Arts council offers month of free events

There are more than 100 events in September's Cultural Free For All: We pick the best

By Sarah Aarthun
news@eyecharlotte.com

Posted: Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2008

More Information

Go behind the scenes of the Children's Theatre's biggest musical production, “Peter Pan.” The special tour includes a backstage look at the scene and costume shops, the dressing rooms, and the actors' green room. Various times on Sept. 13. 300 E. Seventh St. Call 704-973-2828 to reserve a spot.
Other options
The Collaborative Arts Theatre presents “Sitcoms Live” – classic episodes of your favorite TV sitcoms staged by local actors. Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Duke Energy Theatre. 345 N. College St. www.collaborativeartstheatre .com.
St. Peter's Episcopal Church offers free chamber music concerts the first Tuesday of the month. Tuesday at 12:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Wine and cheese reception at Hodges Taylor Gallery follows the 5:30 performance.) 115 W. Seventh St. http://cmsp.wordpress.com/concerts.
The N.C. Dance Theatre is offering a week of free dance classes for adults, including beginning ballet, jazz, tap, Afro-Caribbean and hip-hop. A five-class card normally costs $70. Various times Sept. 22-27. Details: www.ncdance.org/ freetodance.
The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is giving away 100 free tickets (normally $29.50-$34.50) to the Sept. 30 “Mother Load,” a one-woman show on the trials and tribulations of motherhood. 7:30 p.m. 130 N. Tryon St. Limit two per person. Tickets: 704-372-1000.
The 71-seat Carolina Actors Studio Theatre will put on a free preview of “Foxfire” on Sept. 10 (a $22 value). 8 p.m. 1118 Clement Ave. Tickets: 704-455-8542.
Last year's Festival in the Park drew more than 100,000 people to Freedom Park to see the works of more than 150 artists and groove to live performances by nearly 1,000 entertainers. This year's festival runs from Sept. 18-21. 1409 East Blvd. www.festivalinthepark.org.
Other options
Enjoy Labor Day with a full weekend of free concerts and performances during the Matthews Alive! Festival. Friday-Monday. Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St., Matthews. www.matthewsalive.org.
Ancient Rome will come alive when gladiators and soldiers take over uptown's Fourth Ward Park during the Roman Army Festival, Sept. 5-7. 301 N. Poplar St. www.discoveryplace.org.
To discover some of our area's best works of art, you don't even have to step foot inside a museum. Take the ASC's self-guided public art tour. The tour starts at West Trade Street and includes stops at the Bank of America building and the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets. Download the map at www.artsandscience .org.
Other options
Join other artists at Mint Hill Arts Gallery's Portrait Drawing Session on Tuesday. Bring your own art supplies. 7-9 p.m. 7714 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill. www.minthillarts.org.
The NoDa gallery crawl is held on the first and third Fridays of the month. Meander through the arts district's many galleries and live-music venues. Next crawl is Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. Corner of 36th and Davidson streets. www.noda.org.

The Arts & Science Council celebrates its 50th anniversary in September, and to mark the milestone it's hosting a month-long Cultural Free For All.

Here are some picks of the month's best (free!) ways to get your cultural fix. (For a full list of the more than 100 events: charlottecultureguide.com.)

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