Cultural Carolina

The show was opened with an acapella performance of James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind” by Duke University’s Pitchforks with no introduction this served as the overture to the show.

Two numbers from the Broadway bound show, the title song “Blackbeard” performed by the supporting lead actor portraying the Governor of South Carolina and a supporting chorus of 15 actors and “To Be Remembered” a solo performance by the star of the show, Blackbeard!  The second piece speaks to history’s fickle way of remembering legacies for good or for ill.  Dynamic and well scored and with brilliant vocal performances this act exceeded all expectations and captured the audience!

Featuring the African American Dance Company, this performance began with a tribal salute to the dignitaries in the audience and a poetry performance introducing the story.   Drumbeats started with the male cast on the stage the High Priest with the female cast entered chanting from the back of the hall.  They took the stage and the story of how the Akonting evolved in to the modern day banjo unfolded.  This exciting, rhythmic and colorful performance ended quietly with one performer picking a banjo, while the Akonting was held high, it a perfect segue to our stage finale.

This performance featured a live performance by the Grammy winning Red Clay Ramblers staged up from the dance area, where a cast of 35 Carolina Ballet dancers cavorted in original choreography by Tony Nominated Lynne Taylor-Corbet.  Upbeat, fun and even a little campy this send up to Mountain Music had the audience clapping in time and tapping their feet!

The show received a standing ovation and we staged a curtain call with all 105 performers on the stage at once. This was truly a site to see and the audience responded with enthusiasm, understanding the level of talent they had just witnessed.   After the 4th bow the cast exited the stage and the guest were invited to dinner and dancing with Carolina Beach Music icons the Embers in the concert hall foyers.