The Little Festival with a Big Punch
2009 Jazz Jac poster by Nathan Durfee
AS SPRING BLEEDS into summer, don’t forget the other frolic that kicks off in tandem with Spoleto USA.
While the “big” one toots its horn about being an international festival, Piccolo Spoleto boasts the continuous discovery of homegrown talent—artists, writers, and performers from Charleston and around the southeast.
Ellen Dresler Moryl launched Piccolo Spoleto in 1979 with the Office of Cultural Affairs to give regional artists an opportunity to showcase their work. Piccolo was intended to be a festival for Every Person—over half of the events are free and many are family friendly.
With an incredible array of 700 events that include art exhibits, music, theatre, dance, film, and literature spanning 17 days, there really is something for everyone.
Here’s a brief overview of what to expect and what I recommend:
Acoustic quartet, the Bushels
Music
At almost any time of day, you can hear many kinds of music: Bluegrass on the Green at Marion Square, Blues and Jazz events on land and sea, Classical Music in churches and theatres featuring adult and young performers, and the Early Music Series which is always a good bet, as is the Charleston Jazz Initiative Festival. It is just a great time to engage in any style of the local music scene.
Dance
The Dance at Noon series presents seven companies performing ballet, modern, and jazz dance from noon to 1:00 P.M. at the Footlight Players Theatre. This year there is a special buzz about Sideways Contemporary Dance, a company from Atlanta. And for jazz dance lovers, Dancecentre South Company is always entertaining.
Sideways Contemporary Dance
Meanwhile, Charleston Ballet presents Brown Bag and Ballet with different programs daily featuring works from their repertory while you eat lunch (bring your own, of course).
A rotating program will offer something new every day—from Bolero, to a new tango work, to classical favorites.
Evening performances will include the popular Decadent Divas and family friendly pieces like The Little Mermaid.
Also interesting is Revolutionary! Isadora Duncan, presented by D.C.-based World Dance Theatre, at The Circular Church, Lance Hall, June 1–4. This will be a dance/theatre piece about the life and influence of the “mother of modern dance.”
Revolutionary! Isadora Duncan
Theatre
Musical Theatre, Piccolo Fringe, StelleDi Domani, and the Theatre series also offers a lot of choices. Truth is, the theatre community explodes during Piccolo Spoleto with all kinds of performances from traditional plays, to the hilarious Skinny White Comics, to Sherri Grace’s Rock and Roll Heaven, to an original work written and directed by our local gem, Robert Ivey, called Oh! George—a musical revue of 29 Gershwin songs by a cast of 17 talented performers.
Film
Three individual programs—the American Film Series , the Felder Film Festival, and American Film Series, Evenings under the Crescent—will show original and classic films. Look into The West African Connection sponsored by the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.
Literary
An ever growing arm of this festival, and a component that the “Big” one doesn’t have, includes the Piccolo Spoleto Literary Festival, a Fiction Open, and (my favorite) the Sundown Poetry Series where poets read from their work in the twilight of the Dock Street Theatre courtyard—a great way to spend time before an 8:00 P.M. main event.
Sand sculpting competition
Miscellaneous
Other popular activities include special events at the Farmers Market, A Children’s Festival at Marion Square, the juried art exhibits, and the Big Time Sand Sculpture Competition.
Info and Tickets
There are a ton of events to choose from, so do yourself a favor and get a booklet of events from the Office of Cultural Affairs at 180 Meeting Street, where you can also buy tickets (Note: there is no longer a Piccolo box office at the Gaillard Auditorium). You can also call (843) 724-7295 or visit www.piccolospoleto.com.
Love the blog. But what about the Piccolo Spoleto art exhibit at the Visitor’s Center? Keep up all your good work!