Thirty years after Waiting to Exhale hit theaters, Durham is getting its own tribute to the film's blockbuster soundtrack. The Durham Performing Arts Center is set to present Waiting to Exhale: 30th Anniversary in Concert Live to Film, pairing a screening of the movie with vocalists and a full live band performing the soundtrack's biggest songs in real time.
As the show's official description puts it, “As the film unfolds on the big screen, its most iconic musical moments come to life on stage,” according to dpacnc.com. The DPAC listing names Avery*Sunshine, Alexia Jayy and Melanie Fiona as the featured vocalists, with the band led by music director, producer and musician Adam Blackstone. CBS 17, which covered the Durham booking, described the lineup as next-generation R&B vocalists performing songs from the film, according to CBS 17.
Not every listing agrees on exactly who will take the stage, however. A separate venue page lists a larger group of performers, naming Avery*Sunshine, Alexia Jayy, Jekalyn Carr, The Amours and Melanie Fiona as the vocalists, per the same account from foxtheatre.org. The discrepancy leaves the full Durham lineup unsettled, and it's not clear from available listings which version reflects the final cast of singers.
A Soundtrack Built Around R&B Royalty
Whatever the final roster, the night is built around a soundtrack stacked with 1990s R&B heavyweights. The concert features hits made famous by Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Faith Evans and SWV, according to the DPAC listing. Songs expected to be performed include “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” “Sittin' Up In My Room,” “Not Gon' Cry,” “Let It Flow” and “Count On Me,” the dpacnc.com listing states.
The production leans on nostalgia as much as performance. “30 years after its release, Waiting to Exhale remains a cultural touchstone,” the venue's description notes, and a related listing adds that “its soundtrack continues to resonate across generations,” per the Fox Theatre's version of the event page. Organizers are framing the show as a way to introduce that music to listeners who weren't around when the film first opened in 1995.
When and Where in Durham
The Durham concert is listed for Nov. 5, 2026, at DPAC. A Ticketmaster listing puts the showtime at 7:30 p.m., though that detail comes from a low-confidence search snippet and should be confirmed directly with the venue, according to ticketmaster.com. The DPAC event page also notes the show is not recommended for children 13 and under, and children younger than 6 will not be allowed into the performance.
Part of a Wider Anniversary Tour
Durham isn't the only stop for this kind of tribute. ABC7 reported in December 2025 that a similar production was scheduled for Dec. 14 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, described as “Waiting to Exhale in Concert Live to Film” and featuring live performers alongside a screening of the movie, according to abc7ny.com. The New York show was set to feature stars including Andra Day, Tamar Braxton and Deborah Cox performing songs live as the audience watched the film, and that event was also put together by music producer Adam Blackstone, the same report states.
Blackstone has described the broader concept behind these anniversary shows as something modeled on a prior hit format. The planned experience was likened to the 2021 production of “Black Panther Live In Concert” at the Hollywood Bowl, Blackstone said, according to vibe.com.
For Durham audiences, the appeal is straightforward: a chance to watch a beloved film while the voices behind its soundtrack — or at least performers channeling them — bring the music to life in the same room. Specific details like ticket pricing and seating availability for the Durham date were not confirmed in available listings as of this report.
