Atlanta’s arts scene is vibrant and exciting, and Encore Atlanta is proud to be a part of it. Here you’ll find news bits about and ruminations on The Scene.
2011 Suzi Nominees for Outstanding Featured Actor, Actress and Ensemble
The Suzi Awards are Atlanta’s answer to the Tonys. The nominees have been announced and voting has commenced. If you’d like to be able to vote for the winners or attend the Nov. 7, 2011 awards ceremony, click here to visit the Suzi Awards site.
Outstanding Featured Actress, Featured Actor and Ensemble (Play)
Outstanding Featured Actress, Featured Actor and Ensemble (Musical)
Stay tuned! There’s more to come ….
Monday, Sept. 19: Go Big or Go Home Cabaret to support Georgia Shakespeare
Dear Friend of Georgia Shakespeare,
The response to our plea this past Friday to help Save Georgia Shakespeare has been astounding. Words cannot express the gratitude that we feel for all of the support and encouragement that we have received from our patrons, our artists, our community.
As of yesterday, Monday, September 12, we have raised $54,030 of the $150,000 we must raise by September 23. Over 250 individuals have contributed so far. Thank you for your support!
On Friday, we received some wonderful news. An anonymous donor has come forward and pledged to donate the final 10% of the $150,000 needed once the community has helped us raise the first 90%. That means we are coming to you for $135,000 – and we are 40% of the way there!
But there is still work to do. We must raise a total of $150,000 by Friday, September 23 or Georgia Shakespeare will cease operations and shut its doors. Once we reach that critical benchmark, we will produce The Glass Menagerie and launch Phase Two of this campaign in which we will work with friends, corporations and foundations to raise an additional $350,000 by December 31 in order to continue to operate and meet our financial obligations through the end of 2011. We will then be on strong financial footing as we launch a fiscally sound and artistically vibrant 2012 season.
If you are among the generous donors who have already contributed, we cannot thank you enough. Please continue to share our message with everyone that you know and please consider joining us on Monday, September 19 for a special benefit performance (see below).
There are three specific things you can do to help us:
- First, please donate through PayPal here. Any gift that is meaningful to you is meaningful to us.
- Next, please share this message with all of your friends and family and tell them this is a company you care deeply about.
- Finally, join us for our just-announced “Go Big or Go Home” benefit cabaret, set for Monday night, September 19 at Atlanta’s Le Fais Do-Do. Click here for more details.
With my deepest thanks,
Richard Garner,
Producing Artistic Director
Have you heard about the Suzi Awards?
You don’t have to travel to New York to see quality theater. You may not be aware of it, but Atlanta has a theater scene that rivals many big cities. The number of professional theaters and young, start-up companies here has been attracting recent college graduates for decades. In fact, some of our theatrical institutions, like Dad’s Garage, began with a tight-knit band of recent grads who shared a common dream.
The Suzi Awards are Atlanta’s version of the Tonys. Part of their mission is to promote local theater and reward performances, designs and productions that are of the highest professional caliber. If you’ve never ventured to see anything outside of the Fox, their list of award-winners is a good place to start.
On Monday night, the list of Suzi Award nominees was read. The Alliance Theatre received a total of 30 nominations, Atlanta Lyric Theatre received 21 nods, Horizon Theatre was nominated 19 times, and Aurora Theatre was nominated 16 times. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting videos and stories about the nominees as well as how you can get involved with selecting the winners, who will be announced on Monday, Nov. 7 at the Conant Centre of Oglethorpe University.
Stay tuned …
Mission possible? Georgia Shakespeare has two weeks to raise $150,000
Georgia Shakespeare must raise $150,000 by Sept. 23 or it will cease operations and shut its doors. If the money is raised, it will finish its season with “The Glass Menagerie,” adapt a new business model and launch a second fund-raising campaign to raise $350,000 by the end of the year.
The 26-year-old theater, which has operated in the black for the past two years, is the most recent high-profile local arts organization to make a public plea for emergency cash. Actor’s Express Theatre asked its patrons for $200,000 in February.
To learn more, read the AJC story.
To make a donation, click here.
From elegant to edgy
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend? I beg to differ: Jewelry is a girl’s best friend. It isn’t always the diamond necklace and earring combo that makes a look, however, but something more abstract and creative. If you agree, you need to check out the Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show at the Defoor Centre on Nov. 4 and 5.
The ACJS displays the work of 25 internationally recognized artists in a variety of styles, materials and techniques. Since it was founded by Debra Lynn Gold and Leigh Griffin five years ago, the event has gained recognition as one of the nation’s finest art jewelry shows.
In addition to the exhibits, there will be special events on both days. On Friday, Nov. 4, there will be a meet-and-greet wine reception with the exhibiting artists from 6 to 9 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 5, there will be a happy hour and gift drawing from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is $7 at the door. For a list of the showcased artists and photos of their work, visit atlantacontemporaryjewelryshow.com.
For a more in-depth look at how jewelry is made, the Spruill Center for the Arts will be hosting a jewelry symposium during the last week in October that will offer workshops and lectures from selected artists. For more information, visit spruillarts.org.
Fox Theater honored by The League of Historic American Theatres
The League of Historic American Theatres presented the 2011 Outstanding Historic Theater Award to the Fox Theatre and managing non-profit organization Atlanta Landmarks. The award celebrates superior preservation, restoration and operation of theaters throughout North America.
The League also praised the Fox for its community outreach programs, AileyCamp and the Rising Stars Program, and commended the Fox on the quality of its programming, services, physical restoration, and ability to inspire excellence among other historic theaters.
Have a ball with the Atlanta Opera
On Sept. 17 the Atlanta Opera will kick off its 2011-2012 season with the Atlanta Opera Ball. The gala will take place at the St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead and include a cocktail hour, silent and live auctions, dinner, the music of the “American Flyers” and an opera performance. The event, which will honor Atlanta Opera Master Walter Huff and The Atlanta Opera Chorus, is a fundraiser for the Atlanta opera.
Patron tickets are on sale now for $1,500; and individual tickets will be available Aug. 1 for $300 per person.
7 Stages’ 32nd season comes bearing gifts
This season, Little Five Points’ 7 Stages theater is offering a Passport to Entertainment, which will allow ticket holders to attend any 7 Stages production whenever and as often as they would like.
Christmas also has come early for those who wish to see its holiday show, A Krampus Christmas. PoshDealz.com is offering discounted tickets as part of their Christmas in July promotion.
The 2011-2012 season:
- Sept. 22-Oct. 9: All Blues
- Nov. 10-20: Fat Boy
- Dec. 8-10: A Krampus Christmas
- Feb. 16-19: Lay of the Land
- March 8-25: Hidden Man
- April 19-May 13: Dracula
Rialto celebrates 95th year
The Rialto Center for the Arts is celebrating its 95th birthday this season with a year-long celebration featuring a unique mix of music and dance performed by local artists.
2011-2012 Rialto Center schedule:
October 22, 2011: A Night in Treme
October 30, 2011: Salon de Danse
November 5, 2011: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba Stars of Béla Fleck’s Africa Project
November 19, 2011: Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE: A Dance Company On Earth Together to the music of Stevie Wonder
December 3-4, 2011: Gala Holiday Concert Georgia State University School of Music
December 10, 2011: Holiday Jazz Vespers featuring the Atlanta Jazz Chorus
January 21, 2012: The Capitol Steps Musical and Political Satire Straight From Washington, D.C.
January 27-28, 2012: Off the Edge: Take the Leap!
February 11, 2012: The Music of Johnny Mercer and Friends featuring Joe Gransden and jazz vocalist Maria Howell with the Georgia State University Jazz Band
February 18, 2012: Mediterranean Meditations featuring Israel’s Yasmin Levy
February 25, 2012: McCoy Tyner with his Trio and special guest Joe Lovano
March 10, 2012: Trey McIntyre Project
March 17, 2012: Spanish Harlem Orchestra
March 24, 2012: Born in India, Raised in Spain: Flamenco’s Journey featuring Anoushka Shankar
March 31, 2012: Rialto Goes Back to the Bayou: New Voices in Zydeco and Cajun featuring Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole and Feufollet
April 13-15, 2012: Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro Georgia State University Opera Theatre and Symphony Orchestra
April 20, 2012: Dave Douglas with the Georgia State University Jazz Band
April 21, 2012: Two Cultures, One Voice: Israel Meets Africa
April 28, 2012: Poncho Sanchez and Terence Blanchard in Cubano Be! Cubano Bop! A Tribute to Chano Pozo & Dizzy Gillespie
Visit rialtocenter.org for more information.
Give yourself (or your friends) an early Christmas present
Throughout the month of July, some of Atlanta’s most prestigious arts organizations will be offering special ticket deals for December holiday shows.
The Christmas in July promotion will be offered exclusively through PoshDealz by Encore Atlanta. A different show will go on sale each week and some of the deals come bundled with restaurant gift cards.
Last week, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra released special tickets to their Dec. 1 concert of Handel’s Messiah (the deal comes with a $20 Fifth Group dining card, too!).
This week, 7 Stages will be offering a limited number of discounted tickets to their Krampus Christmas. And three more special offers will be announced this month.
To ensure you get the latest news on what’s available, sign up for the Encore newsletter on this website, on Encore Atlanta’s Facebook page or “like” PoshDealz’s Facebook page.
