Spoleto Festival USA 2016
The Spoleto Festival is probably not on your radar but it should be. For nearly 40 years in a row the festival has been spotlighting the very best in dance, theatre, opera, choral, and jazz music. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, America’s premier performing arts festival takes place over seventeen days with the purpose of shining a spotlight on new and emerging talent, alongside formidable and well-established artists.
Performances are held in a multitude of Charleston’s historic outdoor theatres, spaces, and churches, sprawling throughout the city, integrating the experience of life and art, participant and spectator. In so doing, Spoleto USA showcases the dynamism, beauty, and timeliness of theater, musical performance, and dance. Innovation and progressive artistic experimentation is encouraged, as well as a strong dedication to tradition.
The festival has been the home of many award winning and culturally notable premieres, some of which include Creve Coeur by Tennessee Williams, The American Clock by Arthur Miller, Miracolo d’Amore by Martha Clarke, Praise House by Urban Bush Women, Three Tales by Steve Reich and Beryl Korot, and Tenebrae by Osvaldo Golijov.
This year will feature many exciting showcases including: Porgy and Bess, The Little Match Girl, LA Double Coquette, The Importance of Being Earnest, Every Brilliant Thing, A Gambler’s Guide To Dying as well as appearances by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.
The Spoleto Festival will be taking place from May 27th to June 12th 2016. Tickets are available on both an individual performance or group level. Numerous hotel packages are available in different areas of beautiful, historic Charleston.
The festival will be heavily featured in numerous local venues. A small selection of which include, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston Library Society, Charleston Visitor Center, City Hall, Middleton Place, Wolfe Street Playhouse, and Dock Street Theatre.
The Spoleto Festival is one of the last bastions of true theatrical display, synonymous with pushing theatre arts forward. In an age where theatre and dance are often overlooked, it becomes even more important for dynamic venues like the Spoleto Festival USA to continue bringing the performing arts into the 21st Century, underscoring their value and imparting their vibrant presence into today’s cultural landscape.