Charleston City Paper: Piccolo Spoleto 2026, Guide #2

MAY 22–JUNE 7, 2026

Twisted Fairy Tales to premiere at Piccolo Spoleto

Mary Kay Andrews to give glimpse of latest novel

A concert for every genre

Piccolo Spoleto’s 40+ musical acts include old favorites, new sounds

Scottish Performing Arts Classic 2026

Experience the elegance of Charleston as it welcomes the world’s finest Gaelic performers. Presented by the Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts in partnership with the Robert Burns Society of Charleston, this international event showcases excellence across bagpipes, clarsach (harp), and Scottish fiddle. Join us to experience Scottish competitions featuring some the best performers in the world!

BAGPIPE COMPETITIONS: Friday, June 5th 1:30 PM Friday, June 5th 4:30 PM

HARP COMPETITION: Saturday, June 6th 1:00 PM

SCOTTISH FIDDLE COMPETITION: Saturday, June 6th 4:00 PM

Tickets available now and seats are limited! Piccolo Spoleto Festival • June 5-6 BurnsCharleston.com

Piccolo Spoleto South Carolina Society Hall 72 Meeting Street, Charleston

Welcome to the 2026 Piccolo Spoleto Festival!

Every spring, Charleston transforms. Our streets, our parks and our stages come alive with music, movement and imagination. For over four decades, Piccolo Spoleto has helped make that transformation possible, and it remains one of the most exciting times of the year in our city for locals and visitors alike.

This festival has always been a true celebration of the arts — from jazz and theater to poetry, dance and everything in between, you’ll see work from incredibly talented local artists alongside emerging and established creatives who are nationally known. It’s a reminder that Charleston is not just a backdrop for great art — it’s a place where great art is created.

What I love most about Piccolo is that it brings people together. Whether you’re a lifelong Charlestonian or here for your very first visit, the festival offers something that will move you. It’s in the moments of connection — in the audience, on stage, and out in the community — that this festival really shines. To the artists: thank you for sharing your gifts with us. To the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the volunteers who make all of this possible — your work makes a lasting impact, and I’m truly grateful.

Sincerely,

William S. Cogswell, Jr. Mayor

About the festival

The Piccolo Spoleto Festival annually presents a varied program that includes visual arts exhibitions, performances of classical music, jazz, dance, theater and choral music, as well as cultural events and community celebrations, poetry readings, children’s activities, craft shows and film screenings

Piccolo Spoleto prioritizes accessibility for both artists and performers, presenting professional work of the highest standard, while ensuring that nearly half of Piccolo’s events are admission-free, with the balance offered at affordable prices.

In addition to the festival’s visual arts, artisan crafts exhibitions and public art installations, performances are being planned for outdoor settings in Charleston’s parks. Events are scheduled for the city’s larger parks in formats that accommodate social distancing and smaller neighborhood pop-up events will be announced the week of the event to ensure that the weather will accommodate the performance.

Piccolo Spoleto was launched in 1979 by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, which continues to work closely with an engaged group of volunteers from the Charleston arts community. The working group of arts professionals who serve as volunteer program coordinators for the Festival now numbers nearly 60 with each specializing in a particular discipline, genre or period.

Applications for the 2027 Piccolo Spoleto Festival will be available online in August at PiccoloSpoleto.com

For more information, call Director of Cultural Affairs Rochelle Riley at (843) 813-1658 or email CulturalAffairs@charleston-sc.gov.

Piccolo Spoleto salutes its recent sponsors

A concert for every genre

Piccolo Spoleto’s 40+ musical acts include old favorites, new sounds

By Jordyn Britton

The 2026 Piccolo Spoleto Festival will host a record number of performances featuring local and communitybased acts that center the arts in Charleston.

Piccolo Spoleto’s music offerings are as diverse as Charleston, said Rochelle Riley, the city’s director of cultural affairs. Audiences can hear organ works, classical music, Gershin, reggae, contemporary music, and even a salute to the women of rock and roll.

“What we want most is to provide such an amazing and eclectic mix of music that it touches everyone,” Riley said. “The goal is that we are doing what Charlestonians want, because they’re the ones helping put this on.”

Unlike the splashy headliners of Spoleto Festival USA, Piccolo introduces audiences to the arts community from a grassroots level. The festival provides affordable — and often free — events while simultaneously showcasing local talent on more prominent stages.

More than 40 acts will perform under the Piccolo Spoleto banner between May 22 andJune 7. Many performers incorporate Charleston’s cultural narratives into their shows, using Charleston’s history and culture to invite audiences to see the city from an authentic perspective through music.

The Sound of Charleston

In 2010, Charlestonian Bill Perry and former City Council member Yvonne Evans co-founded Charleston Musical Heritage Productions. Their musical event “The Sound of Charleston” tells the city’s story through music.

“We give audiences a good blend of music and history,” Perry said. “They learn the history of the Charleston musical connection and how that relates to the city.”

“ ‘Sound of Charleston: America 250 Edition’ is a variation on the Sound of Charleston’s flagship offering,” Perry said. It features gospel spirituals, Civil War-era songs, selections from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Rhapsody in Blue, as well as jazz and classical compositions tied to Charleston’s history.

“The Sound of Charleston: America 250 Edition” will be performed May 30 and June 6 at 2 p.m at Circular Congregational Church. Performances run about 75 minutes.

In addition to familiar patriotic numbers, some music will reflect the country’s relationship with slavery, as well as Charleston’s significance in the nation’s history.

“ What we try to accomplish in the show is when people leave, they have a new appreciation for how broad

Charleston’s history is in the musical area.” —Bill Perry

“The shows are pretty emotional for some people,” Perry said. “But they really enjoy the singers and the storytelling that comes with the music.”

Charleston Music Heritage Productions will also present “Gershwin and Jazz” during Piccolo Spoleto. Former Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg joins other musicians for a performance of jazz standards and Gershwin classics such as “Rhapsody in Blue” and selections from Porgy and Bess. “Gershwin and Jazz” will be performed May 31 at 2 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church.

Both concerts change the way visitors and locals understand Charleston, Perry said. “What we try to accomplish in the show is when people leave, they have a new appreciation for how broad Charleston’s history is in the musical area. We want people to leave and say, We took several walking tours of Charleston, but we really didn’t get a true appreciation for the history until we came and heard this music.’’

Christopher Laughlin returns

Guitarist Christopher Laughlin shares his expansive repertoire with Piccolo audiences for a third time this year.

Laughlin, who performs classical, flamenco, and acoustic guitar, plans a melodious and engaging set that introduces listeners to the diversity of sounds that his instrument can make.

Attendees can expect to hear flamenco, such as “Guajiras” by Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucía, and some Bach pieces. Laughlin is also excited to play a new arrangement

“I think it’s nice when you can put a variety of music in your programs so you can

bridge the gap between what people’s expectations are of the music they like and what they might eventually be able to enjoy.”

—Christopher Laughlin

of the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” with a looping pedal that creates an orchestral effect with a solo guitar.

Laughlin will perform May 28 at 7 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church and May 30 at 6 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church.

“I think it’s nice when you can put a variety of music in your programs so you can bridge the gap between what people’s expectations are of the music they like and what they might eventually be able to enjoy,” Laughlin said. “That’s what I think I’m trying to accomplish — broadening people’s horizons on what kind of music they might enjoy.”

Jordyn Britton is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

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Twisted Fairy Tales to premiere at Piccolo Spoleto

By Jordyn Britton

Every summer of her childhood, Andrea White traveled from nearby Georgetown to Charleston with her family for the spring arts celebrations, Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto.

“Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto, as an artsy kid, was everything,” White said.

Today, White — a College of Charleston graduate who teaches music at the PorterGaud School — brings the next generation of young performers to the festival stage through Twisted Fairy Tales at the Cannon Street Arts Center.

The original musical was written and directed alongside Low Country Arts Theater cofounder Simone Liberty.

Aimed at children, Twisted Fairy Tales is a comedic musical featuring a small ensemble cast from ages 7 to 15. The play focuses on villains from classic fairy tales, folklore and Disney to pose the question: Who’s the real villain? Twisted Fairy Tales uses reimagined characters like Gaston and Captain Hook to introduce young audiences to theater in a fun and engaging way.

“ We really wanted to offer opportunities for quick performances and experiences that allow [kids] to be involved in theater.”

—Andrea White

Liberty, also a College of Charleston alumna, grew up in Connecticut where the community theater scene was not only popular, but open to everyone.

“In Connecticut, there’s a very large community theater scene. If you audition, you are in,” said Liberty, a Charleston-area teaching artist. “That’s kind of what [Piccolo Spoleto] is starting to feel like — allowing more community members to get involved with the arts scene and be seen by more community members. It just feels like another barrier to entry is being knocked down.”

A theater program open to all still cultivates children’s talents while nurturing their love for the arts, White said.

Another cast member, Genevieve Perrine, returns to Twisted Fairy Tales playing Jafar. The rising sophomore was in a 2021 production of the show and is the only member of the cast to appear in both versions. As a fourth grader, she played Smee.

As White intended, Twisted Fairy Tales creates opportunities for children at all experience levels.

“If you want to be a rock, if you want to be Sharpay, that’s what this show is about,” White said. “Arts is for everybody, and it should be for every student, regardless of their background.”

Twisted Fairy Tales will be performed June 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cannon Street Arts Center.

Since its inception in 1979, Piccolo Spoleto still uplifts and showcases the South Carolina local arts scene as a community-driven companion festival to Spoleto Festival USA. White said Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect fit for the Low Country Theater Group.

White and Liberty decided to start the theater after noticing a lack of open, informal theater troupes throughout the greater Charleston area.

“We want arts to be accessible to every student, not just students who are in full-on troupes,” White said. “The idea behind the theater company is less that students have to be at something every single week and more that they can sign up for one-off dance classes or performances.

“We really wanted to offer opportunities for quick performances and experiences that allow [kids] to be involved in theater.”

“For the audition, they had to dance, sing and act,” White said. Following auditions, both White and Liberty found a place on stage for everybody.

Allison Knight, 13, who is entering eighth grade, plays Ursula, one of Twisted Fairy Tales’ seven villains. She has performed under the direction of White and Liberty before, but Piccolo Spoleto is a level up for the young performer.

“I am so excited for Piccolo Spoleto,” Knight said. “This is my first huge theatre gig other than school musicals and theatre company performances. I am the most excited for the rehearsals, the inside jokes in the cast, and making my debut on the big stage.”

For White, Twisted Fairy Tales is also a chance to reconnect with the arts-infused childhood she experienced through Piccolo Spoleto.

“To give these kids the opportunity to be at that festival that meant so much to me when I was a kid really means everything to me.”

IF YOU WANT TO GO: Twisted Fairy Tales will be performed June 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon St. Tickets start at $10.

Jordyn Britton is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Perrine, now in high school, returns to the cast portraying Jafar.

Gullah

Calvin “CL” Baxter II founded Gullah Collective, a nine-piece band which aims to preserve and promote the sounds of the Gullah Geechee culture. The band performs at the Dock Street Theatre on June 5 at 7 p.m. Free but registration is required. For tickets, visit piccolospoleto.com.

CHARLESTON MUSICAL HERITAGE CONCERTS

The festival by genre

This year’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival offers a broad range of performances — from free outdoor concerts, family-friendly fun and exhibitions to ticketed events to whet your cultural whistle in theater, music and more. Get out during the 17-day festival to experience the Holy City’s creative community.

The calendar profiled in this publication focuses on the second half of the festival and includes events from May 29 to June 7. To learn more and find tickets for some shows, visit PiccoloSpoleto.com

FESTIVAL TRADITIONS

Children’s Programs at the Library

All events at Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., unless otherwise noted. Free tickets are limited, but required, for various kid-friendly programs: May 30, 11 a.m.: Harambee Dance Company.

June 2 , 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: Tricky Words Magic Show.

Sand Sculpting Competition

Visit the front beach of Isle of Palms to watch artists transform the beach into art as they compete for prizes in different categories of the annual sand sculpting competition. Family-friendly and free. May 30 at 9 a.m. Isle of Palms, Front Beach.

Piccolo Spoleto Festival Finale

This June 6 finale concert at Hampton Park celebrates the artistry of women in the creation and evolution of rock ‘n’ roll. It will include performances that explore the influence of women from Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Big Mama Thornton to Janis Joplin and Tina Turner. Local powerhouse singer Elise Testone will take listeners on a thrilling, rocking journey.

6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 30 Mary Murray Blvd. Free.

MUSIC

Shows may be ticketed (T) or free (F). More info: visit PiccoloSpoleto.com. Please check the website for other shows not listed below.

Early Music Series

A major part of Piccolo Spoleto since 1986, the Early Music Series this year will again be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 89 Hasell St., Charleston. Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart are the composers that will be featured in an intimate setting with stunning acoustics in this Piccolo favorite. All concerts start at 3 p.m. and last an hour. Tickets are $30 and available online or at the door.

May 29: Mozart: A Little Night Music with Charleston Baroque

May 30: Wind in the Wood with Steve Rosenberg

May 31: An Afternoon at Versailles with Spartina Consort

June 1: From Vienna to Cádiz with Charleston Baroque

June 2: Pachelbel Canon with Charleston Baroque

June 3: Vivaldi Guitar Concierto and Beyond with Avanti Guitar Trio

June 4: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with Charleston Baroque

June 5: Mozart: A Little Night Music with Charleston Baroque

June 6: Vivaldi Guitar Concierto and Beyond with Avanti Guitar Trio

June 7: Vivaldi Guitar Concierto and Beyond with Avanti Guitar Trio

• More: PiccoloSpoleto.com

L’Organo

Musicians will explore the range of pipe organs in nine churches throughout the Holy City in Piccolo Spoleto’s annual L’Organo performances. Learn more about the music and locations online at PiccoloSpoleto.com. Free, but contributions welcome. May 29, 10 a.m.: Jack Cleghorn. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 5 Clifford St. May 30, 3 p.m.: Dalaie Choi, Bishop Gadsden, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way. May 31 , 3 p.m.: Monty Bennett. St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 990 Etiwan Park St. Daniel Island. June 1 , 10 a.m.: Jessie Zixi Deng. First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting St. June 2 , 10 a.m.: Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler. St. Michael’s Church, 71 Broad St. June 3 , 10 a.m.: Virginia & Jonathan Bolena (Ben Hutto Memorial Concert). Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul, 126 Coming St. June 4 , 10 a.m.: Christoph Hintermüller. St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 405 King St. June 5, 10 a.m.: Sarah Palmer (Series Finale). Summerall Chapel, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St.

• More: PiccoloSpoleto.com

Note This advance calendar listing focuses on the events in the second half of Piccolo Spoleto. The most up-to-date calendar information can always be found on piccolospoleto.com

piccolospoleto.com PiccoloSpoletoFestival

charlestoncitypaper.com charlestoncitypaper

Noon concerts at Circular

Enjoy the talents of a broad array of local musicians who are performing as a tribute to the festival with free noon concerts at Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. Performances are by:

May 29 : Mark Rapp — From the Street

June 1: Music Academy of the Two Rivers Suzuki Violin

June 2: World Music Cafe Pop Up

June 3: Generatia

June 4: The Top Notes 8-Hand Piano Ensemble

June 5: Leah María Suárez and Friends

• More: PiccoloSpoleto.com

Charleston Musical Heritage Series

The Sound of Charleston, featuring music of Charleston’s history, from gospel to Gershwin, is a festival favorite that this year offers more than ever. All shows at Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. (T)

• The Sound of Charleston: America 250 Edition: 2 p.m., May 30; 2 p.m. June 6.

• Gershwin and Jazz: 2 p.m., May 31.

Concerts at the Citadel

Carillonneur Michael Varnadore will play The Citadel’s 59-bell Carillion, one of the largest instruments in North America. All concerts are free and start at 11 a.m. 171 Moultrie St.

May 30: Outdoor Concert

Young Artists Series

Emerging artists from the Charleston area showcase their talents in various musical disciplines in shows at the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston, 54 St. Philip St. All shows at noon. (T)

May 29: American Songbook

June 1: I’ll Take Romance

June 2: Go for Baroque

June 3: A Day with the Romantics

June 4: Mostly Mozart

June 5: Steel Band

• More: PiccoloSpoleto.com

Other musical shows not to miss

• Palmetto Choral Collective , 11 a.m., May 29, Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St. Free.

• Mark Rapp and Soda City Brass, 6 p.m. May 29, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. (T)

• Sounds of Brazil with Porto Seguro and Alva Anderson, 7 p.m., May 29, Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St. (T)

• Christopher Laughlin Guitar, 6 p.m., May 30, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. (T)

• A World of Jewish Culture: The Kleztonians, 2 p.m., May 31, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 90 Hasell St.

• Charleston Opera Theater presents Opera from Here!, 4 p.m., May 31, City Gallery, 34 Prioleau St.

• Classical Pride Charleston, 4 p.m., May 31, Unitarian Church in Charleston, 4 Archdale St.

• A World of Jewish Culture: Jewish Voices in Classical Chamber Music , 6 p.m., Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 90 Hasell St.

• Gallus Camerata: It Must Be Somewhere , 3 p.m., June 1, Unitarian Church in Charleston, 4 Archdale St.

• Sip and Stroll with Small Opera . Walk begins at 5:30 p.m., June 3, at Reinert Fine Art, 179 King St.

• Lowcountry Inspirations with Ron Daise , 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., June 4, Drummond Studio Gallery, 12 Line St.

• The Mahoganee Xperience: Indigenous Soul Music , 6 p.m., June 5, Drummond Studio Gallery, 12 Line St.

• Winston-Salem Choral Artists: The Sacred Veil, 7:30 p.m., June 5, Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul, 126 Coming St.

Piccolo picks

Piccolo Spoleto 2026 is back, stronger than ever. This year’s annual event — the 47th so far — again will offer scores of fun, innovative programs and art experiences, according to longtime enthusiasts of the festival.

The 17-day long arts party and companion to Spoleto Festival USA connects friends and neighbors to artists and friends across the Lowcountry. It’s all about “what’s made us special through those past decades and also brings in some new twists.”

While this year’s festival will again feature several last-minute neighborhood “pop-up events,” here are five things you can count on to make memories that will last for years:

Piccolo Spoleto Festival Finale

June 6, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Blvd. Free.

This June 6 finale concert at Hampton Park celebrates the artistry of women in the creation and evolution of rock ’n’ roll. It will include performances that explore the influence of women from Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Big Mama Thornton to Janis Joplin and Tina Turner. Local powerhouse singer Elise Testone will take listeners on a thrilling, rocking journey.

Live from the Angel Oak

June 1, 7 p.m. Cannon Street Arts Center. 134 Cannon St. Free. This June 1 special presentation features the premiere of the Live from the Angel Oak concert film, celebrating the beauty and cultural spirit of Charleston through music, storytelling and performance. Featuring Da’Gullah Rootz — a Charleston-based ensemble celebrating Gullah Geechee culture through African-rooted percussion, spirituals, and rhythm — the film captures a soulful performance beneath the historic Angel Oak with rich vocals, drums, and spirited Lowcountry-inspired instrumentation.

The Gullah Collective Band

June 5, 7 p.m. Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. Free.

This performance features The Gullah Collective, a nine-piece band founded by percussionist and producer Calvin “CL” Baxter II, at the historic Dock Street Theatre. The group delivers a dynamic blend of jazz, roots, gospel, R&B, and West African rhythms in a high-energy live show that honors the deep historical and cultural roots of Gullah Geechee heritage in the Lowcountry. Expect powerful performances, special guest appearances and a celebration of Charleston’s indigenous musical traditions.

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Through June 6. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Note: June 7 is an optional day for exhibitors.) Marion Square, 329 Meeting St. Free.

Marion Square is transformed into a beautiful open-air market as 60 of the finest and most creative local artists exhibit and sell their work. You can view original oils, pastels, watercolors, acrylics, encaustics, photography and more.

Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition

Through June 7. City Gallery, 34 Prioleau St. Free.

More than five dozen visual artists have been invited for the 2026 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition presented by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs. This annual exhibition highlights the recent work of artists across South Carolina featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking and photography. Artworks receiving prizes are presented alongside a limited selection of pieces identified by the juror as meriting display. This year’s juror is Michael Dickins, director and chief curator at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston.

The festival by genre

• Scottish Performing Arts Classic: Angus Katie McDonald Memorial Prize , South Carolina Society Hall, 72 Meeting St.

° Friday, June 5 · 1:30 PM

° Friday, June 5 · 4:30 PM

° Saturday, June 6 · 1:00 PM

° Saturday, June 6 · 4:00 PM

• Charleston Gospel Choir: Lucille Simmons Whipper Tribute , 6 p.m., June 6, Second Presbyterian Church, 342 Meeting St.

• Charleston Sound Chorus: Red, White, and Ringing , 4 p.m., June 7, Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul, 126 Coming St.

• MACA Opera Intensive: The Marriage of Figaro, 7 p.m., June 6, 5 p.m., June 7, Parish Hall at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 405 King St.

PICCOLO FRINGE

Theatre 99 has produced Piccolo Fringe since 2001 as part of its role in developing Charleston’s comedy and improvisation community. Learn more about the shows at theatre99.com. All shows are at Theatre 99, 280 Meeting St., Suite B. On the schedule:

Take the Funny and Run

Bring your improv suggestions. May 29, 8 p.m. (T)

The Have Nots!

Comedy Improv

May 30 and June 6, 8 p.m. (T)

Laughway to the Weekend

June 3, 8 p.m. (T)

Doozy

A night of improvised scenes with Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Brandy Sullivan and Greg Tavares.

June 5 and 6, 8 p.m.; June 7, 7:30 p.m. (T)

THEATER

Tickets online at PiccoloSpoleto.com.

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche

Charleston’s Absent Friends present this cult favorite — a high-camp, laugh-outloud romp set in the 1950s.

May 29, 7:30 p.m. Upper Lance Hall at Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. (T)

Cannon Street Arts Center presents

All shows at 134 Cannon St. (T)

• Lowcountry Magic Jamboree , 7 p.m., June 5. (T)

• On the Other Side, an evening of storytelling about the Holocaust through dance, text and more. 7:30 p.m. May 29 and 30. (T)

• Too Clever by Half, a double feature by Shortwave Kitsch. 5:30 p.m., May 29. (T)

• Shortwave Kitsch: See you in the Funny Papers. Noon, May 30. (T)

• Shortwave Kitsch: All Show and No Go 4 p.m., May 30. (T)

Threshold Repertory Theatre presents

All shows at 84½ Society Street. (T)

• Shakespeare and Me, 7:30 p.m., May, 31; 4 p.m. June 2 (T).

• Tick, Tick, Boom!, 3 p.m., May 30 and June 6; 7:30 p.m., May 30, June 1, 4. (T)

• Musings from the Bar - A dive into marriage, a bar and patrons. 7:30 p.m. June 2, 3. (T)

Stelle di Domani at the College of Charleston

Visit PiccoloSpoleto.com for full descriptions and times of performances of these theatrical productions by

ages. Shows at the Simons Center Black Box Theatre, 54 St. Philip St. (T) 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., May 29 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., May 30.

ART

Against the Grain

Solo exhibition by Michelle Kay Washington.

May 29 and May 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; June 5 to June 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drummond Studio Gallery, 12 Line St. Artist talk is at 6 p.m. May 29.

Creative Corridors:

Analog and Bloom Where You’ve Planted

More than 40 artists are featured in this year’s show which has the theme “analog,” which emphasizes hand-made elements.

students at the College of Charleston. Shows are ticketed, unless otherwise marked, and are being performed in the Simons Center Black Box Theatre, 54 St. Philip Street; Chapel Theatre, 172 Chapel St., or Charleston Library Society, 164 King St.

• Staged readings from the 17th annual National Playwriting contest - (F): 2 p.m., May 29; 2 p.m., June 3, 4. (Chapel)

• Late, A Cowboy Song - 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., June 5 and 6. (Chapel)

• Under the Lights - 7 p.m., June 1; 5 p.m., June 2. (Simons)

• Family Feud: Cabaret Edition - 7 p.m., May 31. (Chapel)

• Romeo & Juliet: Cuts and Kisses - 5 p.m., June 5; 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., June 6. (Simons)

• Real Love...Negotiated - 7 p.m., June 3 and 4. (Simons)

• More: PiccoloSpoleto.com

DANCE

Piccolo Spoleto’s Dance Showcase

The showcase, presented by the College of Charleston Stages and the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, brings together dance artists and organizations to feature distinct programs of performers of all

On view throughout Piccolo Spoleto. Opening reception: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., May 29. Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St. 10 + 4 + 1 Collaborative Art

Ten artists working in pairs will create five projects.

On view through May 29, Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon St.

LITERARY

AND IDEAS

Sundown Poetry Series

Piccolo Spoleto’s annual Sundown Poetry Series features acclaimed poets who will read from their work in the Washington Square Park, 80 Broad St. at 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets to these free events. Signings and receptions follow at Buxton Books, 160 King St. Free.

May 29: A$iahMae

June 1: Jennifer Bartell Boykin

June 2: Evelyn Berry

June 3: Christopher O’Neal Blackmon

June 4: Kwoya Fagin Maples

June 5: Michal Rubin

Andrews to give glimpse of latest book June 4

By Madelyn Taylor

Just in time for beach-read season, author Mary Kay Andrews will bring her latest book to Charleston just in time for Piccolo Spoleto.

Hosted by indie bookstore Buxton Books, Andrews — often called the “Queen of the Summer Read” — will introduce her new novel Road Trip with a talk and signing on June 4 at 6 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church’s Lance Hall. A copy of the novel, out June 2, is included with every ticket.

Andrews will be joined by her friend and fellow novelist Patti Callahan Henry whose recent novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lee, was also a New York Times bestseller. Henry, who considers Andrews a mentor and inspiration, discussed Road Trip with her from its earliest concept to the final page.

Andrews has visited Buxton Books several times before, according to the store’s marketing coordinator, Marissa Luckie. But the June 4 conversation between the two authors will make the event especially compelling.

“I think that there are certain questions that only a writer knows to ask another writer about how a book is made,” Luckie said. “They really know how to get in a little bit deeper and ask the questions that really get into the process of writing a book.”

Andrews, who lives in Atlanta, was a journalist before she became a novelist. She has written more than 30 books.

Exploring Irish ties

The granddaughter of Irish immigrants, Andrews channeled her own family roots to tell the story of Road Trip. The novel follows two estranged sisters who reconnect after their mother’s death. Maeve and Therese Dunigan inherit a mysterious painting that might be worth millions if the sisters can prove its authenticity. To do so, they must travel to Ireland and dig into their family’s mysterious past.

“When I started writing this book, I’d only been to Ireland one time before. Writing the book gave me the excuse to go to Ireland.” Andrews said. “You can never underestimate the value of going and putting your feet in the places that your characters walk.”

Andrews said she was inspired by a tour she took in an Irish art gallery where she learned about the 1974 Beit art collection heist, when members of the IRA stole priceless paintings in an attempt to trade them for imprisoned compatriots.

The story, along with a portrait from a wealthy Irish family she saw at an auction, helped to inspire Road Trip

“My husband and I — we’re both the first in our families to graduate from college — so there are no family portraits in our family,” she said. “I’ve always had a fascination with little portraits.

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I buy them when I see them, and I make up fantastic stories about who they are.”

Two of Henry’s novels, When Light Breaks and The Perfect Love Song, also share Irish settings. Their common heritage inspired their art and helped strengthen a friendship that spans more than two decades, Henry said.

“It’s always very interesting to hear two writers discuss their process, their lives and how the creative work informs their life,” Henry said. “We will be talking about how (Irish heritage) informs not only her characters, but probably the kind of writers we are today.”

Andrews’ role as the middle child of three sisters also gave her plenty of family conflict to draw upon, too. She applied her own memories of growing up with her sisters to Road Trip

“I tried to dwell on sisters I’ve known, the dynamic and I took it from there,” Andrews said.

IF YOU WANT TO GO: Mary Kay Andrews and Patti Callahan Henry: Publication Week

Celebration. June 4, 6 p.m. Lance Hall at Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. Tickets are $35 and include a signed, hardcover copy of Road Trip

Madelyn Taylor is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

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