22
Sep

Balanchine Inspired

Balanchine Inspired
Atlanta Ballet

It was George Balanchine who brilliantly defined Dancing as Music Made Visible; and our ballet company did just that last week in appearances at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

With a huge cast of more than two dozen ballerinas and quite a few danseurs they take the stage which is quite stark in that there is no set, to speak of, other than the back screen and a little bit of video clips that are projected as an introduction to the dance.

The ballet starts with George Balanchine’s choreographed interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade. It was followed by their dance to Sum Stravinsky, by Igor Stravinsky and choreographed by Kiyon Ross. And after the intermission they wound up the action with their presentation of Philip Glass’ In Creases which is an abstract ballet set to the music of two pianos which were onstage, and choreographed by Justin Peck.

With the exception of the two pianists, the orchestra was not in the pit, although the caned music worked quite well. These are tough times and we salute the Atlanta Ballet and other arts groups who feel, as Tony Soprano would have said, to do what you gotta do……

Keep them in your thoughts and don’t miss out on their next offering.

19
Sep

Evelyn in Purgatory

Evelyn In Purgatory
OnStage Atlanta
through October 1, 2022

Playwright (and actor) Topher Payne has a knack for weaving incredible humor into utter confusion and/or pathos and he does so quite brilliantly in this opus.

We meet five NYC school teachers who have been cited for inappropriate behavior and face censure or possible termination of employment. But, being a governmental agency the process moves at a snail’s pace, and if you expect that everything will make sense then you’ve never tried to deal with a governmental agency.

Evelyn (Haley Lovitt) is a sort of Miss Prim who has just arrived at what one might consider the holding cell for the hearings. She’s dressed for Court and ready to fight, but the fight isn’t ready to begin. Lila (Celeste Campbell) is an older woman who is sitting idly by and knitting away. She’s been waiting quite a log time, and isn’t bent out of shape about it. After all; her pay and benefits continue without any problems and she doesn’t have to do anything other than sit idly by.

Paige Steadman plays the wise older teacher, Ms. Burke, who knows how to play the system and has been doing so for quite a while. She figures that so long as the system is insane to start with that the insanity might just as well favor her. The two men who also await hearings are Toby (Jeffrey Liu) who is a geek and wannabe screenwriter, and Coach Fred (Barry West) who’s been waiting to respond to charges that he abused some kids who had been bullying an other student. But, the Coach may also have some deeper issues, as do some of the other teachers.
Harsha Mahtini plays the assigned hearing agent, who is quite ice cold and difficult to start with. That is until some secrets of her own come to surface.

Perfectly cast and directed by Barbara Washington, this is a most unusual play. In the first act one may even miss a few lines because you will be laughing your head off so much. Then as the pathos starts to rise up in Act 2, you start to see each character somewhat differently.

The bottom line is that it is an unique offering, well staged on the studio stage and can make you glad you’re not involved with these folks on a daily basis, More info and tickets at OnStageAtlanta.com

14
Sep

Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman
Fox Theatre
through September 18, 2022

The story has been around for more than30 years, and you may have seen the original film more than once. It’s the story of a very wealthy financial manipulator who finds a need for some arm candy in Hollywood. Olivia Valli plays the street girl, Vivian, who has her own way of making money by pleasing clients.

The gentleman visitor is Edward Lewis, played by Adam Pascal; who is holed up at a post hotel in Los Angeles, while he works on working out a deal that will satisfy all. That isn’t an easy deal to make, either.

The cast or more than two dozen players, sing and dance their way through 20 numbers, some of which you will really relate to. For fulfilling one’s dreams isn’t always a piece of cake. After all this was in the 1980’s when Hollywood was not always Happy-Town. Especially for the less than elite when they visited the shops on Rodeo Drive.

The sets are magnificent and the action runs smoothly through 2 acts and an intermission. There is a live orchestra under the direction of Daniel Klintworth and Jerry Mitchell is the director as well as choreographer. It’s a treat for the eyes and ears and closes this weekend, so grab your seats when you can. More info and tickets at FoxTheatre.org

14
Sep

Smoke on the Mountain

Smoke on the Mountain
Strand Theatre
through September 18, 2022

The Sanders family has played around here quite a few times before. Smoke on the Mountain is one of the 3 shows in which the strumming, singing, Bible thumping Sanders gang is featured and they have become standards, sort of like Nutcracker or Christmas Carol.

The pastor is trying to manage his pulpit but has a little trouble keeping those Sanders singers in control. The setting is a church in NC. And the show is basically a cabaret offering of 20, or more, gospel offerings; spiced with a bit of confusion, some humor, and some good ensemble playing and singing. All of the music is live and fun to watch.

While the title is from Psalm 104:32, it may not be hip for many kids, nor for those who could be overly sensitive about portrayal of religion. It certainly isn’t aimed at the cultural and intellectual elite nor the agnostics among us. But, hey; this is Georgia. So get yourself some boiled peanuts and pork rinds and enjoy a couple of hours at the Strand this weekend..

Info and tickets at EarlSmithStrand.org

12
Sep

Anything Goes

Anything Goes
City Springs Theatre
through September 25, 2022

Anything Goes has been around for decades, and hasn’t lost a thing. This musical, with works by Cole Porter is total Broadway quality right here in Sandy Springs. Sara Edwards choreographed and directs this opus with a cast of more than 20 players, many of whom are Actors’ Equity.

The live band conducted by Miles Plant moves the story along through dozens of numbers, some of which you’ll recall from olden days, such as I Get a Kick Out of You, and Easy to Love. The set by Steven K. Mitchell works perfectly as a cruise ship, and you’ll want to ship out on it if you can.

This is another show by City Springs Theatre that is not just good. It is terrific! There is not one minute of losing your attention and every aspect is totally top quality. You’ll agree that they’re the top.

Easy to get to, plenty of garage parking, great seats and it just don’t get much better than this. More info and tickets at CitySpringsTheatre.com

12
Sep

Alabama Story

Alabama Story
Georgia Ensemble Theatre
through September 25, 2022

Come on back to the days of the 1950’s in the deep south. For those were times when Sears had colored fountains, Greyhound had colored waiting rooms, and a lot of the folks in “Bama were hard set against integration. It was deeply research by playwright Kenneth Jones, and the six players are directed by Thomas W. Jones, II.

This is a work of some fiction and plenty of history, for the head librarian in Montgomery (Shannon Eubanks) wants to promote reading with the youngsters and one of the books she brings in is a real one, The Rabbits’ Wedding, by Garth Williams. It is a story of a white rabbit and a black one who marry. And that certainly didn’t make it for grown ups in Bama in those days.

The cast includes Don Farrell, Jontavious Johnson, Emily Nedvidek, Justin Walker and Robert Wayne each of whom has their own feelings about banning books, which was being done more often than these days. The Alabama Senator was a staunch racist and therein lies the problem. But, eventually the librarian Emily Reed not only wins out, but is awarded some really positive press and accreditation.

After all, if books with plenty if expletives have shelf space, and political extremists do as well, what’s wrong with a couple of bunnies doing what they do best? The show runs Wednesdays to Sundays at Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Plenty of free parking and good view from all seats. More info and tickets at GET.org

12
Sep

Brass Splash

Georgia Symphony Orchestra
Brass Splash

The GSO brought some great numbers to the stage at Marietta Performing Arts Center on September 10 and 11th. They dubbed it a Brass Splash for somewhat obvious reasons, albeit there is a full symphony orchestra onstage.

They started with three short numbers, a couple of which you may not be familiar with. But, Maestro Timothy Verville always gives a brief intro before any piece. They opened with Giuseppe Verdi’s Overture to Nabucco, followed by Gustav Mahler’s Blumine from his Symphony No.1, then Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No.7.

And, if you though these three works blew the house down, you were in for one more extremely energetic work, being Symphony No.4 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It got your heart beat pounding.

GSO will also be playing at The Strand and other venues, so check them out at GeorgiaSymphony.org. They always please the house . . .