2018 Arts & Entertainment Guide
Spotlighting The Best Of Atlanta’s Cultural Scene
By Larry Anderson and Michelle Bourg
“White Christmas” comes to the stage as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta series at the Fox Theatre.
Welcome to Atlanta!
You’ve chosen a city that has it all: charming neighborhoods, quality”
schools, recreation options galore, exciting attractions and top-notch dining. In addition, it’s one of the nation’s leading centers of the arts, hosting the best of Broadway, a world-class symphony, a host of museums and galleries, a renowned film festival, rowdy standup comedy and much, much more. Our guide to the city’s arts and entertainment world is your ticket to something that will excite and inspire everyone in your family.
Legend
F: Family, A: Adults, T: Teen, D: Date Night
Performing Arts
Alliance Theatre | F A T D
The Tony-Award winning Alliance celebrates its 50th anniversary with a season that includes a world-premiere adaption of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the new musical “Ever After, “Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous,” and the edgy musical “Ride the Cyclone.” The Family Series presents “Paige in Full,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and for the 29th year, “A Christmas Carol.” alliancetheatre.org
Atlanta Ballet | F A T D
One of the country’s premier dance companies, Atlanta Ballet has brought the joy of dance to Atlanta for 89 years. The new season features Jirˇí Kylián’s “Return to Fall,” the world premiere of “Return to a Strange Land,” and Bigonzetti’s “Vertigo” pas de deux. The holidays bring an all-new production of “The Nutcracker.” Other highlights include the immortal “La Sylphide,” and a one-hour version of “Beauty and the Beast,” for audiences ages 12 and under. atlantaballet.com
Atlanta Ballet Centre For Dance Education | F A
One of the top 10 dance education facilities in the country, the Centre provides a unique opportunity to learn from a world-class faculty, rehearse with the professional company and learn about being a professional dancer. The Centre’s programs instill confidence and self-awareness that benefit students throughout their lives, and are open to everyone in the community, regardless of age or level of experience. centre.atlantaballet.com
Atlanta Opera | A D
Founded in 1979, this acclaimed company presents both fresh imaginings of the classics and new works for a modern audience. For its 2018-2019 season, it will stage “Charlie Parker’s Yardbird,” “West Side Story,” “Eugene Onegin,” “Maria de Buenos Aires,” “La Traviata,” and the world’s most performed new American opera, “Dead Man Walking.” atlantaopera.org
Atlanta Symphony | F A T D
The ASO presents a season highlighted by Britten’s “War Requiem” and Mahler’s Symphony No. 10, and appearances by pianist Lang Lang and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. For young concertgoers, there’s “Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration.” The Music for the Very Young Series introduces children age 5 and under to the wonderful world of music. atlantasymphony.org
Center For Puppetry Arts | F A T
The Center celebrates its 40th anniversary with the world premiere of the beloved “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “Peter Pan” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” based on the classic TV special. The Theater for the Very Young presents “The Tortoise and the Hare and Other Aesop’s Fables,” while the New Directions Series showcases edgier puppetry for teens and adults. The Worlds of Puppetry Museum has puppets from theatre, TV and film, while the Jim Henson Collection is home to the beloved Muppets. The Center also offers kids’ workshops that will turn your child into a budding puppeteer. puppet.org
Arts@Tech | A T D
Arts@Tech encompasses every aspect of the arts at Georgia Tech; the performance aspect includes both student and professional productions of music, theater, dance and comedy. The program’s home is the Ferst Center for the Arts, newly renovated with larger seats, better accessibility, and a brighter feel. An innovative season includes “Manual Cinema: The End of TV”; “Skid” by The Komansé Dance Theater; “Journey Live” by Fifth House Ensemble; juggler, comedian and inventor Mark Nizer; “Callas in Concert,” with the opera legend in hologram form; “Robbie Lynn Hunsinger: Music Technologist in Concert”; and “Maya Kodes: The Virtual Singer.” arts.gatech.edu
Aurora Theatre | F A T D
Now in its 20th season, this Lawrenceville institution is the fastest-growing professional theater in the state, staging Broadway hits, contemporary theater, children’s programs and the city’s only professional Spanishlanguage theatre, Teatro Aurora. Highlights for its upcoming season include the comedy “Be Here Now,” “A Doll’s House, Part 2” and a new yet old-fashioned musical, “Men with Money.” Also, “Christmas Canteen ." auroratheatre.com
Broadway In Atlanta | F A T D
The best of Broadway comes to Atlanta every year with the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta series. This season, the curtain goes up on “Aladdin,” “School of Rock,” “Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas,” “Waitress,” “Les Miserables,” “Jersey Boys,” “Cinderella,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Come From Away,” and the perennial favorite, “Cats.” atlanta.broadway.com
Fox Theatre | F A T D
This Midtown landmark, a former 1920s movie palace known for its Moorish and Egyptian architecture, hosts performances in old-school grandeur. Daily 60-minute tours showcase the venue’s history and must-see details — from “Mighty Mo,” the world’s largest working Moeller theater organ, to the lounges featuring the original furniture chosen by the wife of movie mogul William Fox, to the crystal “stars” twinkling overhead in the auditorium’s trompe l’oeil sky. foxtheatre.org
Georgia Ballet | F A T D
For its 60th season, the Marietta-based Georgia Ballet presents “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” along with “Swan Lake Act II”, “The Nutcracker” and “Remembering Iris,” a celebration of the life and career of company founder Iris Hensley. At The School of the Georgia Ballet, the company offers classes in classical ballet, tap, modern, jazz and hip hop for recreational dancers of all ages as well as aspiring professionals. georgiaballet.org
Schwartz Center For The Performing Arts | A D
Emory University’s Schwartz Center features an 800-seat concert hall that hosts eclectic music, dance and theater performances. This year’s Candler Concert Series showcases the Jerusalem Quartet with Pinchas Zukerman and Amanda Forsyth performing works by Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Schoenberg, and the Czech National Symphony with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, among others. arts.emory.edu
Shakespeare Tavern | A T D
Shakespeare Tavern presents Shakespeare and other classics, mounted as closely as possible to the versions in which they were originally presented. Café-style food and drinks are available before each performance. Upcoming productions include “Henry IV, Part 2,” A Man for All Seasons,” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” shakespearetavern.com
Rialto Center For The Arts | F A T D
This 833-seat venue on the campus of Georgia State University is a premier venue for jazz, world music, theatre and dance. Among this season’s offerings are Ailey II, Youssour N’Dour, Celtic Christmas and Ballet Hispanico. A summer film fest screens popular movies for the family. rialto.gsu.edu
Spivey Hall | A D
Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, this 400-seat space on the campus of Clayton State University in Morrow is a great setting for live jazz and classical music. The upcoming season includes performances by violinist Joshua Bell with pianist Sam Haywood, the Regina Carter Quartet, Emanuel Ax and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The singers of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program lend their voices to seasonal concerts, including a joyful holiday celebration. clayton.edu/spiveyhall
Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square | F A T D
This landmark theater presents establi shed and new plays, comedy and films in Marietta’s scenic Square district. Productions on tap include “Bow Wow Club,” “Super Loser” and for the holiday season, O. Henry’s sentimental favorite, “The Gift of the Magi 2.0.” The Summer Film Camp and Summer Performing Arts Camp introduce young people to the world of theatre and film. theatreinthesquare.net
Film
Atlanta Film Festival | A T D
Now in its 43rd year, ATLFF is one of only two dozen Academy- Award qualifying festivals in the country and also one of the largest and most prestigious, welcoming 28,000 movie lovers from around the world to screenings of hundreds of new independent, international, animated, documentary, and short films. atlantafilmfestival.com
Regal Tara Cinema | A T D
Beloved by movie buffs, the Tara presents four screens devoted exclusively to independent and limited-release films, including many British imports. regmovies.com/theaters
Plaza Theatre | A T D
A historic Midtown jewel, Atlanta’s oldest continually operating theatre mixes indie films, contemporary classics, shorts, documentaries and cult films, including regular showings of the ever popular “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” plazaatlanta.com
Visual Arts
Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center | F A T D
This influential gallery spotlights important local, national and international artists in addition to commissioning new works. The Center hosts lectures and events throughout the year, including the Contemporary Cocktails series and Contemporary Kids, a free interactive program that introduces kids to art and artists. atlantacontemporary.org
High Museum Of Art | F A T D
The High is renowned for its notable architecture, its extensive collection and large-scale exhibits by Warhol, Monet and others. Highlighting its upcoming exhibits is Yayoi Kusama’s acclaimed “Infinity Mirrors.” The first Friday of every month features drop-in art making, live performances and drinks, while Second Sundays include free admission and family-friendly programming. Summer art camps and monthly Toddler Thursdays let kids up to age 14 have fun discovering their inner artist. high.org
The Hudgens Center For Art & Learning | F A T D
Gwinnett County’s showcase for the visual arts, the Center presents exhibitions by masters such as Picasso, Rauschenberg and Miro, as well as new and local artists. The Kids Zone invites hand-on participation with big, bright exhibits that blend art, music and science. Classes and workshops are available for all ages, and the Passport Adventures in Art summer camp offers weekly sessions throughout the season. thehudgens.org
Jackson Fine Arts | F A T D
This Buckhead gallery specializes in contemporary photography by leading national and international artists; past exhibits have showcased works by Elliot Erwitt, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Vivian Maier, Michael Kenna, Alfred Eisenstadt and others. jacksonfineart.com
Museums & Special Attractions
Children’s Museum Of Atlanta | F
Atlanta’s only museum designed expressly for children up to age 8, presenting innovative programming that sparks imagination and inspires discovery through play. The Let Your Creativity Flow exhibit lets kids create a masterpiece on the Paint Wall, sculpt their wildest imaginings at the Sand Tables, work in mixed media in the Arts Studio, and bring down the house at On Stage CMA. childrensmuseumatlanta.org
Fernbank Museum Of Natural History | F A T D
Home to both Atlanta’s biggest movie screen and the world’s largest dinosaurs, Fernbank brings science to life. Here you can experience dinosaurs, live animals, cultural artifacts and hands-on science. Take the adventure outside as you explore 75 acres in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, and explore the amazing world in 2D and 3D at Fernbank’s Giant Screen Theater. On the second Friday of each month, Fernbank After Dark offers exhibitions, live music, full bars, tapas menus, giant-screen films, and all-new science demonstrations. fernbankmuseum.org
Gone With The Wind Museum | A T
Now in a new home at Marietta’s historic Brumby Hall, this museum is the only location in the world to display an original costume worn by Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara: the stunning silk bengaline gown worn in the honeymoon scene. Other items include Margaret Mitchell’s personal copies of the novel, items from the production of the film, and a display dedicated to the film’s African-American cast members. gwtwmarietta.com
Interactive Neighborhood For Kids | F
Visitors to INK find a kid-sized village designed for immersive, hands-on play. Youngsters choose roles to play in real-world situations, created on a small scale with authentic props and costumes that make it all come to life. In addition, there are arts and crafts, play spaces, a music room, a library and the Born Learning Trail for outside exploration. inkfun.org
Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta | F
A dream come true for kids age 3 through 10 (and fun for parents, too), this 35,000-square-foot space sparks kids’ creativity with some education along the way. Peek behind the scenes in the LEGO factory, pick up building tips from the Master Builder Academy, ride a chariot at Kingdom Quest, or become part of the story at the 4D Cinema. Everyone will be intrigued by MINILAND, a miniature Atlanta complete with tiny versions of the Fox Theatre, Stone Mountain and Centennial Olympic Park that even light up at night. legolanddiscoverycenter.com/atlanta
Southeastern Railway Museum | F A
The colorful story of the railroad in Atlanta and North Georgia history is on display here at Georgia’s official transportation history museum. Located next to an active rail line, the 35-acre museum is home to more than 90 pieces of historic railroad equipment, many of which are open for guests to climb aboard and explore. Buy a ticket to ride on a train made up of vintage cabooses or try a cab ride and join the engineer as he operates the train around the property. train-museum.org
Jazz, Pop and Comedy Venues
Amphitheatres
• Cellairis Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta livenation.com
• State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park, Atlanta chastainseries.com
• Verizon Amphitheatre, Atlanta vzwamp.com
• Fred Brown Amphitheater, Peachtree City amphitheater.org
• Southern Ground Amphitheater, Fayetteville southerngroundamp.com
• Wolf Creek Amphitheater, College Park wolfcreekamphitheater.com
Arenas
• Phillips Arena, Atlanta philipsarena.com
Theaters And Clubs
Pop/Rock
• Center Stage/The Loft/Vinyl, Atlanta centerstage-atlanta.com
• Coca-Cola Roxy, Atlanta cocacolaroxy.com
• Eddie’s Attic, Decatur eddiesattic.com
• Smith’s Olde Bar, Atlanta smithsoldebar.com
• The Tabernacle, Atlanta tabernacleatl.com
• Variety Playhouse, Atlanta variety-playhouse.com
Jazz and Blues
• Café 290, Sandy Springs cafe290atlanta.com
• St. James Live, Atlanta stjamesliveatl.com
• Blind Willie’s, Atlanta blindwilliesblues.com
Comedy
• Atlanta Comedy Theater, Norcross atlantacomedytheater.com
• Laughing Skull Lounge, Atlanta laughingskulllounge.com
• The Punchline, Atlanta punchline.com
Special Focus: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Where Science is Brought to Life
At Fernbank Museum of Natural History, science is brought to life through immersive programming and unmatched experiences encouraging a greater appreciation for our planet and its inhabitants. With award-winning exhibits inside and acres of adventure outside, Fernbank is a new way to museum. It’s always a good time to witness the iconic Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit featuring a prehistoric battle of epic proportions as Argentinosaurus, one of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth, is pursued by Giganotosaurus. As guests walk under these giants, they can spot Pterodaustro and Anhanguera scattered overhead.
Journeying into the great outdoors and into WildWoods, guests can experience an elevated boardwalk that winds through trees, offering breathtaking views of the natural world. This ADA-accessible walkway is suitable for all ages and abilities, and is highlighted by two nature-inspired tree pods offering bird’s-eye views of the woodlands below. Through WildWoods, visitors can access Fernbank Forest, the largest old-growth Piedmont forest in a major U.S. city at 65 acres. Be prepared to experience the sights and sounds of a majestic old-growth Piedmont forest including birds, small mammals, champion trees and more. This serene, dense, and almost magical oasis offers uninhibited views of its rare ecosystem, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. For more information, call 404-929-6300 or visit fernbankmuseum.org.
