2019 Arts & Entertainment Guide
Spotlighting the Best of Atlanta’s Cultural Scene
By Larry Anderson and Michelle Bourg
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 worldclass symphony, a plethora of museums and galleries, rowdy standup comedy and much, much more. Our guide to the city’s arts and entertainment world is your backstage pass to something that will excite and inspire everyone in your family.
Performing Arts
Alliance Theatre
The Tony Award-winning Alliance celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with the opening of its new performance space at the Woodruff Arts Center. This year’s productions include “Becoming Nancy,” “Maybe Happy Ending,” and “Sweat” on the Coca-Cola Stage. The familyfriendly series will include “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience,” and for the 30th year in a row, the Alliance is presenting the classic “A Christmas Carol.” alliancetheatre.org
Arts@Tech
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, recently renovated with larger seats, better accessibility, and a brighter feel. The 2019-20 Arts@Tech performance series showcases work created by artists from across the globe. arts.gatech.edu
Atlanta Ballet
One of the country’s premier dance companies, the Atlanta Ballet has brought the power and joy of dance to Atlanta for 90 years now. Tickets are on sale now for the Sept. 20-22 run of “Love Fear Loss.” Additionally, Atlanta’s holiday tradition, “The Nutcracker,” will continue in December. Other highlights include “The Swan Princess” as well as “Heart/Beat.” atlantaballet.com
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education
One of the top 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 the ins and outs of 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
Founded in 1979, this acclaimed company presents both fresh imaginings of the classics and new works for a modern audience. For its 40th season, it will stage “Frida,” followed by “Salome,” “Porgy and Bess” and, finally, “Madama Butterfly.” Individual tickets are available, as well as full subscriptions. atlantaopera.org
Aurora Theatre
Now in its 23rd 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 Spanish-language theatre, Teatro Aurora. Highlights for its upcoming season include “Children of Eden,” “The Roommate,” and the holiday favorite “Christmas Canteen.” auroratheatre.com
Broadway in Atlanta
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 “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Wicked,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “Miss Saigon,” and “Hamilton,” among others. atlanta.broadway.com
Center for Puppetry Arts
A family favorite, this year the Center will again be premiering “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” while the teens and adults can enjoy the edgier “The Ghastly Dreadfuls.” 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
Fox Theatre
This Midtown landmark, a former 1920s movie palace known for its Moorish and Egyptian architecture, hosts performances in old-school grandeur. Daily tours showcase the venue’s history and must-see details —from “Mighty Mo,” the world’s largest working Moller theatre 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
For its 60th season, the Marietta-based Georgia Ballet presents “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” as well as a holiday presentation of “The Nutcracker.” At The School of the Georgia Ballet, the company offers classes in four divisions: Primary Ballet Division, Recreational Division, Adult Open Division, and Pre-Professional Ballet Division. georgiaballet.org
Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square
This landmark theater presents established and new plays, comedy and films in Marietta’s historic Square district. Productions this fall include “In the Heights,” “La Gringa,” and “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
Rialto Center for the Arts
This 833-seat venue on the campus of Georgia State University is a premier spot for jazz, world music, theatre and dance. Among this season’s offerings are Red Baraat, “Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance” and the legendary Gladys Knight. rialto.gsu.org
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Emory University’s Schwartz Center features an 800-seat concert hall that hosts eclectic music, dance and theater performances. This year’s series includes “Fence” performed by Staibdance and “All Creatures Great and Small” performed by the Atlanta Master Chorale. arts.emory.edu
The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse
Shakespeare Tavern presents Shakespeare and other classics, mounted as closely as possible to the ways in which they were originally presented. Café-style food and drinks are available before each performance. Upcoming productions include “Julius Caesar,” “King Lear,” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” shakespearetavern.com
Spivey Hall
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 the Dover Quartet, the Escher String Quartet, the Bax & Chung Piano Duo as well as Christian Tezlaff and Lars Vogt on violin and piano, respectively. clayton.edu/spiveyhall
VISUAL ARTS
Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center
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
The High is renowned for its notable architecture, its extensive collection and large-scale exhibits by Warhol, Monet and others. Upcoming exhibits include “Of Origins and Belonging, Drawn from Atlanta,” and “Strange Light: The Photography of Clarence John Laughlin.” 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
Gwinnett County’s showcase for the visual arts, the Center has presented exhibitions by masters such as Picasso, Rauschenberg and Miro, as well as new and local artists. The Children’s Art 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 sessions throughout the season. thehudgens.org
Jackson Fine Art
This Buckhead gallery specializes in contemporary photography by leading national and international artists; past exhibits have showcased works by Elliot Erwitt, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Michael Kenna, Alfred Eisenstadt and many more. jacksonfineart.com
Living Walls Atlanta
Throughout Atlanta, this nonprofit organization has curated intentional, thought-provoking public art to drive social and economic change in the city’s urban spaces. Over 100 murals are scattered throughout the metro area from local, national and international artists. livingwallsatl.com
MUSEUMS AND SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Atlanta’s premier museum designed expressly for children offers 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 or work in mixed media in the Arts Studio. childrensmuseumatlanta.org
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Fernbank brings science to life. Here you can experience the prehistoric, view cultural artifacts and participate in hands-on science. Take the adventure outside as you explore 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 a changing variety of after-hours experiences, including exhibitions, live music, full bars, tapas and more. fernbankmuseum.org
Gone With the Wind Museum
Now in a new home at Marietta’s historic Brumby Hall, this museum is the only location known 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
Visitors to INK, located in Gainesville, find a kid-sized village designed for immersive, hands-on play. The younger crowd can choose roles to play in real-world situations, created on a small scale with authentic props and costumes that make the experience 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
A dream come true for kids, and fun for parents, too! 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
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 historic railroad equipment, and many pieces 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
Atlanta Comedy Theatre
Atlanta’s only upscale comedy club and venue, this intimate club in Norcross brings the best in standup to the ‘burbs, with an executive chef menu on Friday and Saturday nights and acts like Paul Mooney and Donnell Rawlings onstage. atlantacomedytheater.com
Laughing Skull Lounge
This Atlanta comedy staple located inside Midtown’s edgy Vortex Bar and Grill has brought international touring comedians but still features open mic nights for local talent. Upcoming acts include Emo Philips, Rachel Feinstein and Noah Gardenswartz. laughingskulllounge.com
The Punchline
The Punchline, Atlanta’s longest running and continuously operated comedy club opened in 1982, and has hosted legends including Eddie Murphy, Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Seinfeld. punchline.com
Dad’s Garage Theatre
Founded in 1995, Dad’s Garage Theatre is located in Atlanta’s historic Old Forth Ward neighborhood and is home to the best improv comedy the city has to offer. Offering shows Wednesday through Saturday almost every week of the year, the Garage is a great option for some late-night entertainment. dadsgarage.com
