Quartz Countertops in North Charleston, SC

North Charleston's Performing Arts Center has a stacked lineup for its upcoming Best of Broadway season, which brings popular touring productions to the Lowcountry.

The 2025-26 season features some famed favorites, including "The Sound of Music," "Beauty and the Beast," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" and "The Wiz." "MJ the Musical" goes beyond the moves and sounds of Michael Jackson, while "& Juliet" asks what would have happened if Juliet didn't end it all over Romeo (written by David West Read of "Schitt's Creek").

A special bonus show, "Chicago," has been added, as well. And looking ahead, the Performing Arts Center has announced "Hamilton" will be returning the season after this one.

The 2025-2026 schedule is as follows:

“The Best of Broadway season is a cornerstone of North Charleston’s vibrant arts scene, and we’re thrilled to welcome another outstanding lineup to our Performing Arts Center,” said Mayor Reggie Burgess of the city of North Charleston.

“For more than two decades, these productions have brought the magic of Broadway to our community, right here at home. The 2025–2026 season continues that tradition with unforgettable performances that will inspire, entertain and bring us together through the power of live theater.”

Season ticket renewals are on sale now, while new season tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on May 12. Packages start at $360, and reservations can be made for $50 down.

There will be a new addition of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening performances for all shows, in addition to weekends, for season ticket offerings. Previously, season tickets were only available for Friday through Sunday performances. Other perks include the same seating for all performances, free parking and priority access to other events at the venue.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The North Charleston week and a half Arts Fest featured performances and exhibitions by painters, storytellers, dancers, educators, musicians, weavers, sculptors and more.

The event from April 30 to May 4 spanned a variety of locations and showcased a range of talents. From puppet shows and improv, to live painting and gospel performances the Arts Fest featured the best of what local talent has to offer.

Events took place at libraries, community centers, businesses, parks and the coliseum. Artists, performers and vendors were selected through an open application process.

The closing event also wrapped up the visual art competitions & exhibitions, including Judged Fine Art and Photography, SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft, and Tri-County Youth Art and High School Sculpture.

Performers from Academic Magnet and Charleston County School of the Arts performed musical numbers from the 2000s while patrons browsed art submissions from local schools, as well as art for sale from local artists.

John Cusatis is a teacher at the School of the Arts and says it’s an event students look forward to every year.

“The kids feel like they belong to something because they do, and their talent is incredible, and they may not get to express it, because most of them are performing outside of their School of the Arts major, you know. They may be a theater major, playing bass or creative writers singing,” Cusatis says.

One of those students is Rachel Wheelon.

“I’m a creative writing major, so I don’t ever perform and I’ve been singing for a bit, but I don’t sing in front of people so it’s my first time doing that. But it’s been really great because I get to meet new people and share my love of music with everyone else,” Wheelon says.

Others like Madison Deaton are following a music path, but also going out of their comfort zone to participate in the event.

“I’ve never played with a live band before….but at the School of the Arts, we have majors and I’m a vocal major so I sing a lot and it’s what I want to do in college and this really solidified my want to do a career in music,” Deaton says.

Cameron Barnett also performed at last year’s event and says it’s a good way to meet with other students they don’t always work with, create new bonds, and explore new collaborations. The musicians also took the chance to walk through the rows of local art.

“It was a good experience last year and a lot of great artwork and a good chance to play music with all these incredible musicians.”

Quincey Christian and Mariana Becerra performed songs on stage, and said they also enjoyed the large scale displays of the event, especially the local youth artwork.

“Kind of a lot of the artwork is actually from like, my old schools and stuff. So it’s cool to see, like, people that I know make awesome work,” Christian says.

“” It’s pretty epic to see how many kids across our county can do art like this,” Becerra says.

The North Charleston Arts Fest is an annual event that organizers say they look forward to continuing in years to come, showcasing local talent of all ages in a variety of skills.

North Charleston’s Cultural Arts department consists of nine staff members and a total budget of $1.4 million, according to the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. That budget allocates $5,000 for statewide advertising of the North Charleston Arts Fest. The department also runs youth programs and a cultural center with events year-round.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A music festival is set to kick off Saturday at Riverfront Park in North Charleston, with thousands expected to attend the two-day event.

Organizers for the High Water Festival have made several changes and updates to address issues from last year, particularly those with parking, rideshares and overall logistics.

One of the biggest challenges during last year’s festival was transportation. Long delays in parking lots and rideshare pickup areas left many attendees stranded, some of whom walked miles to find transportation. This year, organizers have taken steps to alleviate these issues.

In addition to the main entrance near Momo, festivalgoers can now access the event via the Noisette Pedestrian Bridge, which is expected to ease congestion at the entrances and improve traffic flow.

There will not be provided shuttle service. Parking is free in the lots near the festival grounds but will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Another new feature this year is a system designed to help reunite attendees with lost phones. Organizers have created a special phone wallpaper with a QR code. Anyone who finds a lost phone can scan the code on that wallpaper to retrieve contact information and return it to its rightful owner.

Festivalgoers should also be aware of some important guidelines. Only small purses, fanny packs or clear bags are allowed. The event will also be entirely cashless. Lockers will be available for rent on-site for those who need to store items.

Tickets are still available for the festival, which will feature more than 20 musical performances.

The gates will open at 1 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The North Charleston High School performed a full three-act play for the first time in 20 years Saturday.

"We know this is something we can do," said T'mani Woodward, the North Charleston High School theatre teacher. "I've been in theatre my whole life, and I wanted to share that experience with these students."

"When people think of North Charleston High, they think of athletics, they don't think of theatre of the arts." said Leo Brown, an actor in the play. "They used to use this auditorium as a place to dump students and for storage and stuff, and we've developed it into something that's proud to look at."

To produce a show of this magnitude for a school which had not seen theatre for decades was no small task, and for faculty and students, everything had to start from the ground up.

"Dressings rooms were doubling as storage space for desks and chairs, so I had to advocate for myself and my students," said Woodward. "We have had faculty working here for 15 years and they didn't know that there was even a stage back here."

READ MORE | "North Charleston Arts Fest returns with five days of free performances and exhibitions"

The students who performed in the play stepped onto the stage knowing it had not been done for generations at the high school.

"My first time doing this was my first time acting ever," said actor Samantha Williams. "But getting on stage and seeing all the work you put in pay off, it's really good. It's a really good feeling."

The performers remarked that the student body enjoyed the performances, although it is a new experience for many.

"We had to teach all the students proper theatre etiquette," said Woodward, "But they loved the performances and they were shocked by a lot of what happened on stage."

"They all complimented us." said Williams, "They said this play was actually cool and they didn't expect the play to be this cool. They all thought plays would be just boring."

North Charleston High School does not have anymore plays planned as of now. There could be some surprises next year, Woodward commented, as she plans on taking the performances up a notch.

One of the best things about warmer weather is that it brings some of the best opportunities to enjoy outdoor concerts. Luckily for us, we have several great options for open-air venues. Whether it’s a large festival featuring national acts or a more intimate event with local vibes, you can experience live music at these venues throughout the Lowcountry.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list, but if we’ve missed one of your favorites, let us know.

The Charleston Pour House | James Island | The Deck stage offers a lively atmosphere with a diverse lineup of acts.

Riverfront Park Performance Pavilion | North Charleston | Situated on the banks of the Cooper River, this pavilion has become a popular destination, especially for festivals.

The Windjammer | Isle of Palms | This long-standing, beachside venue is perfect for enjoying live music, beach views, and delicious food.

The Refinery Charleston | Charleston | This mixed-use development welcomes a variety of national, regional, and local performers to the Lowcountry.

Credit One Stadium | Daniel Island | With its large capacity, this stadium brings entertainers from across the country to perform in the Lowcountry.

Firefly Distillery | North Charleston | his distillery hosts both small and large-scale events, offering marsh views, local food trucks, and refreshing Firefly cocktails.

Hanahan Pavilion | Hanahan | A community venue with a roof-covered stage that offers excellent acoustics

Joseph S. Daning Amphitheater | Goose Creek | With amenities including a stage-front dance floor, the Amphitheater provides a great space for the community to gather and enjoy a variety of public performances.