Press Release
The Charleston Place is thrilled to announce its special programming for the 2023 Spoleto Festival USA season. This year, The Charleston Place will host the official Spoleto 2023 poster reveal, as well as exclusive meet and greets with performers and musicians from the festival. There will also be a jazz talk held at The Riviera Theater, the sister property of The Charleston Place. All events are free and open to the public.
“We're so excited to host these special free events in honor of Spoleto,” said Bob Megargle, Managing Director of The Charleston Place. “Now in its 47th year, Spoleto Festival USA is internationally recognized as America's premier performing arts festival. From Pulitzer Prize winning musicians to Broadway choreographers, we look forward to welcoming both guests and locals alike into The Charleston Place and The Riviera Theater to mix and mingle with some of the world's most celebrated artists.”
Spoleto Poster Reveal | May 22 at 5PM
Kick off the Spoleto season in the lobby of The Charleston Place with the grand reveal of the 2023 Festival Poster. Each year, the Spoleto poster reflects the rich history of the festival as well as its mission to present programs of the highest artistic caliber and maintain a dedication to young artists. Past posters have been created by artists like Jonathan Green, David Hockney, and Chuck Close. Mena Mark Hanna, General Director and CEO of Spoleto, will be onsite for this momentous occasion. This event is free and open to the public. See more details here .
Artist Meet and Greet with Ayodele Casel | May 25 from 6 to 7PM
On May 25, come to The Thoroughbred Club at The Charleston Place to mingle with Ayodele Casel, the acclaimed choreographer and performer whose new show, Chasing Magic, is featured at Spoleto this year. Described by The New York Times as “a wonder, as humanly appealing as she is superhumanly skilled,” Casel's work explores the magic of tap dance and daily life, capturing that spark of connection and creation. A recipient of the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Award, Casel most recently served as tap choreographer for the Broadway revival of Funny Girl. This event is free and open to the public. See more details here .
Artist Meet and Greet with the Singers from Vanessa | June 3 from 6 to 7PM On June 3, gather on the patio of the Thoroughbred Club to meet the talented singers from Vanessa, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera featured at Spoleto this year. Mingle with Nicole Heaston, an internationally acclaimed soprano playing the lead role, as well as Zoie Reams, who sings as Erika. Heaston and Reams will share more about their roles in this sweepingly lyrical and moving production, which closely examines the universal human dilemma of love and loss . This event is free and open to the public. See more details here .
Pop Up Choral Performances in Charleston's Living Room | June 4 and 10 at 10AM The Spoleto Festival USA Chorus will perform selections from their Spoleto concerts in the lobby of The Charleston Place on June 4 and 10. Assembled anew each year through national auditions, the Festival Chorus takes on a dynamic new identity each season, reflecting the diverse voices of its singers as well as the dynamic seasonal repertory. Led by Festival Director of Choral Activities Joe Miller, the Festival Chorus is a professional choir that builds upon the festival's longstanding tradition of exceptional choral music. Programs at The Charleston Place will feature Thomas Tallis' majestic work for 40 singers, Spem in alium, considered the greatest piece of English early music, as well as works by contemporary composers like David Lang and Caroline Shaw. This event is free and open to the public. See more details here .
Jazz Talk with Pulitzer Prize Winning Artist Henry Threadgill | June 5 from 3:30 to 5:30pm On June 5, acclaimed artist Henry Threadgill will host an intimate Jazz Talk at The Riviera Theater . Celebrated as one of the most forward-thinking American musicians, Threadgill has forged a legendary career in unconventional territory—challenging bedrock ideas about jazz and exploring new approaches to composing and improvising. His compositions demonstrate his experience in blues, gospel, Latin, jazz, classical music, reggae, polka and marching bands, integrating his global influences so smoothly into a singular, deeply personal style. At the Riviera Theater, Threadgill talks with Spoleto Jazz Curator and esteemed jazz historian and critic Larry Blumenfeld about his career and upcoming Spoleto debut. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. See details here .
Artist Meet and Greet with Anthony Roth Costanzo | June 10 from 6 to 7PM On June 10, gather on the patio of The Thoroughbred Club to mingle with Anthony Roth Costanzo, the Grammy Award winning countertenor and star of Only an Octave Apart, the acclaimed opera-meets-cabaret-meets-pop performance featured at Spoleto this year. Praised by New York Magazine as a “breathtaking cabaret-fantasia,” Only an Octave Apart revels in the coexistence of contrasts, celebrating the historical and the hysterical, countertenor to counterculture. This event is free and open to the public. See more details here .
For more information about these events, please visit: www.charlestonplace.com/experiences.
