Community Cue: Conversations Inspired by the Stage
This series of free events, open to the general public, welcomes the community to explore a theme or topic inspired by an upcoming show. Community Cues elicit impactful conversation from attendees around these themes, with moderated events featuring local experts, teaching artists or members of the featured production's cast, crew or creative team. Community Cues take place at community sites around the Charlotte region, as well as at Blumenthal Arts venues.
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Bring more voices to the conversation! Know a great location for a Community Cue or want to host? Email educationdepartment@blumenthalarts.org.
Coming Soon
Life Rules
Have you ever wondered how an actor moves from performing in a Broadway tour to writing, producing, and more? Join us for our next Community Cue with Paul Oakley Stovall, the actor who originated the role of “George Washington” in the first North American tour of Hamilton. Still singing, but also writing and producing, Paul will be in town with his latest cabaret experience. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to chat directly with him!
A FREE box lunch will be provided but RSVP is required.
Free or reduced priced parking is not available for this event.
Past Offerings
Hamilton
Cast members of Hamilton, the acclaimed Broadway musical based on Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton, sat down for a conversation about the 2025 tour.
The Mystical Arts of Tibet
We were joined in conversation by our President and CEO, Tom Gabbard, and members of Birdmen, the incredible, stilt-walking street artists who have been part of the Charlotte International Arts Festival for the past three years. After that conversation, we experienced the amazing opening ceremony of the Sand Mandala painting by Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery.
The Lion King
Puppetry is such an important part of what makes the Lion King so unforgettable and our friends at Sigmon Theatrical introduced us to different types of puppets, how they’re made, and how even the simplest movements of a puppet can help tell a story.
The Lion King at NourishUP
We partnered with Nourish Up (formerly Loaves and Fishes) to highlight food scarcity, one of the themes in The Lion King. In addition to a Q&A with members of the cast, local Chef, Shef Shaun, used the demo kitchen at Nourish Up to us how to make leftover chicken last for multiple meals by using it as an ingredient in pasta. We all got to sample his creation and we left with recipes for that pasta, quesadillas, and chicken salad. Learn more about Nourish Up here.
Back to the Future
A lunch and chat with members of the cast of Back to the Future, the new musical based on the 80’s classic film!
The Kite Runner
Conversation with members of the cast and crew of The Kite Runner, a stirring new play based on the internation best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini.
Message in a Bottle
Unlike other Q&A style Community Cues, we were lucky to have the two Dance Captains and the Stage Manager from Message in a Bottle, a moving piece of dance theater, which tells the story of a family ripped apart while seeking refuge from the war being waged in their homeland. This conversation provided an interesting peek into the life of a professional dancer and how the creative process differs from that of a Broadway musical.