Cristian Balan will present Cybersecurity: What Entrepreneurs and Businesses Need To Know. Mr. Balan is a retired U.S. Army Major with more than three decades of service, including 16 years spent in the information assurance field. A cybersecurity lecturer at SUNY Plattsburg and the coordinator for the Center of Cybersecurity and Technology, Balan has extensive experience as a consultant to the law enforcement community in system administration, information security, and digital forensics.
Balan earned a Level III DOD Information Assurance certification, the CISSP Certification from the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium Inc., the certified Hacking Forensic Investigator designation, and the Access Data Certified Examiner digital forensics certification.

This Wells Fargo Speaker Series event is the second of four spring lectures at USC Upstate's Johnson College of Business and Economics.

The classic tale "The Wizard of Oz" is directed by Kathy Genevie. This joint production of the Abbeville Opera House Youth Theatre and the Opera House players is written by L. Frank Baum. The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone. The Library of Congress has declared it "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale".

Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as "something of a phenomenon" by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by The New York Times. Starting the violin at only two years old, St. John made her first appearance as soloist with an orchestra at age four and made her European debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra when she was 10.  She has been featured in People, US News and World Report, on CNN's Showbiz Today, NPR's All Things Considered, CBC, BBC, a Bravo! Special called Live At the Rehearsal Hall, and on the cover of Strings.

The premier rivalry in college baseball returns to Fluor Field and Downtown Greenville on Saturday, March 2nd, as the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks square off in the Reedy River Rivalry presented by ScanSource at 1:00 PM. The festivities of the day begin with the Tailgate Party on Main Street.
Tickets can only be purchased through the ticket offices of Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.

Taxes should be simple, transparent, neutral and stable. Those are the guiding principles of the SC Chamber’s Road Map to Tax Reform. Join us Feb. 25 at Caffeinated Conversations as we take a deeper dive into the effort to make South Carolina’s tax code more competitive for workers and businesses with SC Chamber President and CEO Ted Pitts.

The New York Times calls it "the best musical of this century." The Washington Post says, "It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals." And Entertainment Weekly says, "Grade A: the funniest musical of all time." Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it "Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal." It's The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award^®-winning Best Musical.
 
This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. Now with standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, The Book of Mormon has truly become an international sensation.

Sybarite5’s “rock star status…is well deserved” (Sarasota Herald-Tribune). From the moment their bows hit the strings, this quintet of talented, diverse musicians takes the audience on an exciting ride that redefines the rules. Dubbed the “Millennial Kronos,” Sybarite5’s eclectic repertoire from Bowie to Radiohead and Akiho to Assad combined with its commanding performance style is turning heads throughout the music world. The quintet’s debut album, Disturb the Silence, quickly reached the top ten on the Billboard charts, and their live performances will “satisfy your inner rock star and your secret Mozart" (Arizona Daily Star).

Consider yourself at home with Lionel Bart’s timeless musical based on Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. This classic treasure is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike and is one of the few musicals to win both a Tony and an Oscar. The incredible score includes "Consider Yourself," "As Long As He Needs Me," "That’s Your Funeral," and many more.

“The Tel Aviv performance troupe Mayumana has an infectious beat and physical pyrotechnics to match." (The New York Times)
 
“The 90 minutes of dancing, songs, and percussion will have your inner child smiling.” (The New York Times)

Currents is a spectacular show of “funky moves and cutting-edge technology” (Time Out New York) inspired by the historical Battle of Currents between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in their quest to find energy sources for the world.

Audience members will be taken on a “non-stop, action packed" (ABC News) journey between two troupes, each representing a different view of the essence of light and electricity. The show combines a variety of elements including specially designed musical instruments, massive video art projections, and 11 skilled performers musically juggling between different sounds.

Spartanburg ArtWalk is a free self-guided tour through participating galleries across Spartanburg's Downtown Cultural District. Stop by each 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:00 - 9:00 PM to enjoy Cocktails, hor d'oeuvres, and the Spartanburg cultural experience!
When: Each third Thursday of the month from 5:00 - 9:00 pm.

Where: Spartanburg Downtown Cultural District and more!

What: Art, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and the Spartanburg cultural experience.

Why: Galleries and museums stay open late to allow guests to enjoy various exhibitions and art-related activities. If touring the Spartanburg Arts Cultural is on your to-do list, there is no better time to do it than during Spartanburg ArtWalk! Wine. Food. Art. What more could you possibly need?

The Johnson Collection is pleased to announce Dr. Tuliza Fleming, Curator of American Art at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Smithsonian Institution, as the 2019 Voices in American Art distinguished speaker. The sixth annual edition of the educational series is scheduled for 7:00pm on Thursday, February 28, and will be held at Chapman Cultural Center in downtown Spartanburg. As always, the public is invited to attend the free lecture; no reservations are required.
Dr. Fleming received her MA and PhD in American art history from the University of Maryland, College Park (1997 and 2007) and her BA from Spelman College (1994). During her tenure at the NMAAHC, she worked to build the museum’s foundational American art collection, and supervised the creation of a collection-based multi-media interactive presentation. She also co-curated the traveling exhibition Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment, curated Clementine Hunter: Life on Melrose Plantation, and served as the lead curator for the museum’s inaugural exhibition Visual Art and the American Experience. Formerly, Dr. Fleming served in the position of Associate Curator and head of the Department of American Art at the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio.

Since 1996, Dr. Fleming has curated over twenty exhibitions and worked and/or consulted for a variety of museums and cultural institutions. Her publications include, “Visual Art and the American Experience: Creating an Art Gallery in a History and Culture Museum,” Art and Public History: Approaches, Opportunities, and Challenges (Rowan and Littlefield, 2017); “Cover Stories: The Fusion of Art and Literature During the Harlem Renaissance,” Dream a World Anew: The African American Experience and the Shaping of America (Smithsonian Books, 2016); “The Convergence of Aesthetics, Politics and Culture: Jeff Donaldson’s Wives of Shango,” AfriCOBRA: Philosophy (The University of Chicago, 2013); “It’s Showtime! The Birth of the Apollo Theater,” Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment (Smithsonian Books, 2010); “The ‘Museum Baby’ Grows Up: Being a Curator of Color in a Monochromatic Art Museum World,” Museum News (July/August 2005); and, Breaking Racial Barriers: African American Portraits in the Harmon Foundation Collection (Pomegranate Press, 1997).

Established in 2014, Voices in American Art brings distinguished arts leaders from important national institutions to Spartanburg for annual presentations. In addition to an evening keynote lecture that is open to the public at no charge, visiting speakers meet with college students for informal master classes on career paths.

Join the Speaking Down Barriers team for the monthly book club Reading for Transformation: engage with readings that will guide us towards a holistic understanding of the transformation that must take place within ourselves and the world around us. We are working towards the dismantling of the barriers that continue to perpetuate violence, hate, and division. These various insights will broaden our perspective and lead us towards meaningful confrontation. You are welcome to grow with us.
For your convenience, the book club will meet at the Hub City Bookshop on 4th Mondays at two separate times: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM. The Hub City Bookshop is located at 186 W Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29306. Books can be purchased at discounted rates through Hub City Bookshop. Become a member of Hub City Bookshop and receive even more discounts!

2019 Reading List:

January: Children of the Days: A Human Calendar of History by Eduardo Galeano

February: My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma & the Mending of Our Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

March: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

April: Human Hours by Catherine Barnett

May: White Tears by Hari Kunzru

June: Rainbow In The Word: LGBTQ Christians’ Biblical Memoirs

July: No Book

August: Solace: Writing, Refuge, and LGBTQ Women of Color edited by S. Andrea Allen & Lauren Cherelle

September: Heavy by Kiese Laymon

October: Devotions by Mary Oliver

November: When I Grow Up I Want To Be a List of Further Possibilities by Chin Chin

Chapman Cultural Center is open every Sunday afternoon, 1-5 p.m., to provide casual and cultural experiences for those who want to "unplug." Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg Regional History Museum, Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center and the Student Galleries are all open with free admission. In addition, one or more local musicians will perform a free mini-concert at no charge 2-4 p.m. For more info, please call (864) 542-ARTS.
This week's musician: Billy Dalton Music

Billy Dalton grew up listening to and playing bluegrass music in the late 70's and early '80's.Billy now performs regionally with his wife and sometimes co-writer Lynn Dalton. His music has been described as "folk and Americana colliding with style".

The charming story of Coppélia is a delightful comedy filled with magic, mischief and mayhem. The audience will be transported into the world of Swanilda and Franz and the mysterious toy maker, Dr. Coppelius, who brings his beautiful doll, Coppélia to life…or so he thinks! Originally called “The Doll with the Enamel Eyes”, this amusing and playful ballet is perfect for the entire family.

The Black Jacket Symphony returns to the WPAC to perform Queen’s “A Night at the Opera”, featuring Marc Martel. “We always go to great lengths to find ‘the guy’ who can make these albums come to life” says Black Jacket Symphony founder J. Willoughby. “We’ve had our eye on this one for a while, and when we say we’ve found ‘the guy’ to do Freddie Mercury, we’ve found THE GUY!”. The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience by recreating classic albums in a live performance setting with a first class lighting and video production. A selected album is performed in its entirety by a group of hand-picked musicians specifically selected for each album. With no sonic detail being overlooked, the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. Following the album and a brief intermission, the Black Jacket Symphony returns to the stage to perform a collection of greatest hits by the evening's artist.Sponsored In Part By: The City of Seneca

A rib-tickling opera for all ages by John Davies featuring melodies by W.A Mozart.

When    four    children    inadvertently    stumble    through    an    old wardrobe    into    the    fantastical    land    of    Narnia,    they    begin    a journey   of   excitement   and   fear   and   triumph,   fulfilling   ancient prophecies    and    upsetting    the    long-standing    balance    in    that magical   land   as   they   enter   into   the   on-going   struggle   between the   White   Witch   and   the   mysterious,   magical,   and   great   lion Aslan.   Temptation,   chases,   duels,   and   escapes   abound   in   this classic   battle   between   Good   and   Evil.   This   is   a   story   of   love, faith,   courage,   and   giving.   A   true   celebration   of   life.   A   story   for us all. Performances: March 15, 16, 17,  22, 23, 24,  2019 Friday & Saturday @ 7:30 PM; Sunday @ 3 PM  CAYT Shows are for actors aged 10 to 18 (5 th  to 12 th  grades) Tickets go on sale Monday, February 18, 2019

One of the most masterful voices in Country Music today, GENE WATSON still sings in the same key as 30 years ago and continues to prove why he is rightly referred to as “The Singer’s Singer”. His powerful voice and multi-octave range allows him to sing some of the most challenging songs with an ease that comes from pure, natural talent as well as from his many years performing onstage. “Every time I step out on that stage and see that audience, it’s a new beginning. Even though I’ve sung these songs millions of times, I look at each one like it’s brand new to me. Every night, I try to deliver that song the best that I can. “Being called a ‘Singer’s Singer’ humbles me.

Annual event- taste samples of beers from across the globe while visiting our amazing downtown merchants! Tickets are $25 and include a commemorative beer glass. Must be 21+, ID required.

Known by many South Carolinians as the “Party Band of the South”, the Swingin' Medallions have been based out of the Greenwood South Carolina area, since the early 1960's. The music most often associated with the band is beach music, frat rock, R&B, or shaggin' music. After a few years of touring colleges in the south, John McElrath took the group to Arthur Smith's Studio in Charlotte North Carolina, to record "Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)". The song became a million seller in 1966, they followed up with. "She Drives Me Out Of My Mind" & "Hey, Hey, Baby" which were top 40 hits as well. "Double Shot" remains the signature song of the Swingin' Medallions. Although the the members changed over the years, the band has always included around eight members with at least a four piece horn section. The high energy party style stage performance of the first Medallions has been passed down to the band that performs today.