November brings a wave of Black artistic brilliance to Baltimore—from the stage to the symphony hall, the dance floor to the museum wall. This month’s lineup celebrates the stories, sounds, and movements that continue to shape the city’s creative heartbeat.

Theater: Joy, Resistance, and Imagination

At Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Center, playwright and performer Deletta Gillespie presents Cruise Control: Black Joy in Turbulent Waters (Nov. 7–8), a production that redefines joy as an act of resistance. Baltimore Center Stage continues its boundary-pushing season with Chocolate Covered Rocky Horror (Oct. 31–Nov. 1), a Black and queer reinterpretation of the cult classic that fuses parody with empowerment.

For those who missed it in October, Shakespeare in Harlem continues through Nov. 9 at UMBC’s Proscenium Theatre, blending Langston Hughes’s poetry with the rhythm and humor of everyday Black life.

Amy Sherald Portrait of Former First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo by Joseph Hyde, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth

Dance: The Ailey Legacy Continues

Few companies capture the beauty and discipline of Black dance like Ailey II, returning to Murphy Fine Arts Center on Nov. 1. The next generation of Alvin Ailey dancers brings its signature mix of ballet, jazz, and modern forms to Baltimore for one night only.

Visual Art: Amy Sherald Comes Home

The Baltimore Museum of Art celebrates one of the city’s most acclaimed artists with Amy Sherald: American Sublime (opening Nov. 2 and running through April 2026). Known for her portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, Sherald turns her lens on everyday Black subjects, capturing grace and humanity in a way that feels both intimate and monumental.

Music: From Symphony Stage to Soulful Grooves

Baltimore’s November soundtrack is rich with soul, swing, and symphonic power.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra honors musical trailblazers in ICON: The Voices That Changed Music (Nov. 14–16), celebrating legends like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, and Prince.

At CFG Bank Arena, R&B icons Brandy and Monica reunite on Nov. 2 for The Boy Is Mine Tour—a once-in-a-generation pairing that defined an era of Black pop and R&B.

Brandy and Monica. The Boy is Mine Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Artist

The city’s jazz home, Keystone Korner Baltimore, keeps the rhythm flowing with:

  • Lori Williams — An Evening of Jazz & Soul (Nov. 21)
  • J. Holiday (Nov. 22)
  • Gerald Albright (Nov. 23)
  • Birckhead presents The Exchange featuring Warren Wolf and Imani-Grace Cooper (Nov. 25)

Each show showcases the depth of Baltimore’s jazz lineage and its ongoing connection to the national stage.

Comedy: The Factory of Laughter

Baltimore’s laughter capital keeps the jokes rolling all month long at the Baltimore Comedy Factory, where a powerhouse lineup of comedians brings unfiltered humor and cultural wit to the stage:

  • Dominique — Nov. 1–2
  • Adele Givens — Nov. 7–8
  • Charleston White — Nov. 9
  • Teddy Carpenter — Nov. 14–16
  • DC Curry — Nov. 21–23
  • Michael Blackson — Nov. 28–29

From sharp social storytelling to gut-busting punchlines, these performers keep Baltimore’s comedy scene vibrant, relevant, and proudly Black.

A City in Creative Motion

Together, these performances, exhibitions, and concerts reflect Baltimore’s evolving narrative—a city that honors its cultural elders while nurturing the next generation of visionaries. November’s offerings remind us that Black art in Baltimore isn’t seasonal; it’s a steady pulse that fuels the city’s soul.

For more updates and monthly arts listings, follow @BaltimoreBlackArt on social media or visit baltimoretimes-online.com.

Rocky Horror Show courtesy of Baltimore Center Stage

Event Listings

Theater
• Chocolate Covered Rocky Horror — Baltimore Center Stage | Oct 31 – Nov 1
• Cruise Control: Black Joy in Turbulent Waters — Murphy Fine Arts Center | Nov 7–8
• Shakespeare in Harlem — UMBC Proscenium Theatre | Through Nov 9

Dance
• Ailey II — Murphy Fine Arts Center | Nov 1

Visual Art
• Amy Sherald: American Sublime — Baltimore Museum of Art | Opens Nov 2 (through Apr 5, 2026)

Music — R&B / Soul
• Brandy & Monica: The Boy Is Mine Tour — CFG Bank Arena | Nov 2
• J. Holiday — Keystone Korner | Nov 22

Music — Jazz / Soul Fusion
• An Evening of Jazz & Soul with Lori Williams — Keystone Korner | Nov 21
• Gerald Albright — Keystone Korner | Nov 23
• Birckhead presents The Exchange feat. Warren Wolf & Imani-Grace Cooper — Keystone Korner | Nov 25

Music — Classical / Symphonic
• ICON: The Voices That Changed Music — Baltimore Symphony Orchestra | Nov 14–16

Comedy
• Dominique — Baltimore Comedy Factory | Nov 1–2
• Adele Givens — Baltimore Comedy Factory | Nov 7–8
• Charleston White — Baltimore Comedy Factory | Nov 9
• Teddy Carpenter — Baltimore Comedy Factory | Nov 14–16
• DC Curry — Baltimore Comedy Factory | Nov 21–23
• Michael Blackson — Baltimore Comedy Factory | Nov 28–29

Harold Booker Jr.
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Harold Booker Jr. is the founder and principal of DrewJenk Consulting, a boutique firm that specializes in project management, technology, and community engagement. He is also a frequent contributor to the Baltimore Times, writing about arts, culture, and social issues that connect personal history with community impact.

Harold Booker Jr. is the founder and principal of DrewJenk Consulting, a boutique firm that specializes in project management, technology, and community engagement. He is also a frequent contributor to...