Spotlight series and concerts at Lee Street

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 11, 2019

While Lee Street theatre focuses on doing topical and timely plays, it also has a schedule of events in its Spotlight Series, as well as several concerts.

Live@LST Concert series will kick off with J2B2, the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

 

The next night, Now Are the Foxes comedy improv troupe will return to Lee Street as part of the Spotlight Series. They will do a family-friendly show at 7 p.m, and an adult-themed show at 9 p.m.

 

Next for the Spotlight Series will be the “10-by-10-Minute Play Festival,” featuring 10 plays, 10 casts and 10 directors. This is for people who want to do theater but don’t have time for a full-length production.

The format will be different — this one will feature published works by established writers. The festival runs Sept. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 8 at 2:30 p.m.

 

Just a few days after that, Lee Street will have a reading with response of Tony Moore’s play, “Just Our Luck.” The intent is to foster new work, and Moore should be familiar to Lee Street audiences from numerous roles.

It’s going to be a four-step process. There will be two readings, a workshop and then a production. The actors will read it cold, never having seen it, with an audience. This way, Oden says, the author can tell what is working. The second reading has a director, and cameras recording the reading. The cameras help gauge reactions and let the playwright and director assess what’s going on. Then they can make changes after reflecting on it. Audience members play $10 to be a part of it, but you are expected to respond and will be part of a guided talkback.

The first reading will be Sept. 15 at 2:30 p.m. The second round reading will be Dec. 15 at 2:30 p.m. The workshopped performances will be June 4-13, Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and June 21 at 2:30 p.m.

 

There will be two fund-raising performances to benefit Lee Street and Novant Health on Oct. 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. The original cast of “Love, Loss and What I Wore” will do a revival of the show that was presented years ago. Novant’s mammogram unit will be at both performances celebrating women overcoming cancer. Claudia Gallup will direct.

 

For more comedy, check out Catawba College’s Where Are the Diamonds, an improv troupe, on Oct. 18, with a family friendly show at 7 p.m. and an adult show at 9.

 

It may be a little early for Halloween, but Lee Street will have a Monster’s Ball and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” showing with a shadow cast on Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. Oden said it’s meant to be a night of letting go and having fun, dressing up and watching the cult-favorite movie.

 

You can still take “Scrooge’s Christmas Trolley Tour” Nov. 21-Dec. 21 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with showtimes every 45 minutes starting at 6 p.m. Oden says tickets are already selling fast for this holiday tradition, and will likely sell out by October.

 

Kids in America, a totally ’80s tribute band, will be in concert Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

 

The next night, Destiny Stone will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Stone is an acoustic guitar solo artist with a new album, “My Man.”

 

For adults only, “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” will have you laughing your horns off. “You’ve never seen Rudolph like this,” Oden says. It’s a chance for Mom and Dad to have a little holiday fun. Performances are Dec. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m.

 

The Moonglows will return for a Magical Christmas on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. with traditional holiday songs for the whole family, along with some guest artists. The Moonglows include all local singers you’ve enjoyed in a number of performances.

 

Start the New Year with The Ultimate Eagles Tribute — On the Border, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Oden says this is a great band.

 

The Jeff Little Trio returns to Lee Street on March 13 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Now are the Foxes will be back March 14, with a family friendly show at 7 p.m. and an adult show at 9 p.m.

 

Where are the Diamonds? will return on May 2, again with a family show at 7 and an adult show at 9 p.m.

 

Chatham County Line will wind up the concert series June 26 at 7:30 p.m. Salisbury loves this band and they keep coming back for more.

Tickets for all shows are available now at www.leestreet.org.