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Charleston Theater: Don’t Miss These Shows

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Many of Charleston’s theaters take a break in the late spring and early summer, but now’s the time for new seasons and plenty of incredible shows. The Charleston area is home to numerous theaters offering entertainment for all tastes – Shakespeare, comedy, drama, classics and new productions. Here’s a round-up of some excellent options for August. (Bonus: It’s hot! Enjoy indoor entertainment!).

“Bad Jews” through Aug. 8 – The night after their grandfather’s funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal (and sometimes physical) battle. In one corner is Daphna Feygenbaum, a “Real Jew” who is volatile, self-assure and unbending. In the other is her equally stubborn cousin Liam, a secular and entitled young man. Stuck in the middle is Liam’s brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the way. When Liam stakes claim to a treasured family heirloom, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy ensues. Performed at PURE Theatre, 477 King St. in Charleston. Box office: 843-723-4444

“The Taming of the Shrew” July 30-Aug. 16 – Director John Bryan has set this controversial classic in the American Southeast, on the brink of World War II. The unyielding, Katherina is feverishly pursued by Petruchio, nobleman of Verona. The question is…can she been tamed? Performed at the Threshold Repertory Theatre, 84 1/2 Society St. in Charleston. Box office: 843-277-2172

“West Side Story” Aug. 1-16 – Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is transported to modern-day New York City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.  The Flowertown Players, 133 S. Main St. in Summerville. Box office: 843-875-9251

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels / The Footlight Players

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” Aug. 7-23 – a musical based on the 1988 film of the same name. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” centers around two competing con men, living on the French Riviera. Their competition comes to a peak when they agree that the first con man to extract $50,000 from the female heiress, Christine Colgate, wins and the other must leave town forever. The Footlight Players, 20 Queen St. in Charleston. Box office: 843-722-4487

“The Producers” Aug. 28 to Sept. 20 – A winner of 12 Tony Awards, this show is a hilarious follow-up to “Young Frankenstein” as Max and Leo return with their hair-brained scheme to make a fortune by deliberately mounting a Broadway flop. Performed by Charleston Stage at the Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. in Charleston. Box office: 843-577-7183

“Last Will & Testament” Aug. 28-29 – Join the Crabpot Players Theatre Co. for a summer fundraiser in the form of a dinner theater mystery. Jonas Carmody, president and founder of Carmody Oil, is dead of natural causes at the age of 78, leaving an estate valued in excess of $30 million. The heirs apparent are in for a big surprise when they gather together with his friends and business associates for a memorial dinner in his honor. Unbeknownst to his eccentric family, a surprise reading of the will is on the menu, and murder is certain to be a la mode. Audience members are encouraged to come in Texas attire and will team up with the detective to crack clues and help solve the crime. Crabpot Players Theatre, 1137 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant. Box office: 888-303-0763

Church Street Daughters
Church Street Daughters of the Late Unpleasantness Garden, Gun & Gin Club Mystery

For ongoing fun, check out the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre at 164 Church St. in Charleston. Highlights include “Sherlock Holmes and the Charleston History Mystery,” a hauntingly historical, hysterical whodunit for fans of the Master Sleuth. Or check out “Church Street Daughters of the Late Unpleasantness Garden, Gun & Gin Club Mystery,” a mystery that has the crème of Charleston’s ladies dirtying their white gloves with murder. Box office: 843-937-6453

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

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