‘The Humans’ Is More Haunting Than Ever in Davidson qcnerve.com/the-humans-dav… via Queen City Nerve

Ongepochket or not, Mthuthuzelli November's VIBES AND VARIATIONS will lift your spirits - and the insouciant intricacy of Omar Roman De Jesus's BALÚM is as amazing as it is mesmerizing. #BeyondtheSurface Charlotte Ballet qcnerve.com/charlotte-ball…

Music at St. Alban's opened its doors - and cleared away its spanking new piano - for Caritas A Cappella Ensemble, who sang the rain away with a centuries-long review of a cappella music. cvnc.org/caritas-a-capp…

In so many ways, BRIGHT STAR feels more at home - and more heartfelt - in Matthews Playhouse than it did in the touring production that played Belk Theater seven summers ago. Music by Steve Martin is as tangy as ever, and his book is even better. qcnerve.com/bright-star-ma…

Cynthia Farbman Harris reinvents herself and resurrects CAST (Carolina Actors Studio Theatre) in ALABASTER, one of the most immersive and technically sharp productions ever mounted at The Mint Museum. A shoestring-budget marvel. qcnerve.com/cast-alabaster…

Playing with a maturity beyond their tender years, The Poiesis String Quartet crafted a unique concert experience, interweaving four works by Charlotte Poet Laureate Junious 'Jay' Ward with five modern pieces dating back no further than 1934. cvnc.org/poiesis-quarte…

cvnc.org/renee-fleming-… The newly, belatedly renovated Carolina Theatre finally staged a live concert - and a honey it was, featuring diva Renée Fleming and our Charlotte Symphony, with cinematic goodies from National Geographic. So the new place was firing on all cylinders.

From seething frustration to pole-dancing spaghetti, Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works' fifth NC Choreographers Residency Project delivered a wide swath of insights - both solemn and silly - into today's wildly trendy pop culture. cvnc.org/through-5-4-li…

Although the road to physician-assisted suicide in Georgia and even New York is closed for repairs, the issue is still red-hot in Mansa Ra's ...WHAT THE END WILL BE, a stunning Three Bone Theatre production that's even better than the truthy script. qcnerve.com/three-bone-wha…

Nobody I've seen in Lydia R. Diamond's STICK FLY has given the lead role more texture (or dared to be so irritating) as our Germôna Sharp. Nor has any director understood the script better than Sidney Horton. qcnerve.com/theatre-charlo… Queen City Nerve

After two polar pieces, we can't say that Spoleto Festival USA's theatre offerings have sizzled - but the world premiere of Benjamin Britten's THE TURN OF THE SCREW is melodramatically and operatically on fire, lit by Rodula Gaitanou's creepy direction. broadwayworld.com/charlotte/arti…

Disdaining the 12 Front Row attractions designed to balance the books at Spoleto Festival USA, I give you my back-row view of the best opera, chamber music, and orchestral concerts in Charleston this year - and Alisa Weilerstein audacious FRAGMENTS.classicalvoiceamerica.org/2025/06/09/swe…

You need trouble in Paradise for it to become a setting for comedy, drama, or a jukebox musical featuring The Go-Go's greatest hits. Davidson Community Players follows Jeff Whittey (Avenue Q) to Arcadia for his latest gender-bender, HEAD OVER HEELS. qcnerve.com/head-over-heel…

THROUGH 7/27: Aaaargh!! cvnc.org/through-7-27-h…

Charlotte should have a soft spot for Bill Russell's SIDE SHOW, for it retells the story of the Hilton Sisters, twin Hollywood superstars who wound up weighing veggies at the Wilkinson Boulevard Park-N'-Shop. QC Concerts brings it to Booth Playhouse. qcnerve.com/queen-city-con…

qcnerve.com/sex-lies-and-a… "[Elaine Alexander] has greatly leveled the playing field in a debate that usually pits big business, real estate developers, grasping politicians and banks in a one-sided battle against private homeowners and brainy conservationists."

Sporting extra instrumental artillery, two Dresden Concerti by Johann David Heinichen stole the thunder on a North Carolina Baroque Orchestra program that also showcased Bach, Vivaldi, and Boismortier. cvnc.org/heinichen-high…

Tony is hurrying to get married, elder brother Jesse has a secret gay partner, and the two eldest sisters have an ancient feud. What can go wrong before the wedding? Plenty in Paul Oakley Stovall's IMMEDIATE FAMILY. Phylicia Rashad directs. paul oakley stovall qcnerve.com/immediate-fami…

Ancient Argos becomes the wild, wild ouest of white-hot LA, in Luis Alfaro's ELECTRICIDAD, the second leg of the Chicano bard's Greek Trilogy that Three Bone Theatre has brought to Charlotte. The quips come at us as frequently as the threats and insults. qcnerve.com/electricidad-l…

Apple's new Platoon label opens new frontiers as a Chinese classical guitarist, Xuefei Yang 杨雪霏, strums ahead on a cross-country tour - playing classics from four continents in styles ranging from flamenco to tango to samba to jazz. In 15 cities. classicalvoiceamerica.org/2025/08/27/a-c…