FALL IN ATLANTA: ALIVE WITH MUSIC AND DRAMA

Coca-Cola Stage. See it if you dare, Sept. 15-Oct. 1. In its family series on the Hertz Stage, the Alliance presents a more playful story with the world premiere of “Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale,” Oct 14-Dec. 23.

BY CAROL CARTER

Sit beneath the starry sky inside Atlanta’s iconic Fox Theatre for “MJ the Musical,” Oct. 24-29. The musical gives audiences a peek into the story that catapulted pop star Michael Jackson into legendary status. The Fox presents “The Wiz” Nov. 14-19, in a tale that retells L. Frank Baum’s famous novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in the context of contemporary African American culture. www.foxtheatre.org

Venues throughout the city present Candlelight Concerts featuring music from such performers as Whitney Houston and Beyoncé and composers including Mozart and Bach. Candlelight Concerts will present favorite Halloween movie themes Oct. 13. www.feverup.com

From thrilling to chilling, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre teams up with the Atlanta Opera to bring “The Shining,” adapted as an opera, to the Alliance’s www.alliancetheatre.org

The thespians at downtown Atlanta’s Theatrical Outfit introduce the Tony Award-winning musical “Passing Strange,” a showcase for punk, blues, gospel and jazz as the story of a young man’s rebellion reveals both humor and heart. See “Passing Strange” Sept. 27-Oct. 22. www.theatricaloutfit.org

Classical music hits all the right notes when Nathalie Stutzmann, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conducts Tchaikovsky Oct. 5-7 at Atlanta Symphony Hall. “Día de Muertos” takes the stage Oct. 29 with swirling skirts, painted faces and decorated altars. This vibrant musical celebrates Mexican heritage and Latino cultures. www.atlantasymphony.org

Notable fall performances at Rialto Center for the Arts begin Oct. 14 with two-time Grammy Award-winning Gullah ensemble Ranky Tanky with special guest Lisa Fischer. The Rialto presents The Queen’s Cartoonists Nov. 11, a New York-based ensemble that recreates soundtracks to popular and historic animated cinema shorts such as Henry Mancini’s 1963 theme for “The Pink Panther.” rialto.gsu.edu www.shakespearetavern.com

The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse presents Troilus and Cressida, a play full of satire and comedy, Sept. 9-24. “Shakespeare Out of A Hat: Much Ado About Nothing” presents an improv performance of Shakespearean caliber as actors perform the familiar play as characters that they pull out of a hat – two minutes before the performance starts. The improv actors will take the stage Sept. 17.