Looking for something cultural to do in the next week or so? Here’s our select list of recommendations. Pictured: The cast of “Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight” (bottom from left) Veronika Duerr and Joe Sykes; (top row, from left) Tony Larkin, Erin Considine and Holly Stevenson. Photo by Katie Causey)
RECOMMENDED
Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight. LAST CHANCE | CLOSES SUNDAY. Weird Sisters Theatre Project finishes its run of a piece about the 18th-century scientific genius described by her lover Voltaire as “A great man whose only fault was being a woman.” On this night in her afterlife, Emilie is back and determined to answer the question that eluded her in life: Love or philosophy? Head or heart? Atlanta-bred, San Francisco-based playwright Lauren Gunderson tells a fast, funny and sexy rediscovery of one of history’s most intriguing women. With Veronika Duerr as Emilie and Joe Sykes as Voltaire. “Has the fleetness and flexibility of a good Tom Stoppard play in the vein of Arcadia or Indian Ink” (Andrew Alexander, ArtsATL.com); An “elegantly rendered staging. … A heady concept made heartfelt by its leading lady (Bert Osborne, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). $15. 8 tonight-Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Details, tickets HERE or at 678.226.6222. Learn what makes Joe Sykes act in this Encore SNAPSHOT.
Every Tongue Confess. LAST CHANCE | CLOSES SUNDAY. The summer heat is rising and flames are flying in this fantastical whodunit at Horizon Theatre. The staging isn’t perfect, but you’ll see theater in all its bold and imperfect glory. As the citizens of Boligee, Ala., try to find out who’s behind a string of church fires, the gossip simmers and secrets start to slip out. The script — by poet-playwright Marcus Gardley, a young writer with a national reputation — is rooted in history and magic realism. $20-$30 plus tax. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 3 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday; and 5 p.m. Sunday. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.584.7450. Read more about Minka Wiltz, who plays Mother Sister, in this Encore SNAPSHOT.
Les Misérables. THROUGH SEPT. 8. Aurora Theatre‘s 18th season begins with a bang, and its largest undertaking ever, the epic sung-through musical about an antihero named Jean Valjean and revolution in 19th-century France. Justin Anderson directs a cast of 28. The critics: “A victory for the ambitious Aurora Theatre” (Wendell Brock, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution); “Stunning” (Kenny Norton, AtlantaTheaterFans.com). $30-$40. Through Sept. 8. Call ahead! Tickets remain only for the Aug. 28, 30-31 and Sept. 4-7 shows. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 128 East Pike St., Lawrenceville. Free, attached parking deck at 153 Crogan St. Details, tickets HERE or at 678.226.6222. Read more about Kevin Harry, who plays Javert, in this Encore SNAPSHOT. (Pictured: Bryant Smith (left) as Valjean and Kevin Harry as Javert. Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus)
STILL PLAYING
Gorilla Theater. THROUGH SEPT. 20. Fast. Funny. Furry. Members of Dad’s Garage‘s improv ensemble compete head-to-head to determine the dominant director, with the audience’s help. The winner takes a snuggly stuffed gorilla home for the week. Adult content. This is the displaced company’s first show in its temporary home at 7 Stages. $13-$20. 10:30 p.m Fridays. 1105 Euclid Ave. N.E. Details, tickets HERE (you save if you buy online; tickets not available at door) or at 404.523.3141.
Rumpelstiltskin. THROUGH SEPT. 8. A reprise of this Center for Puppetry Arts original based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale about straw, spinning and a mysterious little man. Told with hand-crafted marionettes. Adapted by Bobby Box and Michael Haverty, two major names in puppetry in, and beyond, Atlanta. $16.50 non-members; $9.25 members. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday-Friday; 11 a.m. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. 1404 Spring St. N.W. (at 18th Street). Details, tickets HERE or at 404.873.3391.
LOOKING AHEAD
Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America. SEPT. 5-22. “A winning musical revue!” So said Variety in describing this show, the season opener at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. It celebrates songs — 29 of them — written and inspired by the celebrated troubadour, including “Rocky Mountain High,” “Annie’s Song,” “Calypso” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” The cast: Dolph Amick, Mary Nye Bennett, Chris Damiano, Scott DePoy and Jeremy Wood. $15-$39. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forest St., Roswell. Details HERE or at 770.641.1260.
Decatur Book Festival. AUG. 31-SEPT. 1. An arts and culture showcase — dubbed artDBF — joins the annual event with stories, ideas, performances, installations, films, music, artwork and photography alongside the usual book-related hubbub. Among those scheduled: the Alliance’s Theatre for the Very Young, Atlanta Opera, choreographer Nicole Livieratos, Serenbe Playhouse, 7 Stages, Synchronicity Theatre, the French-language Théâtre du Rêve, Theatrical Outfit and Wabi Sabi (dance). Free. Locations: Decatur Square, Decatur Library (Sycamore Street) and Decatur Recreation Center Dance Studio (also Sycamore Street). Details HERE or at 404.370.4100. (Pictured, at right, Wabi Sabi’s Jackie Nash. Photo: Jonah Hooper)
Harmony. SEPT. 6-OCT. 6. The writing team of Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman have found a home at the Alliance Theatre for their musical about the first sensational boy band: six talented young men in 1920s Germany. The Comedian Harmonists, as they were known, took the world by storm with their sophisticated harmonies and stage antics. They sold millions of records, starred in a dozen films and packed the houses of the most prestigious concert halls in the world — until Adolf Hitler came to power. $30-$75. 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. 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000. Discounts (Sept. 6, 8, 10, 12 preview performances only) at PoshDealz.com.
Venus in Fur. SEPT. 4-OCT. 6. David Ives’ Broadway hit opens the Actor’s Express season. The sexy — at times, kinky — comedy concerns a young actress late for an audition for a play based on a classic erotic novel. A steamy study of sex and power. The cast: Veronika Duerr (AE’s Becky Shaw, Emilie in Weird Sisters’ current Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight) and Out of Hand’s Adam Fristoe. David Crowe (last season’s Equus) directs. Director’s Rough Cut performance at 8 p.m. Sept. 5 (pay what you can); previews at 8 p.m. Sept. 5-6 ($15). Opens at 8 p.m. Sept. 7 ($40, includes post-show reception). Regularly $26-$45 plus fees (cheaper when purchased online). 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. 887 W. Marietta St. Note: The King Plow Arts Center parking lot is under construction. Alternate parking options HERE. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.607-SHOW.
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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. Full disclosure: She’s affiliated with Weird Sisters Theatre Project listed above. Please email: kathy@encoreatlanta.com.
