Things to Do in Charlotte NC This Week : Charlotte Art Weekly #52

Cultural events in the city of Charlotte are growing like wildfire with each passing day. A Tony Award winning play comes to Charlotte, and so does Grammy award winning musician Harry Connick Jr. Live painting, new American folk music by the Kruger Brothers, an art workshop and a museum tour await. 

Theatre enthusiasts have an exciting month ahead of them this June, with the Tony Award winning humorous spy drama The 39 Steps running at the Hadley Theatre. Music lovers, meanwhile, can enjoy new American folk music in a concert by the Kruger Brothers, and be starstruck in the presence of Grammy award winning singer Henry Connick Jr, or lose themselves to the Latin American and Afro-House tunes of DJ Jorge Moran.

Those looking for a dose of laughter should attend the Improv comedy shows by Charlotte Comedy Theatre, while art lovers mustn’t miss Sam Van Aken’s solo show of nature art. A unique fairy tale art-making workshop also promises to intrigue! The busy culture enthusiast, meanwhile, can hop by for a short 30 minute museum trip through the Levine Center for the Arts.

Our 52nd Charlotte Art Weekly pays tribute to author Theodore Taylor who wrote more than 50 titles in fiction and non-fiction over the course of his entire career, specially for young adults. The Edgar Award winning writer wrote books like The Cay – which sold 4 million copies worldwide – The Weirdo and Timothy of the Cay. Born in Statesville, NC, in 1921, Taylor was brought up surrounded by a shipyard atmosphere which he loved. He began writing by sportswriting, for which he was paid only 50 cents at the time. After serving on board a ship during World War II, Taylor became a writer and drafted his first book The Bomb. Since then, the writer never looked back and grew to become a ghost-writer for entertainer Jerry Lewis, a journalist and a Hollywood press agent.

Here’s a list of all the enriching events happening in Charlotte this week:

The 39 Steps

Winner of two Tony Awards, this comedy play is a spy story inspired by Hitchcock, with a crew of only four actors playing 150 roles! It’s all about thrill, excitement and fun for families.

6th June to 23rd June

Hadley Theater at Queens University

With tickets ($25-$44)

Sam Van Aken: The Open Orchard

Experience centuries-old fruit varieties, tree trunks and botanical illustrations by artist Sam Van Aken who is famous for creating nature-based art.

7th June to 25th August

McColl Center for Art + Innovation

Open for all

Mint to Move Cultural Dance Night

DJ Jorge Moran and live musicians will have you grooving to Afro-House, Afro-Cuban and Latin-American tunes alongside live painting and amazing cuisine.

8th June

Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts

With tickets ($8-$12)

Improv Comedy Shows

A female group show, a Star Wars parody, and short interactive showcases, amongst various other acts by the Charlotte Comedy Theater team, will blow your mind.

8th June & 9th June

Charlotte Comedy Theater

With tickets ($10-$15)

“Visual Tale to Tell”

Drawing inspiration from the fairy tale created by artists Jonathan Grauel and Emily Andress, each person will make and take home their own fairy tale piece in a visual art workshop. This is a unique visual art experience held in a library.

9th June

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Beatties Ford Road Branch

Open for all

Family Fun Night – SugarSmaX Live

Packing all into one musical evening, this show will have grooves from the 70s, retro pop from the 80s, rock and pop from the 90s and the latest tunes.

9th June

Mint Hill Town Hall

Open for all

Harry Connick Jr. – A New Orleans Tricentennial Celebration

Winner of the Grammy and Emmy awards, the singer, composer and screen personality Harry Connick Jr is coming to your city.

11th June to 12th June 

Belk Theatre

With tickets ($25)

The Kruger Brothers

The Kruger Brothers are coming to thrill you with the real American musical tradition in a concert of folk, jazz and classical fusion music.

13th June

Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

With tickets ($19-$99)

ArtBreak

A thirty minute guided tour through the Levine Center for the Arts will focus on important art and culture aspects of the museum.

21st June

Levine Center for the Arts

Open for all

It’s set to be an inspiring week in Charlotte NC, between 8th June to 14th June. Be sure not to miss out!

Illustration: Nilesh Ramani