Introducing Blumenthal Teen Actor's Lab!

The school year looks a little different this year and Blumenthal Performing Arts wants to ensure that children have access to all of the opportunities they need to learn and socialize. 

The Spirit Square campus will open exclusively for 6th - 12th-grade students this fall with independent workspaces for the virtual school day and theater-centric activities during breaks. Teens will retain the social in “social distancing” while having the opportunity to participate in professionally led intensive workshops in acting, movement and technical theater. Wi-fi access is provided. 

Public health and safety guidelines will be strictly enforced to create an appropriate environment for students to gather distantly and safely.

Registration, tuition information and a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions can be found here. 

Friday, August 14

Kick start your weekend with us at Sounds on the Square at Spirit Square!

Tonight at 7 PM, comedian Tara Brown will open the show, followed by music from Emanuel Wynter!

This FREE, outdoor event will have socially distanced seating for the first 25 guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Face masks will be required per state mandate. We will also share a live stream on our Facebook page!

For more info, click here.

There are still a few spots available for "A Blumey Awards Reunion: Celebrating Past and Present Stars" this Saturday and Sunday at 7pm at The Square at Spirit Square!

This free, outdoor event will have reserved, socially distanced seating for groups of up to 4. Maximum occupancy will be based on current state guidelines and face masks will be required.

A live stream will also be shared on our Facebook page!

For more information, click here. 

ICYMI: Aubrey Young, our Sew for the Show grand prize winner (adult category), stopped by QC Mornings yesterday morning to chat about her Bring Back Broadway-themed mask. Check it out!

While we are bummed Charlotte SHOUT! is postponed until September 2021, it doesn’t mean we can't still celebrate Charlotte's amazing talent! 

“Up Above My Head” is a new piece featuring lyrics from our friend and spoken word artist, Bluz, with track and vocals from DJ Fannie Mae. Check it out!

For those who weren't able to join us last Friday for Sounds on the Square at Spirit Square with Comedian Burpie and YDMBSM and Courtney J (or want to relive it), check out the live stream feed below!

Sounds on the Square featuring YDMBSM and Courtney J with Special Guest Burpie from Blumenthal Performing Arts on Vimeo.

We'll be back #AtTheSquare this Friday (8/14) at 7 PM with comedian Tara Brown and music from Emanuel Wynter. For more info, click here. 

Blumenthal Performing Arts is participating in an international study on how COVID-19 is impacting audiences, called Audience Outlook Monitor.

Arts and culture leaders around the world are faced with a series of challenging decisions about how and when to reopen their doors and restart programs. Understanding how the public feels is important to that process.

We’ll be emailing another confidential survey to patrons later this week. If you see it pop-up in your inbox, we’d really appreciate your feedback! It’s not long, and your opinions can help us to be safe and smart in how we reopen. Thank you for your continued support! 

Ask Congress NOW to Save Charlotte’s Stages!

We need your help to keep theater, music and dance alive in Charlotte. Add your voice to this national effort asking Congress for relief to independent live performance venues like Blumenthal, Neighborhood Theater, Evening Muse, and thousands of others who have been forced to close.

Some of our city’s beloved theaters and concert halls may NEVER re-open without this support. Time is short to speak out. We’ve made it quick and easy using this link --> https://www.nivassoc.org/take-action

Tuesday, August 4

Announcing Contactless Mobile Tickets!

In an effort to increase safety and convenience for our patrons, CarolinaTix, the ticketing service operated by Blumenthal Performing Arts, will move exclusively to mobile tickets, effective Aug. 4, 2020. 

Shifting to mobile-only tickets will enhance your Blumenthal experience by providing a truly contactless and eco-conscious way to enter all of our theaters safely and efficiently, while also reducing the risk of lost, stolen or counterfeit tickets.

Contactless Mobile Tickets will be the only delivery option for both season and single tickets and will apply whether tickets are purchased online or by phone. More information and instructions for downloading mobile tickets can be found here. 

As we prepare for the eventual reopening of our theaters, adopting mobile-only tickets is one of the many ways we plan to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all of our patrons. We are continually grateful for your patience and support, and we look forward to seeing you again!

Can a no-mask, no-risk communal space get live theater back before the pandemic ends?

Brendan Bradley’s FutureStages is a game-changing space to produce theater and reinvigorate audiences and performers alike. Using a VR headset or a computer web browser, attendees can choose or design an avatar before walking through the front doors into the lobby. Attendees can then visit the box office or the merchandise booth, pick up a program and walk into the theater to a seat. Because this is VR, attendees can walk up to anyone in these spaces and say hello, as you would in any theater lobby. 

What do you think? Click here for a virtual walkthrough and check out the video below! 

BrendanBradley_FutureStages from JigsawEnsemble on Vimeo.

Sounds on the Square is back TONIGHT to highlight the best comedians and musicians in the Charlotte area! Featuring clean comedy from Burpie to open the show and music from YDMBSM and Courtney J, this free outdoor event at The Square at Spirit Square will have socially distanced seating for the first 25 guests on a first come, first served basis. Face masks will be required per state mandate and concessions will not be available. A live stream of these events will also be shared on our Facebook page!

What’s stopping Charlotte from being ‘The Next Music Hub?’ 

Our friends over at WFAE's Amplifier Podcast recently sat down with Jermaine Spencer, head of operations at BNR Records, founder of The Platform Music + Culture Series and owner of J. Spencer Agency, who shared his solution. 

Click below to take a listen!

Be sure to tune in for the premiere of #WhileWeBreathe , streaming live on YouTube tonight at 9 PM!

The evening brings together writers, directors, performers, editors, composers, sound designers, and more from both stage and screen, and will feature world premiere short works, written and produced in response to this crux moment in American history.

Check out the powerful trailer below!

What might safely reopening theaters look like? Last week, Andrew Lloyd Webber held a trial run at one of his theaters in the UK. Their strategy is inspired by what presenters in South Korea have in place, where big shows continue to play. Do you think American audiences would be willing to respect a mask requirement to get back to the theater? Click here to weigh in over on our Facebook page. 

Calling all fellow Ozians! Here's a new project for you....

(Jason Estrada, mask designer and challenge judge)

Create your own WICKED-themed mask for a chance to win two tickets to opening night of the Broadway sensation on Wednesday, December 9 at Ovens Auditorium! 

Will your mask be the most popular? Click here for more information and to submit your design!

Entries will be accepted through end of day Sunday, August 2. 

 La vie Bohème!

Original RENT stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp reunited yesterday for a fun interview on Stars in the House with SiriusXM host Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley. The latter duo created the daily live stream series to support The Actors Fund. Check it out!

Whether you’ve never seen RENT or have completely lost count, you can’t miss it when the 25^th Anniversary “Farewell Season of Love” heads to Ovens Auditorium April 13-18, 2021. Click here for more information!

Get in losers, we're wearing and making masks!

Don't forget to submit your Mean Girls-themed mask for our Sew for the Show: Mask Design Challenge by end of day THIS Sunday for a chance to win a pair of tickets to opening night at Belk Theater on Tuesday, July 6, 2021!

Click here for more information and to submit your design. 

Wednesday, July 22

The Prince is giving a ball!

The 2013 Broadway cast from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is reuniting this Thursday, July 23 at 12PM! This exclusive reunion is happening in advance of a live viewing party this Friday, July 24 of the original 1957 film starring Julie Andrews. The film will be available to stream for free on Youtube beginning at 8PM Friday night and will be available for 48 hours.

From Beetlejuice and Ursula to Papa Ge and Inspector Javert, Playbill.com highlights 17 of our favorite Broadway villains! Let's Be Bad: Check Out 17 of Our Favorite Broadway Villains

The second mask theme for our Sew for the Show: Mask Design Challenge is...

(Paula Garofalo, mask artist and Sew for the Show judge)

Keep secrets in and germs out by creating your own Mean Girls-themed mask! The winning design will receive two tickets to opening night of the ferociously funny musical on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at Belk Theater. 

Entries will be accepted through end of the day Sunday, July 26. 

Visit BlumenthalArts.org/SewForTheShow for more information!

Looking to shake up your Friday night? 

SlamCharlotte is back with another Poetry Slam at The Square at Spirit Square tonight at 6:30 PM!

This is a free, outdoor event. Space for this event is limited to 25 people at a time on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions will not be available. Social distancing procedures will be in place and face masks are required per state mandate.

You can also watch the show virtually! A live stream will be shared on Blumenthal's Facebook page.

Blumenthal Performing Arts' monthly Poetry Slams are hosted by SlamCharlotte, Charlotte’s own two-time national championship team of spoken word poetry (2007 & 2008). SlamCharlotte strives to promote poetic growth, performance enhancement and increased camaraderie among the poets and the community through the monthly slam competitions. SlamCharlotte’s current Slammaster, Bluz, is the 13th ranked individual poet in the world.

ICYMI: Music supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire stopped by Playbill's The Broadway Q&A yesterday. The three-time Tony-winner answered questions about creating Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, In the Heights and more during the hour-long chat. Check it out!

There's still time to view Be The Change: A Virtual Benefit Concert for Campaign Zero and NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg!

We hope you enjoy these inspiring performances, exploring the issues of race and social justice through music, dance and spoken word.

Donations are still being gratefully accepted! If you're able to give, visit: BlumenthalArts.org/BTCDonate

We were so excited to join QC Morning yesterday to chat about the launch of our Sew For The Show: Mask Design Challenge!

ICYMI: here's the clip featuring the big announcement of this week's theme...Charlie And The Chocolate Factory! Can't wait to see your creations!

Drumroll, please...

We are thrilled to announce the first mask theme for our Sew For The Show: Mask Design Challenge is…

(Emily Harris, daughter of challenge judge and mask artist Angela Davis)

 
Put your “Pure Imagination” to work and create your own Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed mask for the chance to win two GOLDEN TICKETS to opening night of Roald Dahl's wondrous tale on May 21, 2021 at  Ovens Auditorium!

Entries will be accepted through end of the day Sunday, July 19. 

To submit your design, see more photos of Emily's amazing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory mask and watch how-to videos from our judges, click HERE.  

Tune-in alert!

Join us TONIGHT at 6 PM for Be The Change, a virtual benefit show for Campaign Zero and NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Recorded live from historic McGlohon Theater and organized by Blumenthal’s own Chelsea Karpeh, this inspiring evening will explore the issues of race and social justice through music, dance and spoken word.

Be The Change will premiere on Blumenthal’s YouTube channel, with donations gratefully accepted before and during the event at BlumenthalArts.org/BTCdonate. 100% of the funds raised will be equally distributed between Campaign Zero and NAACP CLT-MECK. If you would like to donate a specific amount not listed on the donation page, please call (704) 412-5526. 

Today is going to be a good day and here's why:

Ahead of Dear Evan Hansen's  first West End preview, the new Evan Hansen Sam Tutty performed "For Forever" alongside stars from the North American production. Check it out!

We love a virtual fashion show! A few members of our Blumenthal staff were asked about their favorite masks and why they think it's important to wear one when they're out and about. Click the image below to check it out! 

We’re thrilled to announce our “Sew For The Show: Mask Design Challenge” – a four-week, Broadway-themed face mask making competition officially launching NEXT WEEK (July 13)!

Each Monday throughout the challenge, we will announce which Broadway show on our upcoming season will inspire that week’s mask theme. Participants will have until end of day the following Sunday to design, create and submit a photo of their show-themed mask.

All ages are welcome to enter, and participation is free. Participants 12 years of age and under will be entered into the Sew for the Show: Young Designers Mask Challenge.

Each week’s winner from both age brackets will receive (2) complimentary tickets to opening night of the featured Broadway show. The grand prize winner will receive opening night tickets to ALL THREE featured shows!

Best of luck to all the participants!

Local costume designer/guest judge Angela Harris and her daughter Emily (a TWO-time Blumey Award winner) put together an excellent tutorial on how to make a base mask using repurposed items you have at home. Check it out!

ICYMI: The cast of Ain't Too Proud performed an incredible medley of "Get Ready" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" on CNN's "Fourth in America" this past Saturday. Click below to check it out!

And GET READY for the Queen City debut of Ain't Too Proud at Belk Theater next spring! 

Friday, July 3

We'd like to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy Fourth of July weekend! Our Box Office/Call Center will be open for regular business hours today (10am - 6pm) and closed Saturday, July 4. Online sales will remain available 24/7.

Thursday, July 2

Here at Blumenthal Performing Arts, we are committed to uplifting local performing artists and arts groups in Charlotte by creating space and providing a platform to help promote and advance their mission and programs. 

We are proud to support our local arts community and hope you will join us!

To learn more about each organization and artist featured in the video below, as well as the impact they make on our community, visit: BlumenthalArts.org/LocalArts

Blumenthal Supports and Celebrates Local Arts and Artists! from Blumenthal Performing Arts on Vimeo.

Talk about a reunion!

The Tony Award-winning, Olivier Award-winning, Grammy Award-winning legendary broadway show Kinky Boots brought together cast members from all over the world for an at-home music video of its finale anthem "Raise You Up."

Produced by orchestrator Stephen Oremus and music director Brian Usifer, the epic video features original cast members Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford, as well as creative team members Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Mitchell and superstar replacements Wayne Brady, Jake Shears, David Cook and Kirstin Maldanado.

Enjoy!

ICYMI: A few familiar Broadway faces including Patti LuPone, Darren Criss, Orfeh, Andy Karl and more came together to sing 'The Rainbow Connection' during the Soundtrack Of Our Lives: A Celebration For The Film & TV Music Community special. Check out the heartwarming performance below!

Meet Vickie Perras, our amazing Head of Wardrobe at Belk Theater!

We recently caught up with Vickie while she was hard at work making HUNDREDS of masks for our ushers and backstage crew in preparation for our eventual reopening. Check it out!

Mask Making at Belk Theater from Blumenthal Performing Arts on Vimeo.

Our friends at The Biscuit are back with another episode of SHOUTing from the Rooftops. This week, check out Henry Roe's incredible cover of "Forever On Your Side" recorded live in Charlotte from his family's front yard!

You can read with us!

Throughout the summer, the team over at Mean Girls will be selecting a novel or nonfiction book that focuses on the ongoing fight for racial injustice in America. They're kicking it off with the engrossing Angie Thomas novel, “The Hate U Give.” Learn more about the series and RSVP for the July 1 book discussion by clicking here. 

File this under "things we love." 🐈

Over 300 CATS cast members from numerous productions, including the original Broadway and London casts, reunited for a special tribute to choreographer Gillian Lynne. Check it out!

Last Friday we were honored to host SlamCharlotte  for a Poetry Slam and Juneteenth Celebration Open Mic! This was our first venture "back" to the world of live performances and we could not have had more fun.

In case you didn't get to attend or stream the show online, check out some of our favorite shots Daniel Coston captured for us. 

It's getting closer! Check out the latest trailer for Hamilton, coming to Disney+ on July 3. 

The production was filmed at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre in June 2016 and will feature original stars Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, and Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, along with Tony nominees Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, and Jonathan Groff as King George.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the curtain? You're in luck! Today we are taking you on a backstage tour of our beautiful Belk Theater. Enjoy!

Our eyes adore this Jersey Boys-inspired dance from the healthcare workers at Van Dyk Health Care. Check it out! 

We truly appreciate all of your support as we continue to work on plans to welcome you back to the theater!

Blumenthal Performing Arts President Tom Gabbard recently sat down with us to provide some insight into what changes are happening in the global theater scene. Check it out!

Happy PRIDE Month, Charlotte! 🌈 🏳️‍🌈

For more information on special online events and programs, visit: charlottepride.org

And don't miss Playbill's Pride Spectacular concert on June 28! Streaming on Playbill.com/prideplays, this one-night-only event will feature iconic musical numbers highlighting LGBTQIA+ stories in musical theatre sung by members of the Broadway LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.

Check out the latest issue of our SPARK Magazine!

Inside, you will find an in-depth look at how Blumenthal continues to serve the community throughout the COVID-19 crisis, a standing ovation to our health care heroes, a tribute to our newly retired, beloved Education Director Ralph Beck, and so much more. Click here to access the digital version of SPARK Magazine.

Happy reading!

Last night, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  showcased the unifying, uplifting and transcendent power of dance with its first-ever Ailey Spirit Virtual Benefit: Still, We Dance.

The spectacular virtual performance featured Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, The Ailey School, AileyCamp and special guests: Angela Bassett, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Tim Shriver, Bryan Stevenson and Lorraine Toussaint. Check it out!

Looking for a little fun? Actors, singers, dancers and musicians from Hairspray on Broadway, Hollywood Bowl, London, the original 1988 movie, the 2007 remake and the 2016 NBC live rendition came together to perform the musical's feel-good finale. Check it out!

ICYMI: 17 local artists came together yesterday to create a beautiful Black Lives Matter mural on Tryon Street. In collaboration with the City of Charlotte, Charlotte is Creative, Brand the Moth and BLKMRKTCLT, these artists worked all day to finish the massive project.

Check out the video below from our friends at CharlotteFive!

MEET THE ARTISTS

• Dammit Wesley
• Dakotah Aiyanna
• Matthew Clayburn
• Abel Jackson
• Garrison Gist
• Owl & Arko
• Kyle Mosher
• Franklin Kernes
• Kiana Mui
• Marcus Kiser
• Georgie Nakima
• Zach McLean
• Frankie Zombie
• CHD:WCK!
• John Hairston
• Dari Calamari

In anticipation of Charlotte SHOUT! later this fall, our friends at The Biscuit asked Charlotte musicians to film themselves performing songs within earshot of the neighbors. In this edition of “SHOUTing from the Rooftops,” guitarist John Coxayk serenaded his neighborhood in Spanish from his front stoop.

"To every single creative spirit living in Charlotte, remember that even though our bodies are confined to a physical space for the time being, the art you create is and will ever be global and it transcends borders. The work that create today will inspire future artists and even now, your own fellow creators." - John Coxayk

COVID-19 has shuttered stages and postponed what would have been the 74^th annual Tony Awards last night, but there are some Broadway traditions that can’t be turned off.

CBS Sunday Morning talked with Hadestown star Andre De Shields, Tony-winner Bernadette Peters, producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper, and Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, the couple behind the "Stars in the House" web series, about how artists are coping with the shutdown by turning to a whole new stage. 

The cast of Ain't Too Proud on Broadway reunited for a special tribute to the fight to end racial injustice.  Check out the full cast and band performing a beautiful rendition of The Temptations classic, "I Wish It Would Rain" below. 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is sharing recordings of their renowned dance troupe online for the public to watch for free. Starting today through June 11, viewers can use Ailey All Access to stream "Lincoln Center at the Movies," a performance recorded in 2015 that includes Ailey's paramount work, Revelations. 

Whether you've seen Revelations performed on the Belk Theater stage or if this virtual experience will be your first, it is undoubtedly a beautiful piece. Read the troupe's description and history of the piece below.

Using African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Alvin Ailey’s Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul.

More than just a popular dance work, it has become a cultural treasure, beloved by generations of fans. Seeing Revelations for the first time or the hundredth can be a transcendent experience, with audiences cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats from the opening notes of the plaintive “I Been ’Buked” to the rousing “Wade in the Water” and the triumphant finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.”

Ailey said that one of America’s richest treasures was the African-American cultural heritage—“sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful.” This enduring classic is a tribute to that tradition, born out of the choreographer’s “blood memories” of his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church. But since its premiere in 1960, the ballet has been performed continuously around the globe, transcending barriers of faith and nationality, and appealing to universal emotions, making it the most widely-seen modern dance work in the world.

Learn more.

Our friends at Levine Museum of the New South are hosting a virtual conversation called "What Is It Going to Take?" tomorrow, Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. EST to discuss the history behind our present moment and what we can do to recognize and help uplift black voices and lives in the community. 

The panel features Bank of America's Global Technology & Operations Chief Operating Officer Kieth Cockrell, African-American History & U.S. History Assistant Professor Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, Chief Consumer Officer & Executive Vice President at Novant Health Jesse Cureton, and At-Large City Council member and Levine Museum of the New South's Community Engagement Manager Braxton Winston.

Kama Pierce, Chief Operating Officer at Levine Museum of the New South, will moderate the conversation, which will be live streamed on Facebook for the public. Learn more here.

During these painful times, we encourage you to join us in attending an important conversation addressing the impacts of recent injustices on the black community with our friends at The Harvey B. Gantt Center on June 3 at 6 p.m. 

Hosted by Q City Metro's Glenn Burkins, Unmasked: "We Can't Breathe"  will include conversations with former South Carolina State Representative and current CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers, U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and Image Activist Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr.

Click the image below to register for this must-see discussion. Registration is free. 

Friday, May 29

Check out Lin-Manuel Miranda and more in the trailer for We Are Freestyle Love Supreme! The documentary - filmed over the last 15 years - arrives on Hulu June 5. 

Freestyle Love Supreme takes over Knight Theater May 18-23, 2021 as part of our Broadway EXTRAS!

Hey little songbirds...Check out this devilishly good tune from the cast of Hadestown! Plus, stay tuned on our socials for a BIG announcement later today. 

Wednesday, May 27

Are you missing concerts as much as us? Get your fix with Porch Vibes Spring Fest. Hosted by our friends at CLTure, the free digital festival last weekend showcased Charlotte musicians along with food and beverage demos, short films and more. The event donated $2500 to Frontline Foods Charlotte on behalf of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and 100% of the funds raised went directly to the participating musicians and artists negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

Sunday, May 24

If you're interested in donating to support the musicians and artists, click here. 

Tuesday, May 26

Yesterday afternoon, Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard hopped on a call with RDU on Stage to chat about his own personal experience with COVID-19, what reopening could look like for touring markets and what type of safety precautions we might be able to learn from South Korea. Check out the informative and hopeful interview below! 

Monday, May 25

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the heroes who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice. 

ICYMI: Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise hosted a special presentation of PBS' National Memorial Day Concert: America's Night of Remembrance with performances by Cynthia Erivo, Kelli O'Hara, Christopher Jackson and more. Watch the full broadcast below. 

Here's a fun game for all you musical theater lovers! Guess the new "ruined" titles of shows using these VERY creative Playbill clues!

Share your #ChangeALetterRuinAMusical ideas in the comments over on our Facebook!

Everything will be alright!

The National Tour cast of Falsettos reunited to perform "A Day in Falsettoland" with a special appearance by Chip Zien, who originated the role of Mendel in the original 1992 Broadway production. Check it out!

Friday, May 22

Back by popular demand, we're excited to debut a NEW Broadway-themed workout, featuring songs in the shows coming up in our new Equitable Bravo Series!

Have fun getting your Bravo Burn on and be sure to get the Spotify playlist to accompany your workout! BlumenthalArts.org/BravoBurn. 

Need a good laugh? Our friends Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables with the What Fresh Hell podcast are back with another all-too-relatable video for our quarantine parents out there. Check it out!

Our friends at Tosco Music recently partnered with Charlotte Center City Partners’ Music Everywhere CLT and the Fair Play Music Initiative to launch a FREE virtual Tosco Music Party.⁣⁣ The hour-long event has already raised over $20,000 (!!) in funds for the Charlotte Music Community COVID-19 Relief Fund. 

You can watch the first Virtual Tosco Music Party below, as well as John Tosco's interview with Charlotte is Creative where he talks about how it all came together. 

We sure do look forward to when we can host a jubilant Tosco Music Party in our Knight Theater again!

Tuesday, May 19

Attention Phantom Phans!

ICYMI: The Phantom Worldwide company brought The Phantom of the Opera home for all of its fans with a very special performance of ‘Masquerade’. Enjoy!

Sunday, May 17

New Adventures productions, in your home. 

We are so excited to share that for the first time, four award-winning titles from New Adventures — Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Car Man and Cinderella —have become available to rent and purchase for digital download online. As an added bonus, you can get a 20% discount on your purchases by signing up for the New Adventures mailing list! Head to their website for more information: new-adventures.net/reel-adventures#on-the-small-screen

Saturday, May 16

"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise!"

Check out “Bringing It Home” from our friends at Les Miserables! This specially created featurette includes footage of the stars at their homes talking about their experiences with this incredible show plus never before seen backstage footage!

Enjoy

Hey all you cool cats and kittens...

ICYMI: Blumenthal's Season Ticket Marketing Manager Kitty Janvrin joined QC Mornings yesterday to chat about all things National Geographic Live. This popular series gives a unique look into the natural world with thought-provoking presentations by today's leading explorers, scientists and photographers. Check out her interview below then click here for more info!

"Hello, how ya been?"

Sketch artist Laura Bonacci recently shared her INCREDIBLE custom illustrations of scenes from Hadestown, A Strange Loop, Falsettos, and more with Playbill. We love how Bonacci captures the unique spirit of Broadway through her art. You can check out a few of our favorites below!

Dear Evan Hansen (Laura Bonacci)

Oklahoma! (Laura Bonacci)

Hadestown's Persiphone (Laura Bonacci)

Browse more of her showstopping artwork HERE.

• Last week, rising opera star Melinda Whittington joined our friends at WFAE for the latest installment of Songversations with Joni Deutsch. We are absolutely loving this new video series that features live music and interviews with Charlotte musicians from the comfort of home. Check it out!

• Do we have any Ben Platt fans in the house? Check out the newly released trailer for the Dear Evan Hansen Tony winner and The Politician star's Radio City Music Hall concert on Netflix!  The must-see special will begin streaming on May 20. 

• Last night, ABC aired Volume II of "The Disney Family Singalong" and we've added two of our favorite clips below! Watch Disney on Broadway stars sing "You'll Be In My Heart," and then Idina Menzel and Ben Platt give us a whole new version of "A Whole New World."

• Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, grandmothers and maternal figures out there! Today, the Broadway community is coming together to give everyone the Mother's Day matinee we all need! Join Broadway stars, their children, and their mothers for a celebratory explosion of musical numbers, comedy, special guests, and lots of surprises. Visit THIS LINK to stream the special at 3 PM ET.
• Check out this blog post highlighting the strong and powerful mothers featured in the Broadway shows coming to Charlotte next season.

• A Blumey Awards Salute is coming soon! Tune in to PBS Charlotte on Tuesday, May 12 at 8 p.m. to help us celebrate the local students who were set to perform in high schoool musicals around the region. In the meantime, we challenged theater teachers and musical directors to take on the #ILoveMyCast challenge. Check out the videos of encouragement and gratitude below.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blumenthal Performing Arts made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s high school musical theater awards ceremony, originally scheduled for May 18 at Belk Theater. Sponsored by Wells Fargo, “A Blumey Awards Salute: Performances From Yesterday & Today” will feature performances from past Blumey Awards ceremonies and videos from students who would have been part of this year’s awards.

• Several original and longtime RENT cast members performed a special virtual version of "Finale B" to honor frontline workers. We dare you to watch this without smiling and/or crying!

RENT returns to Charlotte next year as part of our all-new Equitable Bravo Series. Click here for more info.

• Have an old playbill lying around? Try upcycling it into a beautiful paper flower! Click below to follow Sasha Pensanti of Broadway Crafts as she shows us the step-by-step process.

Wednesday, May 6

• Carole King, yes THAT Carole, took to her Facebook page to encourage us all and give us a live snippet of "So Far Away," which seems very fitting right now.

• Chris Mann, who you might remember as "Phantom" in the most recent production of The Phantom of the Opera to come through Charlotte, has created a few parodies to help us all get through the quarantine. Check them out below!

"Daycare Closed"

"Hello (from the Inside)"
 

• What if you wondered into your AP U.S. History class one day and discovered that Tony Award winner and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda was your substitute teacher? You're about to find out what that'd be like!  Watch below as he talks about using history and specific research methods to build the blockbuster Hamilton.

• The National Theatre's next full-length production is now streaming for a limited time. Check out Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller in a stage adaptation of Frankenstein. This filmed performance is recommended for ages 12 and up.

• "Stars in the House," a daily live-streamed series to support The Actors Fund and its services, was created and is hosted by SiriusXM host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley. They've had some amazing guest stars from Broadway to film to TV, including several virtual reunions of cast members from iconic TV shows. A few of those reunions are below. You can browse clips and full episodes of "Stars in the House" HERE.

Glee

This is Us

Melrose Place
 

Frasier

 

• Les Misérables fans are in for a treat today! Actors from mulitple companies of this fan-favorite musical have joined together to perform a virtual version of the showstopper "One Day More."

• Our festival stages have featured some of the best talent Charlotte has to offer, including Chócala, a Charlotte-based Latin band who recently performed an hour-long show for Music at the Mansion, a special concert series celebrating North Carolina’s vibrant and diverse musical traditions hosted by First Lady Kristin Cooper. You can check out their full performance below.

The internet is currently raving about two star-studded collaborations that happened recently!

• Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of "Annie" on Broadway, leads a version of "Tomorrow" with famous friends like Sarah Jessica Parker, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Molly Ringwald, Ana Gasteyer and more!

• Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald and Meryl Streep joined forces to perform "The Ladies Who Lunch" for the 90th Birthday Celebration for Stephen Sondheim. Check out the clip below or watch the full program HERE.

• To thank all of the frontline workers who are the superheroes in our current situation, Wicked has released a special version of "For Good." Grab the tissues.

Wicked is playing Ovens Auditorium this fall and tickets are available now with our new Equitable Bravo Series. Click here for more info.

• In case you missed it, we debuted the first-ever Q&A with BPA this week. WBTV's Kristen Miranda interviewed Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard and asked him questions submitted by our fans. Check it out below to learn more about how we build our Broadway season, the shows we're bringing next season and some really cool subscriber perks.

• The next performance is now available to stream on The Shows Must Go On! Check out Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. Set 10 years later, the Phantom has escaped from Paris to New York where he lives amongst the joy rides and freak shows of Coney Island. The show can be streamed now through Sunday at 2 PM ET.

• BRAVO to the incredibly talented cast of South Pointe High School's production of Mamma Mia! They were set to participate in our yearly Blumey Awards wiith this production. Here's a message from the school: "Three days before our opening of Mamma Mia, our schools were closed due to COVID-19. But this has not deterred our spirit! It has only delayed our opening (Yes! we will still perform just as soon as our doors are open!). In the meantime, we put together our favorite group number from the bows to share with all of you!"

• Extra, extra! Stay tuned for an exciting Blumey Awards announcement very soon...

• Our friends at WFAE and Amplifier podcast host Joni Deutsch have launched a new video series called Songversations, featuring live music and interviews with Charlotte musicians from the comfort of home. They'll be presented live on the WFAE Facebook page Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. Check out the latest episode featuring Brit Dozda below.

• The National Theatre has made a recent stage production of Treasure Island available for free! A little bit about the show: "It's a dark and stormy night. The stars are out. Jim, the inn-keeper's granddaughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the old sailor's feet sits a huge sea-chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in – and her dangerous voyage begins." It's perfect for famiiles with children 10 and up!

• Our friends at Charlotte Ballet have launched @Home with Charlotte Ballet to bring full-length performances into your home. The second installment, the digital premiere of Essence in Numbers by Sarah Hayes Harkins, is below.

• Bonus content! Always wanted to perfect the ballet bun? Let Charlotte Ballet Academy dancer Sabriyya Dean teach you!

For more awesome content from Charlotte Ballet, be sure follow them on Facebook.

• In case you missed it, the Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway concert was live streamed last night and you can stiill watch it below! Featured performers include Adam Pascal, Christian Borle, Sherie Rene Scott, Krysta Rodriguez, Gavin Creel and more.

• Attention Jazz fans! Our friends at Jazz at Lincoln Center recently streamed a musical event called the "Worldwide Concert for Our Culture," their online gala with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and special performances by Baqir Abbas, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Chano Dominguez, Dianne Reeves, WDR Big Band and more. Get your live jazz fix with the video below.

Always dreamed of being a Broadway dancer? Your wish is granted!

• The Broadway cast of Disney's Aladdin is here to teach you a little "Arabian Nights" choreoography.

• Looking for the perfect at home workout while learning some classic Broadway choreo? Try these cardio dance workouts by Joseph Corella set to songs from Mean Girls!

Mean Girls comes to the Queen City in the 2020-2021 Broadway season as part of our PNC Broadway Lights Series. Click here to explore all the shows you have to look forward to next season.

The cast of Ain't Too Proud is here to brighten your hump day! We're thrilled to be bringing this hit show to Charlotte and we can't wait for its Belk Theater debut April 27-May 2, 2021.

Ain't Too Proud comes to the Queen City in the 2020-2021 Broadway season as part of our PNC Broadway Lights Series. Click here to explore all the shows you have to look forward to next season.

Today's the day of the crooners!

• In case you missed it, Andrea Bocelli performed a special virtual Easter concert live at the Duomo di Milano in Italy. Check it out below.

• Josh Groban has launched a new series called #ShowerSongs in which he brings messages of hope and special performances from, you guessed it, his shower! Check out his perfromance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the second episode.

• Harry Connick Jr. launched a special web series called "Hunker Down with Harry" in which he has special guests, shares his favorite viral videos of the moment and even sings! Check out one of the episodes below.

Our friends at the Charlotte Symphony have launched #CSOatHome to offer up past CSO performances, listening guides, educational materials, and more. We encourgae you to head over and explore their page. In the meantime, check out CSO Principal Second Violinist performing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to brighten your day!

Happy streaming! We've compiled a list of excellent streaming options for your Holiday weekend.

• The next musical on Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Shows Must Go On! YouTube channel is now streaming for a limited time. Check out Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Tim Minchin, Mel C and more!

• London's National Theatre is streaming a different production each week in a series called National Theatre at Home. This week, they're featuring an adaptation of the classic Jane Eyre. *There is some strong language.

• In celebration of Passover, a long list of Broadway stars are joining in a digital "Saturday Night Seder" on Saturday, April 11 at 8 PM ET to help raise funds for the CDC. Guests include Bette Midler, Ben Platt, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Fran Drescher, Dan Levy and more! Click here for more info.
• Playbill.com is currently streaming Bandstand, which won a 2017 Tony Award for Andy Blankenbuehler's choreography and stars Tony nominee Laura Osnes and Corey Cott, for a small fee to help support The Actors Fund. Click here for more info.
• Mike Birbiglia's The New One, which opened our 2019-20 PNC Brooadway Lights series is now available on Netflix. Birbiglia talks about how he never really planned to be a father, and brings some levity and humor to the joys of parenthood.
• For all you former thespians with fond memories of your high school musical, check out Encore! on Disney+. Kristen Bells hosts the show and reunites casts of high school musicals to recreate them years later. It's full of funny characters and emotional reunions, and is guaranteed to make you reminisce.

• To honor all of the food bank workers and volunteers who are helping to feed America during this crisis, several current and former stars of Disney Broadway shows performed a virtual version of "Go the Distance" from Hercules.
• DON'T MISS! The November 2019 Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway concert will be live streamed Monday, April 13 at 7 PM ET to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. Click here for more info.

The cast of the '90s sitcom The Nanny, starring Fran Drescher, reunited this week for a vrtual table read of their hilarious pilot episode. It was announced earlier this year that the hit show was being worked into a Broadway musical by producers Scott and Brian Zeilinger, whose other shows include Dear Evan Hansen and Mean Girls! Who's ready to hear that iconic laugh and see those loud outfits live on stage?

James Corden is one of our favorite champions for Broadway and the performing arts. A Tony Award-winner himself, Corden frequently features Broadway stars and performances on his late night talk show. Today, we're rounding up some of our favorite musical moments from The Late Late Show with James Corden!

A Star-Studded Broadway Carpool Karaoke

22 Musicals in 12 Minutes

Soundtrack to a Bromance with Ben Platt

Crosswalk the Musical: Frozen

Today, the worldwide cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is here to remind you that "You've Got a Friend."

Actor John Krasinksi has launched a new YouTube channel called Some Good News to lift everyone's spirits! Episode 2 features the orignal Broadway cast of Hamilton (which is coming back to Charlotte next January!) performing a virtual version of the musical's title track.

We're looking forward to a spectacular season! We’re thrilled to finally reveal our 2020-21 Broadway Season! With 17 shows, it’s our biggest season yet and includes the highly anticipated returns of HAMILTON and WICKED! Because this season is so big, we’re offering TWO season subscription options, which include our premier PNC Broadway Lights Series and a new, one-time-only Equitable Bravo Series. Check out all the amazing show headed your way in the video below.

Season Tickets to both series are available NOW! For more information, visit: BlumenthalArts.org/20-21Broadway

Come From Away played Belk Theater this January as part of our PNC Broadway Lights series to sold-out crowds who were moved by the show's uplifting message about community and how we're stronger when we all come together at a challenging time. Watch as cast members join talented ladies from all over the world in a virtual version of "Me and the Sky" from the hit Broadway show.

BONUS VIDEO:

It's another virtual collaboration! Check out this stirring rendition of "Bring Him Home" by Alfie Boe, Ramin Karimloo, John Owen-Jones, David Shannon and more.

    ​​​​The Shows Must Go On! is the name of an aptly named YouTube channel that will stream a different hit musical every week. As of today at 2 p.m. ET, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring Donny Osmond, will be available for 48 hours. We hope you'll "go, go" and check it out!

Who's ready to laugh? Charlotte-based comedian Tara Brown has graced Blumenthal stages as part of our Queen City Comedy Experience and is a frequent performer at Blumenthal's Open Mic Nights. CharlotteFive.com named her as one of “The Standup Comedians You Need to Know in Charlotte;” while Queen City Nerve named her as “Best Comedian” for 2019 in their “Best of the Nest Readers’ Picks.” In addition, Tara is the most recent winner of the “Jeanne Robertson’s Comedy with Class Humor Competition.” Her comedy is relatable and fun for the whole family! Check out a few clips below.

Here's to these heroes of social distancing! Check out this incredible virtual performance from Cuthbertson High School's cast of Big Fish! These talented students were supposed to begin performances this past weekend and be judged for our Blumey Awards, but they still found a way to break all the legs! Check it out below.

The remarkable story of how this video came together is HERE.