On this Piedmont Arts podcast, Phil Vavra and Dan Drayer preview concerts, opera and dance performances, plays and musicals, as well as where to take in the big displays of festive lights across the region.

BNS Productions (Brand New Sheriff Productions) is theater company based in Charlotte that presents award-winning performances highlighting the African American experience. They'll perform Be A Lion at the Booth Playhouse, a production that has been a favorite with Charlotte audiences for years. Inspired by The Wiz, Be A Lion is the creation of award-winning playwright, producer, and director Rory D. Sheriff, who is our guest on this Piedmont Arts podcast episode.

Drive around many Charlotte neighborhoods, and you’re likely to see murals. There are hundreds of them across the city bringing a vibrant quality to the urban landscape. For art lovers, they turn the city into an open-air gallery that can be enjoyed for free. On this episode, you can take a tour of some murals with Charlotte is Creative’s Makayla Binter, who is herself an artist. She shows us around Luminous Lane, a once grim alleyway between 3rd and 4th Streets in Uptown that has been transformed into a colorful uplifting space. And get to know WDAV’s new weeknight evening host Keenan Harmon a little better as he takes questions from Phil Vavra.

“Arts and culture are why people don’t just move to Charlotte—they stay. It’s what turns a city into a community.”Makayla Binter

By Russell Fenn / @Sofles

Ali Loncar / @ahloncar

Luminous Lane entrance by @treazy_treaz

By @John_Hairston_Jr

Pam Imhof / @theleftbrainedartist

Peace By Darian Fleming / @daflemingo-and Matt Moore / @puckmcgruff

Lion by @treazy_treaz

Luminous Lane entrance by @treazy_treaz

By Osiris Rain / @osirisrain

Evening Opus with Keenan Harmon

Keenan Harmon

Tune in to the Evening Opus and more Classical Music with Keenan Harmon weeknights at 7 p.m. and learn more about The Nexus Jazz Group at the Stage Door Theater.

The Magicians Table is making its North American debut this month at Charlotte’s new venue, Blume Studios. Created in London, it’s a show about a legendary illusionist, his loving widow, and a cast of magicians who perform at your table. It may change your idea of what a magic show can be. Artist Kevin Hammonds and Blumenthal Arts’ CEO Tom Gabbard talk about this immersive experience.

On October 24th, Davidson College dedicated a new sculpture called “With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited” by artist Hank Willis Thomas. It acknowledges those individuals who built the college and served the institution in numerous ways but whose story has rarely been included in the college’s history. Davidson graduate Clint Smith, an award-winning poet and author, talks about the sculpture’s significance for Davidson and the larger community. We also learn about the 2025 “Mad About Modern Home Tour.”

After 64 years, the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro is closing. The festival, which has been an important part of the Triad and the state’s cultural life, is ending due to failed negotiations between faculty artists, staff, and the EMF Board. We get the perspectives of both faculty and staff representatives on why talks broke down. We also talk with Dr. Shanté Williams of Opera Carolina about their “Night to Remember” concert that features arias by Puccini’s heroines.

Charlotte Ballet kicks off a new season with "Fall Works," a program of three contemporary ballets at the Knight Theater. The show includes the world premiere of "As I Am" by South African choreographer Mthuthuzeli November. We talked with November about the inspiration for the ballet and preview the program's other exciting works.

A new symphony takes the spotlight as the Charlotte Civic Orchestra presents the premiere of Symphony No. 1, “The Wolf” by rising local composer Sean Michael Smith at Central Piedmont’s Dale Halton Theater. We talk with Smith about his creative journey and debut work, then hear how the Bechtler Museum and Novant Health are blending art and wellness through their inspiring new “Art on Prescription” partnership.

Theatre Charlotte is now in its 98th season of engaging, entertaining, and enlightening audiences of all ages. Artistic Director Chris Timmons talks about which shows are hitting the stage this season, including a special appearance at WDAV’s Small Batch Concert. Plus, hear an interview with the folks organizing Una Noche Entre Suenos, an afternoon of Tango music and dance coming to Charlotte.

Confluence, the Carolinas’ music industry conference, brings together artists, entrepreneurs, and fans for daytime panels and nightly concerts across Charlotte. Host Rachel Stewart talks with organizers Rick Thurmond and Liz Brigham about how the event supports the region’s thriving independent music scene, the collaborative spirit behind its growth, and the mix of live showcases. Highlights include a keynote with Grammy president Panos Panay and performances by emerging artists you’ll want to discover before they reach bigger stages.