CHARLOTTE, N.C. First Lady Michelle Obama arrived at Time Warner Cable Arena Monday afternoon and took the podium where she will give remarks scheduled for the Democratic National Convention’s opening night Tuesday.

The first lady, wearing a green, black and gray dress, stood at the podium for a couple of minutes and waved to the crowd. She returned at 4:15 and spoke for about 10 minutes with Kal Penn, the actor and former Obama aide.

Penn, who in 2009 left his role on the TV show “House” to work temporarily for the Obama administration, said they were preparing for the first lady’s speech and shooting video for livestreaming before President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech on Thursday.

The convention is being webstreamed live at DemConvention.com/live. On Thursday, Penn is hosting a web-only convention special starting at 8 p.m.

Penn, an Indian-American, is probably better known as Kumar Patel, the White Castle-loving stoner in the “Harold & Kumar” series.

Michelle Obama did not speak to the crowd of reporters and photographers in the arena or actually practice her speech. The prompter screen displayed the generic: “Hello, everyone! Thank you so much. I’d like to start by thanking the governor ...”

Her staff will not reveal where she’s staying, but many believe she’s at the Ballantyne Hotel and Resort. Roads in that area have been blocked this week because “a dignitary” is staying there. On Monday evening, WSOC-TV reported that a crew stationed outside the hotel spotted a motorcade with a large police escort pulling in. Area residents reported extra security around the hotel.