Though New York City is Broadway’s home, Charlotte has its own performing arts center that brings the wonder of Broadway to the Carolinas. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center hosts a variety of live events year-round including national tours of Broadway shows.
Most recently Blumenthal hosted the national tour of “The Lion King.” It was a live theatre experience unlike any other. Life-size puppets were used to tell the story of the beloved Disney classic. Audience members were amazed as elephants and rams ran through the aisles and birds flew overhead. The set was huge and immersive as well.
“It was the best show I have ever seen live and everything about it was amazing,” Taylor Todman, a Winthrop Business major said.
For those who missed “The Lion King” there are still more opportunities to experience Broadway-style performances at Blumenthal this season. Coming this October is the hip-hop musical taking the world by storm “Hamilton.” Tickets are nearly sold out, however there is going to be a lottery the day of each performance via The Hamilton App, where 40 tickets will be given away for just $10. “Hamilton” will run from Oct. 10 to Nov. 4.
Fans of the beloved Harry Potter series will not want to miss “Potted Potter,” an unauthorized parody show featuring Oliver Award-nominated actors, Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner. The show takes on all seven books in seventy minutes and is sure to be full of laughs and gags. It plays from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 and prices start at $25.
Just in time for Christmas, Blumenthal will be hosting the tour of “A Christmas Story, The Musical” from Dec 4- 9. Based on the film of the same name, this musical follows Ralphie Parker scheming his way to get his dream Christmas present a Red Ryder® Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. This show is sure to bring back some nostalgia along with new laughs.
For those who enjoy 80s hair-band rock, a special tour will visit Blumenthal to help ring in the new year. “Rock of Ages: Tenth Anniversary Tour” will be playing from Dec. 27 thru Dec. 31. Touring ten years after its initial Broadway run, the show captures life in 1980s Hollywood and uses the music from iconic bands such as Journey, Poison and White Snake.
Blumenthal Performing Arts has so many opportunities for students to experience a little bit of Broadway in Charlotte. In addition, Blumenthal hosts a wide array of events and performers such as popular comedians, musicians and many more. For national Broadway tours Blumenthal strives to make tickets affordable to students. They offer a student rush deal in which two hours before the show tickets can be purchased for just $25 and are for the best available seats . Tickets are very limited so those planning on purchasing student rush are encouraged to arrive early. For more information on shows and to purchase tickets visit blumenthalarts.org.
