A Night of Artistic Renewal: Hope, Healing and Triumph

A Night of Artistic Renewal returns to the Booth Playhouse on Sunday, November 1, for its fifth anniversary. It's a multidisciplinary production that brings together spoken word, music, dance, and storytelling, all centered on the theme of hope, healing, and triumph. The show is presented by Dionne Hunter Arts LLC, with producer and host Dionne Hunter and co-host Laheelah Hunter.

The lineup is a wide one. Performance poets include Emmy winner Boris 'Bluz' Rogers, four-time World Poetry Slam Champion Ed Mabrey, and Charlotte's Inaugural Poet Laureate Junious 'Jay' Ward, along with DS Will, Jaycee Cowan, Keith Allison, Linda Orji, and Lisa Ann Markuson. On the music side, saxophonist Bryan Patterson Jr. and violinist Marcus R. Pyle are joined by recording artists Adayla Turner, Enacense, and Mason 'Quill' Parker. The movement comes from ballroom dancers Robert Fitzgerald and Takeila Fox, and Charlotte Ballet artists Raven Barkley and Maurice Mouzon Jr., while visual artists Julianna O'Malley and Tajmah Allison add another layer to the mix.

This is Charlotte's premier multidisciplinary arts experience, and it's returning to the Booth Playhouse for the third time. Each edition explores a new theme around the power of creativity and human connection. Its founder and producer, award-winning performance poet and arts advocate Dionne Hunter, built the show from a lifelong love of reading passed down by her father and a desire to bring that same sense of wonder to families. She's said her hope is to create an event where accessibility and artistic excellence exist hand in hand, honoring the legacies that shape us and celebrating the power of positive representation. What started as a Charlotte community arts experience has since grown into a platform reaching audiences through live stage performances, international film festivals, and national streaming platforms. The Arts & Science Council named it a 2026 Community Connector Grant recipient.

The performance is at 3:30 PM on Sunday, November 1, at the Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon Street. The lobby opens at 2:30 PM and theater doors open at 3:00 PM. Tickets start at $35, and groups of 10 or more get 10% off.