In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.
For the series finale: Charleston's performing arts scene is nothing short of extraordinary. Aislyn explores the city's world-class venues—from America's first dedicated theater to a stunning apricot-colored concert hall—and meets the people bringing opera, dance, jazz, and theater to life in the Lowcountry.
In This Episode You'll Learn
The remarkable 300-year history of the Dock Street Theater, where ghost stories and contemporary artists meet
How the Spoleto Festival USA became an international arts destination that draws everyone from Yo-Yo Ma to Patti Smith
Why the Gaillard Center is "the Carnegie Hall" of the South —and how it commissions new works that celebrate Lowcountry stories and landscapes
Don't Miss These Moments
[02:00] Inside the Dock Street Theater's drawing room
[06:00] The record for most light bulbs blown during a single performance
[11:00] Spoleto's general director on why 125 concerts in 17 days creates festival magic
[13:00] The two ghosts said to haunt Dock Street Theater
[18:00] Aislyn visits Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston—one of the most beautiful outdoor venues in the city
[21:00] How the Gaillard Center transformed from a brutalist municipal auditorium into a world-class performance hall
[24:00] The moment Audra McDonald turned off her microphone and brought the house to tears
*Time stamps are estimated and may change due to programmatic advertising.
Featured in This Episode
Venues
Dock Street Theater
Gaillard Center
Festivals & Organizations
Spoleto Festival USA
Piccolo Spoleto
Charleston Stage (Dock Street's resident theater company)
Chamber Music Charleston
MOJA Arts Festival
Charleston Literary Festival
Performers
The Gullah Collective
Step Afrika!
Complexions Contemporary Ballet (upcoming)
Resources
Plan your Charleston arts trip using our guides on afar.com
Catch Up on the Series
Missed any episodes? Here's the full Charleston series:
Episode 1: To Understand the Soul of This Southern City, Head for the Water
Episode 2: Charleston Serves Up More Than 300 Years of Flavor—and Every Bite Tells a Story
Episode 3: The Artisans Keeping the Soul of Charleston's King Street Alive
Episode 4: Opera, Punk Rock, and a 300-Year-Old Ghost: One City's Arts Scene
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