Things to Do in Charlotte NC This Week: Charlotte Art Weekly #47

Tony Award winning play ‘The Humans’ comes to town. And so does the kids’ musical ‘Madagascar’. A charity jazz concert aims to end homelessness with blues musicians Buddy Guy and Mavis Staples. Also awaiting you are a book reading, a photography discussion and jazz music. Make the most of your week by referring to the Charlotte Art Weekly!

For people who can’t get enough of enriching events in Charlotte, let me announce that this is going to be an especially hectic week for you! This week kick-starts with the Tony Award winning play The Humans, and then proceeds to bring you a musical for kids that’s based on the popular film Madagascar. Disney’s famed film Fantasia is also vying for your kids’ attention this week. Indian audiences looking forward to family time can take their loved ones to see the play Zindagi Xpress, which delicately portrays a story about a mother-daughter relationship.

Music lovers can listen to some fantastic jazz melodies or contribute a little to society by attending a fundraising musical concert to end homelessness. Visual art lovers of Charlotte, meanwhile, can head towards Amy McLaren’s solo show, while photography-lovers can join a panel discussion on photography concepts which will have experts from the industry present.

This week’s Art Weekly is dedicated to the Pulitzer and Grammy winning American jazz pianist and musician Thelonious Sphere Monk, who was renowned for his eccentric improvisation style and contributed immensely to jazz music with more than 70 compositions. Often spotted wearing hats, suits and glasses, Monk would frequently be seen dancing in the middle of his shows. He is the second-most recorded jazz artist of all time and has sung famed titles like Round Midnight, Blue Monk, Straight, No Chaser, Ruby, My Dear, In Walked Bud and Well, You Needn’t. Monk possessed an unorthodox approach towards playing the piano, frequently using dramatic attacks on the keys to create percussive sounds intermixed with pauses.

Look forward to this week’s most creative events:

The Humans

This Tony Award winning play tells a heartfelt story of a family gathered for a Thanksgiving dinner. The plot revolves around feelings of compassion, hurt and hope.

May 1 to 6, 2018

Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

7.30 PM

With tickets ($25+)

Madagascar – A Musical Adventure

This musical is based on the famed Madagascar movie and stars all the animals, promising super fun performances for kids to enjoy!

May 4 to 6, 2018

McColl Family Theatre

4.00 PM

With tickets ($12)

Jazz at the Bechtler: McCoy Tyner’s Atlantis

Spend the evening of 4th May listening to some fantastic jazz at this concert. Food and beverages are available at the premises.

May 4, 2018

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art at Levine Center for the Arts

6.00 PM to 8.15 PM

With tickets ($14)

An Evening of Art

A solo art exhibition by artist Amy McLaren from New York will be inaugurated in the presence of Lady Darcy.

May 4, 2018

Magnolia Emporium

6.00 PM to 9.00 PM

Open to all

Charlotte Symphony Lollipops Series: DISNEY’S FANTASIA

Families with kids can watch the fantastic Disney film Fantasia on the big screen, accompanied by background music played by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

May 4 & 5, 2018

Belk Theatre

7.30 PM

With tickets ($27-$122)

Zindagi Xpress

Zindagi Xpress promises to be a beautiful play that explores the emotional bond between a daughter and mother.

May 5, 2018

Ovens Auditorium

4.00 PM to 7.00 PM

With Tickets ($10 – $20)

Art of Reading Tour: The Invention of Wings

Attend this reading session of Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings. The book revolves around the lives of two incredible women – an urban slave and a feminist.

May 6, 2018

Mint Museum Randolph

2.00 PM

Open to all

HousingFest: A Concert to End Homelessness with Buddy Guy & Mavis Staples

A music concert to raise funds for the homeless with an exclusive performance by composers Buddy Guy and Mavis Staples.

May 10, 2018

Ovens Auditorium

7.30 PM

With tickets ($51-$76)

Panel Discussion: Develar y Detonar

The concepts explored in this exhibition by a photographer and a film-maker from Mexico will be discussed by a panel comprising experts from the field.

May 12, 2018

Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts

2.00 PM

Open to all

It’s set to be an inspiring week in Charlotte NC, between 4th May to 10th May. Be sure not to miss out!

Illustration: Nilesh Ramani