REMEMBER THIS:
The Lesson of Jan Karski
Theatrical Outfit
through February 18, 2024

With all the daily news these days, it becomes harder to accept mottos such as “Never Again” for those of us who lived through WWII we may not have all reacted but we shall never erase the memories of brutal arrests, encampments, killings and how terrible things seem to be coming back into daily experience.

Jan Karski was a Polish diplomat who did everything he could to help his countrymen escape the evils which were in store for them. He was also in the resistance and acted as an intelligence officer. After the war he would up as a professor at Georgetown University where his stories live on to these days.

Clark Young and Derek Goldman crafted this incredible tale of Jan’s experiences through life, and this show is a co-production with The Breman Museum. It is a one-man show which is presented in great strength by Andrew Benator. The show is such a high energy one that you wonder how he can possibly pull it off on successive dates; but he does.

Think about those concentration camps and events such as KristallNacht, and when you see what is going on in Ukraine and Israel you start to wonder how humans can be the sort of species that can be so inhumane. This is one you need to see and to reflect upon. More info and tickets at TheatricalOutfit.org

The Radio Play Disaster
Lionheart Theatre
through February 4, 2024

The play by Don Zolidis deals with a self-imposed genius who runs a radio station and figures he knows how to pull off a real escapade by some aliens coming to town. Gregory Fitzgerald plays the boss, but he has some problems with an associate (Holli Majors) who isn’t buying.

Tanya Gilmer directs this opus dealing with an insane Battle of the Planets where anything that could go wrong certainly will do so. They’re just not making a bunch of happy campers as the mayor would confirm. With a cast of more than a dozen players, who come and go on their own course, the show runs about one hour. That’s one hour of total chaos.

But fear not, the lovely folks at Lionheart will see to it that you will get some goodies as they always do. More info and tickets at LionheartTheatre.org

La Bohème
Atlanta Opera

We know that Rent was adapted from Giacomo Puccini, but in actuality he adapted it from a novel by Henri Murger in the 1890s. Albeit may be sung in Italian, it really was sent in an artist’s garrett in Paris circa 1830. And by 1900 had been playing around the opera world including London and New York, etc.

Directed by Tomer Zvulun, the two male friends are Rodolfo (Long Long) and Marcello (Zachery Nelson). Schaunard (Jongwon Han), Alcindroro (Philip Kocorinos) also come and go onstage and in the local parks; while you dive into to the romance and health problems being dealt with by Musetta (Madison Leonard) and poor Mimi (Gabriella Reyes). Mimi lives downstairs but she’s got tragic illness which ends the only way it could.

One of the incredible assets of this production is that you don’t often see a standard opera brought to the stage with maybe more than 50 players at times. With great stage settings, costumes, props and voices that will resonate well beyond the four fairly short acts; this is one like Carmen in that it appeals to everybody, is a good one for introduciing young attendees to opera, and suitable for folks of all ethnicity and ages.

It closes January 28th, so if you sleep, you lose. Grab some seats and head for the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Full info and tickets at AtlantaOpera.org

Madeline’s Christmas
Horizon Theatre
through December 31, 2023

She’s back again! That adorable young gal from the book by Ludwig Bemelmans is hitting the stage in incredible performances brought to stage by Horizon with Atlanta Children’s Theatre.
This the 13th year this story has hit the boards to the total pleasure of kids from 5 to 95. Directed by Spring Mason they have two casts red and green, which take turn on stage.

Kenedi Deal is in each production as teacher, Miss Clavel, and Shanessa Sweeney comes on as the mother, Mrs. Murphy; while Allen Cox appears both as Monsieur Brun and the flying magician, Harsha on the flying carpets. You’ll know that even though you are in Paris, that if you can yell out Abracadabra at the right times, you can really score big.

If you think this is enough work for this local theatre, then you’ll want to also wish to check out an improvised holiday “movie” onstage, Y’allmark Christmas, in evening performances. This is a very different kind of play, created and directed by Topher Payne an Amber Nash. Playwright Payne is onstage as narrator who has to run with the cast as they come out with some weird responses. The grownups seem to really enjoy this one.

For more info and tickets just visit HorizonTheatre.com

A Christmas Carol
Alliance Theatre
through December 24, 2023

They’re Back! What would the holidaze be without that grumpy Scrooge (Andrew Benator) and that poor bookkeeper with the tiny son. You’ve seen the story on screen and stage and it’s usually pretty much the same; like the mean old boss, and the three ghosts who come to visit. This one has been adapted somewhat so that you feel the breadth of the population in London in those days and what was going on when the Luddite’s started to rise up.

Can a meanie change? You betcha….. but this one may be more for the older folks than for the very young kiddies, as they may get a little lost in what transpires in the play adapted from Charles Dickens by David H. Bell and with a large cast directed by Caitlin Hargraves. Some of the set has been used before and one of the ghosts returns as previously seen. But, the basic story remains as first written. It is never too late to make more proper choices as you travel life’s path.

Performed on a superb set and every seat with good views, it’s on the Coca-Cola Stage. On site parking available and easy to get to by car or Marta. Show runs about 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission. More info and tickets at AllianceTheatre.org

ECHO
Cirque du Soleil
through January 21, 2024

They’re back in town, performing again in their Grande Chapiteau downtown at Atlantic Station. If you’ve been a fan of Cirque du Soleil, then you know that the stories are always not quite what you would anticipate, and the acts are far better than any other performance you might watch.

This one is not your usual show. Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar has written and choreographed this epic show, with a creative team that has brought it to fruition. With a cast of dozens of characters the show is almost totally fully acrobatic. With world-class athletes working every act, and never a safety net in sight, it is a spur to your energy as you try to comprehend how they manage to do this.

The cast come from many different areas of Europe, Africa, Asia and even a few from North America. It’s one that Barnum & Bailey could never have dived into. And the set looks at first like a giant cube. But that’s the exterior and Rubik never could have imagined one like this.

You may have seen many a theatrical production; but you have never see one quite as captivating as this one. Easy to get do, plenty of parking and all seats with a really good view. For a great few hours with the kids, be they from 6 to 106, you’ll love it. For more info and tickets visit their website at cirquedusoleil.com/echo

Rigoletto
Atlanta Opera
through November 12, 2023

Giuseppi Verdi told folks that he thought Rigoletto was his best opus. And, if you attend the Atlanta Opera’s presentation of it; you’ll have no doubt as to his comments. The Opera’s artistic director, Tomer Zvulun directs this huge cast of players, starring George Gagnidze as Rigoletto; a role he has sung with great bravado in more than 100 venues around the world. Rigoletto’s daughter, Gilda, (Jasmine Habersham) is the object of his devotion in a way that doesn’t always work out so well. He may be overly-protective. C;est la vie!

With a principal ast of 12 players, the total number of players is many times that number with a huge live orchestra and more than 20 of the male voices of the Opera Chorus who appear onstage in the production. Not that thy all overpower the effect of the clowns. Like many deeply plotted shows, this one deals with human relationships and reactions. And there may be a silent suggestion that revenge, per se, if obtained by reaction, may not always be as satisfying as one may have hoped for. But, that’s life, . . . is it not?

The production is world class and closes mid-month. They are playing at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Cumberland. Leave some extra time to fight your way along 75, 285 and/or 400. Traffic is terrible week nights but eases on weekends. For sets and more info visit their website at AtlantaOpera.org

The PROM
Out Front Theatre
through November 11, 2023

Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin were entranced by the book that Chad had co-authored with Bob Martin, about a high school in Indiana that got into a load of aggravation over running a prom where they did not want and gay folks included.

A splendid cast of 18 players come forth as students and their families, all under the direction of Caty Bergmark, with superb singing and dancing through 18 explosive numbers. If you think about families you may know, or belong to, this one will really resonate with your senses; as so many people who are homophobic may also be not quite that bright. Think about it. Gay folks don’t hate others predicated upon their sexual preferences; whereas so many of them good old folks have a ton of trouble with people they can’t understand. Alas, our population is like the world at large. Those of us who have been around a lot know that the more you know people of different backgrounds, the less inclined you may be to kill them; . . . unless you want to go to war.

This is an exceptionally well done production at Out Front Theatre, and every seat in the house has great views. It may not be for the kiddies; but you will enjoy it fully. More info and tickets at OutFrontTheatre.com

GREAT COMET of 1812
HORIZON THEATRE
through November 26, 2023

This is the most incredible show you have seen. It is set in Mother Russia in early 19th century. There are wars going on, people are getting abused and love and desire are breaking through the clouds for so many. This one is especially moving when you watch the play evolve and think of the world we are living in these days. Reminds one of the old French saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

This show by Dave Malloy brings you into the heart and soul of the performers as the theatre has been put together as one of the grand salons of olden days, when the customers sat among the players, who performed all over the house. Heidi McKerley choreographed the show with her husband, Jeff, and also directed the cast of about 20 players.

What you are privileged to watch is not just a play. It is an opera consisting of 27 numbers, live musicians on stage, and using a wonderful inclusive set designed by Moriah and Isabel Curley-Clay. The two title characters are Natasha (Alexandria Joy) and Pierre (Daniel Burns) and every one of the players is spot-on.

The production runs about 2.5 hours with one intermission. But this is one where you will hope it keeps on going. Seating is quite different, so don’t sleep on this. There are some seats that are not where nor like those you may be used to. But this is one not to be missed. More info and tickets at HorizonTheatre.com. Guaranteed to be enjoyed; Nostrovia!

Fiddler on the Roof
City Springs Theatre
through October 22, 2023

Fiddler on the Roof hit the boards in NYC in the mid 60’s, as the musical set in the little Russian town of Anatevka circa 1905. It was based on a Yiddish story about Tevye the Dairyman and his family. The musical has been a top hit since the start. But, when we think of what is going on in this world today; maybe it isn’t such fiction.

Shuler Hensley is back in town to direct this one, and there is a cast of 30 players and even more in the production team. Jocob Fishel plays Tevye and his wife, Golde is played by Liza Jaine. The Yente is Courtenay Collins and the butcher Lazar Wolf is Thomas J. Cannon. And with a full orchestra under the baton of Miles Plant, this amazing cast dances, sings and works their way through the 16 memorable numbers.

The set is not the one your parents saw; but it works easily and moves the story along as expected. Everybody enjoys the production for who would not wish to be a rich man, with one staircase going up, another coming down, and a third one going nowhere, just for show?

East to get to at the great Byers Theatre with plenty of parking and accommodations. Show is a winner, so you may wish to get more info and tickets ASAP at CitySpringsTheatre.com