'Charlotte Squawks' is drawing its biggest crowds ever
Co-creator attributes strong ticket sales to momentum built over 20 years
The following article appeared in the June 16, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Ticket sales for ‘Charlotte Squawks’ are the ‘biggest yet’ in 20 years of performances, Blumenthal says
The local musical “Charlotte Squawks” pokes fun at life in Charlotte, like the repeatedly injured Charlotte Hornets. (Photo courtesy of Blumenthal Arts)
“Charlotte Squawks,” the musical show that parodies politics and life in Charlotte, is having its most successful season ever in ticket sales.
Co-creator Brian Kahn tells The Ledger that in a typical year, shows toward the end of the three-week run at Booth Playhouse in the Bank of America Corporate Center sell out, with the early shows having empty seats. This year, the first Saturday night was virtually sold out, and tickets are more scarce than usual for the remaining shows.
“We’ve never in the history of the show sold that well,” Kahn said.
And it sounds like that “tickets going fast” message isn’t just FOMO-inducing marketing hype. A spokeswoman for Blumenthal Arts, which hosts the show and sells the tickets, told The Ledger: “This year is currently on track to be the biggest yet.”
Kahn, who moonlights as the managing partner of law firm McGuireWoods’ Charlotte office, says he’s not quite sure why this year is so big but suspects momentum has grown over the years. This is the show’s 20th year.
“It’s one of those shows where you always hear people say, ‘I love it! I’m coming back and I’m bringing all of my friends,’” he said. “That’s how we’ve grown.”
Although this year’s performance is heavy on the anti-Trump jokes, he’s unsure if that’s a contributing factor: “Part of me thinks people want to vent and see us vent for them, but I don’t know.”
One musical number from this year’s “Charlotte Squawks” pokes fun at UNC football coach Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. (Photo courtesy of Blumenthal Arts)
He says he has been surprised at the positive reception to some of the local numbers, including a spoof of an NSYNC song from 2000 whose title he altered to be about a prominent Charlotte politician.
“I think I underestimated the love that my generation has for that song and the dance, and how awesome the cast is at that dance performance and the choreography,” he said.
“Squawks” opened June 5 and runs through June 28. —Tony Mecia
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