‘Witches’ stir up benefit brew
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m., “Witches’ Night Off” will be held at McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St.
The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN), Blumenthal Performing Arts and members of the National Touring Company of “Wicked” will serve as hosts for this evening of song and dance. Net proceeds benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA).
Promoters said that “Witches’” will be produced by company members of “Wicked’” and the evening is an opportunity for them to step out of their roles in the musical and kick up their heels performing some of their favorite non-Ozian material. The production is part of an ongoing series of performances by the touring company to support charitable causes. The “Wicked”-Munchkinland Tour has raised over $3.7 million in donations for BC/EFA and local AIDS service organizations all over the country.
The event also includes a live auction which features opportunities to join the company backstage at Ovens Auditorium; watch the “greenifying” of Oz’s “most famous lady; seating in the pit with the orchestra; and a walk-on role (complete with make up and Tony Award-winning costume) in three scenes.
Tickets are $35/general and $100/VIP and are available online, at the box office or via phone at 704-372-1000. Purchase is tax deductible.
VIP admission includes a pre-sow reception with cast members from 6-7 p.m. and preferred seating.
The full performance will be held from Jan. 6-31, 2016 (Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday matinee, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.and 6:30 p.m.) and a special matinee on Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.
info/tickets: blumenthalarts.org. witchesnightoff.org.
Chamber rings in holiday season
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce (CLGBTCC) will hold its “Oh What Fun!” annual meeting and holiday party on Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m., at Sugar Creek Brewing Company, 215 Southside Dr.
This is the 23rd annual meeting which brings area professionals together to mix, mingle and dance. This year has been especially monumental for the organization as it moved to a new era as a chamber instead of a guild.
Lana Cane will serve as the emcee. Enjoy a cash bar, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment by Arron Malachi and Veda Convington, as well as music by DJ Little Betty.
At the beginning of the evening’s festivities, a short annual meeting, which includes an election of officers for 2016-18 terms, will take place. Only members in good standing will be allowed to cast ballots. And, any member in good standing may run for office who is not included in the following list. This includes self- or member-nominations. Candidates are: Chad Turner, president; Melissa Morris, vice president of external affairs; Ann Gonzales, vice president of internal affairs; James R. Rice III, director of communications; Charles Oldham, director of finance; and board of directors at-large, Edward McCray, Erica Lachowitz, Jen Carbuto, Kawana Davis, Natasha Tutt, Peter Cary and Quenton Chissem. The top four vote getters will win the election in the directors’ race. Should Gonzales win her seat, then there will be a fifth slot allocated to accommodate the vacancy. The nomination committee consisted of Chair Zach Tate and committee members Maureen Carlomagno and Charles Oldham.
Additionally, long-time advocate and ally Barbara Green will be remembered for her contributions to the community and the chamber.
“This is an exciting year for the Chamber,” said Chad Turner, president. “We have a waiting list of those asking to serve on our board and become a part of what our organization is doing within our city. This year’s slate of candidates includes business owners and professionals from the trans, Latino, black and straight communities. As we have branded the CLGBTCC and built a broad membership, we have created an atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and also driven to serve within the organization. It was our goal to move forward with offering those within our membership to step up and be nominated or volunteer to run for leadership offices without prompting,” he added. CLGBTCC encourages and works within a model of board diversity, representing the community it serves.
The chamber encourages companies and organizations to do a board self-assessment to determine if the leadership embraces inclusivity and combats discrimination. It will provide assistance to those who wish to pursue this endeavor.
Admission is free and open to members and non-members. Attendees are asked to bring a $10 Food Lion gift card to be given to Time Out Youth Center to assist with those youth that are displaced and need toiletries and food through the winter season.
Catering for the event will be supplied by Nate Turner and Your Custom Catering & Events.
info/rsvp: clgbtcc.org. facebook.com/events/979397322102927.
Theatre holds play fest
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Fourth Annual nuVoices Festival will be held from Jan. 10-17, 2016, at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte,
Four plays will be showcased and were selected from over 400 entries.
The theatre is providing artistic residence to the playwrights as they workshop their plays with local actors and directors. It will culminate in a two hand-in-script public readings presentation of their work.
This year’s plays include Reginald Edmund’s “The Daughters of The Moon,” Meridith Friedman’s “The Luckiest People,” David Valdes Greenwood’s “The Mermaid Hour,” and Matthew Wells’ “Beautiful Day.”
One of the plays has an LGBT storyline. Greenwood’s “Mermaid” play tells the story of working-class parents Pilar and Bird who try to navigate their tween daughter’s gender transition, while she rocks her first crush, discovers the power of the internet and decides they are not moving fast enough to keep up, Actor’s Theatre shared.
Greenwood has staged his plays across the globe. “Mermaid” was commissioned as part of the Sloan Project at Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, N.Y.
Auditions will be held on Dec. 5. Visit the theatre’s website to learn more.
An $80,000 Knight Foundation grant has allowed nuVoices to include “Public Good.”
“Public Good,” a new play commissioned by Actor’s Theatre about the history of the Eugenics Board of North Carolina, will hold its first public development process. Alexandra Bassett, general manager of Rude Mechs of Austin, serves as the lead collaborator organizing a group of local playwrights in the creation of the work. Audiences will be invited to lend their voices and experiences to this unique project. More information is available online.
info: atcharlotte.org.
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Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@qnotescarolinas.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.