Category Archives: Performing Arts

Beth Henley presents The Miss Firecracker Contest, the story of a small Mississippi town’s big annual extravaganza, the 4th of July festival and beauty pageant. The main character, Carnelle Scott, is spending most of her time practicing her tap routine for the pageant. She has high hopes of restoring her reputation. Her plans get complicated when a strange yet funny cast of characters enters the plot. From her visiting cousin, to a seamstress named Popeye.

There is an explosion of glittery laughter throughout this performance. This is sure to be a show that provides entertainment from start to finish. Make sure to catch a live show, at Theatre Charlotte in Charlotte Midtown.

Dates: Jan 24 – Feb 9
Time: Varies See Below
Price: $25 – $27
Tickets: Buy Here
Official Site: http://theatrecharlotte.org/1314missfirecracker.shtml
Suggested for Teens and Above

Performance Schedule

Friday, January 24 at 8pm
Saturday, January 25 at 8pm
Sunday, January 26 at 2:30pm

Thursday, January 30 at 7:30pm
Friday, January 31 at 8pm
Saturday, February 1 at 8pm
Sunday, February 2 at 2:30pm

Wednesday, February 5 at 7:30pm
Thursday, February 6 at 7:30pm
Friday, February 7 at 8pm
Saturday, February 8 at 8pm
Sunday, February 9 at 2:30pm

Busking, what’s that? It is a performance or skill done on the street in return for gratuities, usually cash. Busking is not new, it dates back to antiquity. We have all seen street performers before; someone painted solid white from head to toe, a late night serenade by acoustic guitar, or balloon contortionist. You can find a busker in most major metropolitan areas. These performers will provide timely entertainment for laughs, claps, and most importantly tips.

If you have yet to encounter a busker, then you are in luck, Buskapalooza III The Street Performance Festival is happening in Uptown Charlotte on May 17th. Come out to Trade and Tryon streets in the evening from 5pm – 9pm, to enjoy the best of the Queen’s City buskers. There will be Dance, Music, Performing Arts, and Visual Art.

If you have the desire to learn more about Busking, there is a film premier that you can attend: BUSK! The Documentary. This showing is happening at the McGlohon Theater; tickets are $5. The film runs around 42 minutes, and after the feature there will be a Q&A session with the director, April Denee, and two buskers.

If you want to take your busk information and try busking for yourself, they have provided a full busking guide with permit info, helpful advice, and popular busking locations: Busking Guide.

Busking Events

Buskapalooza Street Performance Festival III
When: Friday, May 17th, 5-9pm
Where: Uptown Charlotte, starting at Trade & Tryon
Price: FREE (but please tip your favorite buskers)
Schedule: http://buskmovie.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/3_event-program.jpg

BUSK! The Documentary Premiere
When: Sunday, May 19th, 4pm
Where: McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College Street, Charlotte, NC
Price: $5 (buy tickets)

More busking information.

After the Valentine’s dinner, and activity rush, how are you spending the remainder of your February? A great way to spend an evening – at the theater. There are several local performances happening this Feb. that will leave you feeling greatly entertained, without severely denting your wallet. The Actor’s Theater of Charlotte is located snugly in between Midtown and Uptown Charlotte, on Stonewall. the ATC has a rich history in Charlotte dating back to 1989 beginning with only two employees performing plays written by North Carolina natives. As its popularity began to grow it moved from the Spirit Square only seating 70 plus, to it now home on Stonewall seating for 199 and housing its administrative and production studios. There have been countless accolades for the productions and performances over the years for the ATC.

The play currently being staged for the remainder of February is The Whipping Man, a winner of the 2011 John Gassner Playwriting Award. This play showcases the power of loyalty when a confederate soldier returns home to find his family missing, and two former slaves still on the premises. Not knowing the proper behavior since the signing of the emancipation, watching the interactions between the men proves intriguing.

The Whipping Man
When: Feb. 20th – March 9th
Tickets: $26 – $31 – buy tickets
The Actor’s Theater of Charlotte
650 E. Stonewall St.
Charlotte NC 28202

Theater has free parking – yay!