2014 Atlanta Fall Theater Preview
Theater is a great addition to movies, sports and dining out in Atlanta. It can even be fun for those who don't usually consider themselves "theater people." Adults can dress up and have a night on the town and, in some cases, there are also incentives such as souvenirs or restaurant tie-ins to sweeten the deal. This fall, Atlanta theaters will offer an eclectic mix of reliable favorites, child-pleasing puppets and a hybrid of science fiction and fantasy for everyone else.
"The Phantom of the Opera"
The Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St. N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 881-2100
www.foxtheatre.org
Date: Oct. 22 – Nov. 2, 2014
See it again, or for the first time, but this time in Atlanta. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" is the quintessential stage show and it will be playing in Atlanta's preeminent theater, The Fox Theatre. Cameron Mackintosh's new production of "Phantom" is a perfect fit for the old world style of The Fox. Walking through the dimly lit hallways into a balcony seat is the ideal place to watch this show, even better to see it with brand new lighting, choreography and staging. This group of 52 performers has already sold out shows in the U.K., and now it's coming to Georgia.
"Bull Durham"
Alliance Theatre
1280 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 733-4650
www.alliancetheatre.org
Date: Sept. 3 – Oct. 5, 2014
Alliance Theatre is premiering "Bull Durham" this fall, a baseball-themed musical based on one of the most famous sports movies of all time. Today, both baseball and musical theater have waned in American popular culture, but this show celebrates all of their nostalgic glory. This is a romantic story of a player wishing he was in the big leagues in more ways than one. While sexual innuendo excludes the under-16 set, the Alliance Theatre is offering "T-shirt and Hat Nights" as a special incentive for mature patrons. The website also provides information on dinner-and-a-show promotional offers with TRACE restaurant as a bonus option.
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
Marietta Players in the Square
11 Whitlock Ave.
Marietta, GA 30064
(678) 224-8095
www.mariettaplayers.com
Date: September 18, 2014 to September 28, 2014
This little theater recently finished its very first season and will soon present its rendition of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." Despite their age, this company located in Marietta Square has already garnered 19 award nominations from the Metropolitan Atlanta Theater. Not to be confused with Atlanta's now defunct "Theatre in the Square," this Marietta version is an offshoot of Young Actor's Playhouse. They continue their excellent work with this tween-centered musical about the drama and intrigue that goes into "mid-pubescent" competition.
"The Old man and the Monkeys and Other Chinese Tales"
Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 873-3391
www.puppet.org
Date: Sept 24, 2014 – Oct 5, 2014
The Center for Puppetry Arts consistently offers the best family-friendly theater in town. "The Old Man and the Monkeys & Other Chinese Tales" is one that will entertain with colorful Chinese imagery. The puppeteers for this show will be touring from Portland, Oregon, but have already visited Atlanta to perform during the 1996 Olympic Games. These performers are world class practitioners using pole-puppetry techniques studied for decades. Like many of the Center's offerings, this production is comprised of many interlocking stories.
"The Devil, the Doctor, and My Dad"
7 Stages
1105 Euclid Ave NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
(404) 523-7647
www.7stages.org
Date: October 2, 2014 to October, 26, 2014
This world premiere of "The Doctor, The Devil, & My Dad" at 7 Stages is only typical as a show in Little Five Points, otherwise it will be a very unusual bag of tricks. According to the website, a four-member cast will take audiences on a reality-bending journey through "the wonders of the universe, the mysteries of the world beyond, and the teachings of [a] Muslim father." For theater patrons who want to know exactly what to expect, there will always be revival tours of "Phantom," but for something new and different, they should look up 7 Stages.
With a BFA in Digital Media, Sean Mills has worked for design firms with clients across the United States. He has worked as an illustrator and visual designer, and has shown paintings in juried exhibitions. He currently works as a studio artist and writer in Atlanta, Georgia. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
