Into the Woods
City Springs Theatre
through July 18, 2021

Whether you recall seeing Sondheim’s opus on screen or on stage, you will recall the principal melody which shows up in several numbers as well as Agony, and maybe a couple more. The production at City Springs Theatre under the direction of Kayce Grogan-Wallace is a true Broadway quality; with a fine set and props, costumes, and great cast as well as a full orchestra in the pit under the baton of Chris Brent Davis.

While the show is allegedly for viewers from 5 to 95, it really seems to relate more to the older kids with the AARP cards. They will get the morals squirreled away in the story line and lyrics. We figure out at a certain age that not every good deed results in great appreciation and pleasure; but that as you go through life, you need to be careful what you wish for.

But, you will meet up with Cinderella (Leigh Ellen Jones), Rapunzel (Rayven Bailey) and Jack (Haden Rider) as they deal with the good and evil in the woods. The witch (Terry Burrell) is bent on imposing her will upon all and she is truly one to be avoided when possible. The stories also include one of a poor chap who seeks to sell his cow, Milky White (Davon Farmer) for a few pounds rather than beans. Milky is an udder delight on stage.

The show runs a little more than 2½ hours, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinee. Valet and garage parking onsite, and every seat has good view of production. More info and tickets at CitySpringsTheatre.com

Calder-Picasso Exhibit
High Museum
through September 19, 2021

The High Museum is currently hosting a very thought provoking exhibit of works by Alexander Calder and Pablo Picasso. Calder is best known for his metal mobile works and wire sculptures while most of Picasso’s works are his modernistic paintings, many of which you will recognize instantly. This exhibit, was organized by Ann Dumas from The Houston Museum of Fine Art and has come to Atlanta from the Musée National Picasso in Paris, and is a Must See for everyone of any age. The kiddies seem to enjoy it as much as the AARP crowd.

The show occupies several galleries on the second floor of the High, and you may also visit other areas while there. There are online specifications relating to tickets, Covid requirements, and times. So you should first look into the website which has all the info at High.org There is garage parking available although if you are able to grab Marta, it could be an easy way, considering local traffic.

These artists may have been from the same time periods but they came from very different backgrounds and actually were never real buddies. It is said they may have actually met fewer than 6 times, albeit they both passed in the mid 1970s.

Cash / Carter Tribute
Aurora Theatre
through July 3, 2021

A couple of local shining stars have taken to the stage in a cabaret style performance of a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter. Chase Peacock walks the line as Cash while Maggie Salley wows the house as Carter. These two both play instruments as well as sing, and they tell the story of the lives of the amazing duo; from the days they met up at the Grand Ole Opry to their final days.

Backed up by a stellar trio consisting of Nick Edelstein on guitar, Otis Gould on the drums and Jordan Thomas on Bass; the company moves through many famous numbers, each of which is handled by everyone on stage without any score in front of them. They come off as the real thing; and the audience just wants to clap along, stamp their feet and sing along; any of which is certainly acceptable.

The Aurora observes pretty strict Covid safety systems, so prepare that your temperature will be taken to gain entry, and everyone in the house is required to wear a mask. Notwithstanding the aggravations of the Covid stuff, it is an evening of really great entertainment; and may be a long time before this couple gets back onstage here; as they are heading off to The Big Apple to work their way onto the Broadway stage as quickly as they can. We wish them great success.

This is a Don’t Miss one-off kind of gig you will enjoy. More Info and tickets at AuroraTheatre.com

DOLLY REINVENTED
AURORA THEATRE

If you snooze you lose. This is a one-night cabaret featuring five great performers who belt out so many of Dolly’s great hit numbers.

This is to take place on in the main stage at 8pm, this Friday, June 18th. Know that the Aurora sells all seats in socially distant pods, and all Covid precautions are diligently observed.

Seat is selling fast, so check them out at AuroraTheatre.com and enjoy!

Best of Broadway
Lyric Theater
through June 13, 2021

WOW! What an incredible amount of work by this local professional theatre company for only 4 nights. Sure hope they may find a way to extend the shows, as they are already SRO for each performance due to observing social distancing guidelines, which brings the house down to fewer than 150 happy patrons for each show.

The show is full tilt with a live band onstage, a cast of more than 24 players who sing and dance their ways into your hearts. They even bring to the stage a group of young dancers who thoroughly delight the crowd.

There is no story line, as this is done as a review featuring 22 memorable numbers from many of the great Broadway shows of more than 60 years. Directed by May Nye Bennett who actually takes to the stage in this one, the show is brilliantly choreographed by Tecia Chavez, Lauren Brooke Tatum and Kari Twyman. Spoiler: you will feel like singing along, but be mindful of your neighbors.

As of now there are fewer than a dozen seats left, but check in at their website for more info at AtlantaLyricTheatre.com

How great to see live folks on stage and under a roof. Maybe things are really getting better…..

DEARLY DEPARTED
Lionheart Theatre
through May 23, 2021

When the New York Daily News reviewed Dearly Departed they just had to opine that it was “drop dead funny.” And so it is. This is a riotous showcase with 13 great performers coming to you from somewhere down in Dixie. And if you look up the word “dysfunctional” in the Good Ole Boys Dictionary, I am pretty sure it says, “See family.”

The patriarch of the Turpin family cashes out after a libation and all hell starts to break loose. You know some of the family and friends; a son who is a real loser, a goofy sister, the local preacher man, and some neighbors who want to organize a meaningful funeral. But, how often would a window wish to have the slogan “Mean & Surly” on the tombstone of the dearly departed spouse?

Directed by Marla Krohn, the cast actually includes artistic director Tanya Caldwell, and a dozen other fine actors who pour their hearts into this hilarious show. It may not be for some Bible thumpers, or those who may have lost a dear one recently; but to the rest of us who are sick of watching the news each day; this is a terrific alternative. Two hours of non-stop humor, incredible goodies to nosh on, free parking and appropriate Covid cautions in force. It is a MUST SEE.

Show times are 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. More info at LionHeartTheatre.org

MAMMA MIA!

What a treat! You know the story is based on a collection of songs from ABBA, and the show is like Cats or Phantom. It will always come back, and always draw a great crowd of lovers who can’t get enough of it. And this is why we take off our hats and salute the City Springs Theatre Company for having the guts and the ability to bring it to the stage in these awful times.

Such a great amount of work with a large cast directed by Kristine Reese and Billy Tighe, with great dance numbers choreographed by Cindy Mora Reiser. Alas, the show could not be done at the usual indoor theater, so they put this all togeher to hit the boards at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre (formerly the Verizon). And with strictly enforced Covid safety procedures, they played to an audience of more than 1,500 grateful viewers; who could watch the performance live on stage as well as video projected to large image screens adjacent to the stage.

Sad to say the show ran for only three performances, but as we may feel badly for the short run; we can also feel grateful that they got it done so well. The tavern owner, Donna (Kristine Reese) has a daughter, Sophie (Cecilia Trippiedi) who is about to be wed and she wants her dad to give her away. But, as you know, she hasn’t a clue who her father might be; so she invites all three, Sam (Benjamin H. Moore), Bill (Jeff Brooks) and Harry (Thanos Skouteris) to come to the island so maybe she’ll get to meet her dad.

The show runs through more than 20 numbers, every one of which makes folks want to stand, swing, clap and sing along; and that’s expected. This is a truly Broadway class theatre company; and if you missed this one just know that come September they will be back indoors at the Byer Theater in Sandy Springs. The Sound of Music opens September 10, and in next year they will bring us A Chorus Line in March, The Color Purple in May and West Side Story in July. So stay in touch with them at their website CitySpringsTheatre.com

The Threepenny Opera

and

The 3 Penny Carmen

Our Atlanta Opera is performing under the big top once again; this time at the Cobb Center for the Performing Arts right by 285 and 75. They are doing a couple of camped up versions of old time favorites; The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weill and Carmen by Georges Bizet.

The stage is at one end of the tent, and there is a runway through the center that brings the performers into closer view for all in the house. Carmen was written to be set in Saville back around 1820. While it didn’t get great reviews when it played in various countries back in the late 1800s; nobody knew that it was going to be universally enjoyed to this day. When you hear the music being played it resonates to your heart as you want to clap and sing along with Escamillo when he belts out the Toreador’s Song, or get up and start dancing by your chair when Sonia Olla struts out to you doing her Flamenco dances. Everything about the show is great, costumes, music, singing, dancing and a newer and quirkier story line. But it isn’t just about love sought, found, lost and buried. It is about bringing great pleasure to the eyes and ears of the audience. This production plays only two more times; Wednesday April 28 and Thursday May 6.

Running in repertory with other members of the Opera company is the story of Mack the Knife, written by Bertolt Brecht and adapted from The Beggar’s Opera set in London’s SOHO area. Tom Key comes stage center as the narrator and street performer but there are plenty more sots and ladies of the night, as Macheath (Jay Hunter Morris) works through his problems of finding love while the Bobby’s are on the lookout for him to send him off to the slammer. Of course, you’ll also want to sing along with Mack the Knife and about his pearly teeth. This one plays only 4 more times; Thursday April 29 and Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, May 5, 7 and 9.

Both shows are superb and a ton of work which deserves to be in a real auditorium. But, we all know that as soon as it makes sense to do so, that they shall once again take shelter. More info and tickets at AtlantaOpera.org

Disney On Ice
Dream Big

Infinite Energy Arena
through April 25, 2021

Mickey & Minnie and many more of the characters have come back to town, this time playing at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth. The show has a cast of more than forty performers who hit the ice in the usual Disneyesque costumes; many of whom you will immediately relate to. That includes princesses, ogres, fish, and so many more. Each of the characters come to the rink on skates and the moves are pretty much the same as you might have seen in the usual ballet numbers in grand skating competitions.

The presentation doesn’t have a specific story line, albeit you deduce some lines from the actions of the performers, as they all do their numbers to prerecorded scores. The venue has good view from all the seats, especially from the ones on the lower levels right by the skating rink. But, in the know-before-you-go category plan to take the kids and get there earlier than you are used to doing. Due to the Covid pandemic situation, the seating is set up akin to pods, with plenty of vacant seats around those you have. But, with the security and screening, one might feel it is easier to get into Hartsfield than to this facility.

And, when the show starts on time, the house goes dark and finding your way to seats can be a bit difficult. So if you have one of those little flashlights, or your cell phone has one, bring it with you.

The production runs about 2 hours with a 20 minute intermission; and the audience really enjoys it as they always do when Disney comes to entertain. Because this one is good for the youngsters, know the show time is 7pm, so plan to fight your way through some rush hour traffic if living more than a few miles away. More info and tickets at www.disneyonice.com