Deer Camp
Art Station Theatre
through June 25, 2023

David Thomas has the pleasure of directing this riotous show of the four old geezers who take an annual week off together, telling their wives they are staying at a hunting lodge. The four guys are Diesel (David Craven), Moose (Tony Hayes), Digger (Jeff LeCraw, and Dougski (Michael Strauss)

The story moves along with a bunch of musical numbers, mostly for the quartet. Doug Spartz is the composer and you’ll crack up with the lyrics with Patrick Hutchison on the keyboard. You may think it is like a barbershop quartet; but they’re more like a barroom quartet.

You will thoroughly enjoy this one, and want to hoist a glass in a salute to them. More info at ArtStation.org

The Humans
Theatrical Outfit
through June 25, 2023

This play by Stephen Karam won a Tony when it started off in NYC. And it is set in a situation of your family, or mine, or one you know getting together for a Thanksgiving event. Directed by Matt Torney, the cast of players is Lala Cochran, Susan Shalhoub Larkin, Maggie Larson, Rhyn McLemore and Tamil Periasamy.

They are meeting up in a flat where not everything works quite as one might wish; but this is in the big city and life has to go on. It’s a two story residence connected by the spiral staircase or for those with problems by the building’s outer elevator.

Just know this is not one for the kiddies, as you may agree at the finale that the OED should be inclined to change the definition of dysfunctional to “see family.” It’s a deeply provocative show running about 100 minutes without intermission, at the Balzer Theatre down on Luckie Street.

East to get to, plenty of nearby parking, and every seat has a good view. More info and tickets at TheatricalOutfit.org

Four Old Broads on the High Seas
Onstage Atlanta
through June 25, 2023

This is a laugh-a-minute show by Leslie Kimbell who brings together a ya-ya sisterhood group of four older ladies who book a cruise. If you’ve been on plenty of cruises you’ve met many of the characters. It is a hoot that makes one think that it is sort of The Golden Girls meet Agatha Christie.

Barry West directed this work with nine fine actors, you’ll revel in the con artist who tries to work these ladies and changes his ID every few minutes, as well as the drag performer and every member of the cast.

The show runs about 2 hours with one intermission, and while it is not one for the kiddies, it sure rings the bells for any of us with an AARP card. East to get to, free parking, good seats, and a wonderfully funny evening. More info at OnstageAtlanta.com

Hairspray
Fox Theatre
through June 4, 2023

Hairspray was about a chubby young lady from Baltimore who wants to get onto a TV competition. Most likely we don’t recall the tunes until we hear the first few bars again, and maybe we didn’t think how this show dealt with the days of segregation in Baltimore and elsewhere. I lived in Baltimore in the late 50’s and when they mention certain streets and areas so much pops up in what’s left of my mind. Of course, like Atlanta, Baltimore has been very much rebuilt; and like Atlanta, certain things which we might have thought had been erased from our society, still quietly lie under, yet to be fully eradicated. So this one really resonates with the audience.

Tracy Turnblad (Niki Metcalf) is the chubby young lass who wants to get on the local TV show hosted by Link Larkin (Skyler Shields). Tracy’s parents fear she will become the object of public embarrassment and they want to dissuade her from her dreams. Andrew Levitt is a hoot as her mother Edna, and Ralph Daniel is the somewhat wimpish father, Wilbur.

The story deals with two problems. One is the egocentric Velma (Addison Garner) who figures she must be crowned as Miss Baltimore, and she has the money and the contacts to ensure that. Maybe today she could have run for office. And another problem is racial division. Whites and blacks didn’t mix much in Baltimore in those days and the neighborhoods were pretty much segregated.

Matt Lenz directed this superb cast of more than 30 players, and the live orchestra is under the baton of Julius LaFlamme. The costumes and all the production values are a real hit. You will feel as it you are right there in the TV studio as the beat goes on. I guess the bottom line is that it just can’t get no better. Unless they had some Baltimore crab cakes

If you snooze, you lose; so get up and get going to the Fox Theatre. More info and tickets at FoxTheatre.org

Carmina Burana
Georgia Symphony Orchestra

Car Orff brought together this unusual orchestral story based on desires and tales of a bunch of old friars with some unusual wishes. It premiered in America about 1955 and is a most unusual piece, consisting of 25 movements and a playing time of about one hour.

It takes a lot of gusto to opt into staging this one. The GSO was there in full number and they were backed up by there Chorus, joined by the GSO Youth Symphony Chorus and The Atlanta Boy Choir; so there well over 200 performers on stage. Hats off to Timothy Verville, the GSO music director and conductor.

In addition to this massive opus, they started off the two performance presentation with a Claude Debussy piece and Brahm’s Academic Festival Overture. While they are now off for their summer break and traffic jams; they’ll be back on stage in October. The GSO does a splendid job with every concert and you can get plenty of info on the upcoming 2023-2024 season at their website georgiasymphony.org.

The Play that goes Wrong
Aurora Theatre
through June 18, 2023

This typical Brit Farce was written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer; who not-surprisingly are in the UK, and it has been playing to SRO houses there since it first hit the boards. So we should shout Hurrah for Heidi Cline McKerley who has stepped up to direct this opus where anything, or everything, which could go wrong seems to do so.

I can’t reveal much of the story line other than to let you know it’s about a murder being investigated at the Haversham Manor. Inspector Carter (Marcello Audino) gets the 911 call when Charles, the lord of the manor (Chris Hecks), is found dead on a chaise lounge. The butler, Perkins (Jeff McKerley) tries to get a little order into what’s happening; but that may not work out quite well. They’re hitting the stage with 5 more terrific characters each played by well known performers

Let’s just say that while this may not be for the kiddies, since they’ll not quite get what’s happening; but you won’t really get what’s about to occur. It is a non-stop riot that runs about 2 hours and keep everybody laughing and clapping. This an incredible job with great actors, marvelous sets and a lot of work carried off in grand style.

There is one guarantee: You will thoroughly enjoy this NYC quality production in Lawrenceville. Seats are going fast, so get yours when you visit their website at AuroraTheatre.com

Back in the Building
Strand Theatre
through May 21, 2023

This is the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Musical right here in Marietta, on tour from Las Vegas, and it is 100% true Vegas quality. You will be blown away by the onstage band, the back-up singers and the gents who play Elvis in real style, with the voice, the moves, and everything you recall from those olden days.

This totally exhilarating production closes this weekend and if you’re a kid who grew up in the days of Elvis, then you will ravish going back in time. The Strand is right on Marietta Square, easy to get to, parking available, every seat has good view and feel free to sing along.

This one really rocks! So if you snooze, you lose, so grab your seats at their website StrandTheatre.org

Peter and the StarCatcher
Stage Door Theatre
through May 28, 2023

Stage Door Players in Dunwoody has brought together a cast or ore than a dozen actors, including some young folks in this narrative directed by Lauren Morris. Some of us in our “later years” can well understand a youngster who doesn’t want to grow up. These may not turn out to be the Golden Years for some.

You will enjoy Sully Brown as Peter, and Alejandra Ruiz as Molly, and also many others who may not be exactly as you expected, like Bridget McCarthy who comes on as Black Stache. The cast work through the story with a lot of interaction and songs; and it’s one for kids from 8 to 88.

A pleasant evening out or Sunday matinee, with free parking, easy seating, and a friendly environment that’s easy to get to. More info and tickets at StageDoorTheatre.org

Significant Others
Atlanta Ballet
through May 14, 2023

If you can get blown away by really grand ballet, then you have to get over to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center this weekend.

The company presents three different ballets, each done to perfection. The first is a World Premiere of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Carnivale, choreographed by Claudia Schreier. After the act is over and the intermission ends, you will be watching a duet choreographed by Ben Stevenson with Airi Igarashi and Erik Kim as the dancers to the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff with Western-Li Summerton at the keys of the onstage piano.

And after the second intermission you will be totally fascinated by the Wofrld Premiere of Significant Others choreographed by Remi Wortmeyer and set to the music of Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, with a full cast of 21 performing. It is superb.

More info and tickets just go to AtlantaBallet.com

‘Til Beth Do Us Part
Center Stage North
through May 20, 2023

This is another laugh-fest by the Jones/Hope/Wooten trio who always strike the right chords ether it be with Golden Girls or others. Jerry Jobe has brought togther a really good cast for this one, where we start off meeting Suzannah Hayden (Julie Turner) and hubby Gibby (Kevin Kreissl) She’s deep into working with a candy company, while he’s trying to make better sense of his own life and 27 years of marital bliss. Things go from bad to worse when you see how as her assistant, Beth (Tenia Taylor) is actually running their lives, not just following a simple “todo” list. Beth has a plan of her own and moving up the corporate ladder is her fashion.

Timother Resh plays Gibby’s buddy Hank, and Hank’s ex is played by Julie Resh and/or Amy Tallmadge. The CEO of the candy company is coming to dinner at the Hayden Home, as that’s how Beth waned to create a scene where she might be the object of attention more than Suzannah.

The set is a basic Moliere scene where one door opens another closes, and nobody ever seems to add up the odds. The show is a pure delight that runs about an hour and 45 minutes, with easy views for all seats, free parking and goodies for sale. More info at CenterStageNorth.com