Make time for culture this season with ballet interpretations of children’s classics, an emotional opera, a folk-inspired symphony show and more.
by Addie Ladner and Lily Kane
This year’s spring performing arts season in the City of Oaks has something for everyone on a renege of stages to small neighborhood theaters to our downtown performing arts center. Kids will delight in seeing their favorite fairytales transformed into magical dance productions, while long-time Broadway lovers will delight in a heartwarming Emmy winning show. Further more if you’re someone who likes history or contemplating environmental or social ethics, there’s options for you too.
Carolina Ballet’s Snow White
Snow White, the timeless tale of true love and a vain queen’s relentless quest for beauty, is coming to life in a new way with Carolina Ballet’s spring production. Artistic Director Zalman Raffael choreographed the production, which is set to an original score by composer Shinji Eshima. Through expressive choreography, vivid staging and Eshima’s sweeping music, the ballet brings fresh emotional depth and visual storytelling to the beloved fairy tale.
March 12 – 29; from $48; 2 E. South Street; carolinaballet.com
Theatre Raleigh’s Come from Away
Opening Theatre Raleigh’s Main Stage season, the Tony award-winning Broadway musical Come From Away follows the true story of about 7,000 airline passengers who were stranded in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, after the events of 9/11. The lighthearted production shows how unexpected circumstances can change the course of one’s life and emphasizes the importance of kindness and community.
April 1 – 19; various times; from $42; 6638 Old Wake Forest Road; theatreraleigh.com
Theatre in the Park’s The Book of Will
In the wake of Shakespeare’s death, his devoted friends and fellow actors set out to collect his scattered plays and preserve them for posterity. Without their passion, the Bard’s greatest works might have vanished forever. Brimming with humor, heart, and theatrical history, The Book of Will imagines their efforts in a joyful and moving tribute to friendship, legacy and the enduring magic of the stage.
April 9 – 19; various times; from $30; 107 Pullen Road; theatreinthepark.com
Burning Coal Theatre Company’s My Fair Lady
Burning Coal Theatre is bringing to life the classic American musical My Fair Lady, the story of flower girl Eliza Doolittle and professor Henry Higgins, who takes her under his wing in hopes of transforming her life. The play, an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion, has charmed audiences since it first appeared on Broadway in 1956, and was released as a 1964 movie starring Audrey Hepburn. Burning Coal Theatre has brought lively and affecting performances to Raleigh for nearly 30 years, and this new production is a celebration of their longstanding commitment to bold, engaging theatre.
April 9 – 26; various times; from $5; 224 Polk Street; burningcoal.org
NC Opera’s Il Trovatore
Il Trovatore, the action-packed and emotional melodrama from Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, is coming to downtown Raleigh this April. Featuring a secretive love triangle, the clash of swords, a woman’s quest for vengeance and Verdi’s famed, booming “Anvil Chorus,” it’s sure to be a wild and captivating ride. The final show of the North Carolina Opera’s 2025-26 season, the performance promises to end the season on a fiery, unforgettable note.
April 17 & 19; various times; from $15; 2 E. South Street; ncopera.org
Raleigh Little Theatre’s 1776
Are you a history buff eager to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday? This play at Raleigh Little Theatre takes us to Philadelphia at the founding, where Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams are drafting the Declaration of Independence and can’t seem to agree. The musical gives us glimpses into their personalities and political leanings, imagining the sorts of conversations that went into our country’s birth, including navigating obstacles such as decisions on slavery and creating a united front to break away from England.
Now – April 19; various times; from $30; 301 Pogue Street; raleighlittletheatre.org
Justice Theatre Project’s Lungs
This play, performed at Church of the Nativity, follows a couple struggling with the decision to have a child together as they consider current-day environmental issues. It’s fast paced, funny and heart-warming — all the while touching on what it means to add a child to the world.
April 10 – 26; from $13; 8849 Ray Road; thejusticetheaterproject.org
NC Symphony’s Appalachian Spring
Revel in the beauty of the season with the NC Symphony’s performance of Appalachian Spring, composer Aaron Copland’s celebration of the natural world, traditional American music and the lively spirit of springtime. First performed more than 80 years ago, this suite of music features gentle string arrangements that blossom into an energetic “Allegro,” a traditional fiddle section and a wedding day dance.
May 8 & 9; various times; from $15; 2 E. South Street; ncsymphony.org
North Carolina Master Chorale’s Shall We Dance
The North Carolina Master Chorale, the resident chorus of the North Carolina Symphony, is back this spring with a sweeping chamber choir performance that celebrates human connection, art and resilience. Experience a celebration of dance and dance music across the years with Shall We Dance?, which features a lively range of music, from Schubert and Brahms to Van Morrison, ABBA and selections from Wicked.
May 8; 7:30 p.m.; from $18; 2209 Fairview Road; ncmasterchorale.org
Cary Ballet’s Peter Pan
Follow the classic tale of the forever-young Peter Pan to the magical world Neverland with his friend Wendy and her siblings. Featuring an original score by composer David Ott, this interpretation of the beloved children’s classic combines captivating choreography, sets, costumes and even some video elements.
May 8; from $57; 2 E. South Street; caryballetcompany.org
This article was originally published on March 19, 2026 on waltermagazine.com
