Looking for something cultural to do this weekend and beyond? Our recommendations include Aurora Theatre’s “Driving Miss Daisy” with Jill Jane Clements and Rob Cleveland. Photo by Chris Bartelski.
RECOMMENDED
Driving Miss Daisy. THROUGH OCT. 19. The Alfred Uhry masterwork comes to Aurora Theatre with Jill Jane Clements as Daisy Werthan and Rob Cleveland as Hoke Colburn. Justin Anderson directs. Set in 1948 Atlanta, this simple, profound and much-honored drama details the growing friendship between a Jewish widow and her African-American chauffeur. Note: Geoffrey Williams replaces Cleveland in October. The critics: “About as fine a reading as you’ll ever see” (Wendell Brock, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). $20. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Harvel Lab, 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville. Free, covered, attached parking in city of Lawrenceville deck at 153 E. Crogan St. Details, tickets HERE or at 678.226.6222.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit. THROUGH NOV. 23. Out of Hand theater brings us another out-of-the-box experience. This one-actor piece is done with no rehearsals, no director, no set and by a different actor each time (who doesn’t see the script until show time). It’s being done in a dozen private homes and at least that many theaters. September’s schedule: 8 p.m. Friday at the Inman Park home of actor Tim Black; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, hosted by the Weird Sisters Theatre Project at the Shakespeare Tavern (actor Tiffany Porter); 8 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Atlanta International School (actor Isma’il ibn Connor); 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Aurora Theatre (actor Anthony Rodriguez); and 8 p.m. Sept. 29 at Actor’s Express (actor Freddie Ashley). $20 plus fees. Details, tickets and a complete schedule HERE. For more, see this ENCORE FEATURE.
TONIGHT ONLY
Wabi Sabi: Cocktails in the Garden. 7:45 P.M. Atlanta Ballet’s modern dance branch returns to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for an hourlong performance on the night the cash bar just happens to be open. Free with Garden admission of $18.95. 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E. Details HERE. Tickets HERE.
MONDAY ONLY
O for a Muse of Fire: A Benefit for Georgia Shakespeare. 7:30 P.M. Join Georgia Shakespeare and the Atlanta theater community for an evening of performances from some of your favorite artists and highlights from Georgia Shakespeare’s 29 years of productions. Concessions and merchandise will be on sale, and there will be drawings for prizes. This fundraiser is intended to raise money for the endangered company’s debt and future. The picnic grounds open at 6 p.m. $100 (only 509 seats available). 4484 Peachtree Road N.E. (on the Oglethorpe University campus). Details, tickets HERE or at 404.504.1473. For more on Georgia Shakespeare’s future, see this ENCORE FEATURE.
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
Detroit. OPENS FRIDAY| THROUGH OCT. 19. A Pulitzer Prize finalist and one of The New York Times’ Top 10 plays of 2012. Playwright Lisa D’Amour takes us to a suburb in a midsize American city, where two couples bond over backyard barbecues. The food isn’t all that gets skewered. Cast includes Carolyn Cook and Adam Fristoe. $20-$40. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 3 & 8:30 p.m. Saturday; and 5 p.m. Sunday. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. N.E. at Euclid Avenue. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.584.7450.
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
Beulah Creek. THROUGH SUNDAY. The new company Found Stages Theater goes where Saiah International, Serenbe Playhouse and 7 Stages have gone before — into the great outdoors. This immersive theater experience takes you to an outdoor Baptist camp meeting in 1936, where Ruth, the pastor’s wife, meets a WPA photographer named Iris. Written by Neeley Gossett for the natural space at the Dunwoody Nature Center. Cast: Daryl Fazio, Mary Saville, Julie Puckett, Liz Schad, Rachel Frawley and Elin Rose Hill. $10 plus fees. Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Details HERE or at 770.394.3322. Tickets HERE.
NOW PLAYING
Bull Durham. THROUGH OCT. 5. It’s not perfect, but this world premiere musical at the Alliance Theatre scores often enough to make things interesting. The show moves the story of the Durham Bulls minor-league baseball team from screen to stage, following the exploits of aging catcher “Crash” Davis, rookie phenom “Nuke” LaLoosh, and Durham’s high priestess of baseball, Annie Savoy. Recommended for ages 16 and up. The critics: “Brilliantly reimagined as a song-and-dance spectacle” (Wendell Brock, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution); “A solid double … the musical feels more formulaic than inspired” (Charles Isherwood, The New York Times); “A pleasurable but uneven new tuner. … The show has its scruffy charms, renegade spirit and occasional dazzle. But there’s still work to do before this tuner steps up to the ‘show’ ” (Frank Rizzo, Variety). $30-$75. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Alliance mainstage, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000. Discount tickets at PoshDealz.com. (Pictured, from left, Melissa Errico as Annie Savoy, with Lora Lee Gayer. Photo: Greg Mooney)
Les Liaisons Dangereuses. THROUGH OCT. 5. Two rivals and ex-lovers play a dangerous game of sexual conquest in pre-revolutionary France. This season opener at Actor’s Express is based on a scandalous 1782 novel and is familiar, perhaps, from the Oscar-winning movie. Melissa Foulger (Pluto, Wolves) directs a nine-person cast that includes Park Krausen (Théâtre du Rêve), Edward McCreary (Serenbe’s recent Oklahoma!) and AE favorite Kathleen Wattis (Pluto). The critics: “Salacious fun — the plot and characters feel compellingly alive and contemporary, even zeitgeisty — though the length of the play and memories of the classic film may have viewers wondering why we should be returning to this story at the theater” (Andrew Alexander, ArtsATL). $26-$45 (buying online saves $2). 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 887 W. Marietta St. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.607.SHOW. Discount tickets at PoshDealz.com. (Pictured: Kathleen Wattis. Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus)
Pump Boys and Dinettes. THROUGH SEPT. 28. A high-octane blend of country music, bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll propels this down-home show about the folks who frequent the Double Cupp Diner on North Carolina’s Highway 57. $15-$39. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 4 & 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Georgia Ensemble Theatre at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Details, tickets HERE or at 770.641.1260. Discount tickets at PoshDealz.com.
LOOKING AHEAD
Lasso of Truth. PREVIEWS SEPT. 25 | OPENS SEPT. 26. Put Wonder Woman, film noir, Gloria Steinem and Gen X comic-book lovers in the blender that is playwright Carson Kreitzer’s imagination and what you get is a smart, seductive and wild romp through generations of sexual politics. This story of Wonder Woman’s origin is told with actors, voiceovers and comic-book-styled video. Synchronicity Theatre presents this National New Play Network rolling world premiere at its new home in Midtown. Contains adult content. Through Oct. 19. $25-$35 (Preview $10). 1545 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.484.8636.
Philadelphia, Here I Come. OPENS SEPT. 26 | THROUGH OCT. 5. Atlanta’s newish Arís Theatre celebrates the 50-year anniversary of this well-loved Brian Friel piece. It’s the night before Gar O’Donnell is to leave Ireland for America and his life flashes before him as he contemplates what he’ll miss — his friends; his lost love, Katie; his housekeeper; and his aging father. Note the short run; get tickets now. $15-$25. Studio B, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Studio B, 260 14th St. N.E. Free, covered parking. Details, tickets HERE. Directions HERE. Discount tickets 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 Synchronicity Theatre, listed above. Please email: kathy@encoreatlanta.com.
