91女神

North Carolina Symphony: Classical Favorites Celebrating America 250
Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM
Experience the power and beauty of live orchestral music as the North Carolina Symphony returns to the Bardo Arts Center with Classical Favorites Celebrating America 250. This enchanting evening features music from timeless masterpieces by Bernstein and Copland鈥攁long with the cinematic brilliance of John Williams. This concert offers something for everyone, whether you're a lifelong classical music lover or a first-time listener. Don鈥檛 miss this opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable night of music with one of the state鈥檚 most celebrated ensembles.

DRUM TAO - THE BEST
Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM
Blending the thunderous rhythms of traditional Japanese taiko drums with contemporary music, choreography, and striking visual design, DRUM TAO has captivated audiences worldwide. Founded in 1993 in Oita, Japan, this internationally renowned ensemble creates a one-of-a-kind performance filled with athleticism, artistry, and heart-pounding energy. With handcrafted instruments, original compositions, and stunning costumes, DRUM TAO offers a modern and unforgettable take on Japanese performing arts.

Shelton Laurel: An Appalachian Opera
Friday, January 23, 2026, at 7:30 PM
91女神 (WCU) Bardo Arts Center (BAC), invites you to Shelton Laurel: An Appalachian Opera. This performance is an opportunity for the community to experience the world premiere of a new work written by WCU professor and composer, Dr. Damon Sink. The production explores the tragic hardships faced by settlers in Western North Carolina during the time of the American Civil War. Set in rural Madison County, the opera鈥檚 story is a powerful account of families torn by fear, mistrust, and violence, and of the transformative power of community. Inspired by the poetry and prose of Ron Rash and based, in part, on contemporary accounts of the Shelton Laurel massacre, Shelton Laurel gives voice to an important and difficult reality of Appalachian Civil War history. Shelton Laurel is a haunting meditation on loyalty, survival, and the brutal consequences of civil conflict. The work was created in and for Western North Carolina by artists who are honored to share one of the region鈥檚 most challenging and meaningful chapters of history.

The Nutcracker featuring the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Friday, December 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM | Friday, December 5, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 6, at 3:00 PM
Founded in 1964, the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville will again visit the campus of 91女神 to perform two performances of the holiday favorite ballet, The Nutcracker. Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville鈥檚 celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of the Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.

Echoes Across the Smokes: Strings, Stories, and Songs
Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Step into a night of mountain magic with Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Strings, Stories, and Songs. Presented by WCU鈥檚 Bardo Arts Center and Mountain Heritage Center, this soulful celebration brings the Smokies to life through the spirited tunes of the Junior Appalachian Musicians and Sylva Old Time Jam Band, the captivating stories of Cherokee storyteller Kathi Littlejohn, and the harmonies of the Cherokee Language Repertory Choir. The evening crescendos with the powerful voice of Grammy-nominated artist and east Tennessee native Amythyst Kiah, whose music bridges tradition and modern roots. Let the music, memory, and language of the mountains carry you home.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Friday, September 19, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Hamlet is consumed by doubt and perhaps descending into madness. After his father dies in strange circumstances, he loses his footing鈥� Are those close to him deceiving him? Beset by apparitions, is he losing his mind? As his grip on reality loosens, how can he tell the truth from lies and those who are loyal from traitors? Created by choreographer Guillaume C么t茅 and stage director Robert Lepage, Hamlet pulls the audience deep into a world of deceptiveness, where phantoms and humans mingle on a minimalist set where light, shadow and transparency play a central role. This metaphorical reinterpretation of the Shakespearian drama draws a fine line connecting movements of the body with what may or may not be lurking within the corners of the mind.

The Making of Our Planet with Dan Tapster
Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM | Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 7:30 PM
During this event, audience members will hear from showrunner of the series, Dan Tapster, as he describes the process and his experiences while working on Life on Our Planet (Netflix) LIVE. Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, Life on Our Planet uses stunning natural history and world-class VFX to reveal the story of life in a way that has never been attempted before. This project is sponsored in part by a grant from the WCU Sustainable Campus Initiative.

Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience
Thursday, February 27^th, 2025, at 10:00 AM | Thursday, February 27^th, 2025, at 7:30 PM
This captivating circus show unfolds the story of a character who has lost his inner light, plunging him into a wondrous and surreal world where memories come to life and the ordinary becomes 鈥榚xtra鈥檕rdinary. 鈥淪olstice鈥� blends over 8 acrobatic acts with lighting, costumes, music, scenery, and snow to create a unique blend of poetry and circus in a 75-minute show! 鈥淪olstice鈥� is an unforgettable celebration of the human spirit, where every member of the audience will feel like a kid again and remember what it was like to see snow fall for the first time! The artists include: Liam Bradley, Elly Craig, Kevin Flanagan, Santina Leone, Cheya Potter, Sierra Rhoades Nicholls, and Dom Sebastian.

Ballet Hisp谩nico
Wednesday, February 12^th, 2025, at 10:00 AM | Wednesday, February 12^th, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Rescheduled from October 2024 due to Hurricane Helene
Ballet Hisp谩nico is the nation鈥檚 renowned Latino dance organization and one of America鈥檚 Cultural Treasures. For 50 years, Ballet Hisp谩nico has been bringing communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance performances, transformative dance training, and enduring community engagement experiences.

Light Chasers with Cloud Cult
Friday, January 24^th, 2025, at 10:00 AM | Friday, January 24^th, 2025, at 7:30 PM
We鈥檙e born, we grow together, we triumph, we lose, we fall apart, we mourn, we resolve, and then we depart. This is our collective journey. But is there more? This singularly unique production tells the story of one couple鈥檚 life together, from childhood to marriage, sorrow and reconciliation, and ultimately to departure, through the beloved art rock band, Cloud Cult鈥檚, 2010 concept album, Light Chasers, performed live by the band during the performance. Told through dance, movement, lights, music, and imagery, this beautiful and affirming piece finds joy in loss. Produced with permission and in partnership with Cloud Cult.

Choreography by Ashlee Wasmund and Liz Borom. Story by Jayme McGhan, Ashlee Wasmund, and Liz Borom.

The Nutcracker featuring the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Friday, December 6^th, 2024, at 10:00 AM | Friday, December 6^th, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 7^th, 2024, at 3:00 PM
Founded in 1964, the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville will again visit the campus of 91女神 to perform two performances of the holiday favorite ballet, The Nutcracker. Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville鈥檚 celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of the Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.

Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Bluegrass, Ballads, and Tall Tales
Thursday, November 7^th, 2024, at 10:00 AM | Thursday, November 7^th, 2024, at 7:30 PM
The WCU Bardo Arts Center, in collaboration with Mountain Heritage Center, presents Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Bluegrass, Ballads, and Tall Tales, an unforgettable event celebrating mountain culture through its musical and oral traditions. Sheila Kay Adams, Donna Ray Norton, and William Ritter will open the evening with storytelling and generations-old ballad singing. Headlining will be the Kruger Brothers along with string quartet, Kontras Quartet. The Kruger Brothers, Jens and Uwe, alongside their musical partner Joel Landsberg, will share their unique blend of bluegrass, folk, and classical influences. They will be supported by the Kontras Quartet who tread the line between classical music and American folk.

Trailblazing Women of Country - A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly
Thursday, April 18^th, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton revolutionized country music and blazed a trail for future generations of female artists. With their chart-topping hits and record-breaking sales, Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly wove threads of contemporary womanhood throughout the tapestry of country music, resulting in unprecedented commercial success and earning each a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Trailblazing Women of Country features, Miko Marks, CMT's 2022, "Next Woman of Country,"; and Nashville-based singer, Kristina Train, supported by a 5-member-all-female band is sure to entertain and inspire audiences during this pivotal moment in our nation's history.

Sing & Swing: A Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS Production
Thursday, February 29^th, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Celebrate the Great American Songbook in all of its playful - and sophisticated- glory, brought to life by two of this generation's brightest stars. Each armed with prodigious trumpet talent and vocal charm, Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III will relive and re-imagine some of the classic partners in jazz and popular song, including Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Peggy Lee. Featuring songs by Gershwin, Ellington, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and many more, and joined by a who's who of New York all-stars, this is an "unforgettable" evening of singin' and swingin' with Bria and Benny.
Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital
Thursday, January 25^th, 2024, at 7:20 PM
Friday, January 26^th, 2024, at 7:20 PM
Saturday, January 25^th, 2024, at 7:20 PM
Fantasia On Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital is a genre-busting reimagining of a traditional piano recital and theatrical play, blended with artistically created mind-blowing immersive visuals that accompany both the storytelling and the live performances of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin's piano works. The audience joins the pianist/actor/playwright Michael Yannette onstage as he weaves the highly synchronistic real-life stories of both he and the composer, which, as it furthers down the rabbit hole, exposes itself to be highly revelatory to both. The adventure that Yannette began years ago as research into his favorite composer weaves into an "epic" play that is at varying times hilarious, deeply moving, hair-raising but, ultimately, fully life-changing and life-affirming. Submerge yourself in a seating arrangement that will place audiences physically on the stage for an intimate experience beginning at 7:30 pm on January 25- January 27, 2024.

The Nutcracker Featuring The Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Friday, December 8^th, 2023, at 10:00 AM | Friday, December 8^th, 2023, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 9^th, 2023, at 3:00 PM
Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville鈥檚 celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of the Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.

Coco Live-to-Film Concert
Monday, October 23^rd, 2023, at 7:30 PM (Spanish Viewing)
Canceled due to Campus-wide power outage
Tuesday, October 24^th, 2023, at 7:30 PM (English Viewing)
Coco Live-To-Film Concert features a screening of the complete Disney Pixar film with Oscar庐 and Grammy庐-winning composer Michael Giacchino鈥檚 musical score performed live by the 20-member Orquesta Folcl贸rica Nacional de M茅xico. In addition to the original score by Giacchino, 鈥淐oco鈥� also features the Oscar庐-winning song 鈥淩emember Me鈥� by Oscar-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco and co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina. Audiences will travel with Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) on his extraordinary journey to the colorful Land of the Dead to unlock the real story behind his family鈥檚 history set to a live orchestra.
An Evening with David Sedaris
Thursday, October 12^th, 2023, at 7:30 PM
The best-selling author and well-known NPR humorist, playwright, and comedian David Sedaris returns to Cullowhee for An Evening with David Sedaris. With more than 16 million copies of his books in print, Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. The October 12th event includes a live reading of new material, time for audience members to ask questions for the author, and book signings before and after the event. Sedaris鈥� books will be available for purchase at the event through the City Lights Bookstore of Sylva.

The Second City: Swipes Right: An Incomplete Guide to the Ultimate Date Night
Thursday, March 23^rd, 2023, at 7:30 PM
It鈥檚 love at first laugh with The Second City! Bring your significant other, partner, platonic BFF, friend with benefits, or your fabulous single-self, to the NEW comedy experience that will have you rolling with laughter. Spend a naughty 90 minutes with their caliente cast of comedians as they (consensually) annihilate everything that turns us on鈥攁nd off鈥攁bout love, dating, relationships, and everything else in-between the sheets.

Imani Winds: Black and Brown
Thursday, February 23^rd, 2023, at 7:30 PM
Experience the twice Grammy-nominated wind quintet Imani Winds on stage at the BAC Performance Hall. The ensemble presents their show Black and Brown, an entire program celebrating composers of color such as Wayne Shorter, Paquito D鈥橰ivera, and Valerie Coleman. Their music embraces traditional chamber music repertoire, and as a 21st-century group, Imani Winds is devoutly committed to expanding the wind quintet repertoire by commissioning music from new voices that reflect historical events and the times in which we currently live. This public performance is co-sponsored by the WCU School of Music.

Rising of the Necessary Diva
Thursday, January 23^rd, 2023, at 7:30 PM
Rising of the Necessary Diva is an autobiographical account of a girl raised in the hood and born to a sharecropper鈥檚 daughter. Her gift to sing paves a path for her to travel the world singing classical music, but whose heart recognizes the need to return to the hood to serve in purpose. This one-woman multimedia show starring WCU鈥檚 Assistant Professor of Music (Voice), Dr. Tiffany Rene虂e Jackson, and featuring a live band, is sure to inspire audiences to find their own higher calling.

The Nutcracker Featuring The Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Friday, December 9^th, 2022, at 10:00 AM | Friday, December 9^th, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 10^th, 2022, at 3:00 PM
Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville鈥檚 celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of the Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.

Mariachi Sol de M茅xico庐 de Jos茅 Hern谩ndez
Thursday, November 10^th, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Mariachi Sol de M茅xico庐 is a Grammy-nominated band and is led by Jos茅 Hern谩ndez. A proud fifth-generation Mariachi musician, Maestro Hern谩ndez is an internationally recognized musician, composer, and educator. He has recorded with respected names in the industry, including Selena, Vincente Fernandez, Luis Miguel, Bryan Adams, and the Beach Boys. Bardo Arts Center is excited to host Mariachi Sol de M茅xico庐 de Jos茅 Hern谩ndez in what is sure to be an electrifying performance that will be fun for people of all ages.

Pilobolus: The Big Five-OH!
Thursday, September 29^th, 2022, at 7:30 PM
The world-renowned modern dance company that has performed at events ranging from the Oscars and the Olympics and has appeared on television, in movies, and advertisements takes the stage at the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee, NC. They will perform their newest show, The Big Five-OH! which celebrates its 50th year in existence, promoting radical creativity and boundary-pushing.

Black Violin
Wednesday, February 9^th, 2022, at 7:30 PM
For 17 years, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities along the way. Members Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste first met in orchestra class at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, becoming classically trained on the violin and viola through their high school and college careers. Post-college, they reconvened to produce beats for South Florida rappers and began building an audience in local clubs. They later went on to win Showtime at the Apollo in 2005 and eventually sold out headline performances at venues across the country, including a sold out two-night headline run at The Kennedy Center in 2018. NPR took note and declared 鈥渢heir music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.鈥� Black Violin鈥檚 latest release, Take the Stairs, earned a Grammy Award nomination for 鈥淏est Contemporary Instrumental Album鈥�.

The Nutcracker Featuring The Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Friday, December 10^th, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 11^th, 2021, at 3:00 PM
Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville鈥檚 celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of the Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.

Seeing Sound: A Musical Journey of Water and Light
Thursday, October 14^th, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Friday, October 15^th, 2021, at 7:30 PM
This original multimedia production from Bardo Arts Center synthesizes live music across genres into colorful light. Each note played by a musician creates a color registered by an LED that first shines its light into water, allowing the rippling reflections of that note's color to project into the space.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday, October 29^th, 2021, at 7:30pm
Probably the oddest, most off-the-wall cult film ever made, this kinky rock'n'roll science fiction horror satire is everybody's favorite midnight show. A young couple stumbles into a castle inhabited by weirdos from the planet Transylvania including Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry) a transvestite Frankenstein in rhinestone heels. See this cult classic on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall with a WCU student shadow cast! If you have never seen a shadow cast before, WCU students will perform in front of the screen, giving our audience members someone to throw things at (much more fun than throwing things at a screen!)

Coded Bias
Tuesday, September 15^th, 2020 at 7:30pm

Sunday, September 20^th, 2020 at 4pm
What does it mean when artificial intelligence increasingly governs our liberties? When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that most facial-recognition software does not accurately identify darker-skinned faces and the faces of women, she delves into an investigation of widespread bias in algorithms and what the consequences are for the people AI is biased against. As it turns out, artificial intelligence is not neutral, and women are leading the charge to ensure our civil rights are protected.
Picture a Scientist
Tuesday, October 13^th, 2020 at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 18^th, 2020 at 4pm
Picture a Scientist chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries - including social scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists - who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.

Reggae Boyz
Thursday, November 12^th, 2020 at 7:30pm
Sunday, November 15^th, 2020 at 4pm
Reggae Boyz uses pop cultures鈥� most transcendent forces 鈥� sports and music 鈥� to delve into the heart and soul of Jamaica. Plagued with one of the highest murder rates in the world, Jamaica tries to reinvigorate its populace by qualifying their national soccer team 鈥� the 鈥淩eggae Boyz鈥� 鈥� for the 2014 World Cup. When their efforts start to fall short, Winnie Sch盲fer, a colorful German coach, enters the scene and forms an unlikely alliance with a Rastafarian factory worker and legendary reggae musicians to unite Jamaica beyond the soccer pitch. The film screening includes an interview with Director, Writer, Producer, Co-Director of Photography Till Schauder.

Code of the Freaks
Documentary Film Screening | February 21-24, 2021
Playing a disabled* character, no matter how unrealistic or demeaning the portrayal, may be the quickest way for an actor to win an Oscar. Code of the Freaks imagines a cinematic landscape that takes people with disabilities seriously. Directed and produced by Salome Chasnoff, this film uses hundreds of clips spanning over 100 years of moviemaking, and a cast of disabled artists, scholars and activists, it鈥檚 a scorching critique of some of Hollywood鈥檚 most beloved characters. This revelatory documentary investigates the power of movie imagery to shape the beliefs and behaviors of the general public toward disabled people, and of disabled people toward themselves. Drawing its title from a line from Tod Browning鈥檚 notorious 1932 film, Freaks, Code of the Freaks debunks well-worn tropes 鈥� the miracle cure, the blind guy driving a car, the magical little people, the face-feelers, the sexless, the better off dead 鈥� and brings an entirely fresh perspective. It dares to imagine a cinematic landscape that centers the voices of disabled people.

Picture Character
Documentary Film Screening | March 14-17, 2021
The rapid rise 馃搱 of emoji (Japanese for 鈥減icture character鈥�) is a global 馃實 phenomenon without precedent. Their widespread use and ability to convey complex messages have not only cemented emoji's place as an emerging digital language 馃棧, but prompted difficult questions 馃 about the creation of a language and digital communication鈥檚 fraught ties 馃槪 to identity and inclusion. In Picture Character, Directors Martha Shane and Ian Cheney lead viewers 馃憖 on a deep dive into the ever evolving world of picture characters, from their humble beginnings in Japan 缶摜 to mobile keyboards 馃摫 the world 馃寧 over, and shed fresh light 馃挕 on the private consortium 馃懃 that approves new emoji offerings and the individuals fighting 鉁� to make the language more representative of its billions of users.

Thumbs Up for Mother Universe
Documentary Film Screening | April 26-29, 2021
After the world gave up on Lonnie Holley, the universe sent him the gift of art.
Filmed over 20 years, Thumbs Up for Mother Universe, tells Lonnie Holley鈥檚 story, revealing how one man鈥檚 instinct to create has enabled him to succeed against all odds - a journey from garbage dumps and prison camps, to festival stages and The Met. Born, one of 27 children in Jim Crow Alabama, Holley was stolen away as an infant and sold for a pint of whiskey. Growing up in grinding poverty and abuse on society鈥檚 margins left its scars. At age 28, Holley discovers making things quiets the demons that haunt him to this day. He begins to make art out of what the rest of us throw away鈥攖rash, garbage and debris. Now, nearing 70 years of age, his artwork sits in the Smithsonian, the National Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while his music has garnered international critical acclaim for its stirring soulful depth. Thumbs Up for Mother Universe tells the story of how Lonnie Holley overcame the longest of odds to become an unlikely art superstar.

John Brown Big Band
March 5^th, 2020, at 7:30 PM
Made up of top musicians, the band specializes in performances of traditional compositions from the Great American Songbook and today鈥檚 cutting-edge arrangements. The group also performs a wide range of material covering all eras of jazz repertoire including the music and arrangements of legends including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington

Kinky Boots
Sunday, February 9, 2020 | 3:00 PM Film Screening
Don鈥檛 miss the 鈥榝reshest, most fabulous, feel-good musical of the decade鈥� (The Hollywood News) as it arrives on cinema screens. With songs by Grammy庐 and Tony庐 winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and book by legend Harvey Fierstein, this 鈥榙azzling, fabulously sassy and uplifting鈥� (Time Out) award-winning musical celebrates a joyous story of Brit grit to high-heeled hit, as it takes you from the factory floor of Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan!

An Evening with David Sedaris
Tuesday, November 19^th, 2019, at 7:30 PM
The best-selling author and well-known NPR humorist, playwright, and comedian David Sedaris returns to Cullowhee for An Evening with David Sedaris. With more than 16 million copies of his books in print, Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. The November 19th event includes a live reading of new material, time for audience members to ask questions for the author, and book signings before and after the event. Sedaris鈥� books will be available for purchase at the event through the City Lights Bookstore of Sylva
42nd Street
Sunday, November 3, 2019 | Film Screening 3:00 PM
Pre-recorded production from London's Theatre Royal, screened in HD on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall. One of Broadway's most classic and beloved tales, 42nd Street, comes to cinema screens in the largest-ever production of the breathtaking musical. The musical, set in 1933, tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a talented young performer with stars in her eyes who gets her big break on Broadway.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Thursday, October 31^st, 2019 at 7:30 PM

Probably the oddest, most off-the-wall cult film ever made, this kinky rock'n'roll science fiction horror satire is everybody's favourite midnight show. A young couple stumbles into a castle inhabited by weirdos from the planet Transylvania including Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry) a transvestite Frankenstein in rhinestone heels. See this cult classic on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall with a WCU student shadow cast! If you have never seen a shadow cast before, WCU students will perform in front of the screen, giving our audience members someone to throw things at (much more fun than throwing things at a screen!).

ETHEL + Robert Mirabal: The River
Thursday, October 24^th, 2019, at 7:30 PM

ETHEL acclaimed adventurous string quartet + Robert Mirabal, Native American musician, instrument builder, and three-time GRAMMY庐 Award winner, presented their next evolution of the cross-cultural concert experience. The inspiration this time is Water as the embodiment of Spirit, and its essential role in Life on Earth. The audience is immersed in a flow of music, narrative, and ritual that evokes timeless Native American traditions through contemporary musical artistry.

Frankenstein
Sunday, October 6, 2019 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 

Pre-recorded production from the National Theatre in London, screened in HD on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall. Directed by Danny Boyle, the Oscar winning director of Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 127 Hours and the 2012 Olympic ceremonies, this much-loved broadcast returns to cinemas to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley鈥檚 classic novel.

Macbeth
Sunday, May 5, 2019 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 
Shakespeare鈥檚 most intense and terrifying tragedy, directed by Rufus Norris (The Threepenny Opera, London Road), will see Rory Kinnear (Young Marx, Othello) and Anne-Marie Duff (Oil, Suffragette) return to the National Theatre to play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this is Macbeth like never seen before, akin to a horror movie.'=

Sleeping Beauty
Sunday, March 10, 2019 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 
On her sixteenth birthday, Princess Aurora falls under the curse of the Evil Fairy Carabosse and into a deep slumber lasting one hundred years. Only the kiss of a prince can break the spell. A resplendent fairytale ballet, The Sleeping Beauty features scores of magical characters including fairies, the Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and a beautiful young Princess Aurora performed by Olga Smirnova, a 鈥渢ruly extraordinary talent鈥� (The Telegraph). "With choreography by Yuri Grigorovich set to Tchaikovsky's sumptuous score this is classical ballet at its finest." - Broadway World.

Friends of the Arts Friend Raising Concert: Jim Witter, Time in a Bottle
Saturday, February 23^rd, 2019, at 3:00 PM
The Jim Witter concert 鈥淭ime in a Bottle鈥� will take listeners to the 1960s and 1970s with sights and sounds of the social and cultural revolution that featured folk artists such as Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Harry Chapin and Bob Dylan.

Hamlet
Sunday, February 10, 2019 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 
Academy Award庐 nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC鈥檚 Sherlock, The Imitation Game) takes on the title role of Shakespeare鈥檚 great tragedy. Now seen by over 750,000 people worldwide, the original 2015 National Theatre Live broadcast returns to cinemas. As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father鈥檚 death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state. Directed by Lyndsey Turner (Posh, Chimerica) and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions.

The Lily Cai Dance Company
Tuesday, February 5^th, 2019, at 7:30 PM
The Lily Cai Dance Company blends ancient Chinese dance forms with modern dance, led by artistic director and choreographer Lily Cai, a former principal dancer with the Shanghai Opera House. The all-female troupe includes dances inspired by the Chinese dynasties and fan dances, the Candelas dance with lit candles, and the company鈥檚 signature work 鈥� ribbon dance Silk Cascade.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Sunday, January 20, 2019 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 
Benedict Andrews' 'thrilling revival' (New York Times) stars Sienna Miller alongside, Jack O'Connell and Colm Meaney. On a steamy night in Mississippi, a Southern family gathers at their cotton plantation to celebrate Big Daddy's birthday. The scorching heat is almost as oppressive as the lies they tell. Brick and Maggie dance round the secrets and sexual tensions that threaten to destroy their marriage. With the future of the family at stake, which version of the truth is real 鈥� and which will win out? 

Don Quixote
Sunday, January 13, 2019 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 
Inspired by the heroic stories of brave knights, with his faithful servant Sancho Panza at his side, Don Quixote sets out on an adventure to meet his ideal woman, Dulcinea. With panache and sparkling technique, principal dancers Ekaterina Krysanova and Semyon Chudin lead the spectacular cast of toreadors, flamenco dancers, gypsies, and dryads in the Bolshoi's critically-acclaimed staging of this exalted performance. "With a flourish of capes and a clicking of castanets, the company match the richness of their material in this visually stunning new production" - The Guardian. 

Rocky Horror Picture Show Screening
Wednesday, October 31, 2018, at 7:30 PM
Probably the oddest, most off-the-wall cult film ever made, this kinky rock'n'roll science fiction horror satire is everybody's favorite midnight show. A young couple stumbles into a castle inhabited by weirdos from the planet Transylvania including Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry) a transvestite Frankenstein in rhinestone heels. See this cult classic on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall with a WCU student shadow cast! If you have never seen a shadow cast before, WCU students will perform in front of the screen, giving our audience members someone to throw things at (much more fun than throwing things at a screen!).

Follies
Sunday, October 21, 2018 | 3:00 PM Film Screening 
Stephen Sondheim's legendary musical is staged for the first time at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas. New York, 1971. There's a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves. Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee, and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies in this dazzling new production. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, it's directed by Dominic Cooke (The Comedy of Errors). Winner of Academy, Tony, Grammy and Olivier awards, Sondheim's previous work includes A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday in the Park with George.

North Carolina Symphony
Wednesday, October 17^th, 2018, at 7:30 PM
Thursday, October 18^th, 2018, at 10:00 AM
Experience an interactive Education Concert with North Carolina鈥檚 state orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, featuring a special appearance by the Cherokee Chamber Singers. Conducted by NCS Music Director Grant Llewellyn, the Symphony and the Singers will perform selections from a brand-new work by Brooklyn-based composer and Western North Carolina native William Brittelle鈥攁 work reflecting Cherokee identity through the perspectives and poetry of its youth.

Yerma
Sunday, August 26, 2018 | 3:00 PM Film Screening
Billie Piper's (Penny Dreadful, Great Britain) Olivier Award-winning performance in Yerma is broadcast live to cinemas. A young woman is driven to the unthinkable by her desperate desire to have a baby, in Simon Stone's radical production of Lorca's achingly powerful masterpiece. Set in contemporary London, Piper's portrayal of a woman in her thirties struggling to conceive builds with elemental force to a staggering, shocking climax. The unmissable theatre phenomenon is sold-out at the Young Vic and critics call it 'shatteringly powerful' (Independent) and "brutal yet ferociously funny" (Metro.) 

Mark Mothersbaugh Talks
Saturday, August 25^th, 2018, at 7:30 PM
Mark Mothersbaugh, well known for being a member of the band, Devo, has been creating work since the late 60鈥檚 and has created tens of thousands of works to current day in various mediums.

An Evening with Tony Kushner
Thursday, April 5^th, 2018, at 7:30 PM
On-stage discussion with Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright and author of Angels in America and Caroline, or Change, and screenwriter of movies Munich and Lincoln.  Kushner gives voice to characters who have been rendered powerless by the forces of circumstance 鈥� a drag queen dying of AIDS, an uneducated Southern maid, contemporary Afghans 鈥� and his attempt to see all sides of their predicament has a sly subversiveness

TAO: Drum Heart
Saturday, February 24^th, 2018, at 7:30 PM
TAO: Drum Heart is the latest production from TAO, internationally acclaimed percussion artists. TAO鈥檚 modern, high-energy performances showcasing the ancient art of Japanese drumming have transfixed audiences worldwide. Combining highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals, the performers of TAO: Drum Heart create an energetic and unforgettable production.

Urban Bush Women: Hair and Other Stories
Tuesday, February 6^th, 2018, at 7:30 PM
Renowned NYC based-dance company Urban Bush Women weave dance, music, and text into bold, innovative, and demanding works. Hair & Other Stories is a multidisciplinary performance that addresses matters of race, gender identity, and economic inequality through the lens of hair, primarily that of African American women.

Rhythmic Circus: Red and Green
Tuesday, December 5^th, 2017, at 7:30 PM
Rhythmic Circus presents a brand-new holiday experience. Combining their signature style of rapid-fire tap with music you know and love, this show leaves audiences excited with the joy of the holiday spirit!

A Tribe Called Red
Friday, November 10^th, 2017, at 7:30 PM
Looking to the future, without losing sight of their past, ATCR straddles a broad range of musical influences based in modern hip-hop, traditional pow wow drums and vocals, blended with edgy electronic music production styles. The crew has performed high profile festival dates at Coachella, Bonnaroo, AfroPunk, Osheaga, and New Orleans Jazz Fest to list a few.

The Hillbenders
Thursday, September 7^th, 2017, at 7:30 PM
Nearly 45 years after its original release, this classic of classic rock has now been fully realized as a full-length bluegrass tribute featuring Springfield, Missouri鈥檚 The HillBenders. Conceived and produced by SXSW co-founder and longtime musician/producer Louis Jay Meyers, this Bluegrass Opry brings a new perspective to Tommy while paying complete respect to its creators.

Artrageous
Saturday, April 29^th, 2017, at 7:30 PM

From the moment you enter the theatre lobby, the experience begins! In the theatre performance giant artworks jump to life with amazing speed unveiling larger than life art in just moments. You will enjoy a continued interaction with the performers as they leave the theatre.

The Nile Project
Monday, March 13^th, 2017, at 7:30 PM
From its debut concert, captured live on the 2013 release entitled ASWAN, it was clear that the Nile Project was something completely new. National Public Radio named the recording one of five 鈥淢ust Hear International Albums.鈥� Fast forward a few years - through tours in Africa, Europe, the US and UAE - and almost all major media outlets agree that the Nile Project is much more than just a band.

Rhonda Vincent and The Rage
Friday, February 24^th, 2017, at 7:30 PM
World-class musicians, and an award-winning voice seamlessly set the stage for a one-of-a-kind, must-see performance that reaches beyond the boundaries of bluegrass music. Rhonda Vincent is known as a powerhouse of entertainment who has been awarded the title from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music as "Entertainer of the Year" for 15 years,  "Female Vocalist of the Year for over 20 years."

Shana Tucker
Friday, November 11^th, 2016, at 7:30 PM
Currently a resident musician with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, cellist/ singer- songwriter Shana Tucker delivers a unique voice through her self-described genre of ChamberSoulTM. With a deep respect for lyrical storytelling, Shana鈥檚 melodies weave jazz, classical, soulful folk, acoustic pop and a touch of sassy R&B into a distinctive rhythmic tapestry. She has opened for such artists as Norah Jones, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Lisa Fischer.

Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling
Sunday, October 2^nd, 2016, at 3:00 PM
Marsalis鈥� first solo concert, recorded at San Francisco鈥檚 Grace Cathedral, is documented on his latest recording, 鈥淚n My Solitude.鈥� He has performed on other big stages, also. Marsalis spent a period touring with Sting, collaborated with the Grateful Dead and Bruce Hornsby, served as musical director for 鈥淭he Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno鈥� and has hosted National Public Radio鈥檚 syndicated 鈥淛azz Set.鈥� Grammy winner Kurt Elling will join the quartet on stage. Elling is considered by critics to be among the world鈥檚 foremost jazz vocalists and won the DownBeat Critics Poll for 14 consecutive years. He was named 鈥淢ale Singer of the Year鈥� by the Jazz Journalist Association eight times in that same span. The Oct. 2 performance by the quartet and Elling will be the fall membership concert of WCU鈥檚 Friends of the Arts, a group that provides scholarships and programming support for the College of Fine and Performing Arts. Since its founding six years ago, the organization has raised about $1 million and has established the Friends of the Arts Endowment, valued at about $200,000. Membership has blossomed from 81 to 465 members.

Tzabku
September 30^th, 2016, at 7:30 PM
An experience not to be missed, TZAKBU will transport attendees to the ancient Mayan Jungle, with a vibrant soundtrack from start to finish. Live music, dance, rituals, and magnificent costumes recreate priests, servants, warriors, and rulers in a fascinating performance full of colors, aromas, and ambiance. Asheville Sister Cities Inc. and Palenque Rojo Productions are proud to present the theatrical performance of TZAKBU, featuring actors from Chiapas, Mexico.

Galumpha Acrobatic Dance Trio
Friday, February 5^th, 2016, at 7:30 PM
Three performers combine acrobatics, visual effects, physical comedy and inventive choreography.

Juice Newton
Sunday, January 24^th, 2016, at 3:00 PM
American pop and country singer, songwriter and guitarist, Newton has received five Grammy award nominations in the pop and country best female vocalist categories. Her hit songs include 鈥淎ngel of the Morning,鈥� 鈥淨ueen of Hearts,鈥� 鈥淭he Sweetest Thing (I鈥檝e Ever Known),鈥� 鈥淟ove鈥檚 Been a Little Bit Hard on Me,鈥� 鈥淏reak It to Me Gently,鈥� 鈥淵ou Make Me Want to Make You Mine,鈥� 鈥淗urt鈥� and 鈥淏oth to Each Other (Friends and Lovers).鈥�

3 Redneck Tenors Christmas Spec-tac-yule
Friday, December 11^th, 2015, at 7:30 PM
Wearing mullets on their heads and stomping their feet, these unique vocalists whoop and holler through holiday music, providing head-to-toe fun for the whole family.

David Holt鈥檚 鈥楽tate of Music鈥� Live
Sunday, November 22^nd, 2015, at 3:00 PM
鈥淒avid Holt鈥檚 State of Music 鈥� Live鈥� will bring ballads, bluegrass, gospel and folk music to the stage at 3 pm. The first live concert version of the popular television show will be videotaped as a companion piece to the PBS series of the same name. Performers are: Rhiannon Giddons of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, receiving international popular and critical acclaim for her solo efforts. Balsam Range, the International Bluegrass Music Association鈥檚 2015 vocal group of the year and song of the year recipients. Josh Goforth, rising acoustic music star, Grammy nominee and old-time and bluegrass multi-instrumental virtuoso. The Branchettes, featuring Wilbur Tharpe and Lena Mae Perry performing African American congregational hymns and gospel music.

Mountain Faith
Thursday, November 5^th, 2015, at 7:30 PM
The Jackson County-based bluegrass-gospel band prides itself in being a family collective. The lead vocalist and fiddler are Summer McMahan. Her father, Sam McMahan, on bass, and her brother, Brayden McMahan, on banjo, join her. Family friends Luke Dotson and Cory Piatt on guitar and mandolin respectively complete the outfit. Another sweet small-town bit about them is that they all worked in the McMahans鈥� tire store in Sylva, writing and playing music between customers. Their debut album, Save Me, was released in 2011 and earned them the Southern Gospel Music Association鈥檚 New Artist of the Year Award. Their most current release, 2015鈥檚 That Which Matters, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Magazine鈥檚 bluegrass chart.

The United Kingdom Ukelele Orchestra
Sunday, October 25^th, 2015, at 3:00 PM
The audience will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Bardo Arts Center with this two-hour show combining music ranging from Mozart to Monty Python, Bach to the Beatles, Chick Corea to Rossini, all punctuated by witty spontaneous humor.

Asheville Lyric Opera: Barber of Seville
Friday, October 30^th, 2015, at 7:30 PM
From trickery and disguises to serenading in the moonlight, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Barber of Seville) is filled with liveliness and comedy at every twist and turn. Rossini鈥檚 nineteenth century masterpiece features a slew of vivacious characters that go to great lengths in search of friendship and love, encountering hilarious situations along the way. The music has been featured in countless pop-culture outlets 鈥� Robin Williams singing the famous 鈥淟argo al factotum鈥� at the beginning of Ms. Doubtfire, and the classic Seinfeld episode when he tries to change barbers and gets caught 鈥渃heating鈥� on his first barber with his second.
Dr. Jon Truitt, ALO鈥檚 Artistic Advisor, will serve as the guest director, along with Maestro Dan Allcott, of Tennessee鈥檚 Bryan Symphony Orchestra, as our conductor. As one of the most well-known and recognizable operas, Barber of Seville is a can鈥檛-miss opportunity to laugh at ridiculous antics, listen to beautiful music, and experience opera at its finest, here in Western North Carolina.

Steep Canyon Rangers
Friends of the Arts Membership Concert
Monday, October 19^th, 2015, at 7:30 PM
Grammy Award-winning bluegrass supergroup Steep Canyon Rangers will perform at a membership concert for the 91女神 Friends of the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee.
The Rangers started as a group of friends playing music together for fun at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but after more than a dozen years together, their performance credits have grown to include television shows 鈥淎ustin City Limits,鈥� 鈥淭he Late Show with David Letterman,鈥� the 鈥淭oday鈥� show and 鈥淏luegrass Underground;鈥� radio shows 鈥淎 Prairie Home Companion,鈥� 鈥淭he Grand Ole Opry鈥� and 鈥淢ountain Stage;鈥� and celebrity events like the Neil Young Bridge School Benefit.

An Evening with Groucho
Sunday, September 27^th, 2015, at 3:00 PM
Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in a fast-paced 90 minutes of hilarity commemorating Groucho鈥檚 125th birthday.

We鈥檝e Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered
Sunday, April 26^th, 2015, at 3:00 PM
Vocalist Michelle Berting Britt, accompanied by a seven-piece Nashville band, recreates the sound of the Carpenters, one of the most successful recording acts of all time.

鈥楢ll Night Long鈥� with Jeananne Jolly
Friday, April 24^th, 2015, at 8:00 PM
91女神 Friends of the Arts will hold its annual fundraiser on Friday, April 24 in the John W. Bardo Arts Center with a special performance by the singer-songwriter and WCU alumna, Jeanne Jolly. The show 鈥淎ll Night Long,鈥� features Jolly who will be joined by WCU鈥檚 Catamount Singers and Electric Soul, a 12-member student instrumental group, starts at 8 p.m.

Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger and comedian Glenn Singer
Friday, March 27th, 2015, at 7:30 PM
Trefzger incorporates audience participation into her show, which features a trunk full of zany characters, as Singer supplies visual comedy using optical illusions.

Man 1, Bank 0
Saturday, February 28th, 2015, at 7:30 PM
Patrick Combs tells the true story of a man who deposited a junk-mail check labeled 鈥渘on-negotiable鈥� into a bank account only to see things erupt into an adventure pitting a 鈥淒avid鈥� regular guy against the 鈥淕oliath鈥� of the banking industry.

Elvis Impersonator: Travis Ledoyt
Saturday, January 31^st, 2015, at 7:30 PM
Hailed by critics as 鈥渢he world鈥檚 best young Elvis,鈥� Ledoyt captures the music and moves of Elvis Presley in his prime in a show that focuses on the hits and ambience of the era from 1954-59.

Cinnamon Grits: Christmas in the South
Friday, December 12^th, 2014, at 7:30 PM
A follow-up to the popular show 鈥淕rits: The Musical,鈥� this production is a mix of storytelling and music that provides a Southern style look at the holidays.

Broadway鈥檚 Next Hit Musical
Friday, October 24^th, 2014, at 7:30 PM
This stage musical is billed as 鈥渢he only unscripted theatrical awards show,鈥� as master improvisers gather made-up hit song suggestions from the audience to create a spontaneous evening of music and humor.
Riders in the Sky
Sunday, September 14^th, 2014, at 3:00 PM
Back by popular demand, the group founded in 1977 and featured in the motion picture 鈥淭oy Story鈥� is known for its award-winning harmonies, wacky cowboy wit and high-yodeling adventures.

Arts Alive @ 125

Friends of the Arts Membership Concert
Tuesday, September 2^nd, 2014, at 7:30 PM
Featuring your Hosts: Chancellor David and Susan Belcher, along with performances by WCU students and faculty, the Catamount Singers and Electric Soul, members of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and WCU Dancers. A reception after the performance is sponsored by FUSIONS - spa and wellness.

The Fantasticks
Sunday, April 27^th, 2014, at 5:00 PM
Billed as 鈥渢he world鈥檚 longest-running musical,鈥� 鈥淭he Fantasticks鈥� transcends cultural barriers with its story of love both nostalgic and universal. The story centers on two neighboring fathers who trick their children into falling in love and what happens when the children discover the ruse. The performance is scheduled to star Peter O鈥橬eal, a 2013 graduate of the WCU theater program.

An Evening with Gloria Steinem
Thursday, March 6^th, 2014, at 7:30 PM
Women鈥檚 rights activist Gloria Steinem took the stage receiving a blazing round of applause from a sold-out crowd on Thursday, March 6, at Western Carolina鈥檚 Bardo Arts Center.
As anticipated, Steinem talked about inequality in the workforce, gender and race wage-gape and issues on domestic abuse. The overriding lesson is these issues are still a movement and work still needs to be done.

The Squirm Burpee Circus
Sunday, March 2^nd, 2014, at 5:00 PM
An exhilarating, fantastical adventure of classic slapstick comedy, high-skill circus acts and a classic melodrama plot, the Squirm Burpee Circus explodes with high-energy acts such as the Human Cannon, the Ladder of Love and chainsaw juggling, not to mention classic Vaudeville comedy routines, romantic antics and more.

1964
Sunday, February 9^th, 2014, at 5:00 PM
An authentic, endearing musical tribute that has marked nearly 3,000 performances over 30 years, the band 1964 has been called 鈥渢he best Beatles tribute on Earth鈥� by Rolling Stone magazine. The year 2014 marks 50 years since the Beatles first appeared on 鈥淭he Ed Sullivan Show.鈥�

Smokey Joe鈥檚 Caf茅
Sunday, January 26^th, 2014, at 5:00 PM
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller virtually invented rock 鈥檔鈥� roll, and their songs provide the basis for entertainment that illuminates a golden age of American culture. 鈥淪mokey Joe鈥檚 Caf茅鈥� features 39 pop standards, including 鈥淗ound Dog,鈥� 鈥淟ove Potion No. 9,鈥� 鈥淵akety Yak,鈥� 鈥淐harlie Brown鈥� and 鈥淛ailhouse Rock.鈥�

Ring of Fire 鈥� The Music of Johnny Cash
Sunday, November 24^th, 2013, at 5:00 PM
Touching on the life and times of one of the world鈥檚 most legendary artists, 鈥淩ing of Fire鈥� is a top-notch 鈥渏ukebox musical鈥� revue. A company of performers, rather than impersonate Cash, guides the audience on a journey through Cash鈥檚 storied life and celebrated music with more than 35 of Cash鈥檚 hits.
Brass Transit
Sunday, September 29^th, 2013, at 5:00 PM
A dynamic, crowd-pleasing unit from Toronto, Brass Transit plays the music of Chicago from the band鈥檚 鈥済olden age鈥� of the late 鈥�60s to the early 鈥�70s with a world-class horn section, a rocking rhythm section and tight vocals. The playlist includes 鈥�25 or 6 to 4,鈥� 鈥淪aturday in the Park,鈥� 鈥淒oes Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,鈥� 鈥淔eelin鈥� Stronger Every Day,鈥� 鈥�(I鈥檝e Been) Searchin鈥� So Long,鈥� 鈥淗ard to Say I鈥檓 Sorry鈥� and 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the Inspiration.鈥�

Belcher and Friends - Friends of the Arts Benefit Concert
Tuesday, September 3^rd, 2013
91女神 Chancellor David Belcher, and his wife, Susan Belcher, perform in a benefit concert that raised money for WCU鈥檚 Friends of the Arts. Featuring performances from students, faculty and staff, including Tony-Award nominated Broadway star Terrence Mann, WCU鈥檚 Phillips Distinguished Professor in Musical Theatre. David Belcher, an accomplished pianist performed George Gershwin鈥檚 鈥淩hapsody in Blue鈥� and soprano Susan Belcher performed several selections of classics and songs from stage and screen.

Frank Vignola
Friday, February 15^th, 2013, at 7:30 PM
This show is part of WCU鈥檚 Galaxy of Stars Series. Frank Vignola is an American jazz guitarist who has collaborated with Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, the Boston Pops and the New York Pops, and many others. Prior to his performance, Vignola will conduct a master guitar class at 3 p.m. in the Bardo Arts Center. The class is free and open to the public. The Galaxy of Stars Series is presented by the WCU College of Fine and Performing Arts and with support from the WCU Friends of the Arts organization. 鈥淎n Evening with Frank Vignola鈥� is sponsored by the Sylva law practice of Earwood and Moore.

The Water Coolers
Sunday, January 27^th, 2013, at 7:30 PM
A New York-based musical comedy group, the Water Coolers originally began as an act for the meetings industry and found an enthusiastic and devoted audience in mainstream entertainment.

Xmas Audio from Vox Audio
Saturday, December 8^th, 2012, at 7:30 PM
Born out of the 1998 Orlando Fringe Festival, Nox Audio has since toured the Americas, Asia and Europe with its fun, interactive theatrical show starring the human voice: Purely acappella, the five musicians create texture, rhythm, bass using and guitar solos only their voices.

The Jason Bishop Show
Sunday, October 7^th, 2012, at 7:30 PM
With its combination of costuming, fast paced magic and audience participation, Jason Bishop is among the most dynamic illusionists on tour.

Simply Sinatra, starring Steve Lippia
Sunday, September 16^th, 2012, at 7:30 PM
Vocalist Lippia channels Frank Sinatra with a performance that includes classics such as The Second Time Around, Come Fly with Me, Luck Be a Lady and Fly Me to the Moon. Accompanying the ersatz Ol Blue Eyes is the 10-piece Big Band Orchestra.

The Mancini Magic
Sunday, April 29^th, 2012, at 3:00 PM
The renowned pianist Mac Frampton and Ceil Welch, Henri Mancini鈥檚 solo trumpeter for 20 years, bring the great American composer鈥檚 cherished melodies to the stage.

The Vienna Boys Choir
Tuesday, March 6^th, 2012, at 7:30 PM
Found in 1498, the Vienna Boys Choir in one of the oldest, most famous boys choir in the world, with a repertoire that includes medieval contemporary and experimental music.

Neil Berg鈥檚 鈥�100 Years of Broadway鈥�
Friday, January 27^th, 2012, at 7:30 PM
In this revue of Broadway鈥檚 most beloved songs, five stars of Broadway, backed by a live band, re-create the finest moments from the greatest musicals of the century.

Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra & the Pied Pipers
Friday, December 9^th, 2011, at 7:30 PM
Song classics reminiscent of holidays spent with family and friends.

The Grascals
Sunday, October 9^th, 2011, at 3:00 PM
A tribute to the music of 鈥淭he Andy Griffith Show.鈥�

Masters of Motown
Sunday, September 11^th, 2011, at 3:00 PM
Celebrating the music of the Motor City.

Folkmoot
Saturday, July 23^rd, 2011, at 7:30 PM
International folk-dance performance

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Sunday, May 1^st, 2011, at 3:00 PM
Juggling and European-style comedy featuring cats and dogs rescued from animal shelters.

John Davidson
Thursday, February 24^th, 2011, at 7:30 PM
When it comes to show-stopping entertainment, you name it, John Davidson has done it. And the 鈥渋t鈥� is just what audiences will see when this multi-talented dynamo takes the stage at 91女神鈥檚 Fine and Performing Arts Center. Davidson will present a vocal and banjo performance of his favorite songs and stories from his career.

Mark Nizer
Friday, January 28^th, 2011, at 7:30 PM
Mark Nizer will bring his unique blend of original comedy, world-class juggling, movement, music, and technology to 91女神.

Hank and My Honky-Tonk Heroes
Friday, December 10^th, 2010, at 7:30 PM
Singer, actor, and musician Jason Petty pays homage to Hank Williams and other legends of country music.

Lance Brown鈥檚 鈥淲ill Rogers Now!鈥�
Thursday, November 4^th, 2010, at 7:30 PM
A portrait of the gentle American hero in words, theater, and song.

The Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival
Sunday, October 3^rd, 2010, at 3:00 PM
Traditional song, dance, and music of Russia.

The Hunt Family
Friday, September 24^th, 2010, at 7:30 PM
Irish dance and Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational and popular tunes.

Ballet Magnificant! Presents Hiding Place
Sunday, April 18^th, 2010, at 3:00 PM
Inspired by the true story of Corrie ten Boom and set in the war zone of Dutch Haarlem in 1944, Hiding Place is a portrayal of divinely inspired forgiveness in the midst of desperate and unimaginable circumstances. America鈥檚 premier Christian ballet company and choreographer Jiri Sebastian Voborsky unveil this heroic story with drama, passion, pain, joy, and hope.

Red Skeleton: A Performance Tribute starring Tom Mullica
Sunday, February 14^th, 2010, at 3:00 PM
Veteran entertainer Tom Mullica magically transforms himself into the comedy genius of Red Skelton live on stage! Join Freddy the Freeloader, Clem Kadiddlehopper, Gertrude & Heathcliff, The Mean Widdle Kid, Willie Lump-Lump, George Applebee, and a legion of memorable characters in America鈥檚 funniest tribute show.

Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, presents The Clown Princes
Sunday, January 31^st, 2010, at 3:00 PM
Take a trip back in time! The Galaxy of Stars Series is delighted to present silent films by the three most popular and influential comedians of the silent film era: Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Buster Keaton. As when they were first released, the films will be accompanied by a live orchestra. A rare treat for all ages.

North Carolina Symphony 2009 Holiday Pops Tour
Friday, December 11^th, 2009, at 7:30 PM
"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling" as we kick off the holiday season with the North Carolina Symphony and Resident Conductor William Henry Curry. The 2009 Holiday Pops Tour will celebrate the season of hope and joy with a sight and sound spectacular. Share this classic performance with your family and friends.

CORBiAN: A Glow in The Dark Adventure
Sunday, November 15^th, 2009, at 3:00 PM
An amazing theatrical experience! Electroluminescent creatures light up the stage in a story about a dinosaur who discovers the true meaning of love. (Psst! 鈥淓lectroluminescent鈥� is another word for 鈥渃ool lights.鈥�) CORBiAN will feature an opening act鈥擶CU's own Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet!

Crowe Brothers 鈥� Mountain Heritage Day Concert
Friday, September 25^th, 2009, at 7:00 PM
A pre-Mountain Heritage Day concert, featuring bluegrass duo the Crowe Brothers. The Crowes will take the stage with a group of backup musicians that will include banjo player Steve Sutton, a WCU alumnus.

The American Piano Show, Starring Linda Gentille
Friday, May 8^th, 2009, at 7:30 PM
World-renowned piano entertainer Linda Gentille performs the music of the great American composers such as Gershwin, Berlin, Foster, Leonard Bernstein, Hogie Carmichael, Rogers & Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Scott Joplin, John Phillips Sousa, and Neil Diamond.

Rave On! A 50^th Anniversary of 鈥淭he Day the Music Died鈥�
Friday, February 6^th, 2009, at 7:30 PM
After five years of paying tribute to rocker Buddy Holly, Billy McGuigan presents Rave On! a foot-tapping, sing-along time warp back to the 鈥�50s where the hits never stop coming. From 鈥淢aybe Baby鈥� to 鈥淧eggy Sue鈥� and 鈥淭hat'll be the Day,鈥� this show celebrates the Holly days.

A Red, Hot 鈥� & Blue! White Christmas!
Friday, December 12^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Red, Hot ... & Blue! the long-running song-and-dance revue from Brandon, Missouri, lights up the WCU stage this holiday season. This high-energy troupe will take you on a nostalgic musical journey through the decades, from the raucous ragtime era to the disco 70's.

It鈥檚 a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Friday, November 21^st, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Frank Capra's beloved holiday classic鈥攐n the radio! Live in the studios of the fictional WBFR Radio on Christmas Eve 1946, five hard-working radio actors portray George Bailey and the movie characters, switching effortlessly between voices and providing live sound effects.
The Smothers Brothers Show
Wednesday, November 19^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
After 50 years of performing together, the Smothers Brothers are still described as one of the most successful comedy teams in history- an American Classic. With their blend of comedic and musical talents, the irrepressible brothers have made a sweeping impact on diverse generations of fans. Such lasting power is testimony to their intuitive humor, superlative showmanship, and the pure unadulterated joy they bring to audiences of all ages. A benefit performance for REACH of Jackson & Macon Counties in collaboration with the Fine and Performing Arts Center at 91女神.

Official Blues Brother Revival
Friday, October 31^st, 2008, at 7:30 PM
A homage to Chicago's rich history of blues, gospel, and traditional soul, this is the only performance sanctioned by the John Belushi Estate and Dan Aykroyd. It's a musical extravaganza with the soul and musicianship that was a trademark of the original Blues Brothers Band.

Mark Russell: The Laughter of Politics
Sunday, October 6^th, 2008, at 3:00 PM
TV Guide has called Russell "the funniest man on television" but he disagrees: "No, the funniest guys are on C-SPAN." Now in his 25th season on PBS, Russell delivers his unique style of topical stand-up comedy while accompanying himself on the piano.

Balsam Range Band
Mountain Heritage Day Concert
Friday, September 26^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
The five-member band Balsam Range, which includes three WCU alumni, will take the stage in the arts center performance hall at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and Mountain Heritage Day, WCU鈥檚 daylong festival of mountain culture, will present more than 30 performances of traditional music and dance Saturday. Blending contemporary and traditional bluegrass, Balsam Range features Grammy Award-winning banjo player Marc Pruitt. Early this summer, the group was listed on several of the leading national bluegrass charts, with its debut album, 鈥淢arching Home,鈥� and several singles from the album listed in the top 10.

Chapter 6
Saturday, September 6^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Chapter 6's a cappella performances range from freshly arranged swing standards and pop/rock covers to brilliant parodies and signature pieces. Their comedy-infused blend of pop, jazz, gospel, and rock will have you laughing and applauding throughout the show!

Folkmoot USA International Festival
Tuesday, July 22^nd, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Folkmoot USA, North Carolina's official international festival, is a two-week celebration of the world's cultural heritage through folk music and dance. Held each summer across the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, Folkmoot features performances, parades, and workshops by more than 350 performers from a dozen or so countries

The Raleigh Ringers
Saturday, June 21^st, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Join us for an evening with the Raleigh Ringers, an internationally acclaimed, advanced community handbell choir based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since its founding in 1990, The Raleigh Ringers has been dazzling concert audiences with unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music, including famous rock 鈥榥' roll tunes arranged just for handbells. Recommended for ages five years and up.

Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
Saturday, May 3^rd, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, Footworks has been delighting audiences the world over with its bright infectious programs of percussive dance and traditional bluegrass music. Featuring clogging, stepdances, and "hamboning."

Jim Witter鈥檚 The Long and Winding Road: A Beatles Tribute
Friday, April 18^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
Jim Witter returns to WCU with "The Long and Winding Road," a multimedia stage event to explore the sometimes uplifting, sometimes tumultuous relationship between the Beatles' Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

All-American Boys Chorus: A Salute to America and Her Music.
Friday, March 18^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
The internationally acclaimed troupe presents a spectacular "Salute to America and Her Music." The performance includes selections from Broadway, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and The Beach Boys; a tribute to John Philip Sousa; and more!

Inspired by America: A Fusion of Tradition of Technology
Friday, February 28^th, 2008, at 7:30 PM
The Cypress String Quartet provides some of the finest chamber music composed in the United States in "Inspired by American," a blending of live music, an original film, and the spoken word.

The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion
Friday, February 1^st, 2008, at 7:30 PM
By combining original theatrical elements with cutting-edge illusions, audience interaction, dramatic lighting, special effects, beautiful scenery, and music, The Spencers have propelled the age-old art of magic into the 21st century.

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Pops Concert
Saturday, December 15^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
Under the direction of Daniel Meyers, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra rolls into Cullowhee for an evening of traditional music for the holidays. Featuring the Asheville Chorus and the Asheville Symphony Children's Chorus.

Jungle All the Way: An Animal Band Christmas
Thursday, November 29^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
America's most exciting family act! The Animal Band's "Jungle All The Way" production is the perfect remedy for any audience with a case of 鈥淣utcracker鈥� burnout.

The Jeff Dunham Show: Comic Ventriloquist
Thursday, October 4^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
A straight man to some of the most hilarious pint-sized partners in show business, Jeff Dunham has become one of the most successful touring comics and ventriloquists ever. In fact, he's been hailed by Jay Leno as "the best there is!"

Linda Lavin: Songs and Confessions of a One-Time Waitress
Saturday, September 8, 2007, at 7:30 PM
TV's beloved 鈥淎lice,鈥� Golden Globe- and Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin, serves up a heaping plateful of great music and fun in her autobiographical concert "Songs and Confessions of a One-Time Waitress."

Folkmoot USA International Festival
Tuesday, July 24^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
Concluding the summer series is a performance that is part of the 24th annual Folkmoot USA, North Carolina鈥檚 official international folk festival, on Tuesday, July 24, featuring performances of music and dance by six groups from around the world.

Avner the Eccentric

Saturday, July 7^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
Next up is a Saturday, July 7, show designed to entertain crowds of all ages. Avner Eisenberg, more commonly known as 鈥淎vner the Eccentric,鈥� is a Broadway clown, mime and physical comedian who juggles, does magic tricks and performs Chaplin-Esque farce. Eisenberg may be best known for his role as the title character in the hit motion picture 鈥淭he Jewel of the Nile.鈥�

Johnny Counterfit
Saturday, June 16^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
Coming to Cullowhee on Saturday, June 16, is Johnny Counterfit. A comedian, celebrity impressionist and country music recording artist, Counterfit has been called 鈥渢he Rich Little of country music.鈥� 鈥淛ohnny Counterfit is, without a doubt, the best Johnny Cash impersonator anyone has ever seen,鈥� said Paul Lormand, Fine and Performing Arts Center director.

North Carolina Symphony
Wednesday, May 28^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
The series will begin with a concert by the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, May 23. The orchestra, composed of 65 members, will perform its tribute to North Carolina music, titled 鈥淐apital Blue Skies and Red Earth.鈥� Traditional and folk musicians from across the state will share the stage with the orchestra, with David Holt as host.

The Capital Steps
Friday, April 27^th, 2007, at 7:30 PM
A traveling troupe performing political satire.

Amadeus
Sunday, April 15^th, 2007, at 3:00 PM
A performance by the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada

Out of the Mist: A Dragon & An Ire-ish Tale
Saturday, March 17^th, 2007, at 3:00 PM
A puppet extravaganza by Wood and Strings Theatre

Cirque le Masque
Thursday, March 1^st, 2007, at 7:30 PM
A gravity-defying European stage show

Ol鈥� Time Religion
Thursday, February 1^st, 2007, at 7:30 PM
Featuring the American Spiritual Ensemble

The Lettermen
Thursday, December 14^th, 2006, at 7:30 PM
Performing music spanning the 1960s through today

The Atlanta Ballet
Selections from 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥�
Sunday, November 19^th, 2006, at 3:00 PM
鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥� and other classical works, by the Atlanta Ballet

Man of Constant Sorrow
Monday, October 16^th, 2006, at 7:30 PM
The story and music of Ralph and Carter Stanley

Let鈥檚 Put on a Show
Sunday, September 17^th, 2006, at 3:00 PM
A collection of songs, reminiscences, and jazz by Mickey Rooney

Luma 鈥� A Technocircus
Sunday, April 30^th, 2006, at 3:00 PM

Luma uses the dark as a canvas and light as the brush to paint a story of how light occurs to humanity. A sure-fire crowd-pleaser!

鈥淭he Piano Men鈥�
Friday, March 31^st, 2006, at 7:30 PM

Let this celebration of the songs of Billy Joel and Elton John take you on a musical journey through the decade of the '70s.

Craig Karges: Extraordinist
Thursday, March 2^nd, 2006, at 7:30 PM

Karges combines intuition, psychology and illusion with amazing facts about our potential as humans. You won't just watch this performance: you will experience it.

鈥淎n Evening with Groucho鈥�
Thursday, February 2^nd, 2006, at 7:30 PM

Celebrate the comic madness and the music of Groucho Marx as portrayed by the award-winning Frank Ferrante

Riders in the Sky
Thursday, December 1^st, 2005, at 7:30 PM

A holiday spectacular with a Grammy award-winning cowboy music group.

The United States Marine Band
Friday, November 18^th, 2005, at 7:30 PM

Established in 1798 by an Act of Congress, the Marine Band is considered "The President's Own" and performs at White House ceremonies throughout the year. On tour, the band offers a unique blend of traditional band and contemporary wind ensemble music suitable for people of all ages and musical tastes.

The Atlanta Ballet
Friday, November 11^th, 2005, at 7:30 PM

This vibrant company presents selections from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" and other works.

Alfred Hitchcock鈥檚 Movies 鈥� Bernard Herrmann鈥檚 Music
Thursday, October 27^th, 2005, at 8:00 PM

Western's Bruce Frazier and the Asheville Symphony pay a musical and visual tribute to the mystery of Alfred Hitchcock and the musical mastery of composer Bernard Herrmann.

鈥淚n The Mood鈥�
Sunday, October 23^rd, 2005, at 3:00 PM

A Big Band theatrical review featuring the music of Glenn Miller; Tommy Dorsey. Harry James, Erskin Hawkins, The Andrew Sisters, Frank Sinatra and more.

Jay Leno
Saturday, October 22^nd, 2005, at 8:00 PM

A gala, black-tie grand opening celebration will feature comedy and laughter from nationally known comedian Jay Leno, "the king of late-night television," with opening musical act jazz singer Kat Williams.