“We the People” Love Creativity in the Queen City
 Cassie Beck in “What the Constitution Means to Me” – PHOTO CREDIT: Joan Marcus WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME … AND CASSIE BECK … AND YOU!
Interview By Andrea Long
True and embarrassing confession: I haven’t thought much about the Constitution since I was in my 11th grade U.S. history class in 198 … ummm … never mind. And when the play What the Constitution Means to Me premiered on Broadway in 2019, my reaction was, “Well, that sounds … awful. Who wants to sit through a civics lesson disguised as a play?”
Then I spoke with Cassie Beck (Amazon Prime’s I Know What You Did Last Summer and Broadway’s The Humans) who has the lead role in the national tour.
Now, I am a convert.
What The Constitution Means to Me dusts off the Constitution we remember from high school and makes it relevant to our lives today. It shows the ways the Constitution protects us – and doesn’t. And it reminds us, as Beck says, that interpretation matters.
Luckily, now that I’m excited, I don’t have to wait to see the show. It’s coming to Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts Feb. 15 to 20. Tickets are available.
After you read my conversation with the smart, funny, articulate and delightful Cassie Beck, you’ll want to know more about what the Constitution means to her, too.
This story was sponsored by Blumenthal Performing Arts. A portion of this sponsorship supports HUG Micro-Grants available to local creatives.
Five More Creatives to Watch in 2022
The Queen City is teeming with creative talent and artistic passion.
But, you already knew that, didn’t you?
It’s all around you. But, sometimes, you don’t know who was behind the mural or the music or the performance or the incredible, creative idea you just experienced.
At Charlotte Is Creative and The Biscuit, it’s always our mission to help you see the wizards behind the work and the people being the passion. It’s no easy task. And, that’s a good thing.
If we shared a new creative at work in Charlotte with you every day for a year … we’d just be scratching the surface. We’re going to try anyway. This year on our Instagram feed and this newsletter, we’re aiming to introduce you to new creative individuals, events and opportunities so you’re constantly exposed to creatives you’ll follow, fall in love with and (hopefully) hire or collaborate with.
In last week’s Biscuit, we shared 11 creatives and groups we’re watching closely in 2022. Here are six more you should be watching, too.
 PHOTO CREDIT: JazzArts Charlotte ONE: ARTISTIC TRAINING: New Latin JazzArts Program for Youth
Youth interested in learning to play the fundamentals of Latin Jazz are in for a treat. JazzArts Academy has developed a new program led by notable local Latin jazz musicians and educators. This workshop, called “Nuestro Tiempo Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble,” runs Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. from Feb. 24 to May 26. This is a unique opportunity for middle and high school youth. GET MORE INFO.
TWO: UPCOMING EVENT: South End Lightin’ It Up
Spring is right around the corner, and what better way to welcome it than with a stroll down the I Heart Rail Trail, which is back for a third year? From March 4-20, visitors can experience local art and interactive light installations from Carson Blvd. to Atherton Mill. GET MORE INFO.
THREE: AWARD NOMINATION: Honor Fabulous Leaders Over 40
The Charlotte Ledger is taking nominations for its third annual “40 over 40 awards.” Our very own Tim Miner and Matt Olin of Charlotte Is Creative were recipients last year. (So, they can no longer try and pretend they are under 40.) If you know of a local leader over 40 who deserves recognition (especially if they’re in the creative scene), you’d better get going! Nominations are due this Monday, Feb. 7. NOMINATE SOMEONE HERE.
FOUR: PAID ART OPPORTUNITY: Theatre Charlotte Needs Visual Art
Theatre Charlotte is looking for visual artists to create sketches of clothing related to the script of their upcoming performance of Love, Loss and What I Wore, written by Nora Ephron and directed by Allison Modafferi Brewster. The deadline to submit designs is Feb. 15. The budget is stated as $1,000-$2,000. APPLY HERE.
PSST! They’re also looking for actors. Auditions are Feb. 12 and 13. Schedule an audition here.
FIVE: ART EVENT: Exhibition Opens at Free Range Brewing Tonight
Charlotte-based artist, Stephen Thurston, a veteran of the Vietnam War, will be unveiling 10 works at Free Range Brewing, tonight – Feb. 4 – at an opening party from 6 to 8 p.m. “A Life Lived Through Art: A Retrospective” will be on display at Free Range through March 27. Tonight’s reception features Virginia Tidewater-inspired food from Jimmy Pearls. DIRECTIONS TO FREE RANGE BREWING.
There are some incredible tales of Queen City creativity being told in local media these days. Here are three we enjoyed and think you will, too.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Blumenthal Performing Arts ONE: The Charlotte Ledger’s Morgan Tringali explored the return of spring musical theater to high school stages after two years of COVID quiet. Read it here.
TWO: WBTV’s QC LIfe invited Charlotte Is Creative’s co-founders Matt Olin and Tim Miner to share two happy, innovative places – BOLTGROUP and The Savage Way – on National Fun At Work Day. Watch it here.
THREE: WFAE’s Tapestry newsletter asked a variety of local arts leaders, “What’s on Tap for 2022?” Read their responses here.
 Ashley Jane MacIntyre of CRAFT CLT Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 5, is National Sweater Day. So we asked HUG Grantee, Ashley Jane MacIntyre to share one of her creations. She’s been crocheting for over 20 years and leads a local guild of new and established fiber artists called CRAFT CLT.
This sweater took her 40 hours to make. But, don’t be fooled. She’s invested thousands of hours learning her craft. To see more of her work or a Guild community creation, visit her Instagram feed @fromyarntostitches or the guild at @wecraftclt
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