Claflin Celebrates Creativity , Innovation and Community Engagement at Annual “Cala-Bash” Program

Claflin University's annual "CALA~BASH" (Claflin University's Arts and Letters BASH") began Monday (April 7) and will continue with campus-wide events through Sunday (April 13). CALA~BASH is a community celebration that promotes the creativity, innovation, and talent of Claflin students and members of the Orangeburg community.

This year's event offers a full schedule of performing and visual arts, literature, health and wellness presentations, food trucks, vendor tables, and other activities.

Among the highlights of this year's CALA~BASH will be on-stage performances by a variety of artists featuring gospel, jazz, and other musical genres, art exhibits, a fashion show, line dancing, and a Greek Yard Show.

Claflin's School of Business will hold the CU-Bang Entrepreneurs Economic Development Conference on Thursday (April 10) at noon in the Student Center Ballroom/3rd Floor Lounge. The conference is a strategic gathering aimed at fostering collaboration among businesses, academic, non-profit, and government sectors to drive economic growth in rural South Carolina. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.

CALA~BASH will conclude with the Claflin University Theatre Ensemble's (C.U.T.E.) presentation of the musical "The Color Purple (The Revival)," written for the stage by Marsha Norman. The musical is based on the 1982 award-winning novel "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker and its film adaptation in 1985.  The musical follows the journey of an African American woman, Celie, in the American South from the early to mid-20th century. 

The Claflin University Theatre Ensemble is under the direction of Annette Grievous, associate professor of speech/drama.

"The Color Purple (The Revival)" can be seen Friday – Sunday (April 11-13) at the Stevenson Auditorium on 979 Middleton Street in downtown Orangeburg, S.C. Showtime is 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Two performances are scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Ticket Prices: General Admission: $15; Youth and Seniors: $10:

Claflin students will be admitted free with a Claflin ID.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://claflinu.booktix.com/.  Tickets will be on sale at the Stevenson Auditorium 30 minutes before the start of the show.

Visit https://www.claflin.edu/images/default-source/events/cala-bash-schedule-2025-2.jpg?sfvrsn=68e00a0e_0 for a complete listing of CALA-BASH events.

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