A Cultural Extravaganza at DPAC: Musicals, Rock Bands, and More Await!
April and May 2025 are set to be unforgettable months at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) with an exciting array of events on the calendar. From award-winning musicals like 'The Book of Mormon' and 'Kimberly Akimbo' to the legendary rock band Chicago and the unique Biscuits & Banjos Festival, there's something for every cultural enthusiast. Join us as we dive into this vibrant mix of musicals, rock, comedy, and celebrations of Black music and culture, all taking place at one of North Carolina's premier venues.
The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it "Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal." It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical.
Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era, the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago, came in as the highest charting American band in Billboard Magazine's Top 125 Artists Of All Time. Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.
GRAMMY & Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens launches a new festival, Biscuits & Banjos, across Downtown Durham on April 25-27, 2025. The weekend-long event is dedicated to the celebration and exploration of Black music, art and culture in Giddens’ home state of North Carolina. The festival will champion Black artists and creators, offering robust musical performances alongside secondary programming to include lectures, workshops and readings from authors, chefs, visual artists, and more.
A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), KIMBERLY AKIMBO is the winner of 5 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL. It features Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone.
A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), KIMBERLY AKIMBO is the winner of 5 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL. It features Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone. Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this "howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show" (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush...and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.
All aboard, sisters! The hysterical sequel to the smash-hit Menopause The Musical® is finally here! Five years after their chance encounter in a department store, we set sail with our beloved ladies for more high jinks on the high seas. Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’® is a hilarious and heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship—plus hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses! Join us on a trip of self-discovery, backed by a new soundtrack of toe-tapping parodied hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. For these four ladies, menopause was not the end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship where love conquers all, and friendships never fail.
ALL AGES MUST HAVE A TICKET FOR ENTRY TO THE VENUE. A clear bag policy is in effect for all events at the Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. For more information on this policy including size guidelines please visit our website at www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com. Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg?s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables. This brilliant staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed as ?a reborn dream of a production? (Daily Telegraph). Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption?a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs ?I Dreamed a Dream,? ?On My Own,? ?Bring Him Home,? ?One Day More? and many more.
From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live like you’ve never heard before. Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates the songs in all their depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album…GTLO delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, GTLO brings what the audience wants…a high energy Zeppelin concert with an honest, heart-thumping intensity.
Comedian/Actor/Writer and Australia native Jim Jefferies is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy. The comedian has released a total of ten stand-up specials since Contraband in 2008, including his most recent 2023 special High & Dry on Netflix, his 5th special for the streaming service. In the special, newly married and loving life with his wife and kids, Jefferies sounds off on the laziness of koala bears, the injustices of male pattern baldness and the reason why he?ll never drink again. Jefferies has also appeared and starred in films and TV including the comedy series Legit which he co- wrote, executive produced and starred for FX. Jim hosted and co-created the popular Comedy Central series, The Jim Jefferies Show which ran 3 seasons from 2017-2019.
Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical, BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL is adapted for the stage by the iconic film’s creators Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and directed by the Tony Award®-winner John Rando with original music by multi-Grammy® winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”), alongside hit songs from the movie including “The Power of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back in Time.”
The upcoming events at DPAC promise an unforgettable spring filled with music, laughter, and cultural exploration. From the comedic brilliance of 'The Book of Mormon' to the soulful sounds of the Biscuits & Banjos Festival, each event offers a unique experience. Whether you're a theater enthusiast, a rock aficionado, or a comedy lover, DPAC's diverse lineup ensures a memorable experience for all. So mark your calendars and prepare for a season of entertainment and inspiration that captures the spirit of Durham's thriving arts scene.