Entertainment

FSO, Cape Fear Botanical Garden celebrate music, nature

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Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Written by Sheila D. Barker

 On Sunday, March 22, music and nature will come together for a unique family-friendly experience at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Presented by the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, this special afternoon concert invites audiences of all ages to enjoy live orchestral music in the beautiful outdoor setting of the garden while exploring the connection between music and the natural world.
The event begins at 3 p.m. with a performance by the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra, showcasing the talents of young local musicians. At 4 p.m., the full Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will take the stage for a concert inspired by the pastoral tradition in classical music. Throughout the performance, Music Director Stefan Sanders will offer engaging commentary from the stage, helping audiences better understand the music and its connection to nature.
To further enhance the experience, nature-inspired imagery will be projected on a large screen during the concert. These visuals will complement the music, creating a multi-sensory performance that invites audiences to reflect on the beauty and power of the natural environment.
The afternoon is designed specifically for families and young music lovers. Interactive activities will begin at 2:30 p.m. before the concert, and resume after the performance until 5:30 p.m. During these times, children can participate in hands-on craft activities led by the education team at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Kids will also have the opportunity to visit an orchestral “instrument petting zoo,” where musicians will guide them in exploring different instruments. Children will be able to see, touch, and learn about instruments up close, making the world of orchestral music feel accessible and exciting.
One of the highlights of the day is a special craft activity inspired by the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, an internationally known ensemble from Paraguay that performs using instruments made from recycled materials. Children will create their own rainmakers using recycled supplies, encouraging creativity while also highlighting the importance of sustainability.
The handmade rainmakers will become part of the concert experience itself. Young attendees will be invited to use their instruments during a special moment in the performance to help create gentle thunderstorm sounds alongside the orchestra. This playful, immersive element enables children to actively participate in the music while learning how sound reflects the natural world.
By combining live orchestral music, hands-on learning, and the beauty of a botanical garden, the event offers a welcoming introduction to classical music for families and first-time concertgoers. It also provides the community with an opportunity to gather and experience the arts in an inspiring outdoor setting.
Tickets are limited and must be purchased online at https://shop.capefearbg.org/SelectEvent.aspx?eventID=1000138. Admission is $25 for adults ($20 for garden members), $12 for college students with a valid ID, and $10 for children ages 12 and under. With engaging activities, beautiful surroundings, and an uplifting musical program, this afternoon promises to be a memorable celebration of music, creativity, and nature.

Sheena Easton to perform at Bradshaw Performing Arts

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Tara Kamiya

The Bradshaw Performing Arts Center in Pinehurst will welcome an international music icon when singer Sheena Easton performs live for audiences in the Sandhills. The concert on March 20 will take place at the venue located at 3395 Airport Rd., and is expected to draw fans from across the region for a night of classic pop hits and celebrated vocals. Tickets can be found at https://www.sandhillsbpac.com/. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
Dedicated in 2019, the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center has quickly established itself as one of the most modern arts venues in the Sandhills.
The center has become a cultural destination for residents and visitors alike. More than 80,000 people attend events at the facility each year, representing audiences from all 50 states.
Easton’s upcoming appearance adds another major performer to the venue’s growing lineup of national and international acts. Concert organizers say the performance will offer audiences a rare opportunity to experience a globally recognized recording artist in a more intimate theater setting.
Fans attending the concert can expect an evening filled with some of Easton’s most recognizable songs. Her catalog includes a wide range of pop and adult contemporary hits that have remained staples on radio playlists for decades. Songs such as Morning Train Nine to Five, For Your Eyes Only, Strut, Telefone Long Distance Love Affair and Almost Over You helped define the sound of 1980s pop music and continue to resonate with longtime listeners.
The performance reflects the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center’s mission to bring diverse entertainment experiences to the Sandhills region. By presenting artists with international recognition alongside regional performers and educational programming, the venue has positioned itself as a key contributor to the cultural life of Moore County.
Easton’s career spans more than four decades and includes major accomplishments in music, film and theater. She first gained widespread attention in the early 1980s after appearing on the British television program The Big Time, which documented her rise from music student to professional recording artist.
Her debut success came quickly. Morning Train Nine to Five reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and introduced Easton to a global audience. Over time, she built a catalog that crossed multiple genres, including pop, R & B and adult contemporary music.
Easton has sold more than 20 million records worldwide during her career. She achieved the rare distinction of placing songs on five major Billboard charts simultaneously, reflecting her wide appeal across different audiences and musical styles.
Her recording For Your Eyes Only, the theme song for the James Bond film of the same name, became one of her signature performances and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. The track demonstrated her ability to combine pop vocals with dramatic orchestral arrangements.
Easton is also a two-time Grammy Award winner. She received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1981 during the early stage of her career. Later, she earned another Grammy for the hit duet U Got the Look with Prince, a collaboration that blended pop and funk and became a major international success.
In addition to her recording achievements, Easton has built an impressive career on the stage. She has appeared in Broadway productions, including Grease and Man of La Mancha and performed in London’s West End in the musical 42nd Street. She has also toured internationally and performed with symphony orchestras, continuing to showcase her vocal range and stage presence.
With decades of hits and an enduring reputation as a powerful live performer, Easton remains one of pop music’s most recognizable voices. Her upcoming appearance in Pinehurst offers Sandhills audiences the chance to experience a celebrated performer whose music has reached listeners around the world.

Gilbert Play House Presents "Anne of Green Gables”

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Thursday, 12 March 2026

Written by Amber Little

Gilbert Theater’s first Play House production, Anne of Green Gables, hits the stage this weekend, Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. Although only running for two days, theater goers will have three opportunities to catch the show with two showtimes on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The final show will be on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36002/production/1262357.
Anne of Green Gables is a literary classic that has been transformed for the big screen and the stage in many forms. Each adaptation has its own unique take on the beloved story that follows an adventurous young orphan girl who finds her new home unexpectedly with two aging siblings on their estate, Green Gables, on Prince Edward Island. From the moment of her arrival, everything about Anne shakes up the lives of those at Green Gables. An enduring story of healing, friendship, misadventures, and love, Anne of Green Gables is a must-see for audiences of all ages. And “all- ages” perfectly describes the cast of this Play House production. As a community theater, the Gilbert Theater has always supported young thespians through educational programs and opportunities on and off the stage. Play House is an extension and expansion of that, bringing young, budding actors, aged 12- 18 years old, and seasoned actors together to share the stage for a limited production. The program is built to nurture young actors in the community by working with professionally trained actors and those who have commanded the stage for decades. The cast of Anne of Green Gables includes a vibrant cast of highly talented, “low-key” funny and brilliant young actors who have taken this experience by the horns and are ready to show audiences that they will be the next headliners.
Connor Graybill “Gilbert Blythe” is no stranger to the stage, having 4 productions under their belt, two of which were with the Gilbert Theater. Graybill was excited about auditioning for Gilbert, saying, “I auditioned for my character because I think he’s pretty funny. I genuinely like his character.”
While art is Graybill’s first passion, time at the Gilbert and other theaters has made it very much a “side passion” worth pursuing. Cecilia Finley “Diana Barry,” a well-known, “experienced actress,” is gracing the Gilbert stage for the first time in this production. Although young, she has headlined several major roles in the local theater community. Her on- and offstage presence will surely ensure her longevity in her future acting endeavors. Finely has found her sweet spot in theater. “I wanted to be a farmer… and then one day I took a theater class, and I absolutely loved it. And I just kept doing theater. My first main stage production was The Wizard of Oz at CFRT… That was the first role that actually spoke to me, and {I] was like, ‘You need to do theater!’” Finely explained.
Callie Tisdale, “Anne Shirley,” is bringing her multi-state stage experience to the Gilbert stage for the second time in her early career. Taking on the main character, she is excited to show her range on stage and bring this story to life for audiences. The theater is not new to Tisdale. She’s been behind the stage with her mother since she was small, and it’s certainly left a lasting impression.

“It wasn’t until I auditioned for my first ever professional show, and got it. A lot of it is acting, but a lot of it is also just the community that comes along with doing shows. After that, it was really
no question for me about what I was going to do.” Liam Donovan “Matthew Cuthbert” is a dynamic, formally trained actor hailing from New Hampshire. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, he has been a great mentor for the kids during this production, especially for those thinking about pursuing an education in the arts.
Bringing her directorial chops and teacher sensibilities to the production is Marie Lowe, and rounding out the cast is an amazing group of individuals with years of combined experience and shows under their belt.
Cate Callahan “Marilla Cuthbert”
Beth Bowen “Rachel Lynde”
Jemima Castor “Mrs. Spencer”
Inez Potts “Mrs. Blewett and Miss Stacy”
Amberlyn Bullock “Mrs. Barry”
Annika Johnson “Miss Harris”

CROP Hunger Walk marks 35 years of feeding families

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Amber Little

The 2026 CROP Hunger Walk is fast approaching. A fun, family-friendly event dedicated to eliminating hunger locally and internationally, the Hunger Walk is hitting a milestone this year, 35 years of Ending Hunger One Step At A Time. CROP Hunger Walk is a national walk, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Fayetteville Urban Ministry and World Church to combat food insecurity. This year’s walk will take place on Sunday, March 22 at First Baptist Church on Anderson Street (parking available on Maiden Lane). Team meetup and sign-in start at 2 p.m., and the walk will begin at 3 p.m.
There is still time to create a team or walk solo. There is no registration fee; this is a donation-only walk. To pre-register, visit https://events.crophungerwalk.org/chweams?event=cumberlandcountync
Same-day registration and donation will be available at the meetup. Pets are welcome, but owners are solely responsible for cleaning up after them. Although called a walk, participants can walk or run; this is a set-your-own-pace event.
The CROP Hunger Walk is a national event, with walks all across the country, serving different communities, all with the purpose of eliminating hunger around the world. It was created to support Church World Service, an international organization focused on food security in high-risk areas around the world.
The CROP Hunger Walk was founded to help support that mission while filling the need in the United States. When it first started in 1947, it asked farmers to donate a portion of their crops to postwar Europe and Asia to help feed neighbors who had been ravaged by the war. Over time, it became the event it is today, with the first walks occurring in Bismarck, North Dakota and York, Pennsylvania. There are now hundreds of walks all over the country. CROP Hunger Walk is far more than just a walk. It’s a fundraiser within a fundraiser. Once a team is signed up, they will receive an individual CROP Hunger Walk page, where people can donate to their team. These funds go directly to the local and international mission. Cumberland County CROP Hunger Walk is a joint effort of community volunteers, Haymount Street United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church-Anderson. Together, these organizations and the passionate people who run them make it possible to host this event.
According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 adult North Carolinians and 1 in 5 North Carolinian children face hunger. At last check, there were over one million North Carolinians facing hunger. In homes that receive help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 38% have children. Hunger doesn’t just affect adults; it’s generational. With the rising cost of food, housing, and basic goods, the numbers are expected to rise. For more information on hunger in North Carolina and nationwide, visit Feeding America. Everyone can make a difference. Everyone can give in some way. To learn more about CROP Hunger Walk and Church World Service, visit https://events.crophungerwalk.org/chw/event/cumberlandcountync.

(Photo courtesy of the CROP Hunger Walk Fayetteville NC-Cumberland County's Facebook page)