Charleston, SC

Charleston's historic performance spaces helped make it the American home of Spoleto. Gian Carlo Menotti founded Spoleto Festival USA in 1977 as a counterpart to the Italian festival, choosing a city whose theatres, churches and compact historic centre could accommodate an intensive arts programme. Opera, orchestral and chamber music, choral performance, theatre and dance have all formed part of its seventeen-day format. The festival's history also records support for the restoration and improvement of venues such as the Dock Street Theatre and Sottile Theatre. In Charleston, the festival and the buildings that receive its audiences have developed together.