Atlanta ShowGuide Spring 2023

Glorious Storytelling from the Atlanta Opera

Stories of suspense, love, fantasy, dreams, and nightmares are drawn from the greatest literature of all time to create the works presented by the Atlanta Opera in the 2023-24 season. The Shining with music by Paul Moravec and a libretto by Mark Campbell opens the season. Bypassing the famous horror film, the opera goes directly to the vitality and macabre ingenuity of the original book by Stephen King. The work is co-presented by the Atlanta Opera and the Alliance Theater (September 15 -October 1).

Come in costume or just for the campy fun of Frankenstein at the opera! The first movie (1931) made from Mary Shelley’s masterpiece of literature Frankenstein featured the famous horror movie actor Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster. Composer and conductor Michael Shapiro created a lush and vibrant score for singers and orchestra for this entertaining evening with film and music with one show only on Saturday, October 28 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

The mainstage operas of the 2023-24 season start with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto (November 4- 12, 2023) in a Tomer Zvulun production. Based on a play by Victor Hugo,

this is a twisted story of a beauty and a beast that features some of the most recognized music in all of opera. Next, you’ll be engulfed by the strained charms of a bohemian life that turn heart-wrenching for the four friends whose lives are torn apart in Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème (January 20-28, 2024). We then turn to Shakespeare as he strikes deep into our dreams and fantasies as composer Benjamin Britten mines the depths of a whimsical comedy.

Rife with magical potions, mistaken identities, perplexed lovers, and more, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (March 2-10, 2024) features the otherworldly voice of countertenor Iestyn Davies in his Atlanta debut. The season closes with the epic second opera in Richard Wagner’s work of magnificent Ring mythology, Die Walküre (April 27-May 5, 2024). If you’ve ever wanted to encounter that iconic character of operatic legends, a Valkyrie, this is your chance! The legendary Greer Grimsley is the world’s greatest Wotan and he takes command of this powerful role on our stage.

Get your season tickets now from the Atlanta Opera. Call weekdays during business hours to 404-881-8885 or visit atlantaopera.org.

Frankenstein, photo courtesy of Michael Shapiro

Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Hairspray and Wicked

will complete the 2023 season at the Fox Theatre while Six and MJ will anchor the 2023-2024 Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta lineup

The 2022-2023 Regions Bank

Broadway in Atlanta season will wrap up with three sensational shows at the Fox Theatre including the debut of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL and the return of HAIRSPRAY and WICKED. Visit www.broadwayinatlanta.com for more information and tickets.

Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory when MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL debuts at the Fox Theatre from April 19-30. As in the film, MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL celebrates over 160 years of music — from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie, and also includes recent hits released since the movie premiered 21 years ago.

HAIRSPRAY is the story of 16-year-old

Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world? Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the ’60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” HAIRSPRAY visits the Fox Theatre from May 30 – June 2.

WICKED returns for four weeks only, July 5-30, and looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle.  Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emeraldgreen skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

Broadway in Atlanta has also announced that the Atlanta premieres of the four-time Tony Award winning MJ, the Tony Award® winning and 2022 Grammy® nominated SIX THE MUSICAL and the Broadway smash-hit musical BEETLEJUICE will lead the 2023/2024 season. The lineup is also set to feature the return of HAMILTON, ANNIE, the Atlanta premiere of Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, FUNNY GIRL, and the revival of THE WIZ. Season options include LES MISÉRABLES and Disney’s ALADDIN. For information visit BroadwayInAtlanta.com.

The cast of the North American Tour of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy

Experience Your Favorite Movies Like Never Before with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) announced their new season of the Movies in Concert series, featuring the ASO performing the film scores live as the films are shown in Symphony Hall. This fall, films include Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone and The Holiday. All films will be displayed on a 40-foot screen suspended above the ASO on stage. This series has proven to be a fan favorite, appealing to concert-goers of all ages while highlighting a new way to experience these movies like never before.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther Live in Concert will be conducted by Anthony Parnther on September 15-17, 2023.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Live in Concert will be conducted by Thiago Tiberio on October 27-28, 2023.

Home Alone in Concert will be conducted by Scott Terrell on November 25-26, 2023.

The Holiday in Concert will be on December 16-17, 2023.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com For more information visit aso.org/movies

PERFORMANCE ART + DANCE + COMEDY THEATRE + CIRCUS + STORYTELLING

Testing the Boundaries at the Atlanta Fringe Festival

The 2022 Atlanta Fringe Festival was hardly choreographer Hannah Myers’ first rodeo. “When I experienced my first Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland I was absolutely delighted to see the explosion of creative energy. Everywhere I looked people were performing, without any hesitation, in the most Avant Garde style.”

Soon she was bringing her own Avant Garde style to the Atlanta Fringe, in the form of a new mutli-media collaborative dance showcase entitled A Quiet Reflection Vol. 2. Employing a wide range of dance techniques, spoken word, and film, the show swung from whisper-quiet performances in full stage light to frenetic movement pieces under enormous projections and throbbing electronic music. In short, it showcased what makes a Fringe so… fringe-y. According to Hannah, “Fringe Festivals generate a non-judgmental, organic, open space for artists where we burst through the seams of the conventional world, whether we are invited or not.”

Fortunately, that invitation is extended annually to the local arts community and beyond, as the Atlanta Fringe Festival, now in its eleventh year, brings artists from

around the world to East Atlanta for one jam-packed week of live performances.

Founded in 2011, the festival uses traditional and converted performance spaces to showcase live dance, comedy, theatre, storytelling and more, using a randomized lottery to select the lineup. This ensures that artists of all disciplines and skill levels have an equal opportunity to perform, a cornerstone of the open-armed philosophy of community and art that guides the Atlanta Fringe.

The 2023 festival, taking place June 5-11, will follow in that tradition, featuring a diverse mix of first-time producers and seasoned road warriors performing everything from heart-wrenching dramas to magic shows in venues in and around Little Five Points.

This includes Hope Lafferty of CrashMat Productions and her “physical memoir”

INHIBITIONIST(!), utilizing clowning, dance, and physical theatre to tell the story of her childhood. It’s the kind of show that, as she tells it, can only thrive in the festival environment. “That’s why I really dig fringe festivals. Great emerging artists. Tons of it all at once, with something for everybody.”

For information visit atlantafringe.org.

Photos courtesy of the Atlanta Fringe Festival

The Legend of

The Irish Giant

by Rob Shaw-Smith

A Thrilling and Inspiring Season is Unfolding for Atlanta Master Chorale

The sky’s the limit for Atlanta Master Chorale’s 2023-24 Season!

Audiences expect the unexpected from this sixty voice choral group, known nationally and worldwide for its versatility, confident artistry, and diverse programming. Next season’s lineup promises to delight performers and listeners alike.

Our season opens on October 13 and 14 with “The Sky’s the Limit,” a concert featuring music of endless possibilities. Join us for a program focused on looking up, stretching boundaries, and striving for more.

What are your holiday traditions? Many have incorporated our Christmas concerts into their annual celebrations with family and friends. Join us the second weekend in December as we celebrate the season. While some pieces will be familiar, there are always surprises, and the audience sing-along never fails to disappoint. Plus, tickets make welcome holiday gifts.

Next year’s spring concert performances on March 15 and 16 will bring to the stage This Love Between Us: A Prayer for Unity by the young Indian-

American composer Reena Esmail. Artistic Director Eric Nelson will conduct this complex choral work accompanied by sitar and tabla. Texts drawn from seven major religious traditions center themes of brotherhood and kindness. Ms. Esmail composed this piece on unity and light during the dark days of the pandemic. It ends with Rumi’s advice: “Concentrate on the Essence. Concentrate on the Light.”

We will round out the year with a return to simplicity for our season final concerts on May 3 and 4, featuring an entirely a cappella program: “A Capella Soundscapes.” This concert without instrumental accompaniment will showcase the chorale’s extraordinary vocal resonance and tone.

All performances are at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. For concert dates/times, ticketing, and other information, please visit www.atlantamasterchorale.org Discounts are available for groups, seniors and students. And teachers can attend Friday night performances for free through our Tickets for Teachers program!

Looking forward to an exceptional season of “music that touches spirit.”

Atlanta Master Chorale

Alabama Shakespeare Festival Delivers Energy and Justice this Spring

Alabama Shakespeare Festival blasts to the past this spring with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley in Million Dollar Quartet. On December 4, 1956, an extraordinary twist of fate brought those four future legends together at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records in Memphis for one of the greatest jam sessions ever.

World-class actors and musicians will take over the Festival Stage with an electrifying score of rock and roll, gospel, R&B, rockabilly, and country songs. Get ready to tap your toes to your favorite jukebox hits, including “Walk the Line,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” and many more. Million Dollar Quartet is recommended for ages 13 and up, making it a captivating show for the young and young at heart.

In May, ASF will produce Lynn Nottage’s Tony-nominated Broadway play, Clyde’s. Creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck stop cafe. While the restaurant’s mischievous

owner tries to keep them under her thumb, her employees find a purpose and permission to dream, discovering that “sometimes a hero is more than a sandwich.”

Clyde’s is full of laughs and insights into what it means to find and stumble down your path in life. ASF is producing it in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

EJI founder and Executive Director Bryan Stevenson will speak at the ASF Insights for Clyde’s on May 13 at 12:30 p.m. Please note that this play contains strong language and mature themes, so it is recommended for ages 17 and up.

Atlanta ShowGuide readers can receive a 15% discount (on zones A, B, or C) with promo code ATLSHOWGUIDE. Ticket prices range from $25 – $64. Buy tickets online any time at ASF.net or call the ASF Box Office at 334-271-5353 from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for an associate to assist you. ASF offers a military discount, senior discount, and special rates for groups over 10 — call today to book your group with the official State Theater of Alabama!

To learn more about events at City Springs citysprings.com/events.

City Springs Opens the City Green Season

April 28 with Better Than Ezra

Better Than Ezra

City Springs will again greet spring and summer with concerts and events on the City Green! We just announced our full summer lineup of concerts on the City Green and at nearby Heritage Amphitheatre, including local favorites such as The Geek Squad Band, but also tribute bands such as A1A (Jimmy Buffett), Carpool (The Cars), Black Jacket Symphony (Fleetwood Mac) and musical acts like Better Than Ezra and Anderson East. New in 2023, City Springs introduces Sundown Social, a relaxed neighborhood gathering with live music and signature cocktails, Thursdays starting May 11.

Opening the City Green Live series April 28 is Better Than Ezra, the 1990s alternative band, whose 1993 hit “Good,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Next up at City Green Live is The Black Jacket Symphony on May 26: the band recreates Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album note for note, sound for sound, and plays more of the band’s greatest hits. The Geek Squad Band opens Concerts by the Springs at Heritage Amphitheatre — this party band performs all the best Motown, jazz, funk, hip-hop and Top 40 hits. They’re fol-

lowed by Carpool, taking you back to when The Cars were the soundtrack of our lives, with hits like “Drive” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” Nashville-based singer-songwriter Anderson East, whose seductively vintage voice is also decidedly fresh, appears at City Green Live on June 16. Lawn seating at Concerts by the Springs and City Green Live is free; reserved tables and pre-ordered food and beverages are also available. Visit citysprings. com/events for information and tickets. Sundown Socials start May 11 — join your neighbors in the best back yard in Sandy Springs for a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Admission is free.

June also marks the return of Food That Rocks, the all-inclusive, ultimate “Eatertainment Experience” — it’s back for one night only, showcasing the best restaurants that represent Sandy Springs’ culinary scene. Enjoy food from Sandy Springs restaurants, a decadent dessert bar, wine, beer and craft cocktails, chef demonstrations, live music, and interactive experiences. All-inclusive tickets are $85 - $125. A VIP experience is available. Visit Citysprings.com/events.

Carpool

The Black Jacket Symphony

The Geek Squad Band Anderson East

KSU Dance Selects Two Eleo PomareGlenn Conner Choreographers for Summer 2023

Generous donation from Yunek family supports choreographic residencies, two world premieres

Kennesaw State University

Department of Dance has selected two international choreographers for the Eleo Pomare-Glenn Conner

Choreographic Residency in summer 2023. The Residency brings two curated choreographers each summer to KSU Dance to create an original work together with Dance alumni and students, made possible by an endowment from Jay and Debra Yunek.

The Pomare-Connor Memorial Endowed Fund for Dance honors the late benefactors who were luminaries of the dance world. Pomare, who passed away in 2008, was known for developing innovative choreography that deals with social inequality and injustice. The funds promote and preserve Pomare’s legacy through the cultivation of new choreographic voices.

Nicola Wills and Lior Lazarof have been selected as this summer’s distinguished choreographers and will create two world premieres to open the KSU Dance performance season in August. Marsha Barsky, chair of the Department of Dance, says, “We are thrilled to bring these incredibly talented choreographers to KSU

Dance this summer. The competition was fierce. The selection committee reviewed over 86 applications, spanning twenty states and six countries.” One of those countries with a strong showing was Israel.

Israeli dance artist Lior Lazarof studied in the Sadna professional dance program, located in Kibbutz Ga’aton, and she graduated from Ga’atonusalem Academy of Music and Dance in 2016. She then moved to Europe to further her artistic research. Her work has been presented in Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, Canada and Bulgaria, to name a few.

South Australia is home to Nicola Wills, where she developed her passion for performing a variety of dance styles. Nicola danced briefly with Dortmund Ballet, Germany, before joining the Ballet van Vlaanderen, (formally known as Royal Ballet of Flanders) in Belgium in 2013, where she was promoted to Demi-soloist in 2017 and is currently still dancing.  Audiences may see both world premieres in person at the KSU Dance Theater on the Marietta campus in August 2023. Dates will be announced (and tickets will go on sale) on July 1, 2023, at KSUDance.com.

KSU Dance FOG, Photo by Lauren Liz

Experience the Spirit of Hope and Love at The Historic Holly Theatre

The Holly Theatre in Dahlonega ventures on to complete its first entire season in three years, following a successful first half of the season. The Holly continues to showcase the regional talent in their 2022-2023 Main-Stage Season — “Hope Endures and Love Conquers All”, as they open their next show, the musical, The Spitfire Grill. It’s a story of new beginnings and friendship between three strong women told with folk-inspired music. Their season will conclude in the summer with Roald Dahl’s Matilda, the explosively funny, heartwarming musical about a zany girl genius and a set of quirky characters.

Amidst the new season, the Holly is excited to welcome Taylor Jarrard as their new Artistic Director. Taylor has been a volunteer at the Holly for 12 years and the Holly is excited to welcome her into her new role. “It’s a privilege to lead the Holly”, says Jarrard. “The rest of this season is sure to be heartwarming, filled with stories of hope, some familiar to us and some new, but all equally lovable. We’re excited to share the rest of this season with our audiences!”

(For show and ticket information go to hollytheater.com or call 706-530-5162.)

The Holly Performance Academy is already gearing up for summer with a full

schedule of summer camps planned for students ages 3 - 18. Students can choose from a wide variety of camps including performance camps (James and the Giant Peach Jr. and The Big One-Oh! Jr.), tech, improv, and more! If you have a student who is looking for a new summer camp experience this year, The Holly Performance Academy has something for every child.

The historic Holly Theatre remains a staple in the North Georgia community. The beautiful and relaxed atmosphere of the Holly, with no seat more than 70 feet from the stage, offers an intimate and inviting setting for guests to relax and escape through the magic of theater.

Into the Woods, Oct. 2022, photo by Stephanie Garrett

The Spitfire Grill, April 2023, photo by Elliot Wallis

A Spectacular New Musical on the

Closing out the Alliance Theatre’s 50th season, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will premiere on the Coca-Cola Stage June 7 – July 9, 2023. Based on the critically acclaimed and best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is an adventure filled with romance, deception, and a little bit of magic, all under the big top of a traveling circus.

Running towards a new life, Jacob Jankowski hitches a ride on a mysterious train.  He finds himself in the heart of a traveling circus, the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show

On Earth, with a new job, a new home, and a new family. When charismatic ringmaster August brings Rosie the elephant on as the new star attraction, Jacob and August’s wife Marlena join forces to train her.  As Jacob and Marlena’s shared compassion develops into love, August’s cruel nature surfaces, threatening to derail Jacob’s life once more.

Brought to theatrical life by an internationally acclaimed and innovative creative team, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will

reignite your dreams of running away with the circus. This world premiere musical is directed by Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with a book by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and a score by the award-winning PigPen Theatre Co. This adventure of love, family and belonging speaks to us all.

“WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a story about fragility, resilience and love; all set amidst a depression era traveling circus,” said Director Jessica Stone. “What excites me most about the production is the opportunity to, quite literally, get it off the page and into the air. We have gathered an incredible group of storytellers, from circus artists to puppeteers, to do just that. We can’t wait to see you, Atlanta!”

Tickets and information are available now at www.alliancetheatre.org/ waterforelephants

Founded in 1968, the Alliance is a recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award for sustained excellence in programming, education, and community engagement.

Coca-Cola Stage of the Alliance Theatre June 7-July 9, 2023

PigPen Theatre Co.

Jessica Stone, Director

Designs

WWW.TSW-DESIGN.COM

connecting people, places, and the environment that lift the spirit and fire the imagination.

Voices of Note Fills the Air with Messages of Pride and Community

Voices of Note, Atlanta’s oldest and largest chorus, is proud to continue their mission of telling stories about pride and resilience. For over 42 years, this incredible organization has been committed to using music to promote equality, acceptance, and love for all. Last month, Voices of Note announced their new partnerships with Families First and PFLAG Atlanta and their upcoming collaboration with The Breman Center. Voices of Note has always been more than just a chorus. It is a community of individuals who share a passion for music and a commitment to improving the world. Through their performances, workshops, and outreach programs, Voices of Note seeks to educate and inspire people to embrace diversity and celebrate their differences. The organization believes that music is a powerful tool for change, and uses their platform to raise awareness about important issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Families

First and PFLAG Atlanta are two organizations that share Voices of Note’s vision of creating a more inclusive and accepting society. Families First is a nonprofit that supports families in crisis by providing counseling, parenting classes, and other

resources. PFLAG Atlanta is part of a national organization that provides support, education, and advocacy for families and allies of LGBTQ+ individuals. By partnering with these organizations, Voices of Note hopes to reach more people and make a greater impact in the community. The Breman Center is a cultural institution focusing on Atlanta’s Jewish history and culture. Voices of Note will work with The Breman Center to present concerts and events celebrating the intersection of Jewish and LGBTQ+ identities. The partnership between these two organizations is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of recognizing community diversity. Voices of Note is excited to continue telling stories about pride and resilience. The organization believes that music has the power to bring people together and create positive change. They are committed to using their platform to promote equality, acceptance, and love for all. As Voices of Note looks toward the future, they’re excited to continue sharing diverse perspectives and inspire audiences with music.

For information, visit voicesofnote.org/upcoming-events

Atlanta Women’s Chorus

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus

Aris Theatre Brings a Giant Legend to Life

Ireland is a land of many legends, and among them, one legend looms large. So large, it’s giant. And that giant is Finn McCool, a loveable rogue who is as likely to get into trouble as he is to make it. In one of Finn’s most famous escapades, he challenges another giant, Benandonner, to a slanging match. The problem is, Bendandonner is a Scottish giant…in Scotland. But a little thing like the Irish Sea won’t stand in Finn’s way. In order to reach Scotland and duel his nemesis, Finn builds a giant causeway across the Irish Sea.

The result of Finn’s legendary efforts is something we can still see (and stand on) today: the Giant’s Causeway, on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising tens of thousands of interlocking, hexagonal volcanic basalt columns. A geological wonder, the Giant’s Causeway is one of the most popular attractions in Northern Ireland today.

But what happens when Finn builds this causeway? What follows next is the stuff of legend and laughter, and the subject of a new play by Atlanta’s stage for Celtic culture, Arís Theatre.

Arís brings this magical, mythical

tale to life in their June 2023 production of The Legend of Finn McCool, written and composed by Arís co-founder Rob Shaw-Smith. This rollicking all-ages show is Arís’ first musical, and the songs are as entertaining and delightful as the comedy and the characters.

Arís has produced theatrical and literary works of Celtic origin and import in Atlanta for 10 years, presenting works from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, classic and modern, Brian Friel and Enda Walsh, George Costigan and Marina Carr, bringing to life Byron, Owen and Sassoon, Robert Burns and Leopold Bloom. And now, Finn McCool, the Irish Giant.

The Legend of Finn McCool is produced in part with generous support from the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support program through the Consulate of Ireland, Atlanta.

The Legend of Finn McCool plays at the Academy Theatre in Hapeville from June 14 to June 25.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.aristheatre.org.

“The Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.”, photo fromAdobe Stock Images

The Schwartz Center: Don’t Miss a Note!

The Schwartz Center for Performing Arts explores how the timeless art of classical music can transcend generations with its 2023–2024 season. Beginning with up-and-coming violist Jordan Bak and the Balourdet Quartet, the mostly classical series also features virtuoso Midori with Festival Strings Lucerne, National Symphony Orchestra Ukraine, and a recital concert from violin protégé Randall Goosby. Intergenerational connections continue with the pairing of the world’s most famous brass group, Canadian Brass, with select Emory University student brass musicians included on one of the evening’s works as part of a concert ranging from Baroque to Dixieland.

“This season embodies the spirit of the Candler Concert Series,” says Rachael Brightwell, Schwartz Center managing director. “Our students and audiences have the opportunity to experience artists who are inarguably masters of their instruments—Midori and her violin, for one—in the same series as intriguing young artists like Randall Goosby and Jordan Bak, who are really making their mark in classical music. This season’s lineup showcases the best performances across generations, and I’m thrilled to be able to

bring such a dynamic series to Emory.”

The Schwartz Center is also proud to support new work as a commissioning partner for an ambitious, multi-composer project with Turtle Island Quartet, featuring compositions from jazz legend Terence Blanchard, MacArthur Genius Fellow Rhiannon Giddens, New Music USA Composerin-Residence Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, and Turtle Island Quartet founder David Balakrishnan. Additionally, contemporary works will be the focus of an orchestra of voices from the Grammy Award–winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer.

Along with the Candler Concert Series, audiences can enjoy the time-honored tradition of Emory Jazz Fest as part of the Center’s Schwartz Artist-in-Residence Program. The festival brings world-class jazz to the community with master classes, artist demonstrations, and concerts featuring the Gary Motley Trio, Emory Big Band, and a soon-to-be-announced featured guest artist.  Subscription ticket packages are available to order now with selections from the Candler Concert Series and the Schwartz Artist-in-Residence Program. Single tickets to all concerts go on sale Tuesday, August 1. For more information visit schwartz.emory.edu or call 404.727.5050.

Balourdet Quartet, photo by Kevin W Condon

Jordan Bak, photo by Dario Acosta

Trailblazing

By Terrie Ajile Axam

On June 18, 2022, the mayor of Macon, Georgia proclaimed Terrie Ajile Axam Day for being the first person to bring Modern-African dance to their town in 1980. I was totally surprised as I thought about the dancers that might have graced the stage of the historic Douglass Theatre when they hosted jazz and blues greats such as Bessie Smith, Otis Redding, James Brown, and more. I graciously accepted my proclamation. Later that evening, I began to reflect on my many awards and recognitions of “being the first.” In an Atlanta ShowGuide article in 2008, Pamela Turner stated that I was a “true pioneer.” I never intended to be a pioneer, but I realize I have been trailblazing for most of my life.

My biggest endeavor is my twenty years at the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center. I was invited to create a pilot arts program tasked with bringing professional arts to the Adamsville Community. We presented classes, seminars, and workshops with a mission to train, produce, and present technical and creative dancers, performers, and educators.

Five years ago, the Atlanta City Council honored me as a prominent community leader, dance instructor, cultural arts entertainer, artistic director, and certified life coach for my commitment to serving

the Atlanta community. They acknowledge me as a history maker as the first person to receive a teacher’s certificate in dance. I can still remember the conversation. The Georgia Department of Education representative said, “You are the first person ever to receive this dance certification . When you go for a job, most principals won’t even know this exist.” That was in 1983. I subsequently became the pioneer dance teacher for Tri-Cities Visual and Performing Arts Dance Program.

My favorite trailblazing moments are creation of Mojah technique and the creation of three wonderful children. I gave birth to Chuma my junior year at Princeton University in 1971, Makini my Senior year at Princeton in 1973 and Kikora my first year in graduate school at Rutgers University in 1976. Now at 71 years of age, I am asked the question when are you going to retire. I simply say, I have more trails to blaze.

Terrie Ajile Axam

Student from pilot arts program

Terrie Ajile Axam

Summer Theatre Classes with Georgia Ensemble Theatre Gives Kids New Friends and a Creative Outlet

Kids are creative beings, full of emotions and thoughts they’re learning to express. That’s what makes theatre training such a great option for every kid. Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s Education Director Laurel Crowe knows that first-hand—she was a student in the very first class offered by the theatre in 1992!

Now, Crowe has helped grow the Georgia Ensemble Theatre Studio in Roswell, offering classes all summer for students from pre-K to rising 12th grade. For those who are serious about acting, dancing, and singing in musicals, Triple Threat camp will teach the basics and help kids grow from wherever they start. Improv and Mash-Up classes suit kids who love to invent stories and find the funny. Performance and Production camps give kids an intensive experience in creating, rehearsing, producing, and performing an entire musical. (Oliver, Jr. is scheduled for July 2023!) Brand new in 2023 is Influencer Boot Camp — a class that hones students’ interest in content creation for social media and video platforms, teaching them performance skills and video/editing techniques — but also addressing online safety and mental health.

Crowe says, “The goal of these classes isn’t to turn every kid into a professional actor. If that’s an individual student’s goal, we will absolutely help them pursue it. But for a

lot of kids, they take skills like improvisation and turn that into successful conversational skills. They take what they learn about using their voice expressively and turn that into successful business presentations. They take a class in lighting design and turn it into a career in science. They take the experience of mentoring younger students and turn it into a teaching career. And they take the teamwork and empathy that all theatre requires, and turn them into new friendships, stronger interpersonal relationships, and a sense of connectedness with the world around them.”

Students who spend a week or two — or even their whole summer — at GET Studio get to be around other creative kids like themselves all day. They’re forming new friendships with people outside of their schools, connecting with people who have shared interests. Summer camps at GET are educational and entertaining, led by professional actors and directors, supportive, inclusive, welcoming, accessible…but most of all, FUN!

GET Studio classes offer payment plans and financial aid. Students of differing abilities are welcome. Anyone with questions is urged to reach out to education@get.org or view the available camp sessions at get.org/classes.

Photo by Katie Nelson

Moving Moments

The art of award winning Dance Photographer Richard Calmes is available in his latest book.

Book & Lyrics by Joel Paley Music by Marvin Laird

MAY 4–20, 2023

Tickets: $25 and up Out Front Theatre Company

Co-Production with

www.OutFrontTheatre.com

Avery Ward, Cincinnati Ballet Trainee

Photo by Richard Calmes

Stage Door Players — An Interview with Lauren Morris

Interviewed by Joey Davila

So Lauren, why Peter and the Starcatcher?

“I have loved this play since I first became aware of it. I love that it is theatre at its most simple AND most imaginative. I love that it’s about children and childhood and the fact that we are all really at our

Just the fact that we, within us, have the ability to surprise and delight each other is the core of what magic and what theatre can do.

core, just tall children. I love that there’s magic and it reminds us that magic is real and possible if we remember that magic is real and possible. I also really like that it has fabulous villains because that’s really fun. And ours will be extra fabulous.”

It must be a challenge to do a story that has so many famous iterations. Do you have a favorite iteration of the Peter Pan story?

“I’m reading the novel version of Peter and the Starcatcher and it really explores a lot more darkness of the characters and exploration of who they are, how they got there, and human nature.”

So I’ve got to ask because I’ve been so curious: What is a Starcatcher?

“Starcatchers try to keep humans from being completely engulfed by the devils on their shoulders, by the darker nature.”

You mentioned magic earlier. What is theatre magic, to you? Is there a base requirement, or a specific example you can think of?

“I have so many things in my head when I think of theatre magic, but I think surprise and delight is all that magic is to me. I think there’s something deeply elemental in us that’s about us as animals who sat around a campfire and told stories a million years ago. There are little bits of us that are awakened at simple moments like that. That’s why I think shadow puppetry is magical and why we’ll be using that in this production. Just the fact that we, within us, have the ability to surprise and delight each other is the core of what magic and what theatre can do. It comes down to breath, the physical shared molecules in a space.”

Peter and the Starcatcher is running at Stage Door Theatre from May 12 - 28.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, photo by Wildstyle Paschall

Lauren Morris, by Stacey Bode Photography “Code Noir” photo by Felipe Barral

ATLANTA SPOTLIGHTS SPRING

Relive Million Dollar Quartet with Alabama Shakespeare Festival

In December 1956, a twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together for a legendary jam session at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records in Memphis. Relive that magical night at ASF this spring with Million Dollar Quartet, featuring classics such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Walk the Line,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” and more.

In May, ASF brings Lynn Nottage’s Tonynominated Clyde’s to the Octagon Stage. A truck-stop café provides its formerly incarcerated staff with a purpose and reason to dream — “sometimes a hero is more than a sandwich.” Clyde’s is produced in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative and Arkansas Repertory Theatre. For information visit asf.net.

A Spectacular New Musical at the Alliance Theatre

The Alliance Theatre presents the world premiere of Water for Elephants. Based on the critically acclaimed and best-selling novel, Water for Elephants takes you on an adventure filled with romance, deception, and a little bit of magic, all under the big top of a traveling circus. Directed by Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with a book by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and a score by the awardwinning PigPen Theatre Co., Water for Elephants runs at the Alliance Theatre June 7 through July 7, 2023, and is recommended for audiences 11 and up. Visit alliancetheatre. org/waterforelephants for tickets.

Aris Theatre Brings The Legend of Finn McCool to the Stage

Arís celebrates ten years of staging celtic theatre with an all new, all original, mythical, magical, musical comedy: The Legend of Finn McCool, written and composed by Arís co-founder Rob Shaw-Smith.

From the mists of Time, where History and Legend dance a dance of wonder and joy, comes a giant of an Irish tale. See how Irish giant Finn McCool challenged and saw off the Scottish monster Benandonner, and see exactly how the Giant’s Causeway came to be one of the wonders of the natural world. An Arís original suitable for children 8 - 88! June 1425. Visit aristheatre.org

Celebrate Spring with The Atlanta Chamber Players Spring Concert

The Atlanta Chamber Players are thrilled to return to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta for their Spring Concert on Sunday, May 21, 2023. The concert will begin at 3 pm, and tickets are $25/$15 for seniors. The program will include the Brahms Horn Trio, Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin for Wind Quintet, as well as the world premiere of rising star Brian Nabors’ Piano Quintet, commissioned by the ACP. Musicians on this concert include Todd Skitch, flute, Alcides Rodriguez, clarinet, Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, oboe, Helen Hwaya Kim and Kenn Wagner violins, Catherine Lynn, viola, Brad Ritchie, cello, Anthony Georgeson, bassoon, Susan Welty, horn, Jens Korndôrfer, organ, and Elizabeth Pridgen, piano.

PERFORMANCE ART + DANCE + COMEDY THEATRE + CIRCUS + STORYTELLING

ATLANTA SPOTLIGHTS SPRING

also include free shows for families and special events featuring Atlanta-based artists. Full schedule and tickets, including multi-show passes and more info about all of this year’s amazing artists available via AtlantaFringe.org.

The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Womens Chorus open our hearts and minds through music!

Sometimes songs propel a story forward and other times they add dimension and perspective to the story. The AWC show “Tell Your Story” (June 3) focuses on Broadway songs that tell a story. Running the gamut of heartfelt to frivolous, these songs will leave you remembering and reliving your own story with all the emotions.

The AGMC show, “Returning to the Root” (June 9 and 10) reminds us to pursue the truth and learn something new. That when we accept ourselves, we will accept others too. That when we let love shine and let pride be our guide, we can change the world when we open our minds. Go to voicesofnote.org for tickets for both groups.

The Atlanta Jazz Festival Returns to Piedmont Park on Memorial Day Weekend: May 27-29

One of the largest FREE jazz festivals in the country, the Atlanta Jazz Festival is an annual celebration of music, culture, and the art of jazz. Artists include Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Clarke, Ledisi, Samara Joy, Jose James, and Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott). And there be a ticketed Late-Night Jazz Concert with Cecily.

Kicking off the weekend the festival presents The Apollo’s production of The Blues and Its People concert featuring

Russell Gunn & the Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra with special guests at Symphony Hall on May 26. For more information visit atljazzfest.com.

Atlanta Master Chorale announces 2023-2024 concert season; season tickets now available

Atlanta Master Chorale invites you to our 2023-2024 concert season! Beginning October 13 and 13 we present The Sky’s the Limit, featuring music with endless possibilities, focused on looking up and stretching boundaries. We’ll get in the holiday spirit with Christmas with Atlanta Master Chorale’s three performances on December 8, 9 and 10. In March we’ll present Same Light, Different Lanterns featuring This Love Between Us: A Prayer for Unity by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail. We’ll round out the year with a return to simplicity for our season final concerts in May featuring “A Capella Soundscapes.” For tickets and more information, visit www. atlantamasterchorale.org/concerts.

Get Thrilled by the Atlanta Opera!

It’s time to get your season tickets to the blockbuster 2023-24 season. Leaning into masterpieces of great literature, your new Atlanta Opera season brings to life The Shining (Sep 15-Oct 1), Frankenstein (Oct 28—One night only!), Rigoletto (Nov 4-12), La bohème (Jan 20-28), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mar 2-10), Die Walküre (Apr 27-May 5). This list of best-sellers features internationally renowned performers and cutting-edge design carried by the epic music. Subscribe Now! This spectacular season is available at AtlantaOpera.org

Join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, May 21, 2023 as the film score program Star Wars and More: The Music of John Williams returns to Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta!

The symphonic concert will feature iconic film scores performed live and will include favorites from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Jaws and much more. The concert is perfect for all ages. Associate Conductor & ASYO Music Director, Jerry Hou, will once again lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Arrive early for family-friendly activities including photo opportunities with your favorite characters and face painting. Find tickets and information at aso.org

2023 Spring Concert Series Comes to Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is proud to host the 2023 Spring Concert Series in our beautiful outdoor amphitheater, starting March 31st! The Callanwolde Amphitheater provides an intimate atmosphere to spend time with friends, unwind, and experience an evening of live music surrounded by the natural beauty of the Callanwolde Estate. The 2023 lineup of talented performers in one of Atlanta’s most historic venues is not to be missed! Purchase single show tickets or join us for the entire five show series with season tickets. For more information and to buy tickets, visit Callanwolde.com/events

Georgia Ensemble Theatre Trains Young Artists All Summer!

Kids from pre-K to rising 12th grade will find a way to express their creativity and make new friends at the GET Studio. Summer camp sessions throughout June and July offer fun, inclusive learning

environments for kids who love to dance, sing, act, build things, and create content for social media. All classes are taught by professional artists in the field, and there’s room for every kid, no matter what level of experience they’ve had before. Theatre classes help kids feel comfortable standing in front of a group, gain communication skills, find healthy ways of expressing emotion, and make new friends! Payment plans and financial aid scholarships are available. Find a listing of camp sessions at get.org/classes, or just email education@ get.org for more information.

Kennesaw State University Department of Dance Finishes the 2022-2023 Season

Kennesaw State University Department of Dance will present two programs to finish the 2022-2023 season. The Student Dance Concert, April 28-29 at 8 p.m., highlights works created by — and for — our students. This juried event showcases the diverse student body, displaying their artist voices and creative talents. On May 6-7 at 8 p.m., KSU Dance hosts Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in their live performance of Ana Maria Lucaciu’s “Long Ago & Only Once.” The work plays with the idea of waiting for something to be completed, whether it’s a movement, a joke, a sentence, a fact, or a personal story. Tickets: KSUDance.com.

A Very Incomplete Self-Portrait, on view at the Michael C. Carlos Museum

A Very Incomplete Self-Portrait, on view at the Michael C. Carlos Museum through July 16, 2023, presents neverbefore exhibited works by celebrated photographer Thomas Dorsey. Widely known for his intimate portraits of African American families in their homes in Chicago and Atlanta, Dorsey also photographed

the streets, homes, and buildings of his childhood neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. This portfolio of black and white photographs, taken while Dorsey was enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago, reveals the barren infrastructure of an underserved community and the resilience and stark beauty that can be discovered amidst bleak circumstances.

Visit carlos.emory.edu/exhibition/veryincomplete-self-portrait

City Springs is Springing Into the Season!

WE just announced our full summer lineup of concerts on the City Green and at nearby Heritage Amphitheatre, including local favorites such as The Geek Squad Band, but also tribute bands such as A1A (Jimmy Buffett), Carpool (The Cars), and amazing musical acts like Better Than Ezra and Anderson East. Lawn seating at Concerts by the Springs and City Green Live is free; reserved tables and pre-ordered food and beverages are also available. June also marks the return of Food That Rocks, the all-inclusive, ultimate “Eatertainment Experience!” Visit citysprings.com/events for information and tickets.

DanceMax Dancewear/Threaded Embroidery & Printing

DanceMax is your one stop dance shop located in Marietta, GA! Our dancewear specialists assist you diligently to ensure you purchase the best fit in everything you need for dance, from beginner to professional. Customers travel from near and far for our vast inventory, and the service provided by our experienced, well-trained staff. DanceMax is celebrating our 12th anniversary this year! Our owner, Lorna Handy, has over 40 years of experience in dance retail.

We also offer full embroidery and printing services through our newest

division, Threaded By DanceMax! Visit our websites today to order the best in dancewear!

www.dancemaxdancewear.com

www.threadedstore.com

Join the Mojah Movement

Total Dance/Dancical Productions, Inc. warmly invites you to experience Mojah. Terrie Ajile Axam, creator, is proud to share this fusion style form July 17 - 22 at the Mojah Dance Festival and Conference to be held at the Southwest Arts Center. The Mojah dance technique is a codified Modern/African form 50 years in the making based on Horton, Dunham, West African, ballet and jazz forms. Mojah is technical and spiritual by design. It evokes the connecting synergy between mind, body and spirit and the different forms. For more information visit dancicalproductions.com 770 572.7622.

From Holly Performance Academy to the Stage at the Holly Theatre

The Holly Theatre, Dahlonega, is a historic, 300-seat community theater featuring small-town charm and big-town quality. From our current musical productions like The Spitfire Grill to an array of cover bands like Peace of Woodstock the Holly provides a choice for every taste. We showcase the vast talents of our Georgia mountains region: old-timey traditions of singin’, fiddlin’, and strummin’ translate into musical experiences that give Broadway a run for its money. Some of our stars have grown up in our Holly Performance Academy, which features several fully-staged junior musicals each year. hollytheatre.com.

The Michael O’Neal Singers Bring Back the Beatles

MOS welcomes back to their concert stage The Return, recognized as one of the best Beatles Tribute bands in the business. The full chorus will perform favorite Beatles ballads, and then The Return will take the stage to recreate the look and sound of the original group, singing songs that are part of our cultural DNA!

Composed of a 140-voice auditioned chorale and 35-voice vocal ensemble, MOS provides a unique opportunity to the north metropolitan Atlanta community to experience choral presentations of artistic excellence and programmatic variety, both in person and online. Visit mosingers.com for more information about The Michael O’Neal Singers.

Out Front Theatre Company presents the hilarious Ruthless!

The Stage Mother of All Musicals! Out Front Theatre Company concludes its acclaimed seventh season with the camp musical — Ruthless! Billed as “The Stage Mother of All Musicals,” Ruthless! follows eight-year-old Tina Denmark, who knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking, and she will do anything to win the part in her school musical. “Anything” includes murdering the leading lady! Taking influence from Gypsy and The Bad Seed, this aggressively outrageous musical hit garnered rave reviews during its long Off-Broadway run. Performances run May 4 – 20, 2023. Tickets available at OutFrontTheatre.com

School Street Playhouse — It’s Not Just a Show, It’s

a Whole Experience

School Street Playhouse offers a variety of shows from plays, musicals, and concerts. Join us this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building. The building

was once the original schoolhouse for Forsyth County dating back to 1923. Come and roam the halls of the playhouse to experience the amazing history of the building. Don’t forget to have an award winning dinner downstairs at Tam’s Backstage before the show! Reservations are preferred. No worries if you are not able to get a reservation, School Street Playhouse now offers our VIP Room before our Friday and Saturday performances as an add on to your show ticket. Access the VIP Room where you can enjoy heavy hor d’oeurves and non alcoholic beverages prior to the show. A cash bar will be available for the purchase of alcoholic beverages including our signature cocktails, selection of wines and beers. Relax and unwind before the show at the School Street Playhouse — it’s not just a show but a whole experience. Schoolstreetplayhouse. com ; tamsbackstage.com

Stage Door Theatre Presents Peter and the Starcatcher

Stage Door Theatre’s final main stage show of Season 49 is Peter and the Starcatcher by: Rick Elice and Wayne Barker. This magical and Tony-Award winning prequel centers on a young orphan named Peter, who teams up with Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training, and his mates to defend a mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin from pirates led by the fearsome Black Stache. Twelve actors play over 100 roles in this perfect storm of music, imagination, and stagecraft. Join Stage Door as they explore the depths of greed and despair, along with the bonds of friendship, duty, and love. May 12 - 28. Get your tickets at stagedoortheatrega.org

HAIRSPRAY You Cant Stop the Beat,

Good Morning Baltimore,

Moulin Rouge by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade

photo by Jeremy Daniel

HAIRSPRAY

photo by Jeremy Daniel

ATLANTA PERFORMANCE GUIDE SPRING

Performance Guide created in partnership with

KIDS SHOWS

CHARLOTTE’S WEB

4/4-5/21/23 Prices: $22-$27 VIP

Center For Puppetry Arts

1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-873-3391

puppet.org/programs/charlottes-web/

THE MAGO JUNIOR SHOW

5/6/23 Prices: $7

Aurora Theatre

Lawrenceville Arts Center

128 E Pike St Lawrenceville, GA 30046

TIX: 678-226-6222   auroratheatre.com/

SPRING FILM SERIES: LABYRINTH

5/6/23 Prices: $20 non-members/$10 members

Center for Puppetry Arts

1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta, GA 30309

TIX: 404.873.3391

puppet.org/programs/spring-film-series-labyrinth/

GELEDE MASK MAGIC

5/13/23 Prices: $15

Center for Puppetry Arts

1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta, GA 30309

TIX: 404.873.3391

puppet.org/programs/gelede-mask-magic/

AURORA CHILDREN’S PLAYHOUSE: CHEROKEE

TALES

6/28/23 Prices: $7

Aurora Theatre

Lawrenceville Arts Center

128 E Pike St Lawrenceville, GA 30046

TIX: 678-226-6222 auroratheatre.com/

MUSICAL THEATRE

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

4/13-5/7/23 Prices: $25-$64

Alabama Shakespeare Festival

1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117

TIX: 334-271-5353 or BoxOffice@ASF.net ASF.net

DAS RHEINGOLD BY RICHARD WAGNER

5/2/23 & 5 @8:00 p.m., 5/7 @3:00 p.m.

The Atlanta Opera

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 404-881-8885 www.atlantaopera.org

RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL

5/4-20/23 Prices: $25-35

Out Front Theatre Company

999 Brady Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

TIX: 404-448-2755 outfronttheatre.com

CATS

5/5-5/21/23 Prices: $37-$100

City Springs Theatre Company

Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: 404-477-4365  www.CitySpringsTheatre.com

CLYDE’S

5/11-5/21/23 Prices: $25-$64

Alabama Shakespeare Festival

Octagon Stage – Alabama Shakespeare Festival

1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117

TIX: 334-271-5353 or BoxOffice@ASF.net

JIM CURRY & THE MUSIC OF JOHN DENVER

5/13/23, @8 pm Prices: $33-$41

The Holly Theatre Company

69 W Main St, Dahlonega, GA 30533

TIX: 706-530-5162 hollytheater.com

As of press time the following events are scheduled, but may be subject to change

ATLANTA PERFORMANCE GUIDE SPRING

STEVE KELLY’S COUNTRY MUSIC ROUNDUP

5/20/23, @8 pm Prices: $33-$41

The Holly Theatre Company

69 W Main St, Dahlonega, GA 30533

TIX: 706-530-5162 hollytheater.com

HAIRSPRAY

5/30-6/4/23 Prices: $35-$109

Broadway in Atlanta

The Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St, NE Atlanta, 30308

TIX: 855-285-8499 BroadwayInAtlanta.com

CHARLIE BROWN’S XXX RATED COUGARS.

Saturday Nights @ 9pm Prices: $5

Eagle Atlanta (Upstairs Cabaret)

1492 Piedmont Ave Atlanta GA 30309

TIX: atlantaeagle.com

PEACE OF WOODSTOCK

6/3/23, @ 8 pm Prices: $33-$41

The Holly Theatre Company

69 W Main St, Dahlonega, GA 30533

TIX: 706-530-5162 hollytheater.com

96-HOUR OPERA PROJECT SHOWCASE

6/12/23 @ 7:00 p.m.

The Atlanta Opera Ray Charles Performing Arts Center

Morehouse College

900 West End Ave SW, Atlanta 30314

TIX: 404-881-8885 atlantaopera.org

THEATRE

PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

4/20-5/15/23 Prices: $25

Actor’s Express

887 West Marietta St NW Suite J-107, Atlanta, 30318

TIX: 404-607-7469 actors-express.com

THE SPITFIRE GRILL

4/21-5/7/23, Fri. & Sat. @8 pm, Sun. @2 pm

Prices: $15-$35

The Holly Theatre Company

69 W Main St, Dahlonega, GA 30533

TIX: 706-530-5162 hollytheater.com

IT’S ONLY A PLAY

4/28-5/14/23 Prices: $20-$23

OnStage Atlanta

3041 N Decatur Rd, Scottdale, GA 30079

TIX: 404-897-1802 onstageatlanta.com

AS YOU LIKE IT

5/6-28/23  Prices: $25-$45

Atlanta Shakespeare Company

The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

499 Peachtree St NE Atlanta GA 30308

TIX: 404-874-5299  www.ShakespeareTavern.com

XPT: XPERIMENTAL PUPPET THEATER

5/4-7/23 Prices: $18

Center for Puppetry Arts

1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta, GA 30309

TIX: 404.873.3391

puppet.org/programs/xpt-xperimental-puppettheater/

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

5/12-5/28/23 Prices (range): $15-$35

Stage Door Theatre

Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center

5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd

TIX: 770.396.1726 www.stagedoortheatrega.org

DRUSKI

5/20/23 Prices: $29.75-$149.75

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

5/25-6/18/23 Prices: $11-$75

Aurora Theatre

Lawrenceville Arts Center

128 E Pike St Lawrenceville, GA 30046

TIX: 678-226-6222 auroratheatre.com/

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

6/3-7/2/23 Prices: $20-$36

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company

The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

499 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30308

TIX: 404-874-5299 shakespearetavern.com

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

6/7-7/9/23 Prices: $10-$78

Alliance Theatre

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-6400 alliancetheatre.org

EDDIE B.

6/9/23 Prices: $35-$65

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN

6/10-7/2/23 Prices: $20-$40

Actor’s Express

887 West Marietta St NW Suite J-107, Atlanta, 30318

TIX: 404-607-7469 actors-express.com

THE LEGEND OF FINN MCCOOL

6/14-25/23 Prices: $10-$30

Arís Theatre

The Academy Theatre

599 N. Central Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354

TIX : aristheatre.org

LARRY THE CABLE GUY

6/16/23 Prices: $35-$145

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

AURORA COMEDY NIGHTS: HANK DENSON

6/16-6/17/23 Prices: $20

Aurora Theatre

Lawrenceville Arts Center

128 E Pike St Lawrenceville, GA 30046

TIX: 678-226-6222 auroratheatre.com/

FRANCO ESCAMILLA

6/24/23 Prices: $59-$179

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE

6/30/23 Prices: $54.50-$119.50

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

THE PRODUCERS

7/21 -8/13/23 Prices: $27.50-$35

School Street Playhouse

101 School Street Cumming, GA 30040

TIX: 770-781-9178 schoolstreetplayhouse.com

MUSIC

EMORY UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND UNIVERSITY CHORUS, CARMINA BURANA

4/22/23 @ 8 p.m. & 4/23/23, @4 p.m.

Free Event/No Tickets Required

Emory Department of Music

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

1700 North Decatur Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322

TIX: 404.727.5050 schwartz.emory.edu

HIGH LONESOME BLUEGRASS MASS, FEATURING THE CHUCK NATION BAND

4/28/23 @8 PM & 4/29/23 @8 PM

Prices: $38 (adult)-$10 (youth)

Atlanta Master Chorale

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

1700 N Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA 30307

TIX: 404-727-5050 AtlantaMasterChorale.org/ concerts

SPRING CONCERT SERIES

4/28/23 & 5/12/23  Prices: $35+

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

TIX:  (404) 872-5338 callanwolde.org/events/

CITY GREEN LIVE: BETTER THAN EZRA

4/28/23 Prices: Lawn admission is free; reserved tables $$

City of Sandy Springs

City Springs

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

ATLANTA PERFORMANCE GUIDE SPRING

NAOMI RAINE, TESHA COBBS LEONARD, NATALIE GRANT & TAYA

5/2/23 Prices: $29.95-$109.95

Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St, NE Atlanta, 30308

TIX: 855-285-8499 foxtheatre.org

OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE CONCERT

5/4/23, @8 p.m.

OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY SINGERS AND CHORALE CONCERT

5/5/23, @8 p.m

OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY CONCERT

5/7/23, @4 p.m. Prices : Free

Oglethorpe University

Conant Performing Arts Center

4484 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven, GA 30319

TIX:  connect.oglethorpe.edu

SANCTUARY

5/5/23 & 5/6/23 @ 8 p.m. Prices: $25-$35

Our Song

First Baptist Church Decatur

308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, GA 30030

TIX: 404-487-8717 oursongatlanta.org

GYPSY KINGS

5/5/23 Prices: $49.99-$169.99

Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St, NE Atlanta, 30308

TIX: 855-285-8499 foxtheatre.org

ZACH WILLIAMS

5/5/23 Prices: $29.48-$219.25

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

SEAL

5/6/23 Prices: $49.50-$229.50

Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St, NE Atlanta, 30308

TIX: 855-285-8499 foxtheatre.org

CONCERTS BY THE SPRINGS: THE GEEK SQUAD BAND

5/7/23

Prices: Lawn admission is free; reserved tables $$ City Springs

Heritage Amphitheatre

6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

RAAJA BY RAGA

5/12/23 Prices: $40.80-$130

Rialto Center for the Arts

80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, 30303

TIX: 404-413-9849 rialto.gsu.edu

HERE COMES THE SUN

5/12/23 @ 8 p.m.

Prices: $15/20 advance; $50 Artist Circle; $20/25 @ Door

The Michael O’Neal Singers and The Return

Roswell UMC

814 Mimosa Blvd, Roswell GA 30075

TIX: 770.594.7974   www.mosingers.com

VEGA QUARTET

5/13/23, @ 8:00 p.m.

Prices: Free Event/No Tickets Required

ECMSA: Emerson Series

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

1700 North Decatur Rd Atlanta, GA 30322

TIX: 404.727.5050 schwartz.emory.edu

COLLECTIVE SOUL

5/13/23 Prices: $40.50-$125.50

Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St, NE Atlanta, 30308

TIX: 855-285-8499 foxtheatre.org

STAR WARS — THE FORCE AWAKENS IN CONCERT

5/13-5/14/23 Prices: $39.50-$69.50

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

THE JEFF CROMPTON/BENJAMIN SHIRLEY DUO

5/17/23 Prices: Free!

Rialto Center for the Arts

80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, 30303

TIX: 404-413-9849 rialto.gsu.edu

THE NAUGHTON SISTERS

5/18-20/23 Prices: $23-$72

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

ATLANTA CHAMBER PLAYERS SPRING CONCERT

5/21/23, @3 pm Prices: $25/$15

Atlanta Chamber Players

First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta

1328 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

TIX: 404-594-3445  atlantachamberplayers.com

STAR WARS & MORE: MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS

5/21/23 Prices: $19.50-$59.50

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30009

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

STEVIE NICKS

5/22/23 Prices: $69.50-$650

State Farm Arena

1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, 30303

TIX: 404-878-3000 statefarmarena.com

THE BLUES AND ITS PEOPLE

5/26/23 Prices: $TBA

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

CITY GREEN LIVE: BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY PERFORMING FLEETWOOD MAC’S RUMOURS

5/26/23 Prices: Lawn admission is free; reserved tables $$

City of Sandy Springs

City Springs

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

2023 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL

5/27-5/29/23

Prices: The festival is FREE to the public. VIP experience available for purchase on website. City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs   Piedmont Park

1320 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30306

TIX: Contact FreshTix via phone at 678-701-6114 or  greenlight@freshtix.com atljazzfest.com/

“TELL YOUR STORY”

6/3/23, @2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Prices: $30.00, Seniors/Students/Veterans $25.00 Atlanta Womens Chorus

Lassiter Concert Hall

2601 Shallowford Rd, Marietta GA 30066

TIX:  eventbrite.com/e/tell-your-storytickets-520665192607 www.voicesofnote.org

HOW SWEET THE SOUND

6/3/23 Prices: $55-$90

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

BRIT FLOYD

6/4/23 Prices: $36-$66

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

CONCERTS BY THE SPRINGS: CARPOOL, A TRIBUTE TO THE CARS

6/4/23 Prices: Lawn admission is free; reserved tables $$

City of Sandy Springs

Heritage Amphitheatre

6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

LEILA JOSEFOWICZ

6/8-10/23 Prices: $23-$72

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

ATLANTA PERFORMANCE GUIDE SPRING

FOOD THAT ROCKS

6/8/23  Prices: $85-$125, all-inclusive

City of Sandy Springs

City Springs

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

“RETURNING TO THE ROOT”

6/9/23 @ 7:30 p.m.

Prices: VIP: $75.00, Gen. Adm: $40.00, Students/ Senior/Veterans $25.00

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus

Atlanta City Hall Atrium

55 Trinity Avenue Southwest, Atlanta GA 30303

TIX:  eventbrite.com/e/returning-to-the-roottickets-580422658797 www.voicesofnote.org

“RETURNING

TO THE ROOT”

6/10/23 @7:30 p.m.

Prices: VIP: $75.00, Gen. Admission: $40.00, Students/Senior/Veterans $25.00

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus

Conant Performing Arts Center - Oglethorpe University

4484 Peachtree Road Northeast, Brookhaven, GA 30319

TIX: eventbrite.com/e/returning-to-the-roottickets-576414931577 voicesofnote.org

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann, photo by Raftermen

RAPPER’S DELIGHT: 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP

6/10/23  Prices: Free-$150

National Black Arts Festival

Westside Paper

950 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

TIX:  www.nbaf.org/black-music-month

TASHA LARAE

6/14/23 Prices: Free!

Rialto Center for the Arts

80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, 30303

TIX: 404-413-9849 rialto.gsu.edu

NATALIE STUTZMANN

6/15/23 Prices: $35-$83

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

FONSECA

6/15/23 Prices: $39.99-$174.99

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

JAMES TAYLOR

6/16/23 Prices: $55-$205

State Farm Arena

1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, 30303

TIX: 404-878-3000 statefarmarena.com

CITY GREEN LIVE: ANDERSON EAST

6/16/23

Prices: Lawn admission is free; reserved tables $$

City of Sandy Springs

City Springs

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

6/20/23 Prices: $45-$134.50

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Hall

1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, 30309

TIX: 404-733-5000 aso.org

TORI AMOS

6/23/23 Prices: $55.50-$99.50

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 770-916-2852 cobbenergycentre.com

DANCE

TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES

4/28-4/30/23 Prices: $15.00-$25.00

Atlanta Dance Company

Eddie Owen Presents: Red Clay Music Foundry

3116 Main Street, Duluth, Georgia 30096

TIX: 470-478-2749  eddieowenpresents.com

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

5/12-5/14/23 Prices: $30-$142

Atlanta Ballet

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, 30339

TIX: 1-800-982-2787 www.atlantaballet.com

DANCE/USA 2023 CONFERENCE

6/13-6/16/23  Prices: $450-$200

Hyatt Regency Atlanta

265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

TXI:  https://www.danceusa.org/annual-conference

MOJAH DANCE FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE

7/17- 7/22/23  Prices: $500/week; $100 per day; $50/workshop

Total Dance/Dancical Productions, Inc.

South Fulton Southwest Arts Center

915 New Hope Road, South Fulton, GA 30331

TIX: 770.256.6400 dancicalproductions.com

FESTIVALS, EXHIBITS, WORKSHOPS, & MORE

LIFE AND THE AFTERLIFE: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ART FROM THE SENUSRET COLLECTION

Now thru 8/6/23

Prices: 8 adults, $6 seniors and children, free for Members, College students with ID, Children ages

5 and below

Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University

571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322

TIX: 404-727-4282

carlos.emory.edu/exhibition/life-and-afterlife

A VERY INCOMPLETE SELF-PORTRAIT: TOM DORSEY’S CHICAGO PORTFOLIO

Now thru 7/16/23

Prices: $8 adults, $6 seniors and children, free for Members, College students with ID, Children ages

5 and below

Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University

571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322

TIX: 404-727-4282

carlos.emory.edu/exhibition/very-incomplete-selfportrait

SUNDOWN SOCIAL

5/11, 5/18, 5/25/23 & 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/23

Prices: Free

City Springs

1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

TIX: (770) 206-2022  citysprings.com/events

DIVE HAND FIRST: FOAM & FLEECE PUPPET BUILDING ONLINE WORKSHOP

5/9, 5/16, 5/23/23 Prices: $150 for the 3 sessions

Center for Puppetry Arts

1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta, GA 30309

TIX: 404.873.3391

puppet.org/programs/dive-hand-first-foam-fleecepuppet-building-workshop/

11TH ANNUAL ATLANTA FRINGE FESTIVAL

6/5-6/11/23

Atlanta Fringe Festival

Multiple venues, HQ at 7 Stages

TIX: www.AtlantaFringe.org

THE MODERN ATLANTA DANCE (MAD) FESTIVAL

6/15-6/16/23 Prices: $25.00

Full Radius Dance

The Performing Arts Studio at Emory University

1804 N Decatur Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322

TIX: 404-724-9663

fullradiusdance.org/mad-festival-2023

TRIPLE THREAT: ACT! DANCE! SING!

2ND-12TH GRADE

6/5-6/16/23, M-F. Prices: $625

MASH-UP MUSICAL MADNESS

6TH -12TH GRADE

6/26-6/30/23 Prices : $395

THEATRE ARTS EXPLOSION

KINDERGARTEN-5TH GRADE

6/26-6/30/23 Prices : $275

IMPROV & SKETCH FEST

6TH-12TH GRADE

7/5-7/7/23 Prices : $175

OPERATION IMAGINATION

KINDERGARTEN-5TH GRADE

7/5-7/7/23 Prices : $175

PERFORMANCE & DESIGN/TECH CAMP: OLIVER JR.

3RD -12TH GRADE

7/10-7/23/23, M-F. Prices (range): $695-$775

Georgia Ensemble Theatre & Conservatory

Georgia Ensemble Theatre Studio

615 Hembree Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30076

Information: 770-910-7462 www.get.org/classes

Actor’s Express

Alliance Theatre

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Center

Atlanta Symphony Hall

Callanwolde

Fine Arts Center

Center For Puppetry Arts

Cobb Civic Center Complex

Cobb Energy Center

& More

Decatur Visitor’s Center Explore Gwinnett

Ferst Center @

Georgia Ensemble Theatre

High Museum of Art

Horizon Theatre

Gas South Theatre

Jennie T. Anderson Theatre

Judy Jacobs Gallery

King Plow Arts Center

Roswell Cultural Arts Center

Southwest Arts Center

Syncronicity Theatre

Schwartz Center @ Emory University

The Holly Theatre

Tolbert Yilmaz

School Of Dance

Woodruff Arts Center