Art Showings, Plays & Performances
Met Opera Live in HD: Der Fliegende Holländer
World premiere: Dresden, Court Opera, 1843. Der Fliegende Holländer is the earliest of Richard Wagner’s operatic creations to remain in the repertory. The two lead roles represent archetypes to which the composer would return, in one form or another, in most of his later works: the “otherworldly stranger” and the woman who sacrifices herself for his salvation. The work’s unearthly ambience is impressive but only one aspect of it: Both the world of nature and of the supernatural are magnificently evoked in the score.
When: 12:55 p.m., Saturday, March 14
Where: USCB Center for the Arts, Beaufort
Notes: Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for OLLI
Details: uscbcenterforthearts.com
Terpsichore: Classical meets contemporary
Hilton Head Dance Theatre will present an exciting program of classical and contemporary dance featuring company members and distinguished guest artists. The program takes its name from Terpsichore, the Greek muse of dance, and is always an audience favorite. Opening the program will be the second act of Swan Lake starring Brittany Hanna as the Swan Queen and Samuel Chester as Prince Siegfried. Also on the program is Hoedown, a new work by Ballet Master Jamal Edwards, inspired by Balanchine’s Western Symphony and his love for all things American. Ramalama Bang Bang, a fun and funky contemporary piece that is also by Jamal Edwards follows. Kathleen Watkins, former dance captain for Broadway’s Fosse, has chosen the jazz masterwork Sing, Sing, Sing as her contribution to the program. This piece from the Tony Award winning Dancin’ was a tribute to Benny Goodman’s composition of the same title. The evening concludes with the wedding scene from Raymonda with music by Glazunov and choreography by Petipa and staging by Hilton Head Dance Theatre Artistic Director Karena Brock-Carlyle. Featured as Raymonda and Jean de Brienne are Sophia Nimmer and Journy Wilkes-Davis.
When: 7:30 p.m., April 4 and 2:30 p.m., April 5
Where: Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Notes: Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for students 18 and under.
Details: 843-842-2787, artshhi.com
Hilton Head Christian Academy brings Elvis-inspired production to the stage
Get ready to shake, rattle and roll as Hilton Head Christian Academy’s award-winning theater department brings the Elvis-inspired jukebox musical All Shook Up to the stage. The show will be performed “in-the-round.” The unique format, in which the audience completely surrounds the stage, will be a first for the department. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, All Shook Up will have you jumping out of your blue suede shoes with hits such as, “Jailhouse Rock,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” and “It’s Now or Never.”
When: 7 p.m., March 19-21; 2 p.m., March 21
Where: Hilton Head Christian Academy Performing Arts Center
Details: hhca.org
Charlotte Ballet
From ballet to bold, this breathtaking dance company dazzles with a powerful, evocative repertoire. The Charlotte Ballet Company consists of 26 professional dancers, performing classic, contemporary, and cutting-edge dance with virtuosity, energy, and artistic excellence.
When: 8 p.m., March 26
Where: Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Details: $61. artshhi.com
Matilda: The Musical
Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony-Award-winning show is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Based on the book by Dennis Kelly and with original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world. Presented by Hilton Head Island High School’s Seahawk Stage Company.
When: 7 pm March 19-21 and March 26-28; 2 p.m. March 22 and 29
Where: Seahawk Theatre
Details: hhihs.beaufortschools.net
Bring your family to a groovy concert
Eric Litwin brings music and early literacy together through song singing and guitar strumming. He’s the original author of the Pete the Cat series, as well as The Nuts and Groovy Joe. See this award-winning author at two free performances, sponsored by the Beaufort County Library.
When: 11 a.m., March 14 at Bluffton Branch Library; 2 p.m., at St. Helena Branch Library
Details: beaufortcountylibrary.org
Hilton Head International Piano Competition
20 Pianists from 7 countries compete for $21,000 in cash prizes and performance opportunities. The 24th HHIPC begins with pianists competing over four days at Central Church, March 9-12. The Jury will select five finalists, and the Competition will conclude on Saturday, March 14, with each finalist performing a movement of a concerto with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Morris Russell.
When: March 9-12, March 14
Where: Central Church
Details: Daily tickets are $10. Finals: $25, $50 and $60. Tickets available at hhipc.org or by calling the box office at
843-842-2055.
March events at SoundWaves
Details at hhso.org/soundwaves
Hilton Head Live!
Let the historic Savannah Theatre guys and gals entertain you with their high-energy musical variety show. This highly popular show will feature different artists from the Savannah Theatre at each event.
When: 8 p.m., March 15; doors open at 7:30 p.m
Notes: Tickets are $25 for cabaret seating
Catharsis Winds
Cleveland Institute of Music’s international award-winning Catharsis Winds is recognized by audiences and colleagues alike for its passionate performances of both classical repertoire and modern masterworks.
When: 7:30 p.m., March 19
Notes: Free
The Jackson Trio
Three music educators from Brevard County, Florida, perform with violin, oboe and cello. Part of the SoundWaves Jazz Series. Wine, beer and soda will be available for purchase.
When: 7:30 p.m., March 25
Notes: Tickets are $25 for cabaret seating
Festivals & Fun
Custom design event at Forsythe Jewelers
Repurpose your beloved jewelry and create something new during the Custom Design Event at Forsythe Jewelers. Work directly with trusted professional jewelry designer Paula Dawkins to select a new setting or stones to reimagine a new custom-designed piece.
When: March 5-7
Where: Forsythe Jewelers, The Shops at Sea Pines Center
Notes: Appointments required for a design session with Paula.
Details: forsythejewelers.biz or 843-671-7070
Bourbon and Bubbles
This benefit for the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is sure to be an incredible bash with 100 proof fun. Live entertainment featuring American Idol winner Candace Glover will be one of the night’s highlights. You’ll find plenty of champagne, bourbon and vodka tastings, specialty drinks, amazing food, and an outdoor cigar lounge. The night is casual and anything goes, from denim to diamonds.
When: March 21
Where: The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Details: artshhi.com
Maison Beaufort antiques, home + garden event
This four-day antiques, home and garden event is at The Beaufort Inn’s Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort. The home furnishings show will feature 20-30 carefully selected vendors offering a variety of items for the home and garden—a blend of antiques and art, vintage and one-of-a-kinds, lighting and furniture, linens, and garden accents.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., March 13-14; 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., March 15; Preview Party: 4:30-7 p.m., March 12
Notes: Preview party tickets (March 12) are $30 and includes wine and nosh and first chance to buy. They must be purchased in advance. General admission tickets (March 13-15) are $5 for all three days.
Details: maisonbeaufort.org
Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival
Each March, Hilton Head’s wine and food enthusiasts greet the island’s popular spring season with a weeklong celebration to embrace the fruits of global wine partnerships, signature Lowcountry cuisine, grassroots cultural happenings and the authentic fabric of a unique artists’ community. The Public Tasting is one of the largest outdoor tented public wine tastings on the East Coast.
Details at hiltonheadwineandfood.com
Ziata Wine Dinner 6-8 p.m., March 9, The Bluffton Room
You Had Me At Merlot Movie Night 6-9 p.m., March 10, Park Plaza Cinema
Newton Wine Dinner 6-9 p.m. March 11, Long Cove private residence
Vagabond Sunset Cruise 6:30-8:30 p.m., March 11, Harbour Town
Sip and Stroll 1-4 p.m., March 12, Harbour Town
Stay Gold: A Lowcountry Wine, Food and Music Experience 6:30-8:30 p.m., March 12, Harbour Town
Grand Tasting 5:30-7:30 p.m., March 13, Harbour Town Clubhouse
Public Tasting noon-3 p.m., March 14, Harbour Town
Beachside Brunch and Bubbles 11 a.m.-1 p.m., March 15, Sea Pines Beach Club
Polo at the Bluff for Make a Wish
This one of a kind polo event is where the community comes together to enjoy an exhibition polo match and open their hearts to help raise funds to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
When: Doors open at 1 p.m., match at 2 p.m., March 29
Where: Longfield Stables, Palmetto Bluff
Notes: Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for students 18 and under.
Details: poloatthebluff.org
Boys & Girls Club of HHI Gala 2020
An inspiring and entertaining evening benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island. All proceeds help the Club create successful pathways for the over 275 kids and teens who attend on a daily basis.
When: 6-10 p.m., Saturday, March 21
Where: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Details: [email protected], bgchiltonhead.org
Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton Gala
The annual gala is the Boys and Girls of Bluffton’s largest fundraising event, drawing hundreds of members of the community.
When: 6 p.m. March 14
Where: Montage Palmetto Bluff
Details: bgcbluffton.org
St. Patrick’s Events
Get your Irish on at the Shamrock Run
Wear green for this 5K Run and Health Walk. A percentage of proceeds from the event go to the Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island. A fun and healthy family tradition, the Shamrock Run features prizes, refreshments, and music.
When: 8-10 a.m., March 14
Where: New York City Pizza, Heritage Plaza
Details: bearfootsports.com, 843-757-8520
Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Welcome spring with the South’s oldest parade. Join upwards of 25,000 spectators to enjoy floats and marching groups, marching bands, including the U.S. Marine Corps Band from Parris Island, a procession of local dignitaries, and the always popular antics of the Shriners.
When: 3-5:30 p.m., March 15
Where: Pope Avenue
Details: hiltonheadireland.org
Beaufort St. Patrick’s Festival
A free, family-friendly celebration that benefits the Beaufort County Animal Shelter. Barbers of the Lowcountry will be giving free haircuts with suggested donations to the animal shelter. Area restaurants and food trucks will be selling food and drinks, and there will be live entertainment including a bagpipe player, local music and more. There will be activities for children and adults, including inflatable obstacle courses, face painting and more.
When: 12-4 p.m., March 14
Where: Beaufort Town Center
Details: beauforttowncenter.com
Fundraising Events
Kathy Cramer: Inspiring inclusion in our community
Story By Emily Campbell
It takes a unique person to take a stand against the injustices faced by people with intellectual disabilities. It takes someone with determination, humbleness and a whole lot of love to work hard for the marginalized, to lend a hand to the overlooked, and to speak up for those who are often voiceless. Those traits embody the Foundation for Educational Excellence’s Peggy May Inspiration Award Honoree for 2020 – Kathy Cramer.
Cramer will be honored at the Foundation for Educational Excellence’s annual Jewels & Jeans event from 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort.
Cramer’s efforts have benefited so many in the Lowcountry. She helped launch the inclusion revolution in Beaufort County through her decades of work to provide opportunities for people with disabilities in their pursuit to live, play and participate in the community.
The Beaufort County School District provides Special Education services to over 2,000 students with disabilities, over 10 percent of the entire student population. The school system recognizes and supports over 400 Special Olympic athletes in a variety of sports, from equestrian events to tennis, on a weekly basis. Since 2009, the Foundation has awarded over $270,000 in grants to teachers in Beaufort County.
Jewels and Jeans
When: 6-9:30 p.m., March 7
Where: Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort
Notes: Enjoy a fun evening for a great cause at the Foundation for Educational Excellence’s annual event, with a live and silent auction, food, and entertainment by local favorite, Deas Guyz. Kathy Cramer will be recognized as the Peggy May Inspiration Award Honoree for efforts that have benefited so many in the Lowcountry.
Details: foundationedexcellence.com
Informative & Entertaining
Making Waves at TEDxHiltonHead
This year’s TEDxHiltonHead event will celebrate those “making waves” to create change and feature their “Ideas Worth Spreading” that have made a true difference in the lives of others. Two-time All Pro NFL player, environmental advocate and eco athlete Ovie Mughelli, Janet Porter, Ph.D., and Dr. Chloe Carmichael will be among more than a dozen speakers gathering to address and celebrate the topic of “Making Waves.”
When: 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m., March 14
Where: Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Details: tedxhiltonhead.com
Memory Matters Brain Health Summit 3
This year’s keynote speakers are Wendy Suzuki, PhD, with a presentation on how to Energize Your Brain With Exercise, and Jimi Gibson proving You Have Magic Power: Use It For Good. Chef Kim Baretta from Leiths School of Food and Wine, London, UK, will preside over a Live Culinary Competition, and the event continues with more ways to care for your brain health and overall well-being.
When: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., March 11
Where: Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort
Details: mymemorymatters.org
Understanding CBD
Cynthia Groff takes a deep look at CBD products and dosing, how CBD impacts brain health and its positive effects to aid with anxiety and sleep, drug interactions and a brief history of cannabis and the FDA’s position.
When: 2-3 p.m., March 6
Where: Memory Matters
Notes: Free for caregivers
Details: mymemorymatters.org or 843-842-6688
World Affairs Council hosting Academic WorldQuest
Students’ knowledge of international affairs, geography, history, and culture is tested throughout the school year, though competitors work beyond their regular curriculum to prepare for this quest. Winning teams (about 225 students total) are invited to Washington, D.C., to represent their high schools, cities, and local councils. World Affairs Council of Hilton Head pays all expenses for the trip for these students, parents, teachers, and chaperones, which includes visits to historic sites in addition to the competition.
When: 9 a.m., March 7
Where: Hilton Head Island High School
Details: wachh.org, 843-816-1498, [email protected]
Kurds: No Nation, But a Middle East Force
The Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East. They have been persecuted wherever they live, but were instrumental in the fight against ISIS. Henri J. Barkey, the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen Chair in International Relations at Lehigh University and an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, will explain what Kurds, their struggles, and quest for a state portend for the geopolitics of the Middle East.
When: 10-11:30 a.m., March 20
Where: First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island
Notes: Non-members are welcome.
Details: wachh.org or 843-384-6758
Japan’s Military Postmodernism
Following WWII, Japan adopted a strictly defensive posture. Recently, its military began a decidedly offensive tone, with U.S. support. Sheila A. Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an expert on Japanese politics and foreign policy, will explain the shift in dynamics to members and guests of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. She is the author of Japan Rearmed: The Politics of Military Power, Intimate Rivals: Japanese Domestic Politics and a Rising China, and Japan’s New Politics and the U.S.-Japan Alliance.
When: 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m., March 6
Where: First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island
Notes: Non-members are welcome.
Details: wachh.org or 843-384-6758