herb Frazier.
For tickets and information, visit gaillardcenter.org.
Get primed for Spoleto with the annual poster reveal
Market Circle at The Charleston Place, 205 Meeting St. in downtown Charleston, Wed., May 15, 5 p.m. (with doors opening at 4:15 p.m.)
Join Spoleto Festival USA to toast the 2024 Festival with a free and open-to-the-public unveiling of this season’s poster, as well as the opening of the Spoleto Piazza at The Charleston Place. Soon, you’ll see this poster, which features commissioned work by a to-be-revealed, acclaimed artist, adorning windows around town, so find out firsthand how it came to be — and the inspiration behind the work.
For information on Spoleto Festival USA, visit spoletousa.org.
Revel in a ‘Rebel with a Cause” with Alva Anderson
Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon Street in downtown Charleston, Sun., May 19, 3 p.m.
Enjoy a Sunday afternoon as Alva Anderson sings the music of Nina Simone, the legendary “high priestess of soul.” A virtuoso musician with a purpose, Simone referred to herself as “a rebel with a cause,” and gave voice to the Civil Rights movement through music. Follow along as New Muse Concerts traces her story from the hills of North Carolina to the countryside of France, exploring the power of music as a vehicle for change. Anderson performs with Abdiel Iriarte on piano; Frank Duvall on bass; and David Patterson on drums.
For tickets, click here.
Bonus: Head to Huriyali for a patio concert
Huriyali, 481 Huger St. in downtown Charleston, Fri., May 17, 7 p.m.
Grab a smoothie and let the musical stylings go down easy. Musician Corey Campbell (of the Charleston based band Babe Club) is bringing a listening room-style concert series of acoustic music to Huriyali’s back patio and garden. On May 17, Jenna Desmond (also of Babe Club) and Taylor Lee Czer will perform (and on May 31, Admiral Radio and Gritty Flyright take the stage).
For more information, click here.
Heads up: Season tickets on sale today for Best of Broadway
The Best of Broadway 2024-25 season line-up includes the Lowcountry premieres of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical and Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, along with the return of Mamma Mia! and special bonus shows Alton Brown Live and Riverdance 30 – The New Generation.
New season tickets go on sale today, May 13, at 10 a.m. Tickets are available by calling (843) 202-ARTS (2787) or online at www.NorthCharlestonColiseumPAC.com.
In Case You Missed It: Maura’s review of “Singers & Stanzas”
Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, aka HALO, presented a one-performance, world premiere concert joining local poetry and new musical compositions at the Dock Street Theatre. Read Maura’s review here.