The beaches, the festivals, the history, everything you could want in a single region. Sometimes I think we forget how lucky we are to live in Hampton Roads.
June also ushers in Pride month, an annual celebration of the LGBT community and the opportunity to both celebrate LGBT culture and raise awareness of current issues facing the community. As always, WHRO enjoys being a sponsor of Hampton Roads PrideFest, which takes place this year on Friday, June 22. We also have two programs highlighting strides made toward equal rights in this community, Stonewall Uprising (June 4, 8 p.m.) and The Lavender Scare (June 18, 9 p.m.). You can learn more about these on page 10.
We are also gearing up for our Summer TV pledge drive that begins June 1. I’m looking forward to a week of great programming that features some dynamic new music programs including Story Songs (June 1, 8 p.m.), a collection of music that tells the stories of our lives, Prince Rave Un2 the Year 2000 (June 6, 8 p.m.), the concert that guided fans from one millennium to another, and Last of the Breed (June 8, 6:30 p.m.), a collection of honky-tonk hits and Texas swing tunes from Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. You’ll also enjoy old favorites from John Denver, Josh Groban, the Doobie Brothers, Joe Bonamassa and more.
The pledge drive will feature marathons of two popular programs Les Miserables (June 2, 10:30 a.m.), the six-part drama based on the novel by Victor Hugo, and Reconstruction (June 8, 2:30 p.m.), an exploration of the transformative years following the Civil War, when the nation struggled to rebuild itself in the face of profound loss, massive destruction, and revolutionary social change. Downton Abbey fans will also want to mark your calendars. In anticipation of the September film release, we are featuring Downton Abbey Returns! (June 9, 8 p.m.) a nostalgic celebration of the beloved series that includes a teaser from the upcoming movie and exclusive interviews with the cast and creators.
We also have a great lineup of Cinema 15 movies this month, including From Here to Eternity (June 15), Sideways (June 22), and South Pacific (June 29). You can catch them on Saturdays at 8 p.m.
It is because of your support that we can continue to bring you these exciting educational and arts programs. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far this year. I hope to hear from many more of you this month! Enjoy the start of your summer!