DRAMA
December 7 - 12, 2021
Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations
Admission: $35+
Five Guys. One Dream. And a Sound that Would Make Music History. AIN’T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS is the electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.The winner of the 2019 a6Tony Award for Best Choreography, it’s a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America. Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine named the greatest R&B group of all time.
Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC
(919) 680-2787
www.dpacnc.com
December 12 - 29, 2021
A Motown Christmas
Admission: $27+
Fueled by an exceptional cast, this musical revue celebrates the holiday songs of Motown! Enjoy a unique holiday experience full of soul and joy, wrapped up with a message of love.This show will be performed in two locations.
Dec. 12: McGregor Hall
201 Breckenridge St. Henderson, NC
Dec 21 - 29: Cary Arts Center
101 Dry Ave, Cary, NC
Pure Life Theatre
(919) 839-9505
purelifetheatre.com
January 19, 2022 - February 6. 2022
Stick Fly
Admission: $20+
FAMILY TIME CAN BE STICKY…It was supposed to be a relaxing weekend, but when the LeVay brothers bring their new girlfriends to the beach house to meet the parents, mom’s MIA and dad’s acting weird. Family tensions erupt around the dinner table when old arguments about race, class, and family expectations are served up.
PlayMakers Repertory Company
120 Country Club Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 962-7529
www.playmakersrep.org
January 24, 2022
The Movement, an acapella musical
Admission: $6+
The Movement, an acapella musical, an original work composed by Kathy D. Harrison tells the story of the children and teens in Alabama who stood against racial injustice in 1963 – and changed American History. Through harmonious singing, rhythmic step dance and narrative scenes, this civil rights story illuminates the courage of young Americans. This production was created by LEAP Artists Live! whose mission is to provide educational arts programs to promote access and equity for NYC students underserved in the arts.
The Carolina Theatre of Durham
309 West Morgan St, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3030
carolinatheatre.org
January 27, 2022 - February 13, 2022
ART by Yasmina Reza
Admission: $15+
French playwright Yasmina Reza’s comic masterpiece about three middle aged men, long-time friends, who’s seemingly inseparable bond is torn when one of them decides suddenly to purchase an abstract painting, a completely white canvas. Since it premiered in France in 1994, Art has been translated into numerous languages and has won many awards for best comedy, including the Olivier Award for its premiere production in London (starring Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott) and the Tony Award for its Broadway premiere (starring Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber).Tickets are available for both LIVE and LIVESTREAMED performances.
Burning Coal Theatre
224 Polk St., Raleigh NC 27604
(919) 834-4001
www.burningcoal.org
February 8 - 13. 2022
Sister Act
$32.25+
After witnessing a murder, a divine disco diva is put into protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent with a crumbling choir. Through the power of sisterhood and song, the undercover songstress helps the nuns raise their voices, while rediscovering her own. The blockbuster movie is remade for the stage in a sparkling, feel-good comedy, featuring dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, gospel, soul, and disco.
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
2 E South St, Raleigh, NC
(919) 996-8700
www.nctheatre.com
February 11 - 27, 2022
We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between The Years 1884 - 1915
A group of actors gathers to tell the little-known story of the first genocide of the twentieth century. As the full force of a horrific past crashes into the good intentions of the present, what seemed a far-away place and time is suddenly all too close to home. Just whose story are they telling? Award-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury collides the political with the personal in a play that is irreverently funny and seriously brave.
The Justice Theater Project
Saint Augustine University, Seby Jones Theatre
(919) 264-7089
www.thejusticetheaterproject.org
March 4 - 6, 2022
Sanctuary Row
Admission: $43,68
Harriet Tubman may be the best-known conductor of the Underground Railroad, but a new piece highlights another key figure: William Still, who helped nearly 800 enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the years before the Civil War. Widely recognized for his efforts as an abolitionist, historian and conductor for the Underground Railroad, Still is the central figure of SANCTUARY ROAD, by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec.
After the success of his opera The Shining, award winning composer Paul Moravec has once again collaborated with librettist Mark Campbell to create the second of his ‘American historical oratorios’. SANCTUARY ROAD draws on the astonishing stories found in William Still’s book The Underground Railroad Records, which documents the network of secret routes and safe houses used by African American slaves to escape into free states and Canada.Of his process, Moravec says “Time is the medium of music and memory is the mediator. In its sublime, mysterious way, music remembers. Composing the music for this oratorio, I was guided by my intention to memorialize indelibly the spirit and events of this extraordinary chapter in American history. As William Still sings about the slaves he aided on their road to freedom, ‘Their testimony will never be forgotten.’”
William Henry Curry conducts and Dennis Whitehead Darling directs this new production; the cast features Benjamin Taylor, LaToya Lain, Taylor Raven, Norman Shankle, and Malcolm J. Merriweather.
NC Opera
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
2 E South St, Raleigh, NC
(919) 792-3853
www.ncopera.org
March 19 - 27, 2022
Front Porch Society
November 4, 2008; Marks, Mississippi. America is on the eve of electing its first black president. Amidst the town’s excitement over Barack Obama, Carrie Honey grieves her son’s tragic death. After years of failed attempts to seek justice, Carrie has grown bitter and is no longer interested in life’s celebrations, but when a scandal in town rocks this historic day, a past secret is revealed that restores her faded faith.
Agape Theatre Project
Burning Coal Theatre
224 Polk St., Raleigh NC 27604
(919) 834-4001
agapetheatreproject.com
April 27 - May 15, 2022
August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned
Admission: $20+
From one of America’s greatest playwrights comes this autobiographical journey through August Wilson’s days as a young poet, his first few jobs, a stint in jail, and his encounters with racism, music, and love as a struggling writer. This heartfelt theatrical memoir charts one man’s journey of self-discovery through adversity, and what it means to be a black artist in America.
PlayMakers Repertory Company
120 Country Club Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 962-7529
www.playmakersrep.org
May 17 - June 5, 2022
Hamilton
Admission: TBA
HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.
Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC
(919) 680-2787
www.dpacnc.com
June 10 - 26, 2022
August Wilson's FENCES
Admission: $15+
Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, Fences depicts the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker. A towering figure facing thwarted aspirations, Troy attempts to assert control in his life through his relationships with his wife and son. But even as he takes responsibility for their safety and well-being, he betrays them each in ways that will forever alter their lives. Part of August Wilson’s 10-play Century Cycle, Fences explores the walls we build around ourselves and our loved ones, while also illuminating one family’s struggles in a racist society.
Pure Life Theatre in the Historic Royal Bakery Building
3801 Hillsborough St. Suite 113, Raleigh NC 27607
(919) 839-9505
purelifetheatre.com
December 7 - 12, 2021
Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations
Admission: $35+
Five Guys. One Dream. And a Sound that Would Make Music History. AIN’T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS is the electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.The winner of the 2019 a6Tony Award for Best Choreography, it’s a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America. Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine named the greatest R&B group of all time.
Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC
(919) 680-2787
www.dpacnc.com
December 12 - 29, 2021
A Motown Christmas
Admission: $27+
Fueled by an exceptional cast, this musical revue celebrates the holiday songs of Motown! Enjoy a unique holiday experience full of soul and joy, wrapped up with a message of love.This show will be performed in two locations.
Dec. 12: McGregor Hall
201 Breckenridge St. Henderson, NC
Dec 21 - 29: Cary Arts Center
101 Dry Ave, Cary, NC
Pure Life Theatre
(919) 839-9505
purelifetheatre.com
January 19, 2022 - February 6. 2022
Stick Fly
Admission: $20+
FAMILY TIME CAN BE STICKY…It was supposed to be a relaxing weekend, but when the LeVay brothers bring their new girlfriends to the beach house to meet the parents, mom’s MIA and dad’s acting weird. Family tensions erupt around the dinner table when old arguments about race, class, and family expectations are served up.
PlayMakers Repertory Company
120 Country Club Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 962-7529
www.playmakersrep.org
January 24, 2022
The Movement, an acapella musical
Admission: $6+
The Movement, an acapella musical, an original work composed by Kathy D. Harrison tells the story of the children and teens in Alabama who stood against racial injustice in 1963 – and changed American History. Through harmonious singing, rhythmic step dance and narrative scenes, this civil rights story illuminates the courage of young Americans. This production was created by LEAP Artists Live! whose mission is to provide educational arts programs to promote access and equity for NYC students underserved in the arts.
The Carolina Theatre of Durham
309 West Morgan St, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3030
carolinatheatre.org
January 27, 2022 - February 13, 2022
ART by Yasmina Reza
Admission: $15+
French playwright Yasmina Reza’s comic masterpiece about three middle aged men, long-time friends, who’s seemingly inseparable bond is torn when one of them decides suddenly to purchase an abstract painting, a completely white canvas. Since it premiered in France in 1994, Art has been translated into numerous languages and has won many awards for best comedy, including the Olivier Award for its premiere production in London (starring Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott) and the Tony Award for its Broadway premiere (starring Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber).Tickets are available for both LIVE and LIVESTREAMED performances.
Burning Coal Theatre
224 Polk St., Raleigh NC 27604
(919) 834-4001
www.burningcoal.org
February 8 - 13. 2022
Sister Act
$32.25+
After witnessing a murder, a divine disco diva is put into protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent with a crumbling choir. Through the power of sisterhood and song, the undercover songstress helps the nuns raise their voices, while rediscovering her own. The blockbuster movie is remade for the stage in a sparkling, feel-good comedy, featuring dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, gospel, soul, and disco.
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
2 E South St, Raleigh, NC
(919) 996-8700
www.nctheatre.com
February 11 - 27, 2022
We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between The Years 1884 - 1915
A group of actors gathers to tell the little-known story of the first genocide of the twentieth century. As the full force of a horrific past crashes into the good intentions of the present, what seemed a far-away place and time is suddenly all too close to home. Just whose story are they telling? Award-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury collides the political with the personal in a play that is irreverently funny and seriously brave.
The Justice Theater Project
Saint Augustine University, Seby Jones Theatre
(919) 264-7089
www.thejusticetheaterproject.org
March 4 - 6, 2022
Sanctuary Row
Admission: $43,68
Harriet Tubman may be the best-known conductor of the Underground Railroad, but a new piece highlights another key figure: William Still, who helped nearly 800 enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the years before the Civil War. Widely recognized for his efforts as an abolitionist, historian and conductor for the Underground Railroad, Still is the central figure of SANCTUARY ROAD, by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec.
After the success of his opera The Shining, award winning composer Paul Moravec has once again collaborated with librettist Mark Campbell to create the second of his ‘American historical oratorios’. SANCTUARY ROAD draws on the astonishing stories found in William Still’s book The Underground Railroad Records, which documents the network of secret routes and safe houses used by African American slaves to escape into free states and Canada.Of his process, Moravec says “Time is the medium of music and memory is the mediator. In its sublime, mysterious way, music remembers. Composing the music for this oratorio, I was guided by my intention to memorialize indelibly the spirit and events of this extraordinary chapter in American history. As William Still sings about the slaves he aided on their road to freedom, ‘Their testimony will never be forgotten.’”
William Henry Curry conducts and Dennis Whitehead Darling directs this new production; the cast features Benjamin Taylor, LaToya Lain, Taylor Raven, Norman Shankle, and Malcolm J. Merriweather.
NC Opera
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
2 E South St, Raleigh, NC
(919) 792-3853
www.ncopera.org
March 19 - 27, 2022
Front Porch Society
November 4, 2008; Marks, Mississippi. America is on the eve of electing its first black president. Amidst the town’s excitement over Barack Obama, Carrie Honey grieves her son’s tragic death. After years of failed attempts to seek justice, Carrie has grown bitter and is no longer interested in life’s celebrations, but when a scandal in town rocks this historic day, a past secret is revealed that restores her faded faith.
Agape Theatre Project
Burning Coal Theatre
224 Polk St., Raleigh NC 27604
(919) 834-4001
agapetheatreproject.com
April 27 - May 15, 2022
August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned
Admission: $20+
From one of America’s greatest playwrights comes this autobiographical journey through August Wilson’s days as a young poet, his first few jobs, a stint in jail, and his encounters with racism, music, and love as a struggling writer. This heartfelt theatrical memoir charts one man’s journey of self-discovery through adversity, and what it means to be a black artist in America.
PlayMakers Repertory Company
120 Country Club Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 962-7529
www.playmakersrep.org
May 17 - June 5, 2022
Hamilton
Admission: TBA
HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.
Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC
(919) 680-2787
www.dpacnc.com
June 10 - 26, 2022
August Wilson's FENCES
Admission: $15+
Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, Fences depicts the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker. A towering figure facing thwarted aspirations, Troy attempts to assert control in his life through his relationships with his wife and son. But even as he takes responsibility for their safety and well-being, he betrays them each in ways that will forever alter their lives. Part of August Wilson’s 10-play Century Cycle, Fences explores the walls we build around ourselves and our loved ones, while also illuminating one family’s struggles in a racist society.
Pure Life Theatre in the Historic Royal Bakery Building
3801 Hillsborough St. Suite 113, Raleigh NC 27607
(919) 839-9505
purelifetheatre.com