United Arts Wake County

BLANK
2024-05-16 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-05-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-19 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-05-24 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-25 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | The Justice Theater Project, 8208 Brownleigh Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27617-7411, United States
JOIN US FOR THE PREMIERE OF BLANK BY NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR AS THE SHOW OPENS THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024, IN THREE DIFFERENT VENUES AROUND THE TRIANGLE ON MAY 16-19 AND MAY 24-25.
Known for plays that invert theatrical conventions, Soleimanpour takes it to new extremes with BLANK. Each night, Nassim’s script, which is full of blanks, is to be completed by a new performer before a live audience. The play becomes a story machine to share the life story of the playwright, the performer, and a random audience member. In a joint effort between the audience and the performer, the script’s gaps are filled in to reveal a story that celebrates the human imagination. As formally inventive as it is engaging, BLANK reverses the typical theatre experience: A script riddled with blanks leaves the audience in charge of how the story will unfold. The concept might be simple, but the result is nothing short of empowering as a random audience member sees their future determined by the imagination of others.
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This piece invites critical reflection on how our human identity constructs the stories we tell. Simultaneously, it celebrates theatre’s communal and elusive nature as audience members shout, laugh, gasp and collaborate to write the evening’s story, which is irrevocably theirs and will never be told in the same way ever again—a heart-warming tour de force.

African American Lecture Series
2024-05-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Tryon Palace, New Bern, NC, 529 South Front Street, New Bern, 28562
Every Song Has a Story: Black Music’s Impact on America
Can you hear them? Can you hear the notes … the beats … the unique musical rhythms and messages of the African American experience? Linda Gorham, Professional Storyteller, will take you on a musical journey over the past 100 years as she tells the stories behind influential songs by Black artists that shaped American music and American attitudes. Songs include Black & Blue (Louis Armstrong), Lift Every Voice (James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson), My Country Tis of Thee (Marion Anderson), Strange Fruit (Billie Holiday), The Twist (Chubby Checker), Happy Birthday (Stevie Wonder), What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye), Respect (Aretha Franklin), and Say It Loud (James Brown).

Cinderella
2024-05-17 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-05-18 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-05-18 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-05-19 14:00 - 16:30 | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Carolina Ballet closes the season with the most enchanting version of Cinderella. This ballet features graceful choreography, charming music, and vivid costumes set against a backdrop of magical transformations and a grand royal ball. It is a timeless and heartwarming story of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of love.
FEATURING LIVE MUSIC BY THE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF THE TRIANGLE

Blank - a reversal of the typical theater experience
2024-05-17 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-19 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-05-24 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-25 19:30 - 21:00 | The Justice Theater Project, 8208 Brownleigh Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27617-7411, United States
The Justice Theater Project proudly presents BLANK, an innovative theatrical experience crafted by the creative genius Nassim Soleimanpour. Set to premiere on May 16, 2024 across multiple venues in the Triangle, BLANK redefines the boundaries of storytelling and underscores theatre’s strength as a communal endeavor.
BLANK isn’t just a play—it’s an invitation to participate in the creation of art. As the audience becomes co-authors of the story, the boundaries between performer and spectator blur, fostering an immersive experience where laughter, gasps, and shared moments of revelation intertwine. Each of these local superstars can only ever perform this once in their lifetime, so if you’re curious, don’t miss out!
May 16th: 7:30pm at The Justice Theater Project. Actor: Matara Hitchcock.
**May 17th: 7:30pm at NorthStar Church of the Arts (different venue!). Actor: Thaddaeus Edwards.**
May 18th: 7:30pm at The Justice Theater Project. Actor: Brian Westbrook. Partnered with the LGBT Center of Raleigh!
**May 19th: 2:00pm at The Fuquay-Varina Arts Center (different venue!). Actor: Heather J. Strickland.**
May 24th: 7:30pm at The Justice Theater Project. Actor: Byron Jennings.
May 25th: 7:30pm at The Justice Theater Project. Actor: David Henderson.

Halle Spring Play "Cheaters"
2024-05-17 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-05-18 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-05-19 15:00 - 17:00 | The Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N. Salem St., Apex, NC, 27332, United States
“Cheaters” – Spring Play
May 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30pm and May 12 and 19 at 3pm
Written by Michael Jacobs and directed by local legend, Kathleen Rudolph. This story follows Allen and Michelle who have been living together for eighteen months. It is the first real relationship for both of them. Michelle thinks they should marry; Allen isn’t sure. His hesitancy drives her home to her parents for advice. Michelle’s Father isn’t aware that it is Allen’s mother he has been seeing for the last six months and would now like to get rid of, nor does Michelle’s mother know that it is Allen’s father she has just spent the night with and would like to see more of. The pieces fall uproariously into place when the parents decide to meet the young lovers over dinner to lend their maturity and experience for the benefit of their children’s relationship. It’s suddenly everyone for himself in this wild, rollicking look at love and romance.

Triangle Youth Music - Spring String Concert
2024-05-18 15:00 - 16:30 | Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Avenue, Cary, 27511
Triangle Youth Music string orchestras, the Triangle Youth String Sinfonia and Triangle Youth String Orchestra will perform string favorites and classics at this concert on May 18th at the Cary Arts Center. Ticket link coming soon!

Cary-Apex Youth Choir’s Spring Concert!
2024-05-18 16:00 - 17:00 | Woodhaven Baptist Church, 4000 Kildaire Farm Rd, Apex, 27539
We invite you to join us at Cary-Apex Youth Choir’s Spring Concert! Weaving stories through song, from the Americas to Europe, Asia, and New Zealand, “The Stories We Tell” will take you on an unforgettable journey! This concert will showcase all of the CAYC ensembles and feature special guest storyteller, Linda Gorham. All ages are invited! You can purchase tickets ($5) on our website. www.CaryApexYouthChoir.org.
Students interested in joining Cary-Apex Youth Choir are encouraged to attend the concert to experience what choir is all about! Auditions for the upcoming 2024-2025 season will be held on May 30th. Please see our website for more details.

I am in Need of Music
2024-05-18 17:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, 3313 Wade Avenue, Raleigh, NC, United States
Join Oak City Voices for our last public performance of the 2023-24 season. All pieces encompass our mission of celebrating life and our love of music through song.

Cary-Apex Youth Choir Placement Auditions
2024-05-18 17:30 - 19:15 | Green Level Baptist Church, 8509 Green Level Church Road, Cary, 27519
Cary-Apex Youth Choir is accepting new singers ages 8-15 to join our Prelude and Lyric choirs for the 2024-2025 Season! Placement Auditions will be held on May 30, 2024 at Green Level Baptist Church in Cary.
5:15-5:30pm Check-in
5:30-6:15pm Sample Rehearsal (Includes assessments for most 8-10 year-olds)
6:15-7:15pm Individual Auditions for 10-15 year olds interested in Lyric Choir
SIGN UP at www.caryapexyouthchoir.org/join
We also invite you to our Spring Concert that will be held on May 18th at 4pm at Woodhaven Baptist Church. Attending the concert will give interested children a taste of what choir is all about! Check our website for more details.

Triangle Youth Music - Spring Full Orchestra Concert
2024-05-19 14:00 - 20:30 | Meymandi Concert Hall, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
In this performance, Triangle Youth Music will feature their three full orchestras: The Triangle Youth Orchestra, Triangle Youth Symphony, and Triangle Youth Philharmonic. The concert will begin at 2:00 PM with TYO and TYS, followed by a TYP only performance at 4:30 PM, and will close at 7:00 PM with TYP in combination with the Raleigh Youth Choir

WTF Town Hall
2024-05-20 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-27 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual
A series of weekly Town Hall forums curated by The National Women’s Theatre Festival about, for, and with theatremakers. Town Hall events take place every Monday night in April & May from 7:30-9pm ET on Zoom. Register for free through Eventbrite.

FilmFest by Rogue Dancer: DANCE Class ‘24 Edition (May 2024)
2024-05-24 - 2024-06-09 | Rogue Dancer Productions, On-Line, International, NC, 00000, United States
FilmFest by Rogue Dancer: DANCE Class ‘24 Edition (May 2024)
May 24 – June 9, 2024
https://www.roguedancer.org/filmfest-by-rogue-dancer
With the guidance of their mentors and teachers, students are finding their big voices on tiny screens, practicing comp class on big screens and teachers are using the student body to illustrate the embodied camera. Using editing as an extension of the choreographic process. Vice versa, mix ‘em up, chance, experimental and sometimes orderly depending on the work. Introducing the future of DANCE Film.
FilmFest by Rogue Dancer is a DANCE film festival that offers a monthly curated on-line screening exclusively for DANCE Films. Each month Dance films are elegantly sorted into unexpected themes. We are committed to serving the DANCE community and to ensuring that wonderful DANCE movie projects from across the globe can be seen and appreciated by as wide an audience as possible.
o DANCE FILM (verb /dæns/ noun /fɪlm/) synonymous with Dance on Film, Dance on Screen, Screen Dance, ScreenDance, Video Dance, Dance Cinema… etc. you get the picture.
Featured DANCE Filmmakers: Olivia Jean Buckley, Julie Anne Carrier, Linnan Liu, Rileigh Morrow Goldsmith, Lily Andrews, Ramona Haywood, Darius Anthony, Lauren Linder, Ivy Nicole Jonet & Lee Edwards, Lily Selthofner & Robin Prichard

KidsWrite Festival 2024
2024-05-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-05-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Burning Coal Theatre, 224 Polk St, Raleigh, 27604
Every spring, Burning Coal Theatre receives play submissions from local 6th-12th graders that are then professionally produced for the public. Burning Coal has assembled a team of skilled theatre artists to bring these young writers’ stories to life.
This year’s plays include:
Disaster at Lakeview by Avery Seppala (Enloe High School), Directed by Susan Gross
Regrets of Man by Noah Howard (Fuquay-Varina Middle School), Directed by Susan Gross
Through the Years by Carson Adams (Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School), Directed by Johannah Maynard Edwards
To Be Deceased by Brynn Bolick, Sophia Moore, Bridget Morin, Lavie Nguyen, Gibson Scoggins, and Morgan Strickland (Franklin Academy), Directed by Johannah Maynard Edwards
This year’s festival will take place on May 24th and 25th at 7pm. All four plays will be performed both evenings.

Art Exhibition: The Weight On My Shoulders
2024-06-01 09:00 - 2024-06-30 17:00 | Southeast Regional Library, 908 7th Avenue, Garner, 27529
Addressing the Silent Battles: Drinking Gourd Gallery Presents Exhibition Spotlighting Men’s
Mental Health in Civilian and Veteran Communities to highlight the pervasive, but often overlooked issue of men’s mental health.
Drinking Gourd Gallery proudly announces its upcoming exhibition, “The Weight on My Shoulders.”
This group exhibition seeks to shed light on the unique challenges faced by men coping with mental
health issues, particularly within the context of civilian and veteran life. The exhibition will run from June
1 through June 30, 2024, at the Southeast Regional Library in Garner, North Carolina, commemorating
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
Men across all walks of life frequently grapple with mental health concerns, yet societal stigmas often
prevent open dialogue and hinder access to support. Against this backdrop, “The Weight on My
Shoulders” aims to spark conversation, promote understanding, and provide a platform for healing.
Featuring more than 30 objects, including paintings, drawings, photography and video, the exhibition
delves into various aspects of men’s mental health experiences. Through poignant narratives and
evocative imagery, visitors will gain insight into the complexities of these challenges and the pathways to
resilience and recovery.
