33rd Annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival Announces 2011 Season
April 21, 2011
CHARLESTON, SC – April 21, 2011 – Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the official outreach arm of Spoleto Festival USA. Piccolo Spoleto opens on Friday, May 27 and runs for 17 days until Sunday, June 12, 2011 and offers a variety of arts and cultural programs including theatre, blues, jazz, chamber music, early music, dance, literary, visual arts as well as many admission-free and family-friendly events.
New for 2011, Piccolo Spoleto is launching a redesigned website and starting on Monday, May 2 will operate a new box office location in the Charleston Civic Design Center, 85 Calhoun St., which is adjacent to the Gaillard Auditorium. The second box office location, also open starting on Monday, May 2, is in the Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting St. Tickets are available for purchase now by calling 1-866-811-4111, or online.
The 2011 official Piccolo Spoleto poster image, selected from a statewide competition based on its design qualities and representation of the festival, is Gold March, by Charleston resident, Dee Schenck Rhodes. The Spotlight Concert Series poster is Flutter by Charlestonian, Karin Olah.
Produced and directed by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs since 1979, Piccolo Spoleto’s mission is to provide access to the Spoleto Festival USA experience for everyone, regardless of their economic, social or physical circumstances and to provide the opportunity for excellent local and regional artists, writers and performers to be showcased in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival venues. Highlights of this year’s admission-free events, produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs include:
• SUNSET SERENADE – This annual pops concert features the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra, conducted by Donald Portnoy, playing works made famous in New York and Hollywood, including West Side Story, Schlinder’s List and more. The centerpiece of the program is the Charleston Ballet Theatre, choreographed by Jill Eathorne Bahr, performing Wings (music by Ernest Bloch) and The Lark Ascending (music by Vaughan Williams). U.S. Custom House, Concord and Market Sts. May 27 at 8 p.m.
• PICCOLO SPOLETO CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL – Featuring One World, Many Stories, children of all ages delight in varied live entertainment, face painting, crafts and more! Presented in cooperation with the Charleston County Public Library. Marion Square. May 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• PICCOLO SPOLETO BLOCK PARTY: THE SUMMER FRENZY! – Kick-off the summer with a night full of music, dancing, and good eats. Entertainment ranges from local bands battling it out, dance performances by Dancefx and Mufuka Works Dance Company and a DJ mixin’ up tunes from the 60’s to today’s hottest hits. Marion Square. June 4 from 7 to 11 p.m.
• CONTEMPORARY CHARLESTON 2011: UNDER THE RADAR – Eight emerging artists showcase their works, including drawing, collage, painting, photography and installation. A project of the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, Charleston magazine and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. Curated by Erin Glaze and Rebecca Silberman. May 26 to July 31; Festival hours: Daily: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. City Gallery at Waterfront Park, 34 Prioleau St.
• PICCOLO SPOLETO FINALE: MOTOWNMADNESS! – Back by popular demand in Hampton Park, MotownMadness features the hottest Motown hits performed by a big band! Motownmadness brings Motown’s greatest favorites made famous by Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, and more! Musical nostalgia at its best! MotownMadness is a product of Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling Green and its Music Director, Jeffrey Reed. Hampton Park. June 11 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Piccolo Spoleto ticket hotline at 1-866-811-4111, Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; by fax at (843) 720-3967; or online at www.piccolospoleto.com. Beginning Monday, May 2, tickets may be purchased in person at the official Piccolo Spoleto box office at the Charleston Civic Design Center (adjacent to the Gaillard Auditorium), 85 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401. This location is open daily, Monday, May 2 to Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on Sunday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at the Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29403, which will be open daily, Monday, May 2 to Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Sunday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2011 Piccolo Spoleto Title Sponsors are Publix and Publix Super Market Charities. Additional Major Grants Were Received From the City of Charleston, Charleston County and the South Carolina Arts Commission. Series Sponsors are BMW Manufacturing Co.; Charleston.com; Comcast; Dewberry Capital; Hendrick BMW; Knology; SCANA and SCE&G. Major Sponsors are Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation and the Washington Park Art Show. Event Sponsors are All That’s Good; BlueCross BlueShield of SC; Market and Meeting Street Associates; Margaret O’Brien; Roper St. Francis Healthcare; The Art Institute; Town of Kiawah Island Arts Council; Weight Watchers. Benefactors are Anne and Ronald Abramson Family Foundation; Ovation Network; The Bridge; Total Wine & More; WTAT-FOX 24 and WMMP-UPN36; Zucker Family Fund. Donors are Joanna Foundation; On The Avenue Marketing; Norton & Mindelle Seltzer; Tag Dati; Verizon Wireless.
