Sunrise Classic Series
On Thursday, June 8, at 7 p.m., the Sunrise Theater kicks off its Summer Classic Series with its first film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, about King Arthur and his knights on a low budget, obstacle-ridden search for the Grail. On Thursday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m., Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), about a boy who encounters strange adventures at a candy factory; on Thursday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m., High Noon (1952), when a marshall faces a deadly enemy with no help from his town. And on Thursday, June 29, at 7:30 p.m., Weird Science (1985) a sci-fi comedy about two high school nerds who attempt to create the perfect woman. Cost: $6. Doors open at 6:30. The Sunrise Theater is located at 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. (910) 692-8501 or sunrisetheater.com.
Carousel in Concert
On Thursday and Friday, June 29 and 30, at 7:30 p.m., the Sandhills Broadway Series and Touching Humanity, Inc., presents Carousel in Concert, a semi-staged theatrical event. With minimal sets, a cast headed by Broadway actors Tony Capone, Jennifer Swiderski, Zachary Prince and Elysia Jordan will enact the story of carousel barker Billy Bigelow and the naive millworker he loves. Things go awry, and he gets one heavenly chance to make things right. Together with an 18-piece orchestra, a Sandhills-based chorus and local youth talent, they will perform the entire inspirational score, including “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The show is presented at Lee Auditorium, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines. Proceeds from this performance will help promote arts in the schools of Moore County. Info and tickets: www.touchinghumanityinc.org or (910) 692-6554.
Blues-n-Brews Festival
The 15th annual Blues-n-Brews Festival takes place on Saturday, June 3, at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville. Mark McKinney & Co., an acoustic trio from Pembroke, plays the blues from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; soulful blues singer Tullie Brae on the main stage from 6:45–8:15 p.m.; and Elliott and the Untouchables will be jamming from 8:30–10 p.m. Over 30 breweries from all across the U.S. will be represented. Gates open at 4 p.m. for VIP and 5 p.m. for General Admission. All proceeds support Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Buy tickets online or at CFRT Box Office. (910) 323-4233. Festival Park is located at 335 Ray Avenue, Fayetteville.
Lunch with a Little History
The Country Bookshop is hosting Dr. Jennifer Ritterhouse at a speaking luncheon in the Cardinal Ballroom at The Country Club of North Carolina on Saturday, June 10 at 12 p.m. to discuss her new book Discovering the South: One Man’s Travels through a Changing America in the 1930s. The book explores the politics and culture of a crucial period in U.S. history by following North Carolina newspaper editor Jonathan Daniels on a sweeping tour of the South in 1937. Discovering the South examines a variety of interrelated topics including the impact of the New Deal; the literary and intellectual history of the Southern Renaissance; the race, class and gender dynamics of the Scottsboro case; and the planters’ and industrialists’ violent responses to labor organizing. Dr. Ritterhouse is a graduate of Harvard University with advanced degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the author of Growing Up Jim Crow: How Black and White Southern Children Learned Race. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.thecountrybookshop.biz or at The Country Bookshop.
Wildlings: Bug Hunt
Insects are some of the most numerous and diverse creatures in the world. Come out to Weymouth Woods on Saturday, June 24, and join a park ranger on a hunt to discover some of the insects that live there. The ranger will show you safe ways to catch, observe and release them. Wildlings is a new Exploration Series for Kids ages 6 through 10. Meet at the Welcome Center at 10 a.m. for the hike. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-2167.
Shakespeare in the Pines
How do you make two people who detest each other fall in love? Tell each that the other is in love with them! And if you want to see how much fun that can be, come see Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s witty comedy about the manipulations of matchmaking.
Pinehurst Parks & Recreation is sponsoring the inaugural production of the Shakespeare in the Pines Festival, presented in the outdoor intimacy of Tufts Memorial Park by locally owned Uprising Theatre Company. Owner Jonathan Drahos, associate professor and director of Theatre at UNC Pembroke, invites you to enjoy the performance for free, or purchase a VIP table for four near the stage at $300 that includes gourmet cheeses, crackers, prosciutto, a bottle of wine and a special meet and greet with the cast, including Natalie Graham and Caleb Kneip (whose credits include appearances with the Rubicon Theater Company in Ventura, California), the finest local talent and Dr. Drahos himself. Friday through Sunday, June 2–4 — VIP tables June 2 only. Opening at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 at 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. (541) 631-8241 or www.uprisingtheatrecompany.com.
The Sunday Exchange
The Town of Aberdeen and the Rooster’s Wife are joining forces to build community through the exchange of ideas, art and entertainment. The Sunday Exchanges feature free concerts, food trucks and community groups gathering on the green space adjacent to the Artists League of the Sandhills. The first Sunday Exchange takes place on Sunday, June 11, and features the band Ranky Tanky. This Charleston quintet has updated the Gullah tradition of the Georgia/Carolina coastal islands with gospel vocals, jazz trumpet solos and an R&B rhythm section. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bring your own cup to minimize single use containers for Southern Pines Brewing products, coffee from Swank and fresh water supplied on-site. One Nine Drive, the Goodie Jar and the Market Place will be on hand serving dinner. The Artists League is located at 129 Exchange St., Aberdeen. For more information, call (910) 944-7502 of visit theroosterswife.org.
Who’s a Good Dog?
Is there something about your dog that is unique, clever, or just plain cute? Give it a chance to show off at the Walthour-Moss Foundation Fun Dog Show on Saturday, June 10. You can enter your dog(s) in one or many of the classes, which include Best Trick, Best Coiffed, Best Rescue, and Best in Show. There will be prizes and ribbons for each class. Come out for the fun of it and enjoy this beautiful nature preserve, which your $5 entry fee (per class) will help maintain. Registration at 8 a.m. or online during week prior. Show starts at 9 a.m. at Lyell’s Meadow, 225 Mile Away Lane, Southern Pines. For a list of classes and more information, call (910) 695-7811 or visit www.walthour-moss.org.
The Rooster’s Wife
More than a little bit of country and a lot of jazz and rhythm and blues, a rollicking good time awaits you at the Rooster’s Wife this month.
Sunday, June 4: Less is More JAZZ band members turn their versatile and virtuoso musical gaze on everything from Irving Berlin to The Cars, with bold arrangements that pierce the heart and pique the intellect. $15.
Friday, June 9: Side Car Social Club, a stylish and versatile five-piece jazz ensemble from Raleigh, performs speakeasy jazz, vintage R&B, real country and modern pop. $10.
Sunday, June 18: Instrumental group Sons of Pitches performs cowboy jazz. $15.
Sunday, June 25: The Jack Grace Band performs experimental country art rock with cowboy grit. $15.
Friday, June 30. Singer/songwriters Bill West and Abigail Dowd pair up on the stage to play some acoustic guitar and sing some bluesy songs. $10.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 6:46 at the Poplar Knight Spot, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. For more information, call (910) 944-7502 or visit www.theroosterswife.org for tickets. Prices above are advance sale.
Remembering Our Past
This month’s Gathering at Given treats you to a spirited re-enactment of the Revolutionary War. Historical re-enactor Colonel Trent Carter, dressed in historical attire, will take you back in time as he describes major characters and events of the period. Trent, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is a frequent participant in re-enactments at the House in the Horseshoe and a volunteer at the Given Book Shop. See his performance at 3:30 p.m. at Given Memorial Library, 150 Cherokee Road, or at 7 p.m. at Given Outpost, 95 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Free and open to the public. (910) 585-4820 or 295-6022.
