This year’s Gantt Symposium takes place on September 22nd with guest speaker Anna Deavere Smith. For the last few years, the Gantt Symposium has welcomed notable speakers, including literary critic and historian Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., rapper and philanthropist Common, and philosopher and social activist Dr. Cornel West. This year’s addition of Smith helps continue the tradition of shining the spotlight on the depth of African-American intellectual artistry in America. Since its dedication

If ever there was a time to step out for a night at the theater in Charlotte, January 6 to 31 is that time. The Munchkinland Tour of Wicked will be in town bringing beauty, magic and wonder to the Ovens Auditorium. You know that Wicked is a hit. You know that it’s one of the most acclaimed musicals ever. Maybe you’ve even seen it before. After all, it’s been on stages since 2003 with shows touring since 2005. It’s even graced Charlotte a few times, most recently in 2013. But what is it that ma

For over four decades, Charlotte Ballet has been improving the cultural arts landscape in North Carolina. This season, the Company continues to push limits on stage and capture Charlotte audiences’ attention and emotion with inspired performances. The artistic excellence on display at every Charlotte Ballet performance is the result of talented dancers led by passionate, experienced leadership. The President and Artistic Director works diligently with the rest of the staff to ensure that each s

Time to add poppin’ and lockin’ to your schedule; Breakin’ Convention is busting into Charlotte for the weekend of October 9! No matter whether you’re a certified b-boy or you barely keep a steady beat on the dance floor, Breakin’ Convention and Street Jam, the festival celebrating the convention’s arrival, will give you the type of inspiration that makes you think you have just what it takes to get up on stage yourself. The convention is London’s renowned international hip hop festival, a prod

Decades later, amazing vocals are back in the lead spotlight If you’ve never heard Lisa Fischer’s lead vocals on the 1991 R&B Grammy Award-winning ballad “How Can I Ease the Pain,” chances are you’ve heard her vocals gracing the tracks of another song you know. Sometimes mellow and sultry as part of a soft jazz tune, other times dynamically rough, creating exciting accents for a rock anthem, Fischer’s versatile voice has been adding the perfect je ne sais quoi to popular songs across an array o