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 Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The City Where You'll Find Ghost Stories, Gullah Rhythms, and the "Carnegie Hall of the South"

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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   Stay Connected     Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.      Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.   Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unpacked by Afar is your weekly guide to where to go, how to travel, and everything worth unpacking in between. Each week, host Aislyn Greene and the Afar team travel the world and dig into the big questions behind every great trip, from the best new hotels and national parks to traveling more responsibly. Some weeks we follow a story through music, food, and culture. Others we tackle a tricky topic, share our favorite destinations, or help you plan where to go next. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it. 

Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly

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