Don Quixote
Atlanta Opera

If you missed this one, then add it to your wish list in the chance that this Man of La Mancha may show up again with our wonderful Atlana Ballet. For we all wanted to shout out Bravas and Oles when each dance number concluded. If the orchestra, under the baton of Jonathan McPhee sounded as if they were playing at the Bolshoi, then you are spot on; for composer, Ludwig Minkus, had years of working in Moscow and his original hometown of Vienna.

This one has been around more than 150 years, and it is pretty obvious why. Quixote (Benjamin Kuefler) is a strange chap. He and his right-had man, Sancho (Dylan Clinard) are drawn in by all those ladies, especially Dulcinea (Jessica Assef). Yuri Possokhov choreoggraphed this wonderfully appealing production so that it came off as it may have been seen 150+ years ago back in Mother Russia.

And we should shout out a load SPACIBO to Maestro Gennadi Nedvigin . . . . . It don’t get no better than this . . .

SUMMER
Aurora Theatre
through April 9, 2023

Even if you don’t recall the Disco Days or Donna Summer, you will still wind up totally submerged into the musical bio-doc presentation. With direction and choreography by Patdro Harris and music under the baton of Ann-Carol Pence, a cast of more than 20 players will sing and dance their way into your mind.

You meet Donna and family as her life moves through relationships in Germany as well as USA, and she sings most of her numbers as the Diva Donna (Marliss Ameia) and Disco Donna (Desirė Gaston)

They work their story through two dozen numbers, including some like Love to Love you Baby, She Works Hard for the Money, and I Believe in Jesus. Playing to a full house it was almost as many of the folks wanted to jump up and sing and dance along; even at the end when the Disco lights came on.

It is a one-act presentation a bit less than 2 hours, withgreat seats, plenty of parking and easy to get to in downtown Laurenceville. Enjoy it. More info and tickets at AuroraTheatre.com

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT
City Springs Theatre
through March 26, 2023

This is incredible to think of all the creative work that will hit the boards here for just a fortnight. But, be assured that this production is as good as any you might see on Broadway or Shaftesbury Avenue. Directed by Shane Delancey the cast of more than 20 players work their way through two dozen inane numbers with great costumes, eye-catching choreography, and a fairly insane story of that idiot, King Arthur, (Googie Uterhardt) as he deals with loads of guys who are not yet dead, in the hunt for the grail and retaining the optimism that permits them to always look at the bright side of life; even when it totaslly sucks.

The bottom line is pretty much that it don’t get much better than this, and if you want a first class night out, just get your seats and enjoy a truly 100% wonderfully nutty show. Easy parking, good goodies, all seats with great views and then go spread the word to your friends and even family. Yes, this is the book and lyrics by Eric Idle and it ain’t lost a thing in almost 50 years. More info and tickets at CitySpringsTheatre.com

Candide
Atlanta Opera
through Mach 12, 2023

If you snooze, you lose; so hurry up and get your seats for Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. I’m pretty sure that when Voltaire penned this story he could not really have envisioned it hitting the boards in New York City in 1956.

This is a SUPERB performance with great costumes, sets, props, choreography and story-telling. The overture is the music you will always hear and immediately know what it is from. Dr. Pangloss is performed by Kevin Burdette, and he gets some stuff going with Cunegonde (Deanna Breiwick) and Candide (Jack Swanson); albeit there is a large cast and choral group and the orchestra in the pit is under the baton of James Lowe.

The bottom line is just that it just don’t get no better than this, and you will be absolutely thrilled.  They perform at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, so it’s easy to get to, plenty of garage parking, good seats throughout the house, and plenty of goodies. More info and last minte tickets at AtlantaOpera.org

DELI
Lionheart Theatre
through March 19, 2023

It’s often said that change is one of the two things that is always certain. And, you know that taxes don’t just vanish into thin air. Diane Dexter grew up in a small community where local merchants faught off the invasion of the chain stores. I can recall this as I was a grocery clerk for a small store as a teen-ager. But that job went away when the big chain store opened around the corder.

Diane’s tale is set at Al’s Deli, a Jewish kosher delicatessen in a similar situation. You will meet a really good cast of 10 players who work at, and some who just hang out at Al’s Deli. Directed by Jeremy King it’s like bringing 1990 back to life, regardless where one might live. You think this is a novel. No way, Jose. The next morning I drove over to a local jeweler in east Cobb to get a watch fixed. The sign on the door said they retired after serving east Cobb for 40 years; and the premises were emptied. Even the deli at the end of the string of shops had to close a few years ago.

What hasn’t changed in Norcross is that Lionheart still produces really well done shows, and always seems to please their audience. The shows and the goodies are always quite tasty. More info and tickets at LionheartTheatre.org