Category Archives: Events

Jose Llana and Laura Michelle Kelly in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The Kind and I”
(Photo by Matthew Murphy)

“The King and I”  premiered on March 29, 1951, at the St. James Theater on Broadway and has had many tours and revivals over the years. The latest production, by Director Bartlett Sher, is a faithful revival of the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that is now on a national tour and opens at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday June 6th.

Set in 1860’s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of Anna Leonowens (played by Laura Michelle Kelly), an army widow and British schoolteacher hired as part of the King of Siam’s (played by Jose Llana) drive to modernize his country and teach his many children. The relationship between the King and Anna is filled with conflict driven by cultural clashes and a complicated attraction neither is willing to openly admit.

Laura Michelle Kelly as Anna & the Royal Children of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I”
(Photo by Matthew Murphy)

“The King & I” is known for its eye-catching  sets and colorful costumes and score featuring beloved classics such as “Getting To Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance” and “Something Wonderful.”

This is a musical with a powerful message that is still as relevant today as it was when it first opened over 65 years ago. While it does have it’s lighter moments it also takes on more serious issues addressing enslavement and the human drive for freedom as well the dynamics at play when Western civilization tries to assert its values on ancient Eastern cultures.

“The King and I” opens at DPAC Tuesday, June 6th with performances through Sunday, June 11th. For tickets visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/the-king-i

North Hills Time Capsule

Next Thursday North Hills will open a time capsule that was buried 50 years ago to the day (June 8, 1967). The capsule was buried under the sidewalk on opening day of the Cardinal Movie Theater. That area has seen a bit of changes over the years. It is now referred to as the Lassiter District of North Hills. The movie theater is long gone but the capsule has remained in place for the past five decades resting between what is now the Verizon store and Bonefish Grill.

“We are excited to see what’s inside the time capsule here in North Hills,” said Bonner Gaylord, Managing Director of North Hills. “We look forward to taking a step back in time to discover the history of North Hills and the city of Raleigh. It should be a fun surprise.”

After purchasing the old North Hills Mall in 2000, Kane Realty Corporation also acquired the time capsule. Students of nearby schools and businesses contributed to the old container back in 1967, but the contents are unknown.

In conjunction with the unearthing, North Hills will bury a new time capsule to be opened in another 50 years with contributions from:

• Aldert Root Elementary
• Brooks Elementary
• Carroll Middle
• Douglas Elementary
• Sanderson High
• St. David’s
• St. Timothy’s
• GRCVB
• Midtown Raleigh Alliance
• North Hills
• Kane Realty Corporation
• News & Observer
• WRAL

The unearthing will take place on June 8, 2017 at 10am near Bonefish Grill. The event is free and open to the public.

Christine Dwyer as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in Finding Neverland
(Photo courtesy Jeremy Daniel)

We all know the story about the boy who never grows up, but “Finding Neverland” tells the touching tale of how the story of Peter Pan came to be. The musical starts with J.M. Barrie (played by Billy Harrigan Tighe) as a playwright in crisis. He desperately needs to come up with a new play after realizing his latest work is nothing more that a retread of his previous productions. As he walks through London’s Kensington Park he finds inspiration in a young widow, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (played by Christine Dwyer) and her four young rambunctious boys. What follows is a mixture of courage, pain, and magic resulting in the story of a mischievous young boy who can fly that has stood the test of time for over 113 years.

The Cast of Finding Neverland
(Photo courtesy Jeremy Daniel)

But this is London in the early 1900’s. Things are supposed to be prim and proper. Children are seen and not heard, theater is for the upper crust of society, and Barry must also contend with a snobby group of actors in the theater troupe who are chomping at the bit for their next gig. Change doesn’t come easy and he finds resistance at every turn as he tries to bring the whimsical story of magic and make believe to the London stage. Not to mention people begin to talk when he starts spending too much time with the young widow leaving his socialite wife stewing at home.

Enter the Captain Hook (played by Rory Donovan), conjured out of Barrie’s imagination. Hook is there to get Barrie to to “pirate up” and take a chance on the play and life itself. “A man who doesn’t fight for what he wants in life gets what he deserves” belows Hook. Embolden by his alter ego Barrie overcomes the many obstacles in his way and brings the show to a successful opening and become a surrogate father to the boys.

The Cast of Finding Neverland
(Photo courtesy Jeremy Daniel)

There are many great moments in, “Finding Neverland” many of which are when the young men who play the Llewelyn Davies boys are on stage. They did a fantastic job with complex performances and vocals beyond their years. On Tuesday night, Mitchell Wray played Peter, with Finn Faulconer as George, Tyler Hennessy as Jack; and Jordan Cole rounded out the foursome as Michael. All the more impressive is the fact that the boys rotate their roles meaning they have to be prepared for different lines and opposite cues on varying nights as they fill the different roles each night.

Performances by the leads were all very strong with wonderful vocals from Tighe and Dwyer. And while there were some sad moments sprinkled about (learning to deal with loss) there were also lots of laughs, many of which come from the over-the-top acting troupe Barrie must deal with. Keep and ear out for a particular exchange when one of the boys asks one of the troupe if he believes in fairies. It had the audience roaring.

The special effects in the show were simple yet elegant and compliment the story well rather than become a distraction. A real treat during the show is how moments of inspiration for the story of Peter Pan are slowly revealed to Barrie as he interacts with the world around him. Whether it is suddenly seeing playing children magically flying about the bedroom in slow motion, or the shadow of a menacing cane taking on the form of a pirates hook, you get to see the sparks of the iconic tale begin to brew in mind of the playwright. The effects in the final act are particularly moving.

This is a show for the whole family. While I have heard some describe it as a little dark I did not find that to be the case at all. In fact I think it is both a great way to introduce children to theater. It also has powerful messages for how we can all use our imagination to see the magic in the world around use and harness that magic to both deal with loss and find our courage to endure and go after our dreams.

“Finding Neverland” is at DPAC now with performances through Sunday, May 28th. For tickets visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/finding-neverland.

La Terza Classe performs at Sola Coffee Friday night at 7:30pm
(photo courtesy La Terza Classe)

After this rainy and gloomy week I am looking forward to the nicer weather this weekend. Here are a few of my top picks to check out including great music and the third annual hot air balloon festival! Also, “Finding Neverland” has performances at DPAC through this Sunday. Lots of choices this weekend. Happy Exploring!

Friday – May 26th

Italian folk and bluegrass band at Sola Coffee
An Italian bluegrass band? This sounds fun! La Terza Classe makes a tour stop Friday night at Sola Coffee in North Raleigh. Music starts at 7:30pm. The band has played over 300 shows in in throughout Europe and in the US, have been featured on European and American radio. Props to Sola for continuing to bring great touring acts to Raleigh.

Saturday – May 27th

WRAL Freedom Balloon Festival (All Weekend)
The Balloon Festival will be held on Memorial Day weekend from May 26-29 at Fleming Loop Park in Fuquay-Varina. The three day event will feature competitive balloon flights, tethered balloon rides, evening glows and a several activities planned from sunrise to sundown. Visit www.wralfreedomballoonfest.com for schedule of events and parking information.

Sunday – May 28th

Triangle Wind Ensemble at Cary’s Booth Amphitheater
This year’s American Celebration concert features selections from many of Broadway’s most famous shows. Come listen to works from Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, South Pacific, Wicked, Les Miserables, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit, Hamilton. This outdoor concert offers a perfect opportunity to picnic under the stars with the family while listening to some truly wonderful music. Gates open for picnicking at 6pm, and the concert begins at 7:30. Tickets for this event can be purchased here ($13-$16).

NCMA mobile app 

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) this week launched a new mobile app that offers themed, self-guided audio tours of the Museum’s permanent collection. Each tour lasts about 30 minutes and features art in the Museum’s free permanent collection. The free app is available in English and Spanish and can be downloaded through the iTunes Store or at ncartmuseum.org/app.

“This mobile app will encourage NCMA visitors to slow down in the permanent collection galleries and look more closely at the works of art—something we hope will enhance and deepen their appreciation of the art and make their Museum visit a more memorable, personal experience,” says Lawrence J. Wheeler, director of the NCMA. “It perfectly aligns with the mission and vision of the NCMA, which focuses on our commitment to provide compelling encounters with art, present innovative educational opportunities, and enrich lives through the wonder of art.”

The app launches with three themed tours—Curator’s Choice, Lunch Break, and Date Night—and the Museum may add more in the future.

• Curator’s Choice: What is a curator? In art museums curators choose the works of art that go into an exhibition. They also assist in acquiring works for a museum’s collection. Each part of our collection is curated by an expert in a particular period of art history. Listen to a tour from each part of our collection with that curator’s top picks.

• Lunch Break: Experts say changing up your environment can help overcome mental blocks and re-energize your thinking. This tour lets you experience art and food from around the world while taking a quick break from the day. Are you hungry for art? Why wait?

• Date Night: In today’s world of swiping right and posting “It’s complicated,” romance can be tough. Luckily, wandering the galleries of a museum is a great way to spend time with someone special to you. Whether you’re on your first date or going on your first decade as a couple, listen to a tour all about romance and love—as interpreted by artists throughout time.

“This new technology will help us better connect and engage with visitors on our campus in a whole new way,” says Michelle Harrell, the NCMA’s director of teaching and learning. “We see the mobile app as an opportunity to provide customizable experiences, rather than simple audio tours. It introduces art in a manner that many people might not have considered before—for example, as something that can energize you on a lunch break or spice up a date night.”

The mobile app replaces the Museum’s cell phone tour, which is no longer available. It joins the Museum’s Moede app, an interactive work of art designed by Kael Greco and Gregg Perkins that creates a soundtrack to a visitor’s experience in the NCMA’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park.