Announcing CLT After Dark, a live show with COVID-19 dance parties — and Luke Kuechly
Would you tune into Luke Kuechly making popcorn at home on a 1970s style variety show?
Charlotte Center City Partners is betting on it.
On Thursday evening, CLT After Dark streams live for the first time. The 30-minute hyper-local late-night show will include several performances by the talented people of Charlotte.
It’s the brainchild of Robert Krumbine, the chief creative officer at Center City Partners. He was inspired by an episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Hugh Hefner’s series “Playboy After Dark.”
“I thought, ‘How could we bring community together, celebrate what’s local and also give something back to the stakeholders to help them when we get into recovery?’” Krumbine said. “That’s where this idea came from.”
Episodes will feature a local musician, an artist (visual, dance, poetry and more), a bartender or chef and a celebrity. Expect humor from Charlotte is Creative founders Tim Miner and Matt Olin, sketches from theatrical companies and improv comedy troupes, and demonstrations from chefs and bartenders. Charlotteans can send in the bad joke of the day and COVID-19 dance party videos – think TikTok – through a website submission button.
“It will be very fast-paced,” Krumbine said. “We’ll keep people’s attention.”
Center City Partners intends to bring attention to businesses and nonprofits — and the people behind them — who are affected by COVID-19 and the stay-at-home orders with the variety show. Every week, a worker in healthcare or emergency services will be honored with a surprise dinner. They’ll receive takeout from a restaurant from Uptown or South End.
“We really just want to highlight local artists, local restaurants, local bartenders,” Krumbine said. “Really make a point of saying, ‘Everybody is still here and when the time comes, these are the folks you should be thinking about.”
Noel Freidline will bring the livestreamed show together as its live host of CLT After Dark. He’ll connect to the various acts, recorded beforehand, and interact with the viewers by monitoring the live chat. He acknowledges that the show will probably change over time based on feedback from the audience.
“I just have to go out and be me,” Freidline said. “I’m probably a little bit over the top and probably talk too much, a little corny and goofy. That probably will be the approach I take. Hopefully, whatever approach it is, it’s entertaining.”
He describes himself as a jazz piano player and entertainer. Freidline teaches music and film at Davidson Day School and music business and other classes as an adjunct professor at UNC Charlotte. He and jazz singer Maria Howell started Notes from Middle C Jazz on Facebook Live on March 18. They perform each Wednesday night, gaining popularity with more than 17,000 views.
For CLT After Dark, Freidline will have a piano, allowing him to interact with viewers in a unique way.
“It will be very interactive musically,” he said. “I’m an improviser, and I’m pretty good at making up stuff on the spot. As long as the lyrics are no more complex than Dr. Suess, I usually can make those up as I go.”
If Charlotte tunes in, Krumbine plans on continuing the show.
“This is the quarantine edition,” Krumbine said. “We’re hoping that if this thing takes off and people find it interesting and follow, then we might actually make it a real live event from a Center City penthouse. You might be able to come and enjoy it.”
DETAILS
The first episode of CLT After Dark streams 10 p.m. on Thursday from cltafterdark.com.
The lineup for Thursday’s episode includes Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte, Harvey Cummings Project, Fuzion Force, Luke Kuechly and Mike Rice from Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails.
Episodes are free but may contain links to local GoFundMe pages for local artists, musicians and businesses.
Watch past clips and episodes from the Charlotte Center City Partners website.
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
