Bright Star
Georgia Ensemble Theatre
through April 16, 2023

This new work by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell has been playing to audiences who are swept away by the story; as well as the music and choreography. A cast of 18 players take on about 30+ roles as they back each other up in ensemble numbers.

The play tells a story about a not-so-nice activity that happened with the birth of a child in some hick town, and how a good ole boy mayor spells it out when he sings, A Man’s Gotta Do. But that’s only one of two dozen numbers with a five piece band onstage in this show where the action never really stops.

Anita Allen-Farley and James Donadio produced and directed this final opus and Thomas W. Jones, II put together the choreography while Christian Magby and LeRell Ross directed the score.

You do need to know that this one isn’t for the kiddies nor the Ms. Prims, as it deals with a pregnancy and birth, as well as adoption, alcoholism, the loss of an infant and the grief that flows for so many years.

Final Opus? Yes; in that Georgia Ensemble will be bringing their 2023-2024 offerings to the stage starting this fall, where the Lyric Theatre played for years, in east Cobb. But, I assure you it will be worth the extra few miles. Enjoy!

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

Women in Jeopardy
Georgia Ensemble Theatre
through March 5, 2023

Wendy MacLeod pulls you in to the lives of Mary (Parris Sarter), Jo (Valeka Jessica), and Liz (Stacy Melich). They are all now divorced and in their 40’s. Liz’s new guy is giving the other two the nervous tremors as they wonder who and what he really is. Is Jackson (Tony Larkin) really just a dentist? He certainly is one looking down in the mouth at ladies.

Directed by Topher Payne, the company suggests that this comedy could well be a merger of Sex and The City with Murder, She Wrote. Albeit ain’t that hilarious. But as Georgia Ensemble says, it’s a good time out for groups of girlfriends, couples in happy relationships, single moms who love true crime podcasts, and anyone trying to navigate divorce with a sense of humor. The humor among the patrons may be hard to discern, and it seems to be more of a Chick thing, provided the viewer has worked through her divorce and has finished therapy and can really get on with a life.

They recommend this one for adults only, and certainly not for young folks who’ve been traumatized by living through a parental split-up, or need not reflect upon what may have been going on in the sports arena where the parents sleep.

If you had tickets for the January run of Women in Jeopardy, which had to be moved to February, and have any questions about your new tickets, just reach out to their box office and they’ll take care of you. More info and tickets ow available at GET.org

Rumors
OnStage Atlanta
through February 19, 2023

This total farce by Neil Simon, might come across as real life, if we could cast some real politicians and screwballs from the daily news scene. Directed by DeWayne Morgan, a hard working cast of 10 players provide more than just a laugh a minute. They tickle your memory cells as they work through the story and you start to contemplate who is really who.

We’re invited to a big time 10th anniversary party for NYC Mayor Charlie Brock and his wife. But nothig seems to be going too smoothly. It seems that the kitchen staff has taken off, and Charlie has managed to shoot himself through an ear lobe. What’s a guest to do? Call the doctor? The neighbors? The police? Was he a victim; or was he trying to off himself? The four who are in the center of all the action and/or lack thereof are Ken (Dan Brown) and wife Chris (Amanda Cucher), and the other odd couple (oops Neil, we know you also penned that one) Claire (Jennifer Lee) and Lenny (Scott Starkweather).

Yes, the show does deal with discussion of suicide but it just the backbone of the plot. Nobody is going to start bleeding nor stop breathing. It is a non-stop riotous adventure into a grand story, done in a grand manner by this talented cast and crew. I can assure you that it is a lot more pleasant than almost anything you can tune into on that TV.

More info, and good seats available online at OnstageAtlanta.com.

Kim’s Convenience
Aurora Theatre
through February 19, 2023

How impressive that Ins Choi chose to craft this production about a Korean
man who started a business that he thought could be like a 7-12. Obviously,
his gas station could adopt the 7-11 logo. But who would have thought that as
this play in Lawrenceville would take place, within a day or two, a
local bodega was attacked by robbers with knives? The message we need to
get out and adhere to is that we are all allegedly human and should act
accordingly. Language, clothing, skin tones, are just things. Those you may
feel are below you in status probably want the same things for their families as
we do.

Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay did a great set and Rebecca Wear is directing the
cast of five players, with James Yi as store owner and Caroline Donica as his
daughter, Janet. The show runs in one act, about 90 minutes. Easy to get to,
free parking, and plenty of goodies. More info and tickets at
AuroraTheatre.com

Don Giovanni
Atlanta Opera
through January 29, 2023

Mozart was a composer who often drew upon his own personal identity, and
perhaps he did so in this opus which first played in Prague in 1787. Like
many shows it has been adapted a little many times, and for instance this is set
in America in the 1950s. Not sure if they are supposed to be Mafia or just
local goombas. But you will keep seeing the good guys vs. bad guys in the
streets and local bistro.

Directed by Kristine McIntyre, with the orchestra under the baton of Jan
Latham-Koenig the eight principal players get into one possibly improper
behavior after another. But, they are humans, and we all can err as we go
through our lives.

The opera runs about 3.5 hours including the 25 minute intermission. But,
fear not as Cobb Enerrgy Performing Arts Center is easy to get to, has a
reasobly priced garage, and comfortable seating.

Don Giovanni may not be the one to use to introduce the kiddies to Grand
Opera, but it is a typically fine production by our Atlanta Opera. More info
and tickets at AtlantaOpera.org