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We’re almost there. Summer is but a whisper away, and people are no doubt already dreaming of their vacations as they sit at their school or work desks. If it helps at all to pass the time between now and your week at the beach, there are plenty of events around the Midlands to keep you occupied and interested.
Here’s a roundup of May’s cultural, comedic and family friendly events. May 3: "Clyde's" @ Trustus Theatre The reliable company at the Trustus Theatre presents “Clyde’s,” a funny, heartfelt and somewhat unsettling look at a lonely truck stop in the middle of nowhere. The kitchen staff made up entirely of ex-cons looking for their shot at redemption, and the diner’s owner, Clyde, loves keeping them under her thumb.
Despite the hardships, the staff members follow a shared quest to create the perfect sandwich, for some reason. Visit trustus.org for showtime and ticket info.
Katt Williams is performing in Columbia this month. May 3: Katt Williams @ The Senate Katt Williams faded from the standup scene for a bit due to personal issues, but his comeback in the last two years has been phenomenal. Williams is scarred but smarter, dispatching brutal honesty with casual indifference and tearing the house down every time.
It's been a while, but Katt Williams is back and firing on all cylinders. Visit c oloniallifearena.com for showtime and ticket info.
May 4: "Les Misérables" @ Koger Center for the Arts This is the last performance of "Les Mis" at the Koger Center, and you really owe it to yourself to check it out if you haven’t seen it before. The musical, presented by Broadway In Columbia, is a tragedy at its core, but the songs and the humanity of the characters still shine through. Visit kogercenterforthearts.
com for showtime and ticket info. May 4: Newberry College Chamber Orchestra @ Newberry Opera House One of the state’s most beautiful venues hosts an evening of beautiful music. The Newberry College Chamber Orchestra performs an annual spring concert at the historic Newberry Opera House, both to spotlight the connection between the college and the community and to play an engaging repertoire of classical and chamber music favorites.
Visit newberryoperahouse.com for showtime and ticket info. May 15: A Way with Words: An Evening with Martha & Grant @ Koger Center for the Arts South Carolina Public Radio’s Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett recreate their popular podcast “A Way With Words” at the Koger Center.
The podcast focuses on language, culture and communication, and your hosts will share behind-the-scenes stories, answer questions and discuss the ways that language shapes our lives. Visit kogercenterforthearts.com for showtime and ticket info.
May 16: Monty Python's "Spamalot" @ Town Theatre If you’re not fond of Spam, this might be the time to say something. Town Theatre presents the opening night of the rollicking, Tony-award winning musical "Spamalot," a hilarious journey inspired by the classic film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Which means you once again get to follow King Arthur and his eccentric Knights of the Round Table on their uproarious quest for the Holy Grail, but with more songs.
Visit towntheatre.com for showtime and ticket info. Jerry Seinfeld attends the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Feb.
14, 2025, in New York. May 16: Jerry Seinfeld @ Township Auditorium Not so much “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” as it is “Comedian stands onstage telling jokes.” Luckily, Jerry Seinfeld is really, really good at standing onstage and telling jokes, as his five-decade career attests.
It’s getting pretty dark out there, folks, and we could all use a laugh delivered by a trained professional. Visit thetownship.org for showtime and ticket info.
May 25: Palmetto Concert Band Memorial Day Concert @ Koger Center for the Arts The USC School of Music’s Palmetto Concert Band performs a free annual concert at the Koger Center that honors members and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
You don’t have to be a veteran to be stirred by the band’s program of patriotic material, though. Visit kogercenterforthearts.com for showtime and ticket info.
"Camp Queen of the Carolinas" Patti O'Furniture will host Drag Queen Bingo this month at the Columbia Museum of Art. May 28: Drag Bingo @ Columbia Museum of Art Join the CMA for a truly outrageous event. Hosted by drag queen extraordinaire Patti O’Furniture, whose mix of professionalism and quick wit has earned her a spot as one of the most sought-after emcees in the region, Drag Bingo has prizes and cash for winning bingo rounds, but there’s also a best dressed competition.
If you don’t dress up, you can at least munch on some heavy hors d'oeuvres or grab a drink from the cash bar. Proceeds from Drag Bingo go directly to the community, including organizations like SC Pride. Visit columbiamuseum.
org for showtime and ticket info..
