From “Porgy and Bess” to the AME church shootings, Charleston a focus of Spoleto 2016

Porgy and Bees
(Photo from Speleto website)

CHARLESTON, S.C.—The Spoleto Festival USA is preparing for its 40th season and Charleston, the city it calls home, is the focus of a number of productions.

The internationally known arts festival unveiled its schedule Sunday for the 2016 season that runs from May 27 through June 12.

For the first time, the festival is staging “Porgy and Bess,” the famed George Gershwin opera set in the city.

Another event is a multimedia production by artist Carrie Mae Weems commemorating the victims of the shootings at Emanuel AME Church last year.

Nine black parishioners were killed in the incident.

The festival has also commissioned a song in response to the tragedy that will be sung at a concert by jazz singer Rene Marie.

Tickets for the festival go on sale Jan. 14.