CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QC Life) - Adrienne Lillette Harris and Michele Harris-Carter have created something truly special - a musical that honors their mother’s extraordinary legacy. This labor of love transforms Lillette Jenkins-Wisner’s remarkable story into an immersive theatrical experience.
“Born to Swing: A Biographical Jazz Revue" is a vibrant Broadway-style musical celebrating Lillette Jenkins-Wisner, a pioneering jazz pianist, arranger, and entertainer whose 85-year career spans from the Jim Crow era to the world stage.
A child prodigy who played Carnegie Hall at eleven, Lillette made history in 1945 when she and her husband opened the first Black-owned nightclub in Sparks-Reno, Nevada. Her contributions were so significant that France honored her with a medal for her USO performances.
Michelle Harris-Carter brings her mother to life on stage in a deeply spiritual performance. The production celebrates not just her achievements, but how one remarkable woman overcame the barriers of her era through talent, determination, and an unshakeable spirit.
The Jenkins-Wisner Foundation continues supporting youth performers and is now expanding with a new chapter in the Concord community.
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“Born to Swing” is presented by the Cabarrus Arts Council at the Davis Theatre in Concord, NC on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM (65 Union St S, Concord, NC).
To learn more and purchase tickets visit cabarrusartscouncil.org/event/born-to-swing.
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