Season Announcements
Actor’s Express launches Virtual Downstage:
A Theatrical Online Experience
Actor’s Express is thrilled to launch Virtual Downstage: A Theatrical Online Experience. This Fall, we will have a slate of online programming including a new play reading, a weekly monologue series, and a one-woman show.
Artistic Director Freddie Ashley said, “As theatre companies across Atlanta and the nation continue to assess when we can return to live, in-person programming, we wanted to think about different kinds of work that can resonate with our audiences online. We have curated a slate of work that speaks to our current moment in thoughtful and varying ways.”
Hometown Boy
By Keiko Green
Directed by Donya K. Washington
October 4, 2020, • 7:00 PM
James hasn’t been back to his rural Georgia hometown in over a decade, but reluctantly returns to check in on his father, whose behavior has become worryingly erratic. And since the South has a way of holding onto secrets, he soon stumbles into a life he thought he had left behind as a child. That stench in the air isn’t just his father’s decaying house, but the rotten core of long-buried secrets teeming just under the surface and ready to explode. Hometown Boy boldly tackles race, class and being an outsider in the Deep South.
Monologue Series
Features work by Quinn Xavier Hernandez, Amina S. McIntyre and Avery Sharpe Launches weekly beginning October 8, 2020; available free on Actor’s Express’s YouTube channel.
Actor’s Express commissioned three of Atlanta’s most dynamic and fiercely talented young playwrights to craft short-form solo performance pieces. We asked them to consider themes of hope for the future and encouraged them to interpret these ideas as broadly or as narrowly as they like. The result is three compelling pieces from the next generation of Atlanta writers:
you are going to do amazing things
By Quinn Xavier Hernandez
A young father records a message for the newborn daughter whom he’s given up for adoption and whom he may never know.
Toward Joy
By Amina S. McIntyre
A woman on the cusp of a restorative journey ponders the need for joy in the world right now.
Spongebob Spectrum Pineapple People
By Avery Sharpe
What do a trip to Mellow Mushroom, drunk-watching “Lovecraft Country” and a certain sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea have in common? You’re about to find out!
Neat
By Charlayne Woodard
Directed by Eric J. Little
November 11-25, 2020
Celebrated playwright Charlayne Woodard lovingly crafts the story of her cherished Aunt Neat, a woman whose simplicity, love, energy and tenderness made a profound impact. What begins as a nostalgic personal remembrance blossoms into a magical and compelling story of embracing womanhood, Blackness and the myriad changes of life itself. This tour-de-force solo play is as inspiring as it is hopeful.
An Actor’s Express Holiday Surprise!
December (Holiday) 2020
We’re cooking up a fun December surprise for everyone...stay tuned to see how we’re going to ring in the holiday season at Actor’s Express!
TICKETS GO ON SALE SOON!
Hometown Boy and the Monologue Series are both free online events. Ticket information for Neat and An Actor’s Express Holiday Surprise will available in the coming weeks.
For questions and more info, email tickets@actorsexpress.com.
The Atlanta Opera Announces Changes to its Season
Molly Blank Big Tent Series 2020-21
The Atlanta Opera has rolled out an imaginative new season beginning in the fall of 2020 along with an innovative new open-air venue to create a season of exceptional music and storytelling while prioritizing the health and safety of its audiences, performers and backstage personnel.
Drawing on the successful experimentation of the company’s critically acclaimed Discoveries series of smaller, seldom seen works performed in exciting venues, along with the company’s charge to “Reimagine Opera,” Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun has built a season that pairs well-known chamber operas with more experimental and often satirically-biting choices.
The reimagined 2020-21 season, and the Molly Blank Big Tent Series, will include six productions overall and opens in October with Leoncavallo’s iconic Pagliacci performed in repertory with the biting satire of The Kaiser of Atlantis. Each production will have nine performances, alternating nightly, for a total of 18 performances. Both productions will be performed at Oglethorpe University, on historic Anderson Field in Hermance Stadium, beginning Oct. 22 and closing on Nov. 14.
The Molly Blank Big Tent Series will be performed in a custom-made tent without walls, allowing fresh air to wash through the venue at all times while still providing audiences with protection from the weather. The venue will have capacity for up to 240 audience members. Mobile and flexible, the new venue will become a part of the immersive experience designed to draw audiences into the performances.
Safety protocols and procedures were developed by a Health & Safety Advisory Task Force of epidemiologists, public health specialists, and doctors assembled to advise the company on its health and safety protocols. The task force membership includes Dr. Carlos del Rio, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Emory University, and John Haupert, president and CEO of Atlanta’s Grady Health System and Vice Chair of Georgia’s Department of Public Health.
Pagliacci
Ruggero Leoncavallo
Oct 22, 24, 28, 30 – Nov 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 2020
The show must go on.
The circus performers in Pagliacci grapple with tragedy and question boldly whether they must perform despite heartbreak and ruin.
In The Atlanta Opera’s completely new fall production of Leoncavallo’s verismo classic, audiences enter a dystopian world where artists question their ability to perform, distance separates loved ones, and a play-within-a-play exposes a great betrayal.
Does art imitate life? Or does life imitate art?
The Kaiser of Atlantis
Viktor Ullmann
Oct 23, 25, 29, 31 – Nov 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 2020
The circus is abandoned, and artists are shells of their former selves. The dictator Emperor Overall reigns and declares total war. Death refuses to take another soul.
Viktor Ullman’s now critically acclaimed chamber opera The Kaiser of Atlantis was written in 1943 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Before his death at Auschwitz, Ullman gave the score to a colleague, and the opera remained unperformed until 1975.
A haunting allegory about redemption despite the worst of humanity, this new production of The Kaiser of Atlantis features The Atlanta Opera Company Players in a chilling satire built for our time.
BUY TICKETS HERE
CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TOMER ZVULUN
2021-22 Season
The original 2020-21 Mainstage and Discoveries series season will be moved in its entirety to 2021-22.
Going forward with Fall
One of the reasons we produce theatre is to build community as well as conversation and while this year has been eventful to say the least, we have a few fun surprises for our 2020-21 Theatre Season of Character that we’ve been dying to tell you!
One of our productions planned for the fall has to be postponed in order to produce safely and well BUT we have three special events lined up to continue safe and fun arts experiences!
Here’s what you need to know:
Dogfight ➡️ Postponed TBD
*NEW* A Cabaret on the Green featuring the cast of Dogfight ADDED 10/10
*NEW* Comedy of Errors ADDED 10/23 – 10/25 *On the Green!
Alice in Wonderland Jr. is STILL ON for 11/13 – 11/15
*NEW* We’re All Chocolate – A Stand-Up Comedy Special by Jessica It’s All Good (LIVE & DIGITAL option) ADDED 11/22
If you already have tickets to Dogfight, they will automatically be transferred to new dates once announced. An Elm Street Staff or Board Member will call to confirm over the course of the next week.
Featuring the cast of Elm Street’s future production of Dogfight The Musical, enjoy an evening of musical theatre and more under the stars!
Before shipping out for the war in Vietnam, a group of US Marines have one last night in San Francisco and place bets on who can find the “ugliest” woman in town and bring her to their “Dogfight”. One marine, Birdlace, discovers a particular woman, Rose, who he convinces to join him for the “party” but experiences a feeling unknown to all trained military—empathy.
October 10th 7:30 PM
Take one pair of estranged twin sisters (both named Antiphola), and one pair of estranged twin servants (both named Dromio) – both pairs separated at sea at birth. Add a dash of mistaken identity, over-the-top slapstick, and throw them all into New Orleans during Halloween, and you have all the ingredients for theatrical chaos that is the Bard’s zaniest comedy!
October 23rd 7:00 PM
October 24th 7:00 PM
October 25th 7:00 PM
The ever-curious Alice’s journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit. Her adventures become increasingly stranger as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game! Join Alice in her journey as she discovers who she really was meant to be.
November 13th 7:30 PM
November 14th 7:30 PM
November 15th 2:30 PM
It’s difficult to talk about the tough stuff. But Jessica It’s All Good will have you laughing over all of it! We’re All Chocolate is a comedy show highlighting some fun and crazy stories from her life, while hitting certain topics surrounding race head on. She will have you rolling on the floor laughing (and with social distancing in-person OR from your own home digitally) there will be plenty of space to do that! So come out and safely support your local theatre and laugh! After all…We Are All Chocolate!
November 22nd 7:00 PM
Theatrical Outfit To Launch
DOWNTOWN DIALOGUES THIS FALL
In Updated 2020 – 2021 Season Plan
- Live Shows Returning In Spring Season, With Focus On Artist & Patron Safety
- Launch Of “Made In Atlanta” New Work Program That Develops Plays About Atlanta
- Return Of “Unexpected Play Festival” That Showcases New Plays
- Launch Of New Community Initiatives, Including “The Welcome Table”
Back on March 9, 2020, then incoming Artistic Director Matt Torney gathered some of Theatrical Outfit’s (TO) biggest supporters to reveal the plan for the 2020 - 2021 Season. The season was to bring together three key pillars: exciting mainstage productions, a new work program designed to develop plays by Atlantan playwrights, and a series of new community engagement initiatives. Sadly, after we realized the scale of COVID-19 and the impact that the virus would have on theatres across the country, we had to suspend live programming last March, and adjust our plans for the upcoming season to keep our staff, audiences and artists safe.
Throughout these past five months, TO has been at work to redefine what the 2020 – 2021 Season will look like, but through it all, one thing has remained – TO’s commitment to starting the conversations that matter. Artistic Director Matt Torney says, “We believe that theatre offers an essential place for dialogue in times of extreme disruption, and a space in which our community can celebrate, console, and most importantly, connect with one another. TO is committed to building programs that not only respond actively to the present crisis, but also serve as a long-term investment in our community, Atlanta artists, and our future as a Downtown theatre."
It is with that mission in mind that TO is excited to announce a brand-new lineup that embraces digital programming and includes: Downtown Dialogues, Made In Atlanta, The Welcome Table, The Unexpected Play Festival, and a return to the Mainstage this coming Spring 2021.
Launching at the end of September, TO is excited to announce Downtown Dialogues – a four-part series of digital readings each followed by a live video podcast hosted by arts journalist Gail O’Neill. Gail will talk to experts and special guests about the play and its themes, incorporating responses to questions from the audience. The four titles take a deep dive into important topics of today from equality to education to the environment, and all will be brought to life by Atlanta’s finest actors and directors for you to engage with from the comfort of your own home.
First will be the Tony Award nominated The Children by Lucy Kirkwood. Directed by Susan Booth, it is a taut environmental thriller about legacy, responsibility, and how to step up in the midst of a crisis. Next up we have FLEX by Candrice Jones. Directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and developed at the Humana 2020 Festival of New American Plays, this groundbreaking new work takes a hard look at the lives of an African American girls’ basketball team on and off the court. Third will see the critically acclaimed Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector make its Atlanta debut. Directed by January LaVoy, this immensely funny play explores how a parent governed charter school tries to respond to a health crisis. Rounding out the series is the New York hit Stew by Zora Howard. Directed by Ibi Owolabi, this family drama is set in the kitchen where Mama makes her famous stew and looks at three generations of African American women and the bonds and secrets that they share.
Torney says, “We asked ourselves - what are the plays that speak directly to this moment, that start unique conversations? How do we use digital technology to find new ways to connect, and bring great plays right into people’s living rooms? We have a great mix of plays that were big hits in New York and London, to brand new voices being heard in Atlanta for the first time.”
As we approach the holiday season, Theatrical Outfit is honored to host a special one-night event to benefit organizations that serve the downtown homeless community. The Welcome Table will raise awareness of the most vulnerable among us, shining a light on how the homeless community has been impacted by COVID while raising funds to support the wonderful organizations working to mitigate that impact. Stay tuned for more details.
As announced back in March, TO will be launching the Made In Atlanta new play program, but now we are taking advantage of the disruption to our mainstage season to devote more time and resources to developing new work. Torney says, “What better way to spend this time than focusing on the future, investing in great plays about Atlanta and helping to develop ideas and writers. Our hope is that we will find amazing plays to premiere in future seasons that will make a big impact both here in Atlanta and around the country.”
Made in Atlanta is a place-based program that aims to create a space in the heart of downtown Atlanta where artists can tell the stories of our City and the South. It will include three stages: commissioning brand new plays, developing scripts through workshops and readings, and most importantly, producing world premiere productions. Through these avenues, Theatrical Outfit is investing in powerful new voices and building national partnerships that will enrich the theatre and our community. TO is excited to announce its first weeklong workshop – We The Village by Dana Stringer. This rich new drama takes a look into the world of Atlanta in the 1990s and how two unlikely souls can form a friendship that stands the test of time. Stringer’s piece was presented as part of the 2020 Unexpected Play Festival and immediately caught the attention of Artistic Director Matt Torney - “It was a story that I had never heard before, was deeply rooted in Atlanta, with amazing characters and brilliant writing. I immediately knew that Dana was a playwright to watch, and when we decided to launch Made in Atlanta, she was one of my first phone calls.”
Later in 2020 we will announce our first round of Commissions and additional script development workshops. We will also expand on the Fall’s Downtown Dialogues podcast series to produce special episodes that will take you behind the scenes of the play development process and introduce you to some of the exciting artists who will be working with us this year.
In January, TO is excited to once again partner with the Working Title Playwrights (WTP) for the Unexpected Play Festival. This month-long festival celebrates brand new work by local playwrights, all being heard for the first time. Each digital reading will be immediately followed by a discussion led by WTP Artistic Director Amber Bradshaw in which the audience will offer essential feedback that will help the playwright take the work to the next level. At TO, January will bring a new year, new work, and brand-new conversations that matter.
Then in Spring 2021, we plan to return to the mainstage with three smart, authentic, and vital live productions. As previously announced, Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed & adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, will take to the stage rearranging TO in a bold new way. The season will also see a powerful partnership with Theatre J in Washington DC on a co-production of Fires In The Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities by Anna Deavere Smith. A third title will be announced shortly.
Torney says, “We had two requirements for our return to live performances - the plays had to be excellent, and the productions had to be safe for both the artists and the audiences. We are reworking every aspect of how we produce to factor in the latest safety guidelines and will be re-evaluating constantly as we get new information. With flexible ticketing, filmed performances, and a highly trained front of house staff, we are confident that we can offer excellent theatre that embraces the challenges of COVID-19 and offers both flexibility and security to our patrons.”
Theatrical Outfit is excited to welcome you all back … digitally at first, then in person when it is safe … for another year of smart, authentic, and vital storytelling that starts the conversations that matter.
FOR THE 2020 – 2021 SEASON, THEATRICAL OUTFIT HAS 4 PACKAGES:
TO ULTIMATE VIP PACKAGE
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Guaranteed spot in each Downtown Dialogues Reading + access to VIP PreShow Talks with Matt Torney (4 readings + 4 preshow conversations)
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Guaranteed spot in each UAnexpected Play Festival Reading + access to VIP Pre Show Talks with Matt Torney (4 readings + 4 preshow conversations)
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1 Ticket to Each of the 3 Mainstage Plays in Spring 2021
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Unlimited Parking Vouchers for use at LAZ Parking Garage (100 Luckie St NW)
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6 FREE Drink Tickets good at the TO Concessions Stand
Downtown Dialogues ONLY VIP PACKAGE
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Guaranteed spot in each Downtown Dialogues Reading + access to VIP Pre Show Talks with Matt Torney (4 readings + 4 preshow conversations)
Unexpected ONLY VIP PACKAGE
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Guaranteed spot in each Unexpected Play Festival Reading + access to VIP Pre Show Talks with Matt Torney (4 readings + 4 preshow conversations)
3 Mainstage Play ONLY VIP PACKAGE
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1 Ticket to Each of the 3 Mainstage Plays in Spring 2021
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3 FREE Drink Tickets good at the TO Concessions Stand
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3 FREE Parking Vouchers for use at LAZ Parking Garage (100 Luckie St NW)
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Unlimited $5 Parking Vouchers for use at LAZ Parking Garage (100 Luckie St NW)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PACKAGE
If you have any questions about your package options, please reach out to Box Office directly:
678-528-1500 /
Synchronicity Theatre presents
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
ON THE SCREEN
Stream the performance online for $10!
IN THE THEATRE
Watch the performance at the theatre!
Watch every show this season from the comfort of home! When you subscribe, you receive a link to digitally stream one performance of each production in our 2020-2021 season — at a time that is convenient for you! You will also receive a 20% discount on “In the Theatre” tickets, where you’ll get reserved seating and be able to check out performances in person in our beautiful theatre on Peachtree Street!
September 30 - November 8, 2020
4 weeks. 4 women. 4 stories. 4x4 is told through four different one-woman shows created by Atlanta artists. Whether you decide to watch via our “In the Theatre” ticket option, where you'll join a salon audience at the theatre for a live performance, or you decide to watch the show at home via our “On the Screen” ticket option, these plays will show you the power of theatre.
Week 1: Backstage and Other Stories Virtual Run: October 5 - 25
A New Play Written and Performed by Terry Burrell Direction and Musical Direction by S. Renee Clark
Live Performances: October 7 - 11 Virtual Run: October 12 - 25
Written and Performed by
Sherry Jo Ward
Live Performances: October 14 - 18 Virtual Run: October 19 - November 1
A New Play Written and Performed by Lucy Smith Directed by Rachel May
Live Performances: October 21 - 25 Virtual Run: October 26 - November 8
A New Play by Danielle Deadwyler
Preview: March 11, 2021
March 12 - April 4, 2021
A New Play by Lee Nowell
What if Hunter S. Thompson told Thelma and Louise to take a vacation? Odd Couple college roommates Kathleen and Steph reunite to ring in their 40th birthdays. They head for Florida with completely different objectives in mind. Steph wants to drink too much and end up in bed with a Blue Angels pilot, and Kathleen wants a quiet girls’ weekend to figure out how to meet the love of her life. When they happen upon Jason, a Blue Angels pilot, and Brian, a mild mannered grad student, things start to heat up. If the universe gives you exactly what you want for your 40th birthday, what do you do then?
Preview: June 3, 2021
June 4 - 27, 2021
Adapted by Lydia R. Diamond
From the novel by Toni Morrison
Join us in honoring Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison in Synchronicity Theatre’s production of THE BLUEST EYE. Adapted for the stage by Lydia R. Diamond, this is the powerful story of Pecola Breedlove, an African-American girl who believes that all the obstacles in her life could be overcome if she just had blue eyes. Gripping, thoughtful, and stunning, THE BLUEST EYE offers a poignant experience for audience members familiar and unfamiliar with this classic novel.
December 11, 2020 - January 3, 2021
Book & Lyrics by Willie Reale
Music by Robert Reale
Based on the Books by Arnold Lobel
Back by popular demand! Frog and Toad hop from the page to the stage in this whimsical and irresistible retelling of Arnold Lobel’s A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD. This version of the Tony-nominated musical follows two great friends — the cheerful, popular Frog, and the grumpy Toad — through all of their fun-filled escapades! Part vaudeville, part magic, and all charm, this audience favorite tells a story of friendship that endures every season.
January 29 - February 21, 2021
Adapted by Michael J. Bobbitt and John L. Cornelius
Based on the Book by Patricia McKissack
Music and Lyrics by John L. Cornelius
Springtime has arrived in South Carolina and 10 year-old Mirandy is preparing for her town’s big cakewalk. After a bitter loss to her rival, Orlinda, the year before, Mirandy is determined to do whatever it takes to win the coveted first place prize. When Mirandy learns about the legend of Brother Wind, she decides to capture the playful spirit to serve as her dancing partner in the cakewalk — and celebrate what it truly means to be free.
The Legacy Theatre presents
Hello dear friends!
How about a round of applause?! The Legacy Theater just completed it’s 15th season! We are taking a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of this past year as the Legacy successfully moved its spring and summer productions to our beautiful Lawn. We are so thankful to our supporters for coming along beside us on this once in a lifetime journey. Can you believe we are one of the only theaters to have remained open during this unprecedented time? We could not have done it without you.
We are now revving up for our exciting 16th Season! At the start of this process, we had hoped that COVID cases were going to steadily decline, but they continue to rise, so we believe it is in the best interest of everyone for the Legacy to innovate once again. We have decided to produce an INTERMISSION SERIES until the theater can come back to full capacity. We are ecstatic to announce that your first INTERMISSION SERIES event will be an evening of John Denver and other great storytellers with Broadway’s Chase Peacock, whom we know you remember from our recent production of Daddy Long Legs and many other shows in Atlanta. This event will be produced September 18th-27th. The second event in your INTERMISSION SERIES will be a “Legacy Holiday Special” starring Legacy’s Bethany Hayes Smith as well as guest appearances from favorite Legacy Ladies. You may even be entertained by two adorable little boys (our kids!) This runs November 27th-December 6th. The third event stars a Legacy favorite, CJ Williams of Smokey Joe’s Café, singing “Motown Love”. It will run February 12th-21st.
We will resume our 16th season as soon as we possibly can with five outstanding productions. If we can start in the spring with Andrews Sister: Sisters of Swing or Newsies this summer, we will! From there we will continue to bring you the five show season.
Sincerely,
Mark Smith
The Legacy Theatre
404-895-1473
The Legacy Theatre | www.thelegacytheatre.org
John Denver & Other Great Storytellers
Legacy is ecstatic to secure Broadway artist, Chase Peacock, to sing the music of John Denver and other great storytellers. This will replace the originally schedule Almost Heaven. This evening includes hits such as "Sunshine on my Shoulders", "Annie's Song", and "Rocky Mountain High". It will also include stories from many of his contemporaries including Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, and Gordon Lightfoot.
September 18th-27th, 2020
About Chase
Chase Peacock is THRILLED to be back at The Legacy Theatre, where he started his professional career many years ago in High School Musical and more recently in Daddy Long Legs. He appeared in the original company of Green Day's American Idiot on Broadway, and the First National Tour of High School Musical. Some Regional credits include the Papermill Playhouse, the North Carolina Theatre, Berkeley Rep, and The FreeFall Theatre. Locally, he was seen at the Serenbe Playhouse in Titanic, Evita, The Little Mermaid, and Miss Saigon (Suzi Bass Award). The Atlanta Lyric Theatre in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Million Dollar Quartet, Catch Me If You Can, West Side Story, and Damn Yankees. Chase is a composer, and writes musicals with his writing partner Jessica De Maria. Keep up with his work at www.ChaseandJessica.com.
CLICK HERE (OR ON THE IMAGE ABOVE) TO HEAR CHASE PERFORM JOHN DENVER'S "ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH"
A Legacy Holiday Special
A Legacy Holiday Special is an evening of holiday songs, stories and laughter brought starring Legacy's co-owner and executive producer, Bethany Smith & friends! This evening is sure to delight audiences and put you in the holiday spirit.
Motown Love
An evening of Motown & Classic hits performed by Legacy favorite, CJ Williams! You may remember CJ from Smoky Joe's Cafe and Lend Me a Tenor. Enjoy CJ serenade you with a mix of upbeat entertainment as well as rich ballads!
And We're Announcing Our Post-Intermission Season:
City Springs Theatre Company
www.CitySpringsTheatre.com 404-477-4365
In response to the current pandemic, City Springs Theatre, Atlanta’s home for professional musical theatre, announces a reimagined lineup for its 2020-21 season, which will now feature the Broadway Concert Series--four streamed concerts, originally created by Shane DeLancey and arranged by Billy Payne, to replace the two previously announced Fall 2020 dates at the Byers Theatre. Give Our Regards to Broadway, Broadway in Revue, Sentimental Journey featuring trumpeter Joe Gransden, and Mistletoe Magic featuring pianist Joe Alterman and presented in partnership with Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival, will air consecutively in September, October, November and December. Current subscribers will be provided private access to stream all four concerts, filmed live at the Byers Theatre and in partnership with the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, at no additional cost. Producers Circle members will receive complimentary gift bags with wine delivered personally to their residence. VIP ticket holders and Producers Circle members will receive exclusive access to concert after-parties on ZOOM with the cast and creative team of each show! Single ticket access is available for $35 by calling 404-477-4365 or visit www.CitySpringsTheatre.com for more information.
GIVE OUR REGARDS TO BROADWAY (streaming September 24, 25, & 26) Directed by Tony Award-winner Shuler Hensley, City Springs Theatre showcases the bright lights and shining stars of the Broadway stage in a musical celebration featuring dozens of classic hits from the shows you know and love—Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, The King and I, Kiss Me Kate, A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady, Chicago, 42ndStreet, Sweet Charity, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Jesus Christ Superstar, Follies, On the Town, and Annie are just a few of the titles from which we reminisce our return to the theatre. With vocal music direction by Ben Bryant and featuring the City Springs Theatre Orchestra and Singers, this will be a performance that only City Springs Theatre can deliver in the safety and comfort of your home!
BROADWAY IN REVUE (streaming October 22, 23, & 24) Directed by Broadway’s David Rossetti, City Springs Theatre rewinds the clock and takes us back to the jukebox jams that have reinvigorated and reimagined the Broadway stage. From such shows as Jersey Boys, Beautiful, Ain’t Too Proud, Mamma Mia, and Smokey Joe’s Café, this high-energy revue of pop hits will have you dancing in your living room to “Hound Dog,” “Get Ready,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Dancing Queen,” “One Fine Day,” “My Girl,” “I Feel The Earth Move,” “Sherry,” “Lay All Your Love on Me,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “Stand By Me,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” “On Broadway,” “Oh, What A Night (December 1963),” and many, many more! Featuring vocal music direction by Chris Brent Davis and featuring the City Springs Theatre Orchestra and Singers, you’ll be singing and dancing along with these pop charts in your cotton socks and blue suede shoes!
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY (streaming November 19, 20, & 21) Directed by Grammy-winner Kayce Grogan-Wallace. Set your heart at ease and renew old memories as Atlanta’s own big-band trumpeter Joe Gransden leads the City Springs Theatre Orchestra and Singers through a nostalgic trip down the memory lane of the great American songbook. Gershwin. Ellington. Berlin. Warren. Styne. The greats of American jazz standards when music was tuneful and lyrics were inspiring. With one click of a digital link, you’ll be stepping out of your bedroom and into your very own Cotton Club, where the musical stylings are cool and the jazz band is hot! Have a cocktail, sit back, and enjoy such memorable hits as “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend,” “I Got Rhythm,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Summertime,” “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head,” “Take the A-Train,” Lullaby of Broadway,” “One for My Baby (And One More For The Road),” and so many more. With vocal music direction by Christian Magby, this sentimental journey may be digital, but you’ll be reminded of a time when the groove was all vinyl!
MISTLETOE MAGIC (streaming December 17, 18, & 19) Directed by City Springs Resident Choreographer Cindy Mora Reiser. Celebrate the season as City Springs Theatre Company, The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival join together in this magical celebration of Holiday hits! Featuring pianist extraordinaire Joe Alterman and vocal music direction by Chris Brent Davis, the City Springs Theatre Orchestra and Singers help you celebrate at home for these holidays as we rock around the Christmas tree, spin the dreidel, and meet under the mistletoe. This festive revue of holiday classics features all the warmth and joy of the season, featuring some of our most beloved tunes written by Jewish composers: “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire),” “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Santa Baby,” “Silver Bells,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!” Oh, and let’s not forget Adam Sandler’s “Hannukah Song!” Light a fire, break out the hot chocolate, and enjoy this celebratory season revue with your friends at City Springs Theatre Company—all in the comfort of your pajamas!
Reservations for all four concerts will be automatically applied to current 2020-21 season subscribers’ accounts, and concert links will be emailed 48 hours prior to the airing of each concert. Should you wish to make changes to your subscription, you may do so by calling 404-477-4365.
The 2020-21 season will return live to the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center with Mamma Mia (March 12-21, 2021), Into the Woods (May 7-16, 2021), and West Side Story (July 9-18, 2021).
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the board and staff of City Springs Theatre, I want to thank you for your continued support of our company during this time. I have missed seeing you and sharing our stories with you. While streaming content is not our preferred method of connecting with you, I know you'll be impressed and entertained by the concert series we've assembled. Even in the toughest times, we will never sacrifice quality for you, our loyal patrons. I look forward to sharing these concerts online with you until we can all be together again in 2021 at the theatre. Your patronage, support, and understanding means the world to me. I can't wait to show what we have in store for you this season!
Most sincerely,
Brandt Blocker
Executive/Artistic Director
City Springs Theatre Company
ACT1 Theater announces an updated 2020-21 season!
In response to the pandemic, ACT1 Theater has re-worked its season for the rest of 2020 to focus on specialty productions that lend themselves to good social distancing, small casts, and the possibility of livestreaming or recorded subscription sales.
We appreciate your support through this difficult time, and hope to be able to entertain you again soon!
While we appreciate our patrons' concerns about our financial situation, we are an all-volunteer theater hosted by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church as a community outreach. We are in a good financial situation at this time. If you want to support the arts and ACT1 Theater, we encourage you to either support other local independent community theaters, or our host Alpharetta Presbyterian at pres.com to offset their operating costs to support our theater.
We've kept the ghost light on, and look forward to being together again!
Dear Friend,
We miss you at GET! As you know, the Covid-19 pandemic has not lessened here in Georgia, so we have new information for you on what's happening here.
We’re moving our season opening to January!
Unfortunately, the rising infection numbers make it unsafe for us to open our first show of the season as scheduled on August 27th. So, regrettably, we cannot perform the musical Bright Star for you at this time. We don’t see the possibility of producing a show in our November slot, either. We’re so sad that these are the decisions we have to make for the safety of our audiences, artists, and staff.
As difficult as it is to plan right now, we're still very optimistic about entertaining you when the time is right. The plan we currently have in place is to start the new season in January 2021, running through the summer with these three shows:
January 7-24, 2021: Bright Star by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell.
A newspaper editor in 1940s North Carolina sets out to find the true story of her difficult past in this homey musical that jumps back & forth in time. A heartwarming Appalachian story built around a gorgeous bluegrass score. This will be a modified version of Bright Star, the musical we were rehearsing when we had to close in March. Adjustments are being made for health and safety and will result in a pared-down concert-style show, allowing actors to remain a safe distance from each other.
February 18-March 7, 2021: Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones.
Based on a true story, this drama follows an Alabama librarian in her fight against censorship of a children’s book that appears to violate Jim Crow laws by showing a white bunny rabbit and a black bunny rabbit getting married. DC Metro Weekly says the play, “poses a benevolent challenge to lift up libraries and librarians.” Florida Studio Theatre artistic director Richard Hopkins says it’s “probably the best Southern play I’ve read in 10 or 20 years.”
April 1-18, 2021: The Pretty Pants Bandit by Chase Peacock and Jessica De Maria.
From housewife to hero! Marie Baker, her gang, and one infamous pair of guns took the country for a year-long ride that would make headlines--notoriously leaving the men she robbed with their pants down. Set in 1930s Miami, Marie’s story is a fun, thrilling adventure inspired by a true story. We’ve been developing this new musical for nearly a year and we can’t wait to share it with you! Check out the preview video below!
About tickets & subscriptions:
If you had a ticket to Bright Star in April, we will still honor that ticket in January. The box office will call you in November to ask what date you'd like to attend. If you can't attend Bright Star in January, we would be so grateful if you would allow us to convert your ticket purchase to a donation to help keep us afloat until we can start producing shows again. If you prefer that we refund your original Bright Star tickets, we are happy to do so. Please email msaville@get.org with your preference.
If you would like to subscribe to all three plays for the season, with guaranteed seating and free exchange privileges, please watch your mailbox in September for information about how to do that. We'd love to have you with us!
What we know about seating for 2021:
Due to social-distancing protocols, we will be blocking off many of the seats in the auditorium. Using both the balcony and main floor, we will go from an original capacity of 600 to a new capacity of less than 200 seats available for each performance.
After our season ticket subscriber renewal is complete this fall, we will open up the remaining seats for individual ticket buyers. Groups living in the same household (such as married couples or parents with children) may be seated together. Each "pod" of seats will have a minimum of six feet of separation on all sides. We'll send you an announcement by email and social media when tickets go on sale!
What we DO have to offer you between now and January:
We are busy here creating online entertainment for both adults and children, so you’ll see more information on that coming out shortly. We’re very grateful to have received some dedicated funding from Fulton County to produce online content, so we are beginning production on that very soon!
Currently available on our Vimeo channel is the one-man play Oh Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?, created and performed by John Maxwell, who you loved in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This show is available for free, with donations gratefully accepted. Click here to watch Oh Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write.
We will also be making our live productions available via online video platforms beginning in January. If you are not able to attend the theatre in person, you will have the option to purchase a digital ticket to watch the performance from home!
Please know that we are doing our best to plan around our current situation. Our plans may have to adjust at any time, depending on changing recommendations about public health. We will announce any changes via email, our website, our Facebook/Instagram/Twitter accounts, and by mail or phone call if we don’t have your email address.
We have so appreciated your support over the years and especially now during these very strange times. For sticking with us through all of this, we again send you our heartfelt thanks.
If you'd like to make a donation to help us through this tough time, you can sign up for automatic monthly payments or make a one-time gift by clicking here. Thank you!!
Watch the trailer for The Pretty Pants Bandit:
Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents
Tickets are on sale now for ALL SHOWS in 2020! Don't miss a minute of what Merely Players has to Presents!
The Alliance Theatre presents
As part of the Alliance's 2020/21 Season, we are producing HANDS UP in association with Spelman College. Across seven monologues written by seven Black playwrights, HANDS UP depicts the realities of Black America from the perspective of varying genders, sexual orientations, skin tones, and socioeconomic backgrounds in a culture of institutional profiling.
The collection includes:
Superiority Fantasy by Nathan James
Holes in My Identity by Nathan Yungerberg
They Shootin! Or I Ain’t Neva Scared… by Idris Goodwin
Dead of Night… The Execution of… by Nambi E. Kelley
Abortion by Nsangou Njikam
Walking Next to Michael Brown by Eric Micha Holmes
How I Feel by Dennis A. Allen II
ANNOUNCING Our 2020/2021 SEASON
WATCH OUR SEASON PREVIEW VIDEO HERE
Watch Season Promotion Video Here
This season, the Alliance is re-imagining how to gather, where to take the stage, and how a story comes to life. From drive-in movie style productions to socially-distanced shows on the Coca-Cola Stage and even a brand-new streaming platform, we are making meaningful, fun, and creative changes to serve our audiences. The new season reflects the Alliance’s continuing commitment to dynamic storytelling by and for a diverse group of people. The 52nd season includes six productions for adults, two for youth and families, and three productions for the Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young. The productions represent three important and timely themes: the need for joy, the need for dialogue, and the celebration of our heroes.
“Theatre continues to be a necessary town square for essential conversations and a balm for our souls” said Susan V. Booth, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director. “Even in a pandemic and in deep and necessary civic unrest, still we are human. Still we love, we grieve, we rage, and we commune with friends and family – okay, maybe via Zoom, but still. We navigate forward, equally informed by truth and hope, and always in need of joy, dialogue, and heroes.”
A SEASON IN THREE ACTS
ACT ONE: JOY
The season will begin in November with the world premiere, A Very Terry Christmas – a delightful one-woman holiday cabaret featuring Broadway star Terry Burrell (Ethel; Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous). The Alliance will then present a reimagined drive-in version of its annual production A Christmas Carol, staged for the first time as a live radio play. A cast of eight actors will play all the roles accompanied by a foley sound effects artist giving audiences a peek into the play-making magic. Projections and interactive moments will allow audience members the chance to connect with the story, performers, and each other in this innovative new staging.
Watch Act One Promo Video Here
ACT TWO: DIALOGUE
In February 2021 the Alliance will produce a new staging of The New Black Fest’s Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments. Produced in collaboration with Spelman College, HANDS UP depicts the realities of Black America from the perspective of varying genders, sexual orientations, skin tones, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Winner of the Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab, this production of Hands Up is co-directed by Spelman Professor Keith Arthur Bolden and Spelman Alumna and Alliance Spelman Fellow Alexis Woodard. The Alliance will give the world premiere of the 17th Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition winner, Data, in March 2021. Written by recent NYU Tisch graduate Matthew Libby, Data is a fast-paced drama for our technology-driven era that asks what’s happening behind the closed doors of Silicon Valley.
Watch Act Two Promo Video Here
ACT THREE: HEROES
In April 2021 the Alliance will produce the world premiere musical Accidental Heroes – The Real Life Adventures of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Featuring a book by Academy Award winner Marshall Brickman (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Jersey Boys), an original score by Academy and Grammy Award winner T Bone Burnett (Crazy Heart, Walk The Line) and direction by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Ain’t Too Proud, Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy), Accidental Heroes follows the extraordinary rise of Hollywood’s iconic Western stars. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are remembered as authentic American heroes, yet their paths to stardom were anything but straightforward. Then in June 2021, the Alliance will present Toni Stone, the “must-see play” (TheatreMania) by Lydia R. Diamond based on the true story of the first female athlete to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues. Toni Stone is a heartwarming and fascinating story of race, gender, and raw ambition. This production will be directed by the Alliance’s BOLD Artistic Director Fellow Tinashe Kajese-Bolden.
Watch Act Three Promo Video Here
THEATRE FOR FAMILIES
The Theatre for Young Audiences and Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young productions of the 2020/21 season will appear exclusively on streaming platforms. First, beginning in October 2020, the Alliance will stream a multimedia version of Sit-In by Atlanta's bestselling author, playwright, and Civil Rights Activist, Pearl Cleage (Blues for an Alabama Sky). Inspired by the award-winning picture book by Andrea Davis Pinkney with illustrations by Brian Pinkney, this new play for young audiences uses the lessons of the Civil Rights era to encourage inter-generational conversations and inspire the next generation of conscientious social activists. Beginning in January 2021, the Alliance will stream its wildly popular production of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. Written by Mo Willems and Deborah Wicks La Puma with direction by Leora Morris, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is a fun family musical with tail-shaking tunes, empowering messages of individuality, and classic Mo Willems humor. The productions for the Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young include streaming versions of In My Granny’s Garden, (Knock, Knock) the Sounds of Winter, and The Sounds of the West End.
ALLIANCE THEATRE ANYWHERE
In addition to the live productions of the 2020/21 season, the Alliance will launch a new streaming platform – Alliance Theatre Anywhere – to bring the best of the Alliance’s stages to the digital world. Streaming shows and exclusive content will be available on demand. Annual members will receive complementary access to the platform as part of their membership benefits. Non-members can enjoy access to select free and paid content.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS FOR THE ALLIANCE THEATRE ARE ON SALE NOW
Members enjoy 12 months of world-class theatre, as well as a variety of benefits including members-only events, a welcome gift, discounts, flexibility, and access to all streaming content. For more information, visit www.alliancetheatre.org/membership.
Special show packages, including a 3-play package, a 6-play package, and packages for families, are also available by visiting www.alliancetheatre.org/membership. Show packages start at $50.