10/28 – 11/12 // CHARLOTTE
‘For the Love of Harlem’
This acclaimed musical documenting the best and brightest African-American and LGBT artistic geniuses of the 1920s and 1930s Harlem Renaissance makes its return to Charlotte. Written by Jermaine Nakia Lee. Produced by On Q Productions. “For the Love of Harlem” celebrates the courage, achievement, frailty and hardship of these creative ones; whose artistic contributions have had profound impact not only on African-American culture but redefined how America, and the world, views the African-American. “For the Love of Harlem” takes us on a musical journey that shadows these brave artists who refused to be inauthentic, no matter what the black public or white public thought. Duke Energy Theater. Various prices. blumenthalarts.org.
9/9-25 // CHARLOTTE
‘The Music Man’
An affectionate tribute to Smalltown, USA, this acclaimed Broadway classic follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he cons the citizens of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize. His plans to skip town with the cash are spoiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen. Theatre Charlotte. Various prices. theatrecharlotte.org.
9/14 – 10/1 // CHARLOTTE
‘In The Next Room’
Humorously called “The Vibrator Play,” “In The Next Room” won a 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist and was a 2010 Best Play Tony Award nominee. A funny, touching, and dare we say, stimulating story set at the dawn of the age of electricity! In a seemingly perfect Victorian home, Dr. Givings innocently invents an extraordinary new device for treating “hysteria” in women (and men!). While treating his patients, his wife wonders exactly what he is doing “In The Next Room.” This play is a provocative, laugh-out-loud look at love! Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. Various prices. actorstheatrecharlotte.org.
10/11-16 // CHARLOTTE
‘The Addams Family’
The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life in “The Addams Family.” This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by “Jersey Boys” authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (“The Wild Party”), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (“Jersey Boys”) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (“Shockheaded Peter”) with creative consultation by four-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks. This is definitely not the same old song and dance. Ovens Auditorium. Various Prices. blumenthalarts.org.
10/19-29 // CHARLOTTE
‘Cloud Nine’
Set in Victorian Africa and contemporary London, Caryl Churchill’s comic, inventive and surrealistic look at sexual and racial oppression and role conditioning broke ground when it premiered in 1979, winning Churchill an Obie Award in 1981. Clive, a white man, imposes his ideals on his family; Betty, his wife, is played by a man because she wants to be what men want her to be; and Joshua, their black servant, is played by a white man because he wants to be what whites want him to be. The play confronts sexual taboos and gender stereotypes head on, flaunting extreme behavior for both its humor and its instruction. For mature audiences. Presented by UNC-Charlotte. Various Dates. Various prices. performances.uncc.edu.
11/1-6 // CHARLOTTE
‘West Side Story’
More than 50 years ago, one musical changed theater forever. Now it’s back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, “West Side Story” is the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, “West Side Story” remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of “West Side Story” recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.” Belk Theater. Various prices. blumenthalarts.org.
11/3-5 // CHARLOTTE
‘The Tempest’
Prospero, Duke of Milan, is exiled to an enchanted island with his daughter Miranda, where he harnesses the powers of magic and masters the spirits and creatures that dwell there. With the help of the spirit Ariel he raises a storm at sea, bringing within his grasp the enemies who robbed him of his dukedom. This culminating masterpiece of Shakespeare’s career pits the desire for revenge against the demands of love and forgiveness. The production features five actors who play multiple roles from the touring company Actors From The London Stage and is co-sponsored by the Shakespeare-In-Action Center. Presented by UNC-Charlotte. Various prices. performances.uncc.edu.
11/10-27 // DURHAM
‘Radio City Christmas Spectacular’
The grandest holiday show of all time comes to the Triangle for the first time ever! Fill your heart with Christmas as the world-famous Radio City Rockettes travel to Durham. Adults will love the precision of the Rockettes in numbers such as Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and Christmas in New York. Children will love Multiplying Santa’s and the elves in Santa’s Workshop. Everyone will be inspired by the stunning reenactment of the very first Christmas in The Living Nativity. Durham Performing Arts Center. Various prices. dpacnc.com.
11/29 – 12/7 // CHARLOTTE
‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’
This hilarious story of overachievers’ angst chronicles the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Even in the throes of puberty, and overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, they learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. A Tony Award-winning show, it features a quirky yet charming group of young people for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Presented by UNC-Charlotte. Various dates. Various prices. performances.uncc.edu.