Looking for something cultural to do this weekend and beyond? Our select list of recommendations includes “Lombardi,” in its last weekend at Aurora Theatre, with Bart Hansard at coach Lombardi, Carolyn Cook as his wife, Marie, and Christopher Moses as reporter Michael McCormick, determined to tell their story. Photo by Chris Bartelski.
RECOMMENDED
The Geller Girls. THROUGH SUNDAY. This wonderful world premiere by Atlanta playwright Janece Shaffer is a delightful and layered story of dreams, whimsy and difficult decisions. Visit 1895 Atlanta during the Cotton States Exposition, where young sisters Rosalee and Louisa Geller find their hometown full of optimism and opportunity. The critics: “A wonderfully textured comedy about a world on the cusp of change, and a family that must find a new way to live and to love” (Wendell Brock, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). $30-$65. Schedule varies, details HERE. Woodruff Arts Center, Alliance mainstage, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000. See how The Geller Girls came to be in this ENCORE FEATURE.
Lombardi. THROUGH SUNDAY. The Super Bowl trophy is named for him, but few know the real story of iconic Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi — his inspirations, his passions and his ability to drive people to achieve what they never thought possible. Diligent young reporter Michael McCormick takes us inside the life of the giant in this Aurora Theatre production. Recent Suzi Award winner Justin Anderson directs. With Bart Hansard as Lombardi and Carolyn Cook as his equally formidable wife, Marie. $20-$30. 8 tonight-Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville. Free, covered and attached parking available in city of Lawrenceville deck at 153 Crogan St. Details, tickets HERE or at 678.226.6222. Ticket discounts at PoshDealz.com.
Roméo et Juliette. OPENS FRIDAY | THROUGH FEB. 15. Atlanta Ballet performs the Southeastern premiere of this cinematic piece choreographed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, seeking to redefine the story of Verona’s star-crossed lovers. The Sergei Prokofiev score is performed live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. $20-$120. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Additional performances at 2 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Feb. 13. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway. Details, tickets HERE.
Six Degrees of Separation. THROUGH SUNDAY. A young man named Paul artfully cons himself into the lives of New York’s bourgeois by claiming to know a wealthy couple’s children and that he’s the son of Sidney Poitier. How will this charade play out? Deliciously and provocatively in another fine staging from Actor’s Express. The large cast features Jason-Jamal Ligon as Paul and a devastatingly fine Mary Lynn Owen. The critics: “A smartly paced, witty, often thought-provoking, often scorchingly satiric show” (Andrew Alexander, ArtsATL.com); “[Mostly] a resounding success, briskly paced and smoothly orchestrated. It’s mainly left to Owen’s Ouisa to negotiate the play’s deepest concerns, and she does so with delicate skill” (Bert Osborne, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Contains nudity and adult content. $15-$40 plus fees (buy online and save). 8 tonight-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 887 W. Marietta St. Note: The new King Plow Arts Center parking lot is open; it’ll cost you $5 to park. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.607.SHOW.
LAST CHANCE
The Book of Mormon. THROUGH SUNDAY. Broadway in Atlanta presents the irreverent, multi-award-winning musical about two young Mormon missionaries dispatched to Uganda. The New York Times’ Ben Brantley calls it “the best musical of this century. From “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Avenue Q‘s Robert Lopez. $40-$145. 7:30 tonight; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE. For more on Book of Mormon, see this ENCORE FEATURE.
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
In Love and Warcraft. THROUGH Feb. 23. The 2013-14 winner of the prestigious, one-of-a-kind Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition. In this world premiere by Madhuri Shekar (University of Southern California), meet Evie, a master of relationships (other people’s relationships). How does she do it? By using the skills she learned becoming one of the best World of Warcraft players on the planet. $25-$33. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Hertz Stage, Alliance Theatre, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Tickets, details HERE or at 404.733.5000. Discount ticket-and-drink packages for Feb. 7, 14 and 21 at PoshDealz.com. Meet the playwright in this ENCORE FEATURE; for more on Kendeda Week happenings, see this ENCORE FEATURE.
Much Ado About Nothing. THROUGH MARCH 28. Part of the Romance Repertory at the New American Shakespeare Tavern (with Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew). Andrew Houchins is Benedick, with Erin Considine as Beatrice, in this famous battle of the sexes. British pub menu (and libations) available.$20. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 6:30 p.m. Sunday. 499 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.874.5299.
The Taming of the Shrew. THROUGH MARCH 29. Part of the Romance Repertory at the New American Shakespeare Tavern (with Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing). See who gets tamed when Matt Nitchie and Laura Cole face off as the battling Petruchio and Kate. British pub menu (and libations) available. $20. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 6:30 p.m. Sunday. 499 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.874.5299.
THIS WEEKEND ONLY
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. TONIGHT & SATURDAY. James Feddeck, assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, is on the podium for Schubert’s Symphony No. 3, Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Paganini’s first violin concerto. Augustin Hadelich solos on the latter. Of the violinist, The Washington Post said: “The essence of Hadelich’s playing is beauty.” $24-$75. 8 tonight; 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Atlanta Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000.
Newport Jazz Fest. SATURDAY ONLY. Israeli jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader Anat Cohen headlines the Newport Jazz Fest at Emory University, part of the Candler Concert Series. Cohen and a group of accomplished musicians will help celebrate the 60-year-history of the signature event, held annually in Newport, R.I. $50. 8 p.m. Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts on campus, 1700 North Decatur Road. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.727.5050. Ticket discounts at PoshDealz.com.
NOW PLAYING
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. THROUGH FEB. 20. This annual event, now in its 14th year, is an international cinematic exploration of Jewish life, culture and history. The 2014 lineup features 65 narrative and documentary films, including 12 shorts. Both contemporary and classic films are screened. The festival will close with the documentary Next Year Jerusalem, about eight Connecticut nursing home residents who make a transformative trip to the Holy Land. $11 (single tickets). At six venues including the Lefont Sandy Springs and Atlantic Station Stadium 16. Details at 866.214.2072 and www.ajff.org. Get a closer look in this ENCORE FEATURE.
The Best of Enemies. THROUGH FEB. 23. Based on the true story and book of the same name. Two very different people — a civil rights activist (Elisabeth Omilami) and a high-ranking KKK official (Bruce Evers) — come together for a common good. Enoch King and Lala Cochran complete the Theatrical Outfit cast. The New York Times called it “one of the most important historical plays about America to ever reach the stage.” $20-$35. Schedule varies, details HERE. Tickets HERE or at 877.725.8849. Ticket discounts at PoshDealz.com.
On Golden Pond. THROUGH FEB. 16. Theo Harness and Jackie Prucha (two Atlanta actors we don’t see enough of), play the bickering Thayers spending a summer at their lake home, facing the vagaries of age and a generation gap. $22-$27; $12 under age 12. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Stage Door Players, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Details HERE or at 770.396.1726. Tickets HERE.
Romeo and Juliet. THROUGH MARCH 30. Part of the Romance Repertory at the New American Shakespeare Tavern (with The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing). Nick Arapoglou makes his Tavern debut at Romeo, with Annie York Hester at Juliet. British pub menu (and libations) available. $20. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 6:30 p.m. Sunday. 499 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.874.5299. (Pictured, from left, Hester and Arapoglou)
LOOKING AHEAD
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. OPENS FEB. 13 | FIVE SHOWS ONLY. Thrill to new works by some of the world’s best choreographers and enjoy the famed New York-based company’s classic Revelations. Program varies from show to show, all worth the ticket price. $16.50-$62. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E. Details and tickets HERE. Follow a day in the life of an Ailey dancer in the ENCORE FEATURE.
Shakespeare’s R&J. OPENS FEB. 13 | THROUGH MARCH 2. In this adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, four prep school students, weary of routine, dig into a copy of Shakespeare’s tragedy and discover how it mirrors their own structured lives. Brian Clowdus of Serenbe Playhouse directs a cast featuring Chase Steven Anderson, Kyle Brumley, Brian Hatch and Justin Walker. The Joe Calarco play is at Fabrefaction Theatre Conservatory. $18-$22. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Additional show at 8 p.m. Feb. 17. 999 Brady Ave. Details, tickets HERE. Ticket discounts at PoshDealz.com.
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Kathy Janich, Encore Atlanta’s managing editor, has been seeing, working in or covering the performing arts for most of her life. Full disclosure: She’s affiliated with Aurora Theatre listed above. Please email: kathy@encoreatlanta.com.
