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South Carolina

Spoleto Festival USA

Program No. 21257RJ
The Spoleto Festival is a performing arts festival set in Charleston, a city chosen for its similarities to Spoleto, Italy. Come see for yourself as you enjoy art, cuisine and culture.
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Music FestivalsMusic AppreciationRegional Studies
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,099
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
10 meals ( 5B, 2L, 3D )
2 expert-led lectures
4 expert-led field trips
7 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Walking from hotel to Spoleto venues is can be as close as 2 blocks or as far as 6-8 blocks. The city offers free shuttle service at selected pickup points but is not always reliable on time. We recommend a bike taxi if you are unable to walk the distance. We will provide telephone numbers for you.
Afternoon:
HOTEL CHECK-IN: Available from 4:00 pm. PROGRAM REGISTRATION: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar desk in the lobby to register with the program staff at our desk in the lobby beginning at 4:30 pm. You’ll receive your arrival packet containing the most up-to-date schedule and program information that we’ll review during our orientation session before dinner. If you arrive late, please pick up your packet at the hotel front desk. ORIENTATION: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful, rewarding, and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
The remainder of the evening is yours to begin getting to know one another, walk around the neighborhood, or relax in the hotel as you prepare for tomorrow. You are embarking on a special Road Scholar program that includes expert lectures and attending selected events from the schedules of Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto as well as a significant amount of free time to pursue your own interests with opportunities to dine out on your own. The preparatory materials you receive following enrollment will provide more details about the ticketed events included in your program. We highly recommend checking the Spoleto USA website that explains how the festival is organized and how you can purchase tickets when the time comes for the events you would like to attend on your own. All performances that you will be attending are included in this mailout. You can view these performances for a more detailed description by going to http://spoletousa.org/home/
Activity Note
Lunch at 5 Church will be a mile walk from hotel. Walk to Emmett Robinson Theatre to see 4th Witch is .1 mile from hotel. Walking on sidewalks for all field trips can be uneven.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
PRESENTATION: Exclusively for our group, a member of the Spoleto Board of Directors (or other festival insider depending on availability) will provide an overview of the festival and discuss its history. Please note: One of the advantages of taking this Road Scholar program is having guaranteed seats for performances and events that may otherwise be sold out.
Lunch:
At 5 Church Restaurant in the historic district.
Afternoon:
Focusing primarily on artists of the Southeast region, Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect complement to the international scope of Spoleto Festival USA, its parent festival, and its 700 events in 17 days transforms Charleston into an exhilarating celebration of performing, literary and visual arts. In addition to Spoleto offerings during your stay, another option is Piccolo Spoleto. Program offerings include visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theatre, poetry readings, children’s activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and film. Tickets for Piccolo may be viewed online by just typing in Piccolo Charleston. We'll enjoy our free block of time to become familiar with the area. You can walk right our your hotel to Marion Square to take advantage of the activities going that are part of Piccolo.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
The 4th Witch, Emmett Robinson Theatre, 1 hour, 15 min, Spoleto with a world premiere performance that blends shadow puppetry, live-action silhouettes, and music to create a haunting reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This unique adaptation follows a young girl who is unwittingly drawn into the dark world of the three witches. As she becomes their reluctant apprentice, she grapples with a strange new power and the moral implications of her actions. Prepare to be mesmerized by stunning visuals and a haunting soundscape that bring the magic of theater to life. Come and see the Scottish Play in a whole new light.
Activity Note
Walk from hotel to Dock Street Theatre for Chamber Concert is 1 mile. Field trip is by motor coach. Walk from hotel to Festival Hall for Gravity & Other Myths is .5 mile by sidewalk.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our morning is free to explore on our own. We'll meet up at the Dock Street Theatre at 10:30 am for the Chamber Concert X which will begin at 11 am. Chamber Concert X, Dock Street Theatre, 1 hour, 15 min This cornerstone Festival series promises a captivating journey through the world of classical music in one of its most intimate and accessible forms.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
With our expert historian as our leader, we'll go by motor coach to locations of historical significance.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
5:30 pm, Ten Thousand Hours Gravity & Other Myths, Festival Hall, 1 hour Gravity & Other Myths is back with their fourth awe inspiring performance. This internationally acclaimed circus troupe is renowned for their gravity-defying feats, breathtaking acrobatics, and captivating storytelling. In this U.S. premiere, eight elite acrobats celebrate the dedication and discipline required to achieve greatness. This enthralling performance will leave you breathless, a witness to what happens as humanity pushes the boundaries of its potential.
Activity Note
Walk to carriage ride is .9 mile by sidewalk. Walk from carriage ride to lunch is approx .5 mile. Walk to Circular Church from historic area is approx .5 mile. Walk from hotel to Gaillard Center for Bach's Mass in B Minor is .4 mile.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
You are here because of the Spoleto Festival, but your experience would not be complete without a scenic introduction to the charming city of Charleston itself. Aboard horse-drawn carriages, we will enjoy a pleasant, relaxing, and informative ride through neighborhoods filled with colorful history and picturesque architecture.
Lunch:
At Virginia on King in the historic district.
Afternoon:
2:00 pm, Sound of Charleston, Circular Church, 1 hour, 15 min “The Sound of Charleston” — a performance highlighting Charleston’s rich musical heritage — at the historic Circular Congregational Church in the heart of the Historic District. In performances by professional artists, we’ll experience music from 350 years of Charleston’s musical heritage such as gospel, Gullah, Gershwin, Civil War songs, jazz, and light classics. This is a Piccolo event.
Dinner:
Dinner is on your own to allow you time to fit this meal in around Spoleto activities.
Evening:
Bach's Mass in B Minor with the Spoleto Festival USA Chorus + Orchestra, Gaillard Center, 2 hours, 30 min After 19 years of inspiring performances, Joe Miller, Director of Choral Activities, bids farewell with a monumental performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor. A fitting tribute to his extraordinary career, this masterpiece, with its soaring choruses, virtuosic solos, and intricate counterpoint, is a testament to the enduring power of music and the human voice. We'll not miss this opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Joe Miller before he takes his final Spoleto bow.
Activity Note
Hotel to Charleston Museum is .4 mile. Hotel to Joseph Manigault Home is .3 mile.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will gather in our meeting room at the hotel with a local expert and learn about the history and techniques that gave birth to Charleston’s unique sweetgrass baskets. Brought to the area by slaves who came from the west coast of Africa, basket-making is an ancient African art form in this country, passed on from generation to generation. Skilled craftsmanship and long hours are involved in making these baskets. Red tickets will be given so that we will be able to visit the Charleston Museum and the Joseph Manigault home anytime during our free time. Our group leader will explain how this works and give out tickets. The Charleston Museum is one of the oldest museums in the United States.The museum's exhibits include natural history and local history displays. It is also home to the only known fossil of the extinct Pelagornis sandersi, which is possibly the largest flying bird ever discovered. The Joseph Manigault House is a historic house museum, built in 1803. It is significant as a well-executed and preserved example of Adam style architecture and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
FREE AFTERNOON: By now, you have a strong sense of the festival's uniqueness and have learned how to negotiate both the geography and schedules. Select the afternoon performances you will enjoy most. Flex at its best!
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Mrs. Krishnan's Party, 6:00 pm, Festival Hall, 1 hour, 15 min You’re invited to a party like no other! This captivating family-friendly performance blends theater, music, and culinary delights into a truly unforgettable experience. Audiences become immersed in the vibrant world of Mrs. Krishnan’s convenience store, where garlands decorate the ceiling and music flows. Watch as the actors juggle cooking, music, laughter, and heartfelt drama.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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