Tips on sorting through Piccolo Spoleto’s events

ILLUSTRATION BY JAMIE HEWLETT

Jamie Hewlett, animator and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz, is responsible for the visual concept of “Monkey,” using his illustrations as the basis for the show’s animation and costume designs.

Faced with the mind-boggling cultural cornucopia of 700-plus Piccolo Spoleto Festival events, you may wonder what you should put at the top of your list.

Here are a few tips:

With myriad references to Cuba flashing through the news these days, the Piccolo Cuban Block Party held outside the U.S. Customhouse on May 31 will not only spotlight Havana Son, Charleston's only salsa music group, but also will feature the talents of Miami musicians Victor del Castillo, Gerardo Aguillon and Jose "Pepe" Veras. .

Ellen Dressler Moryl, director of the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs that sponsors the festival, calls 2008 a red-letter year since it marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, which runs in tandem with the Spoleto Festival USA.

This season, jazz at Piccolo takes a new turn with Upstairs at Mistral, a 12-night series featuring some of Charleston's finest jazz artists at Mistrial Restaurant, a French bistro at 99 S. Market St. Each set lasts 90 minutes.

Referring to the plight of entertainers who were blacklisted as suspected members of the Communist Party during the 1950s, playwright K. Brian Neel of Seattle will present "Vaud Rats, A Ukulele Operetta" in its East Coast premiere produced by Pure Theatre at the Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. The 75-minute ukulele operetta will reflect the fortunes of Cecil B. DeUkulele, who once played the Palace Theatre but is now penniless and relegated to singing to rats in an abandoned warehouse.

The Village Playhouse will present "Piaf: Love Conquers All," about the life of French chanteuse Edith Piaf, also known as "the little sparrow." Naomi Emmeron toured Canada as Piaf in the Roger Peace's hit that ran 10 weeks off-Broadway.

Classical music continues this season with the Spotlight Concert Series to be held at the New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church, 22 Elizabeth St. The concert will feature the Kandinsky Trio and internationally known storyteller Connie Regan-Blake, along with Grammy Award-winning composer Mike Reid in "Tales of Appalachia," combining piano, cello, violin and the storyteller's voice. Also in the 11-concert series will be the St. Petersburg (Russia) String Quartet and the Wayang Modern Shadow Puppet Theatre.

The spirit of Terpsichore is alive and well with the "30th Anniversary Dance Festival" to be hosted by the Robert Ivey Ballet presenting 20 dance companies from throughout the region. It will be held May 31 at the Footlight Players, 20 Queen St. Also, Charleston Ballet Theatre will present Brown Bag and Ballet at the CBT Theatre, 477 King St., along with "Twisted Tango" and "Seven Deadly Sins." Also fun for all is "Kids Do Cats" based on T.S. Eliot's collection of free verse, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." Don't miss the "Stray Cat Strut."

A major free event will be the Children's Festival on Saturday in Marion Square. Activities are designed for all ages with singers, dancers, jugglers and the chance for children to help professional artists paint a giant mural.