Looking for something cultural to do this weekend and beyond? Here are Encore Atlanta’s recommendations (in alphabetical order). Pictured: The cast of “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” at the Alliance Theatre. From left: Shuler Hensley, Kylie Brown, Lucas Kavner, Emily Skinner and Justin Guarini. Photo by Greg Mooney.
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. WORLD PREMIERE. A rock ‘n’ blues mystery about two brothers and a bullet, two lovers and a leap, and the ghosts who know the truth. Music and lyrics by John Mellencamp, book by Stephen King, directed by Susan V. Booth, with musical direction by T Bone Burnett. Through May 13. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $45-$85. Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Tickets: alliancetheatre.org, 404.733.5000.
Les Misérables. The saga of Jean Valjean has been freshened with new staging and re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo for this 25th anniversary production. Presented by Broadway in Atlanta. April 24-29. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $25-$65. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E. Tickets here or at 800.745.3000.
Mendelssohn & Schubert. Conductor Michael Christie and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra pay homage to composers who were banned in Nazi Germany. The program features Symphony No. 8 by Schubert, Piano Concerto No. 1 by Mendelssohn and Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes by Weinberg. Behzod Abduraimov, who was born in Uzbekistan, is the guest soloist on piano. 8 p.m. April 26-28. $21-$79. Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. www.atlantasymphony.org. 404.733.4900. READ MORE.
Rua | Wülf. WORLD PREMIERE. The age-old story of Little Red Riding Hood goes wild in this site-specific staging by the creative folks from SAIAH, who make art their own way. Rua | Wülf is a migrating theatrical experience in which the audience follows the performers through the 12 acres of industrial Victorian architecture at the Goat Farm Arts Center in West Midtown. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Each night’s audience is limited to 50. Intermission includes tea and cookies, and you won’t get wet even if it rains. The show begins at dusk (8 p.m.), but audience members must arrive by 7:30 p.m. Through April 29. Wednesday-Sunday. $25. 1200 Foster St. Tickets here.
White Like Me: A Honky-Dory Puppet Show. THIS WEEKEND ONLY. Celebrated political satirist Paul Zaloom presents this comedy about the changing face of race in America. Zaloom uses toy theater puppetry and ventriloquism to explore hidden anxieties among the Caucasian majority, including his own. Note: For audiences 18 and older only. A talkback follows Friday’s show. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 5 p.m. Sunday. $25. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. N.W. Tickets here or at 404.873.3391.
A Wrinkle in Time. Theatrical Outfit stages this child-friendly sci-fi adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Medal-winning novel. It’s a dark and stormy night when awkward teenager Meg Murry takes a fantastical journey to rescue her scientist-father from the dark forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. Directed by the talented and inventive Justin Anderson (Synchronicity Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse). Through May 6. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $15-$35. The Balzer Theater at Herren’s, 84 Luckie St. N.W. Tickets here or at 877.725.8849. For discounts, visit poshdealz.com.
Yuja Wang Performs Rach III. Pianist Yuja Wang (“a superhuman keyboard player with artistic excellence second to none,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle), joins the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for the demanding Piano Concerto No. 3 by Rachmaninov. Also on the program: The Comedians by Kabalevsky and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C major. Roberto Abbado conducts. 8 p.m. tonight-Saturday. $21-$79. Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. www.atlantasymphony.org. 404.733.4900.
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Kathy Janich, Encore Atlanta’s managing editor, has been seeing, covering or working in the performing arts for most of her life. Please email: kathy@encoreatlanta.com.
