Looking for something cultural to do this weekend and beyond? Our recommendations include Athol Fugard’s timeless “My Children! My Africa!,” which has been extended through Nov. 2 at Theatrical Outfit. Pictured, from left: Dane Troy, Rob Cleveland and Maria Rodriguez-Sager. Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.
RECOMMENDED
Clybourne Park. LAST CHANCE | CLOSES SUNDAY. A brutally funny and fiercely provocative play about race, real estate and the volatile values of each. The script, playwright Bruce Norris’ reaction to events real and fictional before and after Lorraine Hansberry’s landmark A Raisin in the Sun, won nearly every honor a play can win. The critics: “Definitely a play that will have people wanting to talk and debate afterward” (Jim Farmer, ArtsATL); “While the production is provocative and deeply moving, it sometimes feels unnecessarily over the top” (Wendell Brock, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). At Aurora Theatre. $20-$40. For adult audiences. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 2:30 & 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (no evening show Oct. 22). 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville. Free, attached, lighted parking in city of Lawrenceville deck at 153 E. Crogan St. Details, tickets HERE or at 678.226.6222. (Pictured: Tess Malis Kincaid. Photo by Chris Bartelski)
How I Learned What I Learned. THROUGH NOV. 2. Atlanta premiere. This solo show, created and performed in 2003 at Seattle Rep by the great August Wilson (1945-2005), shares the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s personal stories about racism, music, love, a stint in jail, his first kiss, life-changing friendships and what it means to be a black artist in America. This staging features Eugene Lee (Miss Evers’ Boys, Fences). The critics: “The show is beautifully designed by a first-class team with Broadway credentials. … But a Wilson autobiography would be nothing without a strong performer. And Lee captures the playwright’s intellectual vigor, his irony and sarcasm, his physicality and movement in sharp and telling detail” (Wendell Brock, AJC). $20-$50. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 2:30 & 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. True Colors Theatre Company at the Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road S.W. Map HERE. Tickets, details HERE or at 1.877.725.8849. (Pictured: Lee. Photo by Josh Lamkin)
My Children! My Africa! THROUGH NOV. 2. Theatrical Outfit presents this three-character thriller in which a humane black teacher in segregated South Africa tries to persuade a favorite student that education, not violence, is the answer to their nation’s problems. The playwright is the great Athol Fugard. Cast: Rob Cleveland, Maria Rodriguez-Sager and Dane Troy. The critics: “What’s most remarkable about director Gary Yates’ forceful staging is how vibrant and relevant it feels, when the drama could have come across like some kind of dated or didactic period piece” (Bert Osborne, AJC). $20-$50. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 2:30 & 7:30 Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Additional show at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22. Balzer Theater at Herren’s, 84 Luckie St. N.W. Tickets, details HERE or at 678.528.1500. Discount tickets at PoshDealz.com.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit. THROUGH NOV. 22. Out of Hand Theater brings us another out-of-the-box experience. This one-person piece is done with no rehearsal, no director, no set and by a different actor doing a cold reading each time. It’s being done in a dozen private homes and at least that many theaters. Upcoming performances: 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Oglethorpe University (actor Chris Kayser); 8 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Marietta Historic District (actor Mary Lynn Owen) and at the Marcus Jewish Community Center (actor John Lemley); 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at Theatrical Outfit (actor Tom Key); 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at Synchronicity Theatre (actor Brian Kurlander); 8 p.m. performance, 6:30 p.m. cocktails Nov. 7 and Theatre du Reve at The Besharat Gallery on Peters Street S.W. (actor Christof Veillon, in French); 8 p.m. Nov. 8 with the Weird Sisters Theatre Project at the Alliance Theatre’s Black Box, third floor (actor Veronika Duerr); 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at Theater Emory, in the Schwartz Theater Lab (actor Tim McDonough); 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at the home of Gita Narayanan (actor Richard Garner); 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at Aris Theatre (actor Kathleen McManus); 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at Kennesaw State University’s Onyx Theater (actor Harrison Long); 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Candler Park home of Howard and Katherine Connell (actor Stacy Melich); 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Lenox Park home of Marshall & Sara Duke (actor Tara Ochs); and also at 8 p.m. Nov. 22 by Saiah International at the Goat Farm (actor Marium Khalid). $20-$25 plus fees. Details, tickets and a complete schedule HERE. For more, see this ENCORE FEATURE.
NOW PLAYING
The Doctor, the Devil & My Dad. LAST CHANCE | CLOSES SUNDAY. World premiere. Atlanta playwright Suehyla El-Attar (A Perfect Prayer, Third Country) melds memories of her late father with her love of science fiction and fantasy for this otherworldly adventure through time and space. At 7 Stages. $22.50, $25 at the door. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 5 p.m. Sunday. Also at 8 p.m. Oct. 22 and 2 p.m. Oct. 25. Thursday talkbacks tonight and Oct. 16 & 23. 1105 Euclid Ave. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.523.7647. Discount tickets at PoshDealz.com. Read more in this ENCORE FEATURE.
Steel Magnolias. PREVIEWS TONIGHT-OCT. 28 | OPENS OCT. 29 | THROUGH NOV. 9. This celebrated Southern classic of family and friendship is set in and around Truvy’s Beauty Parlor, where a group of strong and beautiful women in a small Louisiana parish deal with life, death and the other stuff of life. This Alliance Theatre staging is directed by two-time Tony Award-winning actor Judith Ivey. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2:30 & 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $25-$68. Mainstage, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000. For more, see this ENCORE FEATURE.
LOOKING AHEAD
Courage. NOV. 3 ONLY. World premiere. An experience tailor-made for middle-school students, using Stephen Crane’s classic Civil War novel, The Red Badge of Courage, to collide with the experiences of tweens today, including themes of isolation, respect, duty and courage through homework, video games and long waits at the bus stop. For ages 10 and up. Written by Atlanta playwright and actor Scott Warren. Directed by Rosemary Newcott. 7 p.m. $15-$25. Alliance Theatre mainstage, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000.
The Elephant Man. BEGINS OCT. 30 | THROUGH NOV. 16. This 1979 Tony Award-winning best play is based on the life of John Merrick, a 19th-century Londoner born with disfiguring skin and bone diseases, who travels from freak shows to a prestigious hospital to high society. The nine-member Georgia Ensemble Theatre casts, directed by David Crowe, features Jonathan Horne in the title role and includes Rachel Garner, Theo Harness, Steve Hudson and Holly Stevenson among the cast of nine. David Crowe directs. $10-$35. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday & Friday; 4 & 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (no 4 p.m. show Nov. 1). Georgia Ensemble Theatre at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Details, tickets HERE or at 770.641.1260. Map HERE. Ticket discounts at PoshDealz.com. (Pictured: Jonathan Horne. Photo by Martina Schmidt)
Madama Butterfly. NOV. 8, 11, 14 & 16. The Atlanta Opera opens its season with a new production of Puccini’s story of love and sacrifice. Russian-American soprano Dina Kuznetsova sings the title role, with tenor Adam Diegel making his Atlanta debut as Pinkerton. $26-$137 plus fees (season tickets also available). 8 p.m. Nov. 8 & 14; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11; and 3 p.m. Nov. 16. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.881.8885.
Murder Ballad. PREVIEWS NOV. 6-7 | OPENS NOV. 8. What happens when a love triangle goes bad? Find out at Actor’s Express, which stages this sexy rock musical, a 2013 hit off-Broadway. The New York Times called it “steamy and fun. A love triangle with a razor’s edge.” Artistic director Freddie Ashley leads a cast featuring Kristen Browne, Jessica De Maria, Jeremy Harrison and Kevin Harry. Through Dec. 7. Director’s Rough Cut at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 (pay what you can at the door). Previews at 8 p.m. Nov. 6-7 ($20). Opens at 8 p.m. Nov. 8 ($40, includes reception). Regularly $26-$45 plus fees (buy online and save $2). $41-$60 VIP tickets include bistro table seating and a drink voucher). King Plow Arts Center, 887 W. Marietta St. Tickets, details HERE or at 404.607.7469. 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. Please email: kathy@encoreatlanta.com.
