Charleston Music Hall

The Mummy Film Screening A Brenaissance Celebration Who does not love a comeback story!? After his current Oscar win for Best Actor in The Whale, Brendan Fraser is having a moment. We wanted to celebrate this 90s hunk by showing one of our favorite Fraser films, The Mummy! We think this below excerpt from Alex Muniz says it best: “The late ‘90s saw Fraser rise to fame as Hollywood’s next heartthrob. From his shredded appearance in “George of the Jungle” to his boy-next-door charm in “Gods and Monsters,” there was no escaping the inexplicable allure of his tanned skin and piercing blue eyes. But where Fraser really excelled was in “The Mummy” series. Fraser plays a swash-buckling explorer named Rick, who traverses the sandy plains of Egypt, slaying ancient demons and stealing the hearts of all who lay eyes on him. The film premiered in 1999 and was a global success, earning a whopping $416.4 million in box-office sales. This cemented Fraser as a Hollywood mainstay, but it also marked the beginning of a series of events that would significantly damage his career. “While filming “The Mummy” series, Fraser was responsible for performing all his stunts. The series spanned almost a decade, so the injuries piled up. By the time the third installment, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” was released, he had undergone multiple surgeries; Fraser described his body as “put together with tape and ice.” Due to the amount of damage done to his body, Fraser took a much needed break from the spotlight and spent many years recovering in privacy. Unfortunately, this caused speculation that his career was over. As the onslaught of rumors surrounding Fraser’s disappearance increased, his struggles, which accumulated from his performances and time in the spotlight, only worsened. In 2016, Fraser buried his mother. He later stated in his 2018 GQ interview “I think I was in mourning, and I didn’t know what that meant.” This was in response to a viral 2016 interview for AOL’s BUILD series, where he appeared sullen and morose. In that same GQ interview, Fraser claimed that the former President of the Hollywood Foreign Press association, Philip Berk, sexually assaulted him in 2003 at a lunch party at the Beverley Hills Hotel. Fraser described how this experience changed his perspective on the entertainment industry, causing him to feel helpless and sick. He told GQ “[I] became depressed. I was blaming myself and I was miserable — because I was saying, ‘This is nothing; this guy reached around and he copped a feel.’ [Work] withered on the vine for me. In my mind, at least something had been taken away from me.” After this event, Fraser claims he felt blacklisted by Hollywood, and was rarely invited to the Golden Globes. When the opportunity to star in the A24 feature film, “The Whale,” came knocking, he felt as though things were finally turning around. As news spread about Fraser’s return to the silver screen, people all over social media celebrated. Fans expressed their excitement to see Fraser finally receive the praise he deserved, calling his return to film the “Brenaissance.” While on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Fraser discussed his deep appreciation for fans’ reactions to “The Whale.” “I just broke out crying. That solved all the problems. I feel like I’m still waiting for someone to walk in and tell me that the jig is up.” From a decade’s worth of struggles to a triumphant return to Hollywood, Fraser’s story is a glimmer of hope in the challenging world of acting. Fraser is far from the only actor to struggle with the entertainment industry; Amanda Bynes has publicly condemned Hollywood for her treatment, and Lindsey Lohan only recently found the strength to make a small comeback in Netflix’s “Falling for Christmas.” Despite the many other examples of Hollywood failing its actors, the entertainment industry seems to be changing for the better. Hopefully, Fraser’s return is indicative of changing times, and more entertainers will come out of the woodwork to an industry that welcomes them with open arms.”

Bar Rollins

To celebrate the start of summer, Bevi Bene and Bar Rollins will debut “Booch Rollins,” a hard kombucha, on Sunday, May 28th from 4 pm to 7 pm with a Bevi Bene bar takeover at Bar Rollins. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Clay and Marissa Carlisle, Bevi Bene is Charleston’s only lager and hard kombucha brewery. Inspired by Bar Rollins’ natural wine selection and Bevi Bene’s open-air taproom, the businesses say Booch Rollins “tastes like summer in a glass with notes of raspberry and orange zest.” The event is free to attend, open to the public, and all food and drinks will be available for purchase. For those unable to attend, Booch Rollins will be available on tap exclusively at Bar Rollins and the Bevi Bene taproom all summer long, while supplies last. Bar Rollins is located at 194 Jackson Street.

The Establishment

The Establishment will host a Collaborative Dinner Experience with Edmund's Oast on Thursday, May 25th. Edmund's Oast brewmasters will be on premise at to serve up some of their award winning avant-garde creations alongside Chef Elliott Howells's seasonally inspired cuisine. Dinner will consist of passed hors d'oeuvres followed by a five-course seated dinner highlighting both libations and culinary creations. Stay tuned for menu updates! Dinner will commence at 6pm in the main dining room of The Establishment. $105 ticket price includes both tax and gratuity. All refunds on ticket sales are final by May 18th. The menu will be set: no substitutions or adjustments please.

The Mount Pleasant Farmers Market

The Mount Pleasant Farmers Market features farm goods, food vendors, and live music. Join us every Tuesday starting in April from 3:30 – 7:00 p.m. to pick up your farmers market goods.  Free parking.

South Carolina Society Hall

Chamber Music Charleston is pleased to return to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival for two distinctive programs of music.  The first celebrates music by women composers of the Baroque Era and the second highlights the American sounds that have been weaved into music for string quartet by Antonin Dvorak, Florence Price, HT Burleigh, and William Grant Still. Each program takes place in the historic ballroom of South Carolina Society Hall and begins with a light reception in the antechamber.  Each concert is approximately 55 minutes in length and tickets are $5 for students, $25 for general admission, available online at chambermusiccharleston.org and citypapertickets.com.  The first program is titled Forgotten Voices: Celebrating Women Composers of the Baroque and Early Classical Era. The world has celebrated the music of composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonio Vivaldi for centuries, but what about the female composers who were writing equally glorious music during the Baroque and early Classical era?  In 1756 Anna Bon, “virtuosa di musica di camera,” penned extraordinary flute sonatas for her employer, the illustrious Margrave of Brandenburg and his music-loving wife.  And then there is Anna Amalia, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar and composer who played harpsichord, flute, and violin.  Chamber Music Charleston curates a special program of music that explores the compositions of these lesser-known composers, performed alongside their male contemporaries.  Performing musicians include flutist Regina Helcher Yost, oboist Kelly Moziek, bassoonist Sandra Nikolajevs, and harpsichordist Julia Harlow. The second program is titled Capturing the American Spirit – music of Dvorak, Price, Burleigh, and Still.  The story begins with a young singer named Harry Thacker Burleigh, who was working as a custodian at the National Conservatory in New York City during the 1890s to fulfill the requirements of his scholarship. One evening, Antonín Dvořák, the newly appointed director, overheard Burleigh’s deep baritone voice singing the spirituals that his grandfather had taught him. This chance encounter marked the beginning of a remarkable friendship and Dvořák’s introduction to the world of African-American spirituals.  Chamber Music Charleston’s program brings together the music of Burleigh and Dvorak, alongside those of other important but long-neglected composers such as Florence Price and William Grant Still. Through their music, the program paints a vivid portrait of a distinctive, yet classically-informed, American sound that is rooted in the country’s diverse cultural heritage.  Performing musicians include violinists Frances Hsieh and Jenny Weiss, violist Ben Weiss, and cellist Tim O’Malley. Tickets: $25 Adult; $5 Student Tickets available online at chambermusiccharleston.org and citypapertickets.com. Forgotten Voices: Celebrating Women Composers of the Baroque Era through Music For Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, and Harpsichord.   May 31, 2023 at 6 pm PROGRAM selections from: Anna Amalia Divertimento for Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, and Harpsichord Anna Bon Sonata No. 4 in D Major for Flute, Bassoon, and Harpsichord Princess Anna Amalia Antonio Vivaldi Bassoon Concerto in a minor, RV 398 Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Harpsichord Capturing the American Spirit – Music For String Quartet of Dvorak, Price, Burleigh, and Still June 7, 2023 at 6 pm PROGRAM selections from Antonin Dvořák String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, “American” H.T. Burleigh Southland Sketches for String Quartet Florence Price String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor William Grant Still Lyric Quartet