Preserving the Future

The castles that once lined Peachtree Street vanished long ago. So did the Loew’s Grand, where Gone With the Wind premiered. The Fox Theatre was scheduled for demolition in 1974, but an ardent civic campaign raised the funds to purchase the historic building and established Atlanta Landmarks Inc. to restore and manage the non-profit theater.

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Dancin' in the aisle

Live shows often move audiences to levels of exuberance that screen versions, no matter how well acted, rarely achieve. When Mamma Mia! the movie opens on the big screen this summer, some moviegoers may leave the theater humming the seductive, familiar tunes from the ’70s pop group ABBA that inspired the popular Broadway musical, but it’s doubtful they’ll be dancing out to the parking lot.

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The marriage of two arts

When the time came to cast the Broadway production of Sweeney Todd, people literally wheeled into the audition room with shopping carts full of musical instruments. The earlier 2004 London revival, re-orchestrated by Sarah Travis and directed by John Doyle, had turned the 1979 Sondheim musical on its head, creating an orchestra from the actors on stage. So when the musical transitioned to Broadway, the entire show had to be recast, so orchestral assignments were up for grabs. Auditioning actors carted in whatever instruments they could play, hoping versatility would give them a better chance of being cast.

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