by Raleigh Magazine | Sep 25, 2023 | Do, October 2023
Through 10/7
Stop Making Sense 40th Anniversary Screenings
Movies are back! Grab your popcorn and pop into The Rialto for a showing of this beloved circa-1984 concert film, Stop Making Sense. See ya at the theater! etix.com
Through 10/8
Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week
Put on your stretchy pants and tuck into local eateries to discover your new fave dining spot—or try out specials from your go-tos. Bon appétit! downtownraleigh.org
Extended through 10/29
Spiders: Fear to Fascination
Get over your fear of eight-legged creepy crawlies via this immersive exhibit during which you’ll encounter over 250 real and preserved specimens. Talk about making your head spin (!). naturalsciences.org
10/5
Gaspard & Dancers
Witness dancing like there’s no tomorrow via Durham-based dance company Gaspard & Dancers’ performance built for dance aficionados and those new to the art. *Gasps.* live.arts.ncsu.edu
10/5
Refugee Hope Partners’ Taste & See
Take your taste buds on a trip around the world (without the jet lag!) via dishes from Vidrio, a’Verde, Taverna Agora, Sushi Time, Sola and more. The best part? All proceeds go to supporting refugees throughout the globe. refugeehopepartners.org
10/5
Zac Brown Band
Toes in the water, a** on the lawn of Walnut Creek to watch the famed country crooners belt out some of their best hits. livenation.com
Oct. 5–7
Houndmouth
Find this American alt rock band “flipping the script and shooting the plot” during a rockin’ three-night run highlighting their greatest hits. Pro tip: Buy tickets for multiple nights to hear all your fave tunes—or just to sing along to “Sedona” twice. Sounds darlin’! catscradle.com
10/5–7
Kevin Nealon
The “man with a plan” (also known for roles in Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer) is bringing his quick dry wit to Raleigh for three nights of can’t-help-but-laugh hilarity. goodnightscomedy.com
10/5–15
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Don’t lose your head as you step into the quaint town of Sleepy Hollow with schoolteacher Ichabod Crane as he attempts to woo the woman he loves amid a supernatural legend. Could there be a headless horseman tramping around town? theatreinthepark.com
10/6
Fifi + Talbot’s First Birthday Celebration
Here’s your ideal Friday to-do list: Wish your fave ethically sourced and cruelty-free boutique a happy first bday, sip on Prosecco, snack on cupcakes, check out the new hat bar, and shop a lineup of permanent jewelry ops. It’ll feel like your birthday too! fifiandtalbotboutique.com
10/6
First Friday
Fridays in the fall—and anytime, really—are always fab when embracing all DTR has to offer via Halloween activities, art galleries, live music, food tastings and more. Hello, weekend! downtownraleigh.org
10/6
Preseason: Predators vs. Hurricanes
The Predators become the prey as the Hurricanes take to the ice to beat Nashville. pncarena.com
10/6
Tar Heel Troubadours Concert Series
Turn the beat around with the Blue Ridge Girls, a trio of granola girlies who take mountain music head-on with sounds of bluegrass, country and old-time music. Prepare to stomp and holler! ncmuseumofhistory.org
10/6–7
9th Annual Triangle Oktoberfest
Chug-a, chug-a, brew! Belly up for 50+ beers, traditional Bavarian fare, wiener dog races (may the best sausage win!), a slew of fun competitions and a yodeling contest. Come on… don’t be a brat! boothamphitheatre.com
10/6–7
The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John
Looking for a piano man? We think we spotted someone saying goodbye to the yellow brick road. Pay tribute to two music icons at once with the NC Symphony, a full rock band and guest vocalists. Not movin’ out just yet… martinmariettacenter.com
10/7
2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s
These sneakers are made for fighting for a different future! Lace up to further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association at DTR’s Halifax Mall. act.alz.org
10/7
Falling for Local 2023
Celebrate the start of the new season by falling in love with local makers and vendors during this annual fall fest + market. There will also be local craft beer and cider, food trucks, live music, free pumpkins, and a kids zone. BYO pumpkin spice lattes (!). dixpark.org
10/7
Scarecrow Festival
Say hay to fall with a handmade scarecrow feat. old clothes and unique props for a standout straw man—whether cute or scary. How outstanding! raleighnc.gov
10/7
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Raise the roof while helping provide roofs for those in need via United Way’s 2023 Mighty Giveback benefiting 20 local nonprofits focused on housing accessibility. Let’s play for good! redhatamphitheater.com
10/7
Life and Death in High Places
Calling all true crime fanatics! Buckle up for a story of a high-society public murder on Raleigh’s city streets in 1903 also involving gossip, men in suits and a shocking secret. Trust us, it’s better than the daytime dramas. ncmuseumofhistory.org
10/7
Marshall vs. NC State
Have you “herd”? Pack came to play. #WITH! gopack.com
10/7
NC State Football Watch Party
Wake up, Wolfpack… it’s game day! Cheer on NC State as they take on the Thundering Herd at TheMixx. Cheers to a #WPN dub! bottlemixx.com
10/7
Smashed Cardinals
Keep the good vibes going and continue to “mixx” it up with this NC-based blues, rock and country trio while imbibing via sounds and sips. Music to our ears! bottlemixx.com
10/7
There’s a Cow on the Roof!
Holy cow! Get moooving toward Darius Milhaud’s “Le Boeuf sur le toit”—aka “cow on the roof”—designed to showcase the humor in moosic. chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org
10/7
Walk for Mental Health
These shoes were made for walking! Lace up your sneaks and stroll to raise awareness for youth mental health issues in Wake County. eventbrite.com
10/8
Walk for Hope
For the 35th year running, put those heels to the pavement at Angus Barn in support of those who struggle with mental illness. What better reason for a hot girl (and boy!) walk?! walkforhope.com
10/9, weekly
Yoga in the Park
Stretch your limits with free (!) yoga at Dix Park. Yogatta be there! dixpark.org
10/9
Johnnyswim
Holla, holla, holla. Believe in soulmates again via the swayworthy sounds of this husband-and-wife folk duo—truly the “best thing ever.” lincolntheatre.com
10/6–8
Triangle Parade of Homes
“Welcome to my crib.” … Dream home inspo found through this free annual self-guided tour of the area’s newest homes on the market—so you can find anything from your next floor plan to decor ideas. May the parade commence! triangleparade.com
10/10
Kirk Franklin
Catch this Grammy Award-winning singer reuniting with his squad and reigning with his “melodies from heaven” at PNC. It’s gonna be a lovely day… pncarena.com
10/10–15
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Follow the tale of successful songwriter Carole King as she moves melodically from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to international acclaim. It’s sure to be a beautiful ride! nctheatre.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 29, 2023 | Do, September 2023
A spotlight on Raleigh’s stage shortage
“It’s exhausting to worry about where and when to do a show—and where comes first,” says David Henderson, founder of Honest Pint Theatre Company on finding performance spaces in Raleigh.
Founded 10 years ago, Honest Pint performs in venues all over the city—from North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre and William Peace University to Theatre Raleigh and NC State. And finding a place to perform is a necessity that continues to grow more sparse. Each month, Henderson and co-artistic director Susannah Hough sit down to discuss the shows they hope to schedule for the year—and try to find available space.
“We have to figure out how to adjust what we want to do in the slots available, which unfortunately are few and far between,” explains Henderson. To wit, just because a space is available doesn’t make it feasible. Small theater companies, for example, can’t sell out 700-seat venues.
That lack of a home base while bouncing around from place to place not only takes up time and energy, it makes gaining a following of theatergoers more challenging. “It’s hard to gain a sense of permanence,” says Henderson.
In response to lack of room and parking, for her part, local talent/Theatre Raleigh Producing Artistic Director Lauren Kennedy Brady moved Theatre Raleigh to a new North Raleigh location in 2021 after previously renting at Martin Marietta.
“We have our own autonomy,” says Kennedy Brady of Theatre Raleigh’s current spot. “It’s given us a lot of freedom to grow in the way we’ve wanted for so long—and we’ve also been on the other side where we struggled to find a place to have performances.”
In efforts to assist others seeking a performance setting, Theatre Raleigh offers its venue at low-industry nonprofit rates to myriad organizations, including Honest Pint, in an effort to make theater accessible to performing agencies of all sizes. But booking remains tight and availability fills up fast.
Nevertheless, some organizations are content sans a space of their own. The Justice Theater Project hosts between 80 to 90% of its shows at Umstead Park United Church of Christ. Executive Producer Melissa Zeph appreciates a consistent spot that comes with nominal rental rates without routine ownership expenses and hassles. “I don’t know if I want a space,” says Zeph. “Who wants to own their own theater? Yuck! Although, it would be lovely to have an actual stage.”
While finding areas to perform can certainly be a challenge, there is a silver lining… our creative arts culture is continuing to burgeon. “It’s a gift that we have so much theater in the community,” says Henderson. “The hardest part is the infrastructure.”
While there may not be enough capacity for everybody, Raleigh’s local theater community remains communal. The majority of our local actors, talents and creatives lack a sense of rivalry, instead operating with a mission of sharing what they love and working together to elevate the arts in our city—with many theater professionals hoping to eventually create a theater district/hub for the creative arts Downtown.
“We all want one thing: to do what we love in an area we love. And the more we are able to do that here, the more artists we keep here,” says Henderson. “I think theater as we know it is changing, and if we want to survive, the Raleigh community has to find a way to keep it alive.”
2023-24 Arts and Theatre Preview
Ready to support the cause? Raleigh’s 2023–24 arts and theater season is filled to the brim with can’t-miss productions, plays, musicals and exhibits. The curtain is calling… so nab those tix and settle in your seat for a season of five-star performances and exhibits.
SEPTEMBER
Wicked, through Sept. 17
DPAC | dpacnc.com
Spiders: Fear to Fascination, through Oct. 8
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences | naturalsciences.org
Firebird, Sept. 14–Oct. 1
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
Last Stop on Market Street, Sept. 16–24
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
Dutch Art in a Global Age: Masterpieces
From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Sept. 16–Jan. 7
North Carolina Museum of Art | ncartmuseum.org
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Sept. 20–21
Carolina Performing Arts | carolinaperformingarts.org
OCTOBER
12 Angry Jurors, October
The Justice Theater Project | thejusticetheaterproject.org
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Oct. 5–15
Theatre in the Park | theatreinthepark.com
Beautiful—The Carole King Musical, Oct. 10–15
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | nctheatre.com
MJ the Musical, Oct. 10–22
DPAC | dpacnc.com
Arcadia, Oct. 12–29
Burning Coal Theatre Company | burningcoal.org
Frankenstein, Oct. 12–29
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
Rimini Protokoll, Oct. 14–15
Carolina Performing Arts | carolinaperformingarts.org
Barbecue, Oct. 18–29
Theatre Raleigh | theatreraleigh.com
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Oct. 20
NC State LIVE | live.arts.ncsu.edu
Misery, Oct. 20–Nov. 5
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
La Traviata, Oct. 27 & 29
NC Opera | ncopera.org
NOVEMBER
Zoe & Cloyd, Nov. 4
NC State LIVE | live.arts.ncsu.edu
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Nov. 16–19
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
Mean Girls, Nov. 24–26
DPAC | dpacnc.com
DECEMBER
Moonlight, Through Dec. 17
Burning Coal Theatre Company | burningcoal.org
Black Nativity in Concert, December
The Justice Theater Project | thejusticetheaterproject.org
Cinderella 2023, Dec. 1–17
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
The Nutcracker, Dec. 8–9
City Ballet Raleigh | city-ballet.com
A Christmas Carol 50th Anniversary, Dec. 8–10
Theatre In The Park | theatreinthepark.com
Elf: The Musical, Dec. 9–17
North Carolina Theatre | nctheatre.com
The 1940s Radio Tour, Dec. 13–24
Theatre Raleigh | theatreraleigh.com
The Nutcracker, Dec. 14–24
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
JANUARY
Hymn, Jan. 25–Feb. 11
Burning Coal Theatre Company | burningcoal.org
Compagnie Hervé KOUBI, Jan. 27
NC State LIVE | live.arts.ncsu.edu
FEBRUARY
Rhapsody in Blue, Feb. 1–18
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
The Barber of Seville, Feb. 2 & 4
NC Opera | ncopera.org
Nate the Great, Feb. 2–11
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
Peter Pan, Feb. 27–March 3
DPAC | dpacnc.com
MARCH
Alexa Tarantino Quartet, March 1
NC State LIVE | live.arts.ncsu.edu
The Little Mermaid, March 7–24
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.comcarolinaballet.com
Trouble in Mind, March 15–31
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
Mrs. Doubtfire, March 19–24
DPAC | dpacnc.com
APRIL
A Little Night Music, April 4–21
Burning Coal Theatre Company | burningcoal.org
Rent, April 20–28
North Carolina Theatre | nctheatre.com
The Girl of the Golden West, April 21
NC Opera | ncopera.org
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, April 25–28
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
MAY
Looking for Roberto Clemente, May 4–12
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
The Lion King, May 15–June 9
DPAC | dpacnc.com
Cinderella, May 16–19
Carolina Ballet | carolinaballet.com
JUNE
Kinky Boots, June 7–23
Raleigh Little Theatre | raleighlittletheatre.org
Once on This Island, June 22–30
North Carolina Theatre | nctheatre.com
