Front Porch Broadway: Rock the Block June 12 and 13

Front Porch Broadway: Rock the Block is a 2-day neighborhood musical theatre experience where porches, sidewalks, barbershops, and gathering spaces along West Trade Street and Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, become stages for original stories, songs, and performances created with and by the community.

Charlotte playwright Jermaine Nakia Lee, part of the 2026 Black Carolina Artist Residency at the Harvey B. Gantt Center, created this project and event.

It takes place Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. each evening.

The first night is a performance on the move: performances will take place in several locations and the group walk to each together, led by musicians, in Second Line fashion.

The second night is a community performance celebration at 5 Points Plaza, 1803 W Trade Street, Charlotte, North Carolina. There will also be a POOR NO MORE free store, while supplies last (take what you need) and free bites and refreshments.

This FREE celebration is the culmination of an 8-week residency.

Rock the Block Day 1

Friday, June 12, 2026

On the first night, meet in front of JCSU Mosaic Village, 1635 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC. There is FREE parking in the adjacent parking deck. Then, as a group, artists and audience will walk to five different locations for musical theatre vignettes, with music along the way.

You’ll need to able to walk short distances. Alternately, some of the stops below list parking information.

5 p.m.: Welcome & Greetings
In front of JCSU Mosaic Village (Kickoff Location)
1635 W. Trade St. (FREE parking in adjacent parking deck)

5:20 p.m.: Musical Theatre Vignette #1
Dance Theatre: Jamil Cortez
In front of No Grease Barber Shop at Mosaic Village

5:45 p.m.: 2nd Line Walk to Next Location

6 p.m.: Musical Theatre Vignette #2
Choreopoem: “Love Lives Here” by Heavyweight Ace & Diane Short
Stage at Five Points Plaza | 1803 W. Trade St.

6:25 p.m.: 2nd Line Walk to Next Location

6:40 p.m.: Musical Theatre Vignette #3
Choreopoem: “Although” by Jermaine Nakia Lee with LaTonya Lewis
Movement by Melody Reid & SJ Swilley
Near Jets Pizza | 1800 Rozzelles Ferry Rd.

7:05 p.m.: 2nd Line Walk to Next Location

7:20 p.m.: Musical Theatre Vignette #4
Monologue by LaTanya Johnson
Parking lot of F&M Bank | 101 Beatties Ford Rd.

7:40 p.m.: 2nd Line Walk to Next Location

7:50 p.m.: Day 1 Closing Circle | Musical Theatre Vignette #5
Vocal Performance: “Healing In My Spirit” by Amunet Re-Hotep
In front of Johnson C. Smith University | 100 Beatties Ford Rd.
Reflections from Neighbors, acknowledgments and preview of Day 2

 

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