Main Stage Series

Spend an evening with the American Patchwork Quartet, where the ease of a front porch gathering meets the artistry of a world class stage. Led by multi GRAMMY® Award-winning guitarist and vocalist Clay Ross, founder of the acclaimed Gullah group Ranky Tanky, this extraordinary ensemble reimagines American roots music through a distinctly global lens. Folk traditions, jazz sophistication, country twang, West African rhythms, and East Asian influences come together in a sound that is warm, textured, and deeply expressive.

Joining Ross are an exceptional group of collaborators: GRAMMY-winning Hindustani classical vocalist Falguni Shah, internationally acclaimed bassist Moto Fukushima, and celebrated jazz drummer Rudy Royston. Together, the quartet creates music that feels both timeless and strikingly new — a reflection of America’s cultural patchwork and the shared stories that connect us all. Their GRAMMY-nominated debut album has earned national acclaim, resonating with audiences through its honesty, warmth, and spirit of unity.

More than a concert, APQ’s visit is a celebration of creativity and community. During their residency, the ensemble will collaborate with St. Charles Parish Public Schools visual arts students, sharing their artistic process across disciplines. The residency will culminate in a public exhibition of student artwork displayed in the theater lobby during the performance, alongside a student matinee and the ensemble’s Main Stage concert for the community.

Accessible, inspiring, and rich with storytelling, American Patchwork Quartet offers an unforgettable evening for music lovers of all ages.

School Matinee Date:

Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 10:00am

For information about joining us for the school matinee, please call the box office at 985.331.3670 or email lafoninfo@wearescpps.org.

Experience a luminous retelling of The Ugly Duckling from Lightwire Theater, returning to our stage with another of their signature works. Known for their inventive blend of dance, puppetry, and electroluminescent costuming, Lightwire Theater transforms familiar stories into visually striking experiences performed in near darkness, where light itself becomes the storyteller.

Of the five eggs in Mother Duck’s nest, one is the largest and last to hatch. Bigger and paler than the others, this last hatchling is treated as an outsider by Mother Duck and her ducklings. He may be the best swimmer of the brood, but this alone is not enough to ensure his acceptance. Knowing only rejection, this Ugly Duckling goes out into the wild alone. Reflecting upon his plight under the glow of a remote willow tree, he sees a wily cat creeping in the direction of Mother Duck’s nest.

 The Ugly Duckling follows and watches as one lagging duckling is captured and taken back to the cat’s lair. In true heroic fashion, this Ugly Duckling succeeds in vanquishing the cat and rescuing the captured duckling. Celebrated by Mother Duck and her ducklings for his uniqueness, all realize that he may have been an ugly duckling, but he has grown into a beautiful and powerful swan.

School Matinee Date:

Monday, Feb. 22 @ 10:00am & 12:00pm

For information about joining us for the school matinees, please call the box office at 985.331.3670 or email lafoninfo@wearescpps.org.