MAY 22–JUNE 7, 2026
Photo
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.
Festival staff
Piccolo Spoleto Festival is produced and directed by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs
CITY OF CHARLESTON
William S. Cogswell, Jr. Mayor
CITY COUNCIL
Boyd Gregg District 1
Kevin Shealy District 2
Jim McBride District 3
Aaron Polkey District 4
Rochelle Riley Director of Cultural Affairs Director, Piccolo Spoleto Festival
Basil Punsalan Outreach and Event Coordinator
Karl L. Brady Jr. District 5
Ben D’Allessandro District 6
Perry K. Waring District 7
Michael S. Seekings District 8
OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Latanya Hardee Event Coordinator
Anne Quattlebaum Manager, City Gallery
Rachel D. Workman Finance Manager
William Tinkler District 9
Stephen Bowden District 10
Ross A. Appel District 11
Leslie Skardon District 12
Mindy Manziano Program Manager
Harrison Chapman Farmers Market Manager
Piccolo Spoleto salutes its recent sponsors
Promise
Piccolo Spoleto celebrates America’s 250th with music, more
Framed by the nation’s 250th anniversary, several Piccolo Spoleto performances this year will explore Charleston’s history and freedom of expression through gospel, jazz, patriotic tributes and community sing-alongs.
For singer Carl Bright, moving people through the power of music is a family affair. The Bright Family & Singers, produced by Bright alongside his wife and daughter, will return to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival with their narrated gospel performance, Oh Happy Day on May 24. The performance falls under the category of Piccolo events that recognize the festival’s overarching theme this year: America’s 250th birthday and “freedom of expression.”
“In the midst of all going on, the history of Charleston and America, this will certainly be part of the glue that holds everything together,” Bright said.
For its 47th season, a handful of Piccolo Spoleto events —from a patriotic tribute to a children’s concert — will highlight the 250th anniversary of the United States and the American Revolution.
The Bright Family & Singers’ performance, which will include more than a dozen singers as well as an audience sing-along, tells the history of how spirituals served as a tool
By Remi Turner
for survival, resistance and communication for enslaved people arriving in Charleston.
“This part of Black history is certainly important, and will highlight a portion of this 250th-year celebration,” Bright said.
Events within the Charleston Musical Heritage Series will also showcase Charleston history through music. This year, the series has expanded to include concerts featuring artists from the Sound of Charleston performing gospel, jazz and George Gershwin. All concerts are hosted at Circular Congregational Church at 150 Meeting St.
Narrated by Bill Schlitt, “The Sound of Charleston: America 250 Edition” demonstrates how the musical history of Charleston interweaves with America’s history, according to series co-founder and producer Bill Perry.
“Every piece of music that we do has a historical connection somehow to Charleston, and that’s why we’re so excited about it,” Perry said. “We know that people want history, and they certainly want good music.”
Performers include Lowcountry Music Hall of Fame member Ann Caldwell, former Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and other Lowcountry singers. The production offered at 2 p.m. on May 23, May 30 and June 6, also fea-
The Bright Family & Singers brings narrated gospel performance, Oh Happy Day, to
on May 24
tures an interactive sing-along to “America the Beautiful” and closes with “Amazing Grace.”
“Charleston’s history is America’s history,” Perry said. On May 31 at 2 p.m., “Gershwin and Jazz” highlights the role that jazz has played in the city’s history. Tecklenburg on piano and Jon Philips on saxophone are among those playing Gershwin’s instrumental music, and vocalists Diamond Tyler and Ramelle Brooks will perform songs from Porgy and Bess. The program concludes with Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” performed by piano virtuosos Ghadi Shayban and Maida Libkin.
Getting students engaged
Up-and-coming artists will also take the Piccolo stage for America’s 250th. Trinity Montessori School presents
Photos provided
Piccolo Spoleto
The
tells the story of six Black Continental Army soldiers who were captured by the British during the Revolutionary War
Stand Tall, an operetta celebrating South Carolina’s role in America’s independence. The performance, featuring 18 students, is a fully staged production of Benjamin Britten’s The Golden Vanity, with costumes and sets inspired by the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.
Edward Jackson, Trinity’s co-head and music director, described the production as an “advanced concert” highlighting South Carolina’s uniqueness through solos and choruses.The students spent a year in the local community, researching for the performance.
“It’s a very holistic approach, and so this is kind of our gift to the community,” Jackson said.
Two Trinity choirs — St. Gregory and St. Cecilia — will also present an instrumental interlude, including the “Sea Shanty of the American Revolution” and selections from native composer Nelle McMaster Sprott. The May 28 performance at 3 p.m. closes with another sing-along.
“It’s got a little bit of everything,” Jackson said.
The Charleston Men’s Chorus will present a Memorial Day concert May 25 at noon honoring those who have served the country. This program features a selection of patriotic anthems, spirituals and choral arrangements in honor of the nation’s heroes. Other performances will highlight lesserknown parts of American history.
The Promise: Untold Stories of S.C.’s Black Patriots also pays tribute to U.S. military efforts. This original play, commissioned by the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, tells the story of six Black Continental Army soldiers who were captured by the British during the Revolutionary War. The performance will be offered on May 26 and 27 at 7 p.m.
In “Red, White, & Ringing: The Barbershop Tradition,” the Charleston Sound Chorus presents four-part a cappella harmony. Led by David Templeton, the chorus performance on June 7 at 4 p.m. serves as a tribute to “freedom and unity.”
Other events
Spoleto Festival USA 2026 also plans to join in on recognizing American’s 250th anniversary with some of its events, including the world premiere of George + George, a comedic romp through the American Revolution; Storytelling Through American Composers by the Spoleto Chorus; and An Evening with Ken Burns Elizabeth Chew, CEO of the South Carolina Historical Society, has attended festival events since the 1970s.
“One of the things I love about Charleston is the richness of history and the arts,” she said.
Chew said the society planned to partner
“Gershwin and Jazz” highlights the role that jazz has played in the Charleston’s history on May 31 at Circular Congregational Church
with Piccolo again this year on pop-up musical events at its property. Last year, the society hosted an event on its front lawn and patio on opening day so visitors could get a taste of the action.
“You can learn the arts through history, and you can learn history through the arts,” Chew said. “So that’s why I love the combination of the two.”
• Bright Family & Singers’ Oh Happy Day gospel concert: May 24 at 4 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church. Tickets are $28 for adults and $26 for seniors.
• Red, White, & Ringing: The Barbershop Tradition, the Charleston Sound Chorus: June 7 at 4 p.m. at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul. Adult tickets are $15, and children 12 and under are $10.
• Charleston Men’s Chorus Memorial Day concert: May 25 at noon at St. Philips Church. $30 general admission tickets. Children under 10 attend for free.
• Gershwin and Jazz: May 31 at 2 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church. Tickets are from $16-35.
• The Sound of Charleston America 250 Edition: May 23, 30 and June 6 at 2 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church. Tickets are from $16-35.
• The Promise: Untold Stories of South Carolina’s Black Patriots: May 26 and 27 at 7 p.m at Cannon Street Art Center. Tickets are $10.
• Pluff Mud Players: May 28 at 3 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Admission is free.
Remi Turner is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Piccolo’s new porch concert concept to bring people together
By Madelyn Taylor
Few things are more thrilling than watching a talented musician set up in an intimate space and play for the people just a few feet away. With the help of a few instruments, a small crowd and maybe one or two band members, porch concerts create a close connection within communities.
Attendees will be able to enjoy a new pilot porch concert at this year’s Piccolo Spoleto festival, set for 7 p.m. May 24. Organizers hope the concert will be a hit and return as a multi-part series in future festivals.
Performers volunteered their spaces and are choosing the music that will be played.
Rochelle Riley, director of the Office of Cultural Affairs, said after seeing porch concerts performed by huge musicians such as Snoop Dogg and Jill Scott, she thought “we should try that.”
“We want people to experience music, Piccolo and joy everywhere,” Riley said. “The best way to do that is to find smaller things so that everything is not a big downtown or arena thing, or something that’s just on the peninsula. They could be everywhere.”
On porch this season
Guitarist Layton Meacham will present the pilot concert, a soul and reggae set, during the May 24 event at the Cannon Street Arts Center promenade.
The Office of Cultural Affairs is presenting Meacham as a pilot to entice residents across the entire city to consider hosting porch concerts.
The concert format is not new and has become more popular as superstars Jill Scott and Snoop Dogg have done them.
Riley said the concert is designed to feel personal and spontaneous.
“Porches aren’t just found in the South, but they are an essential part of Southern living,” she said. “They represent Southern hospitality, the living room before the living room, a place for connection.”
The concert will be posted on Eventbrite, a platform where users can search for concerts and register for events. This is designed to keep the crowds relatively small, with up to 30 people allowed at the porch concert. Registration is required, and interested attendees are encouraged to sign up early.
With the porch concert being a pilot event, Riley said she hoped to bring the series back for future festivals. Going forward, she would like to do an open call for performers and have porch concerts all over the city.
Riley emphasized the theme for this year’s Piccolo Spoleto festival is “from here,” with the motto being “lean into local.” This is meant to encourage people to enjoy the artistry, tradition and history of people in Charleston through an experience that can only be found in Charleston.
With porch concerts designed to bring communities together through different
genres of music, this year’s theme will blend into that atmosphere easily. Each performer this year is local to the Charleston area.
“You want everybody to see and hear people who are brilliant, who are right here,” Riley said.
IF YOU WANT TO GO: Registration is required. It will open two days before the event at piccolospoleto.com.
Madelyn Taylor is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Guitarist Layton Meacham takes to the porch May 24 for what will hopefully be the first of a new Piccolo Spoleto tradition
Steve Aycock Photography
Charleston Men's Chorus Memorial Day Concert
Monday, May 25 at 12 p.m. St. Phillips Church
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 first half of the festival and generally includes events through May 29. A second edition of this guide will be published in the City Paper on May 29 and will cover events through 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 26 , 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: College of Chalreston’s Children’s Opera’s “The Three Little Pigs.” May 27, 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.: Dancing on Air Crew May 30, 11 a.m.: Harambee Dance Company.
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.
Piccolo Porch Concert
Modeled after a new trend in small neighborhood concerts, this show brings music to people’s doorsteps. The concert is designed to feel personal and spontaneous, turning ordinary streets into shared spaces of connection and community. To register, go to PiccoloSpoleto.com.
May 24, 7 p.m., Cannon Street Promenade, 134 Cannon St.
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 22 : The Golden Age of English Music, A Pilgrim’s Solace with Spartina Consort
May 24: Wind in the Wood, Virtuoso Recorder Music
May 25: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with Charleston Baroque
May 26 : Music of Franz Joseph Haydn
May 27: Echoes of the Chappelle Royale with Spartina Consort
May 28 : The Pachobel Canon and the Charleston Connection with Charleston Baroque
May 29 : Mozart: A Little Night Music with Charleston Baroque
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 25, 10 a.m.: Matthew Wilkinson. St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 405 King St.
May 26, 10 a.m.: Alexander StrausFausto. First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting St.
May 27, 10 a.m.: Jacob Carl Taylor. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad St.
May 28 , 10 a.m.: Dr. Leo Davis. Emanuel AME Church, 110 CalhounSt.
May 29, 10 a.m.: Jack Cleghorn. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 5 Clifford St.
• Learn about May 30 to June 7 shows at PiccoloSpoleto.com
performance welcomes Thomas Dixon, the group’s new music director and conductor. 3 p.m., May 25. Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. Free.
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 23; 2 p.m., May 30; 2 p.m. June 6.
• Oh Happy Day Gospel Music: America 250 Edition: 4 p.m., May 24.
• 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 24: Memorial Day Weekend Concert
May 25: Memorial Carillion Concert
May 3: Outdoor Concert
Young Artists Series
Lime and the Coconuts perform May 25 at Circular Congregational Church
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 25: Lime and the Coconuts
May 26: Acoustic Jams featuring Ellie Jos and John Holenka
May 27: “Let’s Duet” with Alva Anderson and Frank Duvall
May 28: Ann Caldwell
• Learn about May 30 to June 7 shows at PiccoloSpoleto.com Provided
Note This advance calendar listing focuses on the events in the first half of Piccolo Spoleto. Additional offerings will be highlighted in the second Piccolo Spoleto program guide to be published on May 29. The most up-to-date calendar information can always be found on piccolospoleto.com
piccolospoleto.com
PiccoloSpoletoFestival
charlestoncitypaper.com
charlestoncitypaper
May 29: Mark Rapp
• Learn about May 30 to June 7 shows at PiccoloSpoleto.com
New South Festival Singers
Formerly the William Baker Festival Singers, the group has performed at Piccolo Spoleto since 1989, bringing exciting a cappella classics and spirituals. The 2026
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 25: My Romance
May 26: To Infinity and Beyond May 27: What’s Opera, Doc?
May 28: Isn’t it Romantic May 29: American Songbook
• Learn about May 30 to June 7 shows at PiccoloSpoleto.com
Other musical shows not to miss
• Ann Caldwell’s Journey of Return , 8 p.m., May 23, Drummond Studio Gallery, 12 Line St. (T)
• Atlanta Schola Cantorum , 2 p.m., May 24, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad St. Free.
• Chamber Music Charleston TWO Spring Chamber Music Showcase , 7 p.m., May 27, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. Free.
• Charleston Men’s Chorus Concert to Honor Soldiers, noon, May 25, St. Philip’s Church, 142 Church St. (T)
• Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra , 3 p.m., May 24, Scottish Rite Building, 1051 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Free.
• Christopher Laughlin Guitar Two performances:
° 7 p.m., May 28, Second Presbyterian Church, 342 Meeting St. (T)
° 6 p.m., May 30, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. (T)
• Drayton Hall Elementary Bobcat Chorale , 7 p.m., May 26, Grace Church Cathedral, 98 Wentworth St. Free
• Mark Rapp and Soda City Brass, 6 p.m. May 29, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. (T)
• Music Among Friends: Dvorak’s Piano Quintet . 6 p.m. May 27, Charleston Library Society, 164 King St. (T)
• Palmetto Choral Collective , 11 a.m., May 29, Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St. Free.
• Pluff Mud Players present “Stand Tall: Celebrating S.C.’s Role in America’s Independence.” 3 p.m., May 28, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 Anson St. Free
• Sip and Stroll with Small Opera. Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. at Pineapple Fountain, Joe Riley Waterfront Park, 34 Prioleau St.
• Sounds of Brazil with Porto Seguro and Alva Anderson, 7 p.m., May 29, Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St. (T)
• Where Bach Meets Jobim , with Porto Seguro and Alva Anderson, 3 p.m., May 24, Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St. (T)
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.
8 p.m., May 22; 8 p.m., May 29 (T)
Clean Improv Comedy Show
You can bring your parents and kids to enjoy improv.
6 p.m., May 23 (T).
The Have Nots!
Comedy Improv Company
Powerful improvisational comedy in Charleston’s longest-running show.
8 p.m., May 23 and May 30. (T)
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:
Sunset Serenade with the Charleston Symphony
May 22. 8 p.m. 200 East Bay St. Free.
This free concert on the steps of U.S. Custom House officially launches Piccolo Spoleto 2026. It features the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and will showcase special guest soloists Quiana Parler. Bring a beach or lawn chair and enjoy the music.
Seed & Feed Marching Abominable
Atlanta’s wildest community band offers explosive sound at this annual festive concert The group is celebrating its 52nd season of performing the kinds of songs you would hear a great high school band perform.
•May 23. 11 a.m. Location: Marion Square, King and Calhoun streets. Free.
• May 23. 10:30 p.m. to midnight. Pajama March with the band. Location: U.S. Custom House, 200 East Bay St. Free.
• May 24. 11 a.m. Patriotic parade with the band. Location: U.S. Custom House, 200 East Bay St. Free.
Memorial Day Concert at Hampton Park
May 25. 3 p.m. Location: Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Blvd. Free.
This annual patriotic tradition features the Charleston Concert Band in a concert ranging from rousing marches to Broadway show tunes. It concludes with a stirring musical tribute to each of the nation’s armed forces. Come salute our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who gave their lives to protect freedom. Bring a chair or blanket to this free event.
Annual Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition
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.
• May 22 to June 6. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 4 p.m. May 22, there will be an awards ceremony with cash prizes and ribbons.
• May 31. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local artisans and craftsmen will set up at Marion Square to showcase pieces. Free.
Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition
May 22-June 7, City Gallery, 34 Prioleau St. Free.
More than five dozen visual artists have been invited to 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 Dickens, director and chief curator at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston.
The festival by genre
cult classic 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche runs May 28 and 29
Mary Kay Has a Posse
Unforgettable night of all-female improv comedy.
7:30 p.m., May 24 and May 27. (T)
TV4KIDS Presents: Oh Boy!
An evening of sketch comedy for grown-ups. 8 p.m., May 28 (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. 7:30 p.m., May 28 and 29. 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., May 22 and June 5. (T)
• 10+4+1=Staged Reading of Kansas
- A new play by Brad Erickson. 2 p.m., May 24 (T).
• The Promise: Untold Stories of South Carolina’s Black Patriots - 7 p.m. May 26 and 27. (T)
54 St. Philip Street; Chapel Theatre, 172 Chapel St., or Charleston Library Society, 164 King St.
• Noise Source - An interdisciplinary collaboration: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., May 24. (Simons)
• Cougar Night Rewind - 7:30 p.m., May 25 and May 26. (Simons)
• Staged Readings from the Todd McNerney 17th Annual National Playwriting contest - (F): 2 p.m., May 28, 29; 2 p.m., June 3, 4. (Chapel)
• View other shows online at PiccoloSpoleto.com
DANCE
Piccolo Spoleto’s Dance Showcase
• On the Other Side - An evening of storytelling about the Holocaust through dance, text and more. 7 p.m. May 29 and 30. (T)
• Too Clever by Half - A double feature by Shortwave Kitsch. 5 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)
• Stage Reading of Covenant Farm by Brigid Amos - Noon-3 p.m., May 23. (F)
• Shakespeare and Me - 7:30 p.m., May 23, 24, 25, 31; 4 p.m. May 26, June 2. (T).
• Tick, Tick, Boom! - 3 p.m. May 24, 30; 7:30 p.m. May 30 and June 1, 4, 6. (T)
• Musings from the Bar - A dive into marriage, a bar and patrons. 7 p.m., May 26; 7 p.m. June 2, 3, 4. (T)
• The Drop of a Hat - 7:30 p.m. May 27, 28, 29; 4 p.m. May 31. (T)
Stelle di
Domani
at the College of Charleston
Visit PiccoloSpoleto.com for full descriptions and times of performances of these theatrical productions by students at the College of Charleston. Shows are ticketed, unless otherwise marked, and are being performed in the Simons Center Black Box Theatre,
10 + 4 + 1: A Collaborative Art Show featuring dance
Four 20-minute performances with Unbound Ballet, Annex Dance Company and others.
3 p.m. and 6 p.m., May 23. Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon St. (T)
ART
Against the Grain
Solo exhibition by Michelle Kay Washington.
May 28 to 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. Opening reception is 5 p.m. May 22. Artist talk is at 6 p.m. May 29.
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 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.
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.
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 May 22 to 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 26: Amy Pence
May 27: Ashley Crout
May 28: Jason Chambers
May 29: A$iahMae
C. Michael Whaley
The
Annabel Woodman
Giancursio (left) performs
Navigate a global journey through Piccolo’s early music
By Cristina Reid
Charlestonians can travel to Italy, France, England, Scotland and Ireland over the festival’s 17 days — all without leaving the peninsula.
Through the Piccolo Spoleto Early Music Series, iconic centuries-old music from all over the world finds new life that can be heard right here in the Holy City.
The series, which runs through June 7, celebrates the historical music and the revolutionary composers from the past. It offers a chance to appreciate transformative musical works and also listen to them in ways modern audiences rarely find.
“My goal is to bring audiences instruments that have disappeared over time, but have incredible tone colors and sounds that we do not often hear anymore.” —Steve Rosenberg
Recorder virtuoso Steve Rosenberg returns to the program on May 24 with Wind in the Wood: Recorder Music from Naples to Colonial Charleston. Rosenberg said he aims to bring the instruments of the past to contemporary audiences.
“My goal is to bring audiences instruments that have disappeared over time, but have incredible tone colors and sounds that we do not often hear anymore,” Rosenberg said. “Along with that comes beautiful music that has also faded away.”
Julia Harlow will accompany Rosenberg on harpsichord and chamber organ, and Marcy Brenner will be on viola da gamba, a 15th-century instrument roughly similar to a cello.
Having the recorder at the forefront of a performance is uncommon by today’s standards. When modern audiences do get the chance to hear the instrument, Rosenberg said, they “are often surprised by how expressive and powerful it can be.”
The Early Music Series begins May 22 with “The Golden Age of English Music, A Pilgrim’s Solace,” performed by the Spartina Consort. These pieces aim to immerse audiences in Elizabethan England through the use of period-accurate instruments.
On May 25 and June 4, a cornerstone of classical music, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons will be performed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 95 Hasell St. Thanks to the church’s exceptional acoustics, stained glass and classical revival architecture, audiences will be transported to a serene afternoon of music.
The Charleston Baroque’s May 28 performance of “The Pachelbel Canon and the Charleston Connection” will pair well-
Steve Rosenberg
The Avanti Guitar Trio closes out the Early Music Series on June 6 and 7
Photos provided
CHRISTOPHER LAUGHLIN
Piccolo Spoleto Festival
THUR, MAY 28 AT 7PM
Second Presbyterian Church 342 Meeting Street | $30
SAT, MAY 30 AT 6PM
Circular Congregational Church 150 Meeting Street | $30
PURCHASE TICKETS AT CITYPAPERTICKETS.COM
Music by Bach, Torroba, Paco de Lucia, The Who, Tears for Fears, and more!
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CHARLESTON MUSICAL HERITAGE CONCERTS
Concert music
Early Music
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
known works of the Baroque era with selections inspired by colonial Charleston. It promises an intimate look at how Baroque traditions resonated far beyond Europe. The second performance is June 2.
For a more contemporary take on early music, the Avanti Guitar Trio will close out the series on June 6 and 7 with the century-bridging “Vivaldi Guitar Concierto and Beyond.”
Guitarists Amy Brucksch, Julie Goldberg and Christopher Teves reimagine the works of Baroque masters like Bach, Vivaldi, Soler and Boccherini. This performance adds a modern twist to the program, offering innovative perspectives on these pieces while still preserving tradition.
The Early Music Series offers several opportunities to listen to the works of the past. And as Rosenberg points out, where you hear these works can matter as much as what you hear.
“It is especially important to present this music in an acoustic setting that brings it to life,” he said. “Today, in the pop world,
we rely a lot on amplification. In earlier centuries, natural acoustics provided that amplification. In a space with stone walls, the sound resonates and vibrates throughout the room, creating something very special.”
Other performances in the series include:
• Wind in the Wood: Recorder Music from Naples to Colonial Charleston, May 24 and May 30
• The Music of Franz Joseph Haydn, May 26 and June 1
• Echoes of the Chappelle Royale with Spartina Consort, May 27
• Mozart: A Little Night Music with Charleston Baroque, May 29 and June 5.
IF YOU WANT TO GO: The Piccolo Spoleto Early Music Series runs May 22-June 7. All concerts begin at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 89 Hasell St., and last roughly one hour. Admission: $30.
Cristina Reid is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
23, 30 & JUNE 6 AT 2pm Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. Charleston
SUNDAY, MAY 24
AT 4pm
“Oh Happy Day” Gospel Music featuring the Bright Family Singers & Ensemble
SUNDAY, MAY 31 AT 2pm
“Gershwin & Jazz” with John Tecklenburg and Mark Sterbank, “Porgy and Bess” stars Diamond Tyler and Ramelle Brooks, and “Rhapsody in Blue”
CHAMBER MUSIC CHARLESTON
presenting exceptional chamber music in Charleston since 2006
Experience year-round performances by today’s leading classical musicians. Now through June 8, enjoy 20% off all Ovation and Salon Series tickets purchased online. Use code SPOLETO at checkout to take advantage of this limited-time offer!
Brannnon Cho joins CMC for Schubert’s Cello Quintet at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Dvořák and Fauré with Lun Li at the Dock Street Theatre
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Loeffler’s Octet with Stella Chen at St. Matthew’s Lutheran
The Viano Quartet plays Mendelssohn & Haydn at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
LANG LANG
“The hottest artist on the classical music planet.”
-The New York Times
For one night only, the Charleston Symphony welcomes international superstar Lang Lang for a can’t-miss-all-Beethoven program. Secure your seats before they’re gone!
charlestonsymphony.org/event/langlang
MAY 19 AT 11AM
WITH THE CSO
Monday, September 28
7:30pm | Gaillard Center
