ONGOING GODSPELL
It’s gospel in the park. The early ’70s produced two stage productions based on the new testament, Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. Of the two, Godspell diverges furthest from its source material, the Gospel of Matthew — a good fit for an outdoor performance from Matthews Playhouse. The actors portray non-biblical characters, and the plot is structured as a series of parables. With lyrics drawn from traditional hymns and an eclectic score drawing from show tunes, rock and pop, the show is arguably catchier than Jesus Christ Superstar. The song “Day by Day” reached #13 in the Billboard pop charts. More: $10; June 4–13, 7:30 p.m., Stumptown Park, 120 South Trade St., Matthews; matthewsplayhouse.com AJ WHITE (GODSPELL)
CON CAROLINAS
ONGOING
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After Ahmaud Arbery was shot to death by white supremacists while jogging, photojournalist E. Mackey turned to the tools of his trade to affect change — his camera, his talent, and his social platform. The resulting exhibit, Choose Your Weapon, documents the Black Lives Matter movement and strives to inspire everyone to identify the tools at their disposal to fight for equity. Mackey’s presentation is the centerpiece of the first Art After Dark celebration in two years, which honors Black Music Month with art workshops, discussions, live music, and more. More: Free; June 4, 6 p.m.; Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, 551 S. Tryon St.; ganttcenter.org
Cosplay, gaming and geekery return with Charlotte’s first post-COVID con. Featured guests include alien actor and man of a thousand faces Bill Blair (Westworld, Tales of Frankenstein); bestselling, cross-genre novelist Quincy J. Allen (Chemical Burn); science/tech speaker and paranormal romance writer Jeanne Adams; Menopausal Superheroes series scribe Samantha Bryant and more. Panel discussions topics range from “Filmmaking in a Pandemic” to Bram Stoker descendant Dacre Stoker’s search for the real Castle Dracula. More: $40; June 4–6, times vary; Hilton Charlotte University Place, 8629 JM Keynes Drive; concarolinas.org
ART AFTER DARK
Pg. 18 JUN 2 - JUN 15, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM
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AMY BAGWELL (SILENT STREETS OPENING CEREMONY)
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CON CAROLINAS
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Mint Museum Uptown is hosting an outdoor shindig to celebrate a new exhibition coming in June. Artists Amy Bagwell, Stacy Lynn Waddell, and Antoine Williams will lead a panel discussion, and indierock band Junior Astronomers have sets planned for 3 and 5 p.m. Food trucks will pull up outside and will join Reid’s Fine Foods and Fin & Fino’s outdoor dining setup. Bring your family, your kids, your dog, whatever you got and hit the streets for an outdoor, COVID-conscious, not-so-silent gathering. More: Free; June 5, 12 p.m.; Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St.; mintmuseum.org
The annual American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day kicks off the summer with the country’s largest celebration of trails featuring a series of outdoor activities designed to promote and celebrate the importance of trails to our communities. The local event, co-hosted with the city of Mount Holly, takes place on segments of the Thread Trail on land and water. Festivities include artisans, vendors, live music, kayak rentals, bike tours, guided walks, food trucks and a farmers market. More: Free; June 5, 10 a.m.; Catawba Riverfront Greenway and Tuckaseegee Park; 165 Broome St., Mt. Holly; carolinathreadtrail.org/ntd
SILENT STREETS OPENING CEREMONY
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY CELEBRATION
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY CELEBRATION
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