Friday, December 26, 2008

CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy

Created and Directed by Neil Goldberg
RETURNING TO ATLANTA FOR DEBUT ENGAGEMENT AT COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE – DEC. 30 – JAN. 4

DIRECT FROM BROADWAY, CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy has been proclaimed, “The grandest circus spectacle east of Vegas” by New York Magazine. The show, which debuted at the Broadway theatre in June 2008, is the first of its kind ever to perform on the Great White Way. This groundbreaking theatrical, acrobatic and musical adventure was this past summer’s must-see Broadway entertainment sensation for audiences of all ages. CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy now soars back into Atlanta as part of the Atlanta Broadway Series 2008-2009 debut season at the Cobb Energy Centre. Performances will run December 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009.

Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy is an exotic encounter inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations that are brought to life by an international cast of 25 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians. The astounding feats performed in this action packed Cirque Dream are enhanced with over 150 spectacular costumes and set in a fantastical jungle ignited by striking visual effects. From the breathtaking aerial ballet of butterflies to the balancing giraffes, gigantic flowers and trees, this world-class explosion of athleticism, theatre and imagination will exhilarate the entire family.

CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY is the latest brainchild of Goldberg’s theatrical imagination and Cirque Productions, creators of international performance and touring sensations Cirque Ingenieux, Cirque Dreams Pandemonia, Cirque Dreams Coobrila, Cirque Dreams Illumination and Cirque Dreams Holidaze. Over one million fans throughout the U.S. have attended a Cirque Dreams show in the last year.

“CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY remains true to my original CIRQUE DREAMS vision which began with the company in 1993 - to blend European artistry with circus and Broadway theatrics in a dramatic fashion that transcends imagination and leaves its narration to the eyes of the beholder,” says Goldberg.

The New York Daily News hails CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY “Colorful, imaginative and expertly performed…a fantasy worth indulging.” USA Today proclaims it “Dazzling! A fantastical tale of an enchanted jungle”, the Associated Press recommends it as “A family friendly, mind-bending extravagant spectacle” and the L.A. Times “Jaw dropping! A whiz-bang family friendly spectacle.” Critics and audiences alike have praised Cirque Dreams shows as “A circus to blow your circuits” (San Diego Union Tribune), “Executed to perfection.” (Chicago Sun Times) and “Pure talent on a stage. A breath of fresh jungle air” (The New Yorker).

CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY is affordably priced starting at $15.00 (subject to change) and will perform eight shows at the Cobb Energy Centre. Performance schedule:

Tuesday, December 30………….8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 31………1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 1…………….No Performances due to New Year’s Day holiday
Friday, January 2………………..8:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 3…………….2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 4………………1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Cobb Energy Centre box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or via phone at 404-817-8700. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.

Full season packages are also on sale now for the 2008-2009 Atlanta Broadway Series with prices ranging from $116 – $354. New subscriptions may be ordered over the phone by calling 1-877-451-7469 Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm; by fax at 1-800-535-2929; or online at www.cobbenergycentre.com.

For more information, visit: www.CirqueDreamsBroadway.com

The Atlanta Broadway Series, created in partnership by WH Management Group and Key Brand Entertainment, is a new series of blockbuster Broadway programming presented at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, a state-of-the-art venue that opened to popular and critical acclaim in September 2007
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Monday, December 22, 2008

A First at the Plaza Hotel

/PRNewswire/ -- Fine Folk Art will make its debut at the Plaza Hotel for the first week of March 2009. The Artist, John Daso of the Gifted Artists Gallery, Ltd (G.A. Ltd) in Buckhead, Georgia is bringing some of his best Originals, Reproductions and Prints as the feature of the event. 'Daso In Manhattan 2009' is designed to showcase the Artist's collection depicting life during his early years as a child. Many of his collectors follow his work from San Francisco and Charleston, SC to Buckhead, Georgia and now for this exhibit in Manhattan, New York. Overcoming many obstacles as a young artist where his craftsmanship as a young black could have hindered his career; not able to gain the support of his family or peers and without formal training, Mr. Daso continues to rise in stature with a humble and triumphant human spirit.

His Marketing Representative is Annette D. Colbert-Beavers of Visage Production, Inc. (www.visageproduction.net) in Oklahoma City for the Western District of the USA and his Agent is Dick Delson of Delson and Associates in Studio City, CA (www.publicity4u.com).

The weeklong exhibit will host a private auction for charity with a portion granted to the 9/11 Charities for Children on Tuesday evening, a black tie event with tickets available for $250.00 per person for Monday evening and a VIP reception, on Wednesday, too! Thursday through Friday evening is available free of charge to the general public for art viewing and purchasing.

John Daso will be introducing two other Artists at this event; Craig Henderson which will bring mixed media art, and Vonda Smith will bring her specialty, abstract Art. Both of these Artists are from Atlanta, Georgia and have a presence at the Gifted Artists Gallery in Buckhead.

For more information please contact Janice at 404-350-0048.

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Spring Events Beckon at Agnes Scott College

Ingrid Saunders Jones of The Coca-Cola Company's global community relations program; Gwen Ifill, CNN managing editor; Deepika Bahri, associate professor of English and South Asian studies at Emory University and George J. Mitchell former U.S. Senator, international peace negotiator and Major League Baseball investigator highlight the spring 2009 events season at Agnes Scott College.

2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation -- Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president, Global Community Connections, The Coca-Cola Co. and chair, The Coca-Cola Foundation, delivers keynote remarks at Agnes Scott College, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 at 10 a.m., Gaines Chapel, Presser Hall. Jones was named one of Essence magazine’s 11 national “Women of Influence” in 2007. Free and open to the public. Information: 404 471-6430.

Voice and Piano Concert -- Dawn Marie James and David D’Ambrosio, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009 at 3 p.m. Julia Thompson Smith Chapel. Free and open to the public. Information: 404 471-5314.

Gwen Ifill -- CNN managing editor and moderator of the PBS news analysis program Washington Week and senior correspondent of The News Hour, Ifill will discuss the landmark campaign and the broad implications for African American political power. The Author of "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" at Agnes Scott College Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 8 p.m., Gaines Chapel, Presser Hall. Ifill served as moderator of one of the recent 2008 presidential debates preceding the historic election of the nation's first African American President Barack Obama. This event is cosponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book. Free and open to the public. Information: 404 471-6430.

“All Small Redux” -- Art exhibition Feb. 12- March 22, 2009, The Dalton Gallery, Dana Fine Arts Building, Agnes Scott College. In a time of downsizing, minimal investment returns, reduced output and small budgets, it is refreshing to celebrate the fabulous preciousness of visual art and micro fiction. Opening reception Feb. 12 from 5-8 p.m. Free and open to the public. Gallery hours Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, from noon-4 p.m. Information: 404 471-5361.

“Greeks, Romans and the Stars” -- Megan Drinkwater, assistant professor of classics at Agnes Scott College, speaks on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 at 8 p.m. at the Bradley Observatory and Delafield Planetarium Spring Open House series. This lecture will examine how ancient Greek and Roman authors used celestial phenomena such as comets and constellations as inspiration for literary self-expression and political commentary alike. Information: 404 471-6266.

“Memories of WWII” -- Jane Marie Law, associate professor of Japanese religions at Cornell University, will speak on “A Present of Things Past: Memories of WWII in Japanese Current Day Cultural Discourse” at Agnes Scott College Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Teasley Lecture Hall, Bullock Science Center. The lecture will talk about the effects of four themes: victimization, war guilt, altruism and imperialism. A variety of visual examples collected during her recent field research in Japan will be featured. Information: 404 471-6430.

Deepika Bahri -- associate professor of English and South Asian studies at Emory, Bahri will deliver the 2009 Dabney Adams Hart Distinguished Humanities Lecture. Her research focuses on postcolonial literature, culture and theory. She is the author of “Native Intelligence: Aesthetics, Politics, and Postcolonial Literature” (University of Minnesota Press, 2003) and co-editor of “Between the Lines: South Asians and Postcoloniality and Realms of Rhetoric. The annual lecture was established in 2005 to honor Hart, a 1948 Agnes Scott graduate and scholar. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Maclean Auditorium, Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College. This event is free and open to the public. Information: 404 471-6430.

George Mitchell -- former U.S Senate majority leader, speaks on "Making Peace" Thursday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. in Gaines Chapel, Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College. Now the chancellor of Queen’s University in Northern Ireland, Mitchell spent two years chairing the peace negotiations between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, Mitchell led an investigation of steroid use in Major League Baseball in 2007 and delivered findings that named 86 players involved in abusing the substance, including legendary players Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Miguel Tejada and Andy Pettitte. Free and open to the public. Information: 404 471-6430

“Ama and the White Crane” -- A delightful retelling of the classic children’s story using traditions from Japanese Kabuki theater in this theater -for-youth production performed by the Agnes Scott College Blackfriars, the oldest continually performing theater group in Atlanta. Winter Theatre, Dana Fine Arts Building. Thursday-Friday, Feb. 19-20, 9:30 and 11 a.m. and Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets $5. Information: 404 471-6250.

Violin and Viola Recital -- Featuring Qiao Solomon with piano accompanist, David D’Ambrosio. Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m., Julia Thompson Smith Chapel, Agnes Scott College. Free and open to the public. Information 404 471-5314.

“The Agnes Scott I Remember -- The Agnes Scott I Envision” -- Harriet King, class of 1964 and Kimberley Kennedy, class of 1983, commemorate Agnes Scott College’s 120 years as a women’s college on Founders’ Day, February 25, 2009, 10 a.m., in Rebekah Scott Hall, Katherine Woltz Reception Room. Kennedy, a reporter for Atlanta’s WSB-TV, will interview King, chair of the college’s board of trustees, about memories of Agnes Scott and vision for its future. This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required. 404 471-6430. With a total of 30 years of service to Agnes Scott as a trustee and student, King has provided leadership to her alma mater as board chair for the last six years. King earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University and her LL.M., an advanced law degree, from Harvard University. She is associate professor of law emerita and former senior vice provost for academic affairs at Emory University.

The Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor -- The Episcopal priest named 2006 Georgia Author of the Year by the Georgia Writers Association, the Rev. Brown Taylor will talk about the role of the Sabbath in modern life when she delivers the annual James Ross McCain Faith and Learning Lecture at Agnes Scott College Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m., Gaines Chapel, Presser Hall. More information about the Rev. Taylor is available at http://www.barbarabrowntaylor.com/. Free and open to the public. Information: 404-471-6430

“Drop-By” Concert -- Agnes Scott’s Collegiate Chorale and Sotto Voce choral groups perform Tuesday, March 3 at 5 p.m. in the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel. Free and open to the public. Information: 404-471-5314.

Mary Brown Bullock, 2009 Grace Chao Lecturer – Former Agnes Scott President Mary Brown Bullock speaks on “China's Changing Global Role,” Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. Free, no ticket required. Evans Hall, terrace level. Information: 404 471-6430. Bullock, a 1966 graduate of Agnes Scott who served as president of the college from 1995-2006, is a noted expert on China who presently serves as visiting distinguished professor of china studies at Emory University in the departments of history and political science. This lecture series is named for Grace Yao Ping Chao, an Agnes Scott College alumna from the class of 1958. The Grace Chao Lecture Series brings leading scholars to the campus each year to give lectures on cutting edge scholarship on China, with particular emphasis on the developments, problems and prospects between China’s past and future.

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Sunday, December 21, 2008

An Evening of Stop-Motion Puppet Films

An Evening of Stop-Motion Puppet Films curated by Alan Louis, Director of Museum and Education Programs, Center for Puppetry Arts and co-sponsored by ASIFA-Atlanta (Association International du Film d’Animation – Atlanta, www.asifa-atlanta.com).

Come enjoy the end result of countless hours of painstaking puppet manipulation captured on film one frame at a time as we celebrate an evening of stop-motion puppet animation. The evening includes Adam Elliot’s Academy Award-winning Harvie Krumpet from Australia, Haunted Hogmanay from Ko-Lik Films of Scotland, as well as gems from Ray Harryhausen and Screen Novelties International, Barry Purves, Art Clokey and Corky Quakenbush.

Saturday, January 17, 2009
8pm

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street NW at 18th
Midtown-Atlanta, GA 30309

$7 ($5 Center Members)

The Center for Puppetry Arts’ Film Series is a showcase including rare and seldom seen films that explore storytelling with puppets, global puppetry traditions and biographies of puppeteers. These not-to-be-missed films provide insights into the scope and history of the art of puppetry.

The Center for Puppetry Arts’ programming is generally offered Tuesday through Saturday from 9am – 5pm and Sunday from 11am – 5pm, with extended hours during evening events. Located in Midtown Atlanta across the bridge from Atlantic Station, the Center is three blocks from the Arts Center MARTA Station and has limited free parking. For more information, call the ticket office at 404.873.3391 or visit www.puppet.org .
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Mural Conservation Completed at Adams Park

The City of Atlanta Public Art Program has completed the conservation of the ever popular “Fish Dreams” mural at the façade of the Adams Park Bathhouse. This mural was originally completed in 1992 by treasured Atlanta-based photographer, painter, and writer Lynn Marshall Linnemeier. Through her colorful artworks, she focused on documenting the people and places of the south. This early artwork has a playful illustrative appearance that speaks to the innocence and inquisitive nature of children playing in the natural world.

The Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program hired art Conservator, Vivianna Dominguez to bring the mural back to life. The effects of ultra violet rays and acid rain had worn the painted finishes to a dull and hazy finish and many of the pigments had actually disappeared. We made an economical and practical choice by hiring the expert Vivianna Dominguez, who also trained our art maintenance staff to conserve and care for the artwork while they assisted her to accomplish this great achievement. The conservation project was completed in less than 10 days thanks to local conservator Kate Singley who graciously donated specialized chemicals when the team ran out.

The artist, Lynn Linnemeier, is a newly appointed member of the City’s Public Art Advisory Committee and currently teaches photography at Emory University. For more information, contact the Office of Cultural Affairs Project Supervisor, Robert Witherspoon at 404-817-6758 or www.ocaatlanta.com
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

John Jorgenson Quintet to Play in Ellijay

John Jorgenson Quintet
Saturday, January 10, 2009
7:30 pm
Ellijay Elementary Auditorium
Ellijay, GA
(70 miles north of Atlanta)
Tickets: $17.99 - $37.99 (plus tax)
Buy online at www.gilmerarts.org or call 706-635-5605

Jorgenson is known as one of the pioneers of American gypsy jazz, and amazes audiences with his dazzling guitar work as well as his mastery as a clarinet player and vocalist. He tours nationwide with The John Jorgenson Quintet.

Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association
207 Dalton Street
Ellijay, GA
706-635-5605
www.gilmerarts.org
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Tickets for Jersey Boys Now On Sale

Tickets are on sale now for the Atlanta premiere engagement of JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing at The Fox Theatre, May 27 – June 21, 2009.

Directed by two-time Tony® Award-winner Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS won both the 2006 Tony® Award for Best Musical and the 2006 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Recording, and continues to break box office records on Broadway and across North America. JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award® -winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

JERSEY BOYS is part of the Fidelity Investments Broadway Across America – Atlanta and Theater of the Stars 2009 seasons.

JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sound and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty.

JERSEY BOYS opened at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway to critical acclaim on November 6, 2005. The JERSEY BOYS National Tour opened to rave reviews in San Francisco on December 1, 2006, played a record-breaking run in Los Angeles and is still breaking house records in cities across North America. There are six current productions of JERSEY BOYS: New York, London, Chicago, Las Vegas, Toronto, a US National tour, and a seventh production will open in Melbourne, Australia in July, 2009.

The JERSEY BOYS design and production team comprises Klara Zieglerova (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (winner of the 2006 Tony® Award for his Lighting Design of JERSEY BOYS), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Michael Clark (Projections Design), Charles LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Orich (Orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements & Incidental Music).

JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner.

JERSEY BOYS will premiere in Atlanta at The Fox Theatre May 27 – June 21, 2009. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Special weekday matinees will take place on Thursday, May 28 at 1:00 p.m. and Thursday, June 18 at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets for JERSEY BOYS begin at $22.00 (subject to change) and are available now at authorized ticket sellers at The Fox Theatre box office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 404-817-8700. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. VIP Ticket Packages are also available for all performances. For more information, please visit www.JerseyBoysInfo.com or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of JERSEY BOYS, produced by Bob Gaudio, was recently certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The cast recording is now available on Rhino Records. JERSEY BOYS: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Broadway Books) is the official handbook to the smash Broadway hit.

Visit the JERSEY BOYS website at www.JerseyBoysInfo.com.

Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Current and upcoming productions include the Broadway premiere of Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, Tony Award-winners BOEING BOEING and SPAMALOT, 13 A NEW MUSICAL, WEST SIDE STORY opening on Broadway in 2009, and DORA THE EXPLORER on tour. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Theater of the Stars celebrates our 56th Anniversary as one of the nation’s premier regional theater companies. A civic not-for-profit cultural treasure, Theater of the Stars is dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater. To learn more about our history of excellence, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.
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Monday, December 15, 2008

Songwriters and BBQ Make For A Fun Family Holiday Outing

Hit Nashville songwriter, Kim McLean and former Kerrville Folk Festival winner, Mark Elliott join forces onstage Friday and Saturday, December 19 and 20 at two 10pm shows at Swallow at the Hollow. Two headliners sharing a band, these two headlining song spinners will keep you entertained as part of their national Folklahoma Appalachi-Groove Train Tour.

Kim McLean has been a career songwriter for twenty years with over 200 song credits from Tim McGraw to Trisha Yearwood to Lee Ann Womack to having her own performances on TV’s JAG, West Wing, and Hope & Faith. As an artist, her duet with Dolly Parton, “Angels and Eagles” has become an anthem from parents to children.

Mark Elliott is a folk troubadour who weaves stories and songs in a jubilant look at life with a cock-eyed sense of humor. With song credits by artists like Neal McCoy and the late Chris LeDoux, Mark’s meaningful masterpieces are thought provoking as well as entertaining. Sharing a small acoustic band, the show sprinkles stories and humorous anecdotes with tight harmonies and groove-laden rhythms.

The two perform at 10pm shows on Friday and Saturday, Dec 19 and 20 at Roswell’s Swallow at the Hollow; located at 1072 Green Street in Roswell, Georgia (30075) and tickets are $17.50. Reservations can be made by calling 678-352-1975. There are show only tickets available as well. Swallow at the Hollow is a mainstay for good southern cooking with great BBQ being their mainstay, and specialty dishes like their homemade chocolate chip banana pudding as well as becoming a destination location for intimate acoustic live music. For more information, check online at www.swallowatthehollow.com.

Listen for Kim McLean’s live performance on the Moby in the Morning Show, at 8:30am on Friday, Dec. 19th at 8:30am on WEKS 92.5 Griffin, GA (or visit online www.mobyinthemorning.com for other stations) for a sneak preview of what you will hear at Swallow at the Hollow. Call 615-400-5140 for interview information about Kim McLean or Mark Elliott.
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Sunday, December 14, 2008

The First Emperor Named one of Time Magazine’s Top 10 Exhibits of 2008

TIME Magazine has selected “The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army” as one of the Top 10 Museum Exhibits of 2008 (view article). The exhibition, which opened to the public on November 16, has already drawn over 70,000 visitors and drove a record one-day attendance of nearly 7,000 visitors to the High on the day after Thanksgiving, November 28. “The First Emperor” was inspired by one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Featuring over 100 works, including 15 terracotta figures, the exhibition represents one of the largest groups of important works relating to the First Emperor ever to be loaned to the U.S.

From December 26 through January 4, the High will have special extended hours and daily art-making activities. The museum will also be open on Monday, December 29.

Tickets: Individual ticket prices are $18 for adults; $15 for students and seniors with ID; $11 for ages 6 to 17; and free for age 5 and under. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets allow entry into “The First Emperor” and all other special exhibition and permanent collection galleries.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.high.org or by calling 404-733-4444.

“The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army” is made possible by Lead Sponsor GE, Presenting Sponsor Portman and Official Global Delivery Partner UPS, Official Airline Partner Delta Air Lines, and Official Media Partner Turner Broadcasting. Generous support is provided by The Henry Luce Foundation. Additional support provided by The E. Rhodes and Leona Carpenter Foundation and The Blakemore Foundation. This exhibition is presented in association with the British Museum with support from Morgan Stanley.
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Georgia Shakespeare's Calendar of Events

Georgia Shakespeare is proud to announce the following events for February, 2009:

Fools for Love Wine Dinner and Cabaret
Monday, February 9 at 7pm
Woodfire Grill
1782 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324

Get a jump on Valentine's Day with a unique Shakespeare-themed wine and cabaret event featuring members of Georgia Shakespeare's acting company. Ensemble members of the award-winning theatre will show off their musical side as they perform songs from Shakespeare-inspired musicals including West Side Story, Kiss Me Kate, and The Boys from Syracuse. Hosted by Woodfire Grill owner Nicolas Quinones and Georgia Shakespeare producing artistic director Richard Garner, the evening includes a four-course dinner, wine, and cabaret entertainment.

Tickets: $100
Call 404.264.0020 or order on-line at www.gashakespeare.org

All proceeds benefit Georgia Shakespeare.

Will's Guild Designer Panel
Saturday, February 14 at 11am
Georgia Shakespeare
Conant Performing Arts Center
4484 Peachtree Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Come behind the scenes to meet Georgia Shakespeare's designers at a Design Panel hosted by the company's newest volunteer organization, Will's Guild. Meet costume and set designers and see models and renderings before you see them on stage for the 2009 season. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes sneak peek into what goes on at Georgia Shakespeare.
Free and open to the public.
RSVP at 404.504.3413 or register on-line at www.gashakespeare.org

The Eleanors!
A Star-Studded Oscar Party Benefiting Georgia Shakespeare
Saturday, February 21 at 7pm
The private home of renowned movie critic Eleanor Ringel Cater
The stars will come out for this exclusive Academy Awards event, hosted by former Atlanta Journal-Constitution movie critic Eleanor Ringel Cater. A limousine shuttle takes guests from their car to Mrs. Cater's Buckhead home where they will meet the paparazzi and feel like a star as they are interviewed on the red carpet before entering this one-of-a-kind party. Ticket price includes cocktails, hors d'œuvres, and the presentation of "The Eleanors," awarded to guests wearing the most creative nominee-inspired costumes. After a two-year hiatus, this social event of the season returns to benefit Georgia Shakespeare.
Tickets: $100
Call 404.264.0020 or order on-line at www.gashakespeare.org
All proceeds benefit Georgia Shakespeare. Address will be sent with tickets.

High School Acting Competition
Saturday, February 21, 10am - 5pm
Georgia Shakespeare
Conant Performing Arts Center
4484 Peachtree Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Georgia Shakespeare presents its second annual high school acting competition; open to all Georgia high school students grades 9-12. Students perform monologues and scenes from William Shakespeare in this annual high school competition. Scholarships and awards provided.
Entry fee: $15.00 per student.
For complete rules and details, call 404.504.3401 or on-line at www.gashakespeare.org.
Entry deadline February 4, 2009

Under the artistic leadership of Richard Garner, Georgia Shakespeare creates thoughtful, bold and passionate interpretations of a diverse body of work rooted in Shakespeare and branching out to embrace the best writers and ideas of all eras. On the stage and through educational programming, we strive to entertain, to ignite the imagination and the creatively explore the journey of the human spirit.

Georgia Shakespeare performs at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319. For more information, call the Georgia Shakespeare box office at 404.264.0020 or visit www.gashakespeare.org.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Target Presents the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's 17th Annual A King Celebration

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra along with the Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs, will perform the 17th annual musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, “A King Celebration” on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The performance, commemorating the life and work of the celebrated civil rights leader, will take place in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, the alma mater of Dr. King.

The program features music that was celebrated and loved by Abraham Lincoln and inspired by Dr. King’s legacy. In addition, the concert will be broadcast to nearly 250 radio stations across the country on American Public Media’s Performance Today, hosted by Fred Child, on Monday, January 19, 2009. For station information and broadcast times, please visit performancetoday.publicradio.org.

This concert is made possible through the generous support of Target.

“Although Lincoln never studied music, as president he probably heard more than any other occupant of the White House,” wrote Lincoln historian Douglas Jimerson.

“While president, he went to the theater at every possible opportunity to hear operas and musical concerts.”

Civil War music scholar Kenneth A. Bernard wrote of President Lincoln: “There were times when he could relax and be soothed by the familiar tunes, times when he would make requests for particular pieces, times when he would compliment the players, times when he would be sustained, and times when he would be brought to tears.”

It is documented that Lincoln was particularly fond of music by Giuseppe Verdi, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Negro Spirituals. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Music Director Robert Spano will conduct the Orchestra and the Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs in a program of Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino, Nicolas Flagello’s The Passion of Martin Luther King, Ulysses Kay’s A Lincoln Letter, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, and the traditional “We Shall Overcome.” Shirley Mitchell, Senior Vice President – Georgia Market Development at Bank of America, chairs the 2009 Host Committee, which secures sponsorships and fundraising for the event.

A King Celebration raises funds for music scholarships at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, as well as Learning Community programs of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. For more information about purchasing host tickets or supporting A King Celebration, please contact 404.733.5069.

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'Celtic Christmas' returns to Emory

James Flannery hosts the "Sixteenth Annual Atlanta Celtic Christmas Concert" Dec. 12-14. This popular event highlights Celtic and Appalachian music, dance and story with Grammy winning banjoist Alison Brown, Risin’ Appalachia and the Elders, The Buddy O’Reilly Band and clog dancers.

Alison Brown, one of the most respected five-stringed banjo players in the world, is noted for her jazz and bluegrass inflected Celtic compositions.

"On a popular level, the concert draws upon the huge contemporary appeal of Celtic music and dance, as exemplified by the phenomenon of 'Riverdance,'" says Flannery. "But beyond that, the concert also reflects the mystical beauty of Celtic spirituality – a tradition dating back to medieval times in which, as Yeats said, 'the presence of God is experienced as 'concrete, flowing and phenomenal.'"

Performances are:

Friday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $25; $20 faculty, staff and discount category members; and $10 for all students and children.

For tickets and venue information: www.arts.emory.edu, 404.727.5050.

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A Festive Tale of A Snowman in Love…with A Stove? Center for Puppetry Arts

This one is already running, but it goes through January... better late than never, right?

“…the snow cackled and the wind whistled around him; it was just the kind of frosty weather a Snowman might thoroughly enjoy. But he did not enjoy it; how indeed could he enjoy anything when he was sick…stove sick?” -Hans Christian Andersen, The Snow Man

In Jon Ludwig’s new, lively take on a classic tale, we travel to a dreamy, snow-laden countryside to meet Sam, a newly built, innocent snowman who falls in love with a stove. Will this romance spark, or can the young Snowwoman conquer Sam’s heart and save him from himself? Sam the Lovesick Snowman plays November 20, 2008 – January 4, 2009 in the Center for Puppetry Art’s Downstairs Theater.

“What I liked most about the original story is the wide-eyed innocence of Sam the Snowman,” says Artistic Director Jon Ludwig. “Everyone but Sam can see that the stove is too “hot” for him. Plus, we get an opportunity to travel to a Winter Wonderland without ever leaving the mild Georgia winter,” Jon concludes.

A classic story of unrequited love with a unique holiday twist, Sam the Lovesick Snowman is based on

“The Snow Man,” by Hans Christian Andersen. This hilarious and heartwarming story is sure to melt your heart this holiday season!

Adapted and directed by Jon Ludwig, Sam the Lovesick Snowman welcomes puppeteers Dolph Amick and Amy Rush, with music composed by John Cerreta. Lighting is designed by Mike Post and sound is designed by Kristin Von Hinezmeyer. The puppets were created by Chris Brown and the costumes are by Scottie Rowell. All puppets in the show interact amid scenery designed by Roy Howington.

Sam the Lovesick Snowman will be presented in the Downstairs Theater. Showtimes are as follows:

Nov 18-26, 2008: Tues-Fri @ 10:30am & 12pm; Sat @ 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Sun @ 1pm & 3pm.
Nov 28-30, 2008: Fri & Sat @ 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Sun @ 1pm & 3pm.
Dec 2-7, 2008: Tues-Fri @ 10:30am & 12pm; Sat @ 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Sun @ 1pm & 3pm.
Dec 9-21, 2008: Tues-Fri @ 10am & 11:30am; Sat @ 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Sun @ 1pm & 3pm.
Dec 23, 2008 – Jan 4, 2009: Tues-Fri @ 10am, 12pm & 2pm; Sat @ 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Sun @ 1pm & 3pm.
Closed: Nov 27, 2008; December 25, 2008; January 1, 2009.

Tickets for patrons ages 2 and older are $14.82 + tax for the general public and $8.33 + tax for Members. The ticket price includes a performance, the Create-A-Puppet Workshop, and admission into the permanent Museum exhibit Puppets: The Power of Wonder and special exhibits including the brand new Jim Henson: Wonders from His Workshop. Please visit www.puppet.org/museum/index.shtml for more information on the Museum and special exhibits.

Order your tickets “FEE-FREE” online at www.puppet.org or call the Ticket Sales Office at 404.873.3391. The Ticket Sales Office is open Monday through Saturday from 9am – 5pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm, with extended hours during evening performances. The Center is located in Midtown Atlanta, across the bridge from Atlantic Station, is accessible from MARTA, and has limited free parking.

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street, NW at 18th
Atlanta, GA 30309-2820 USA
Ticket Sales Office: 404.873.3391
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Monday, December 8, 2008

Seniors Shine at Georgia Youth Ballet's Nutcracker

Georgia Youth Ballet’s 13th annual performance of The Nutcracker this month will be the final Nutcracker for nine GYB dancers who are seniors in regional high schools. Robin Burton, Kara Cawley, Kelly Church, Keri Church, Pharan Evans, Nicole Henry, Hannah Skibiel, Kate Walker and Emily Ward (of Senoia) will dance the final four Nutcracker performances of their pre-professional careers this weekend at Sandy Creek High School’s Patriot Hall in Tyrone.

Overall, GYB is one of the only local ballet companies that tells the unabridged story of Clara, her feisty little brother Fritz, and the valiant service of Clara’s favorite toy Nutcracker as he comes to life and guides her through a winter fantasy of action, adventure and classical ballet, all set to the wonderful musical score of Tchaikovsky. GYB is a regional ballet company with more than 100 performers from seven south-metro counties. GYB’s Nutcracker is notable for its custom sets, costumes and choreography, all of which have been refined annually since the company was founded in 1996 in Fayetteville.

This year’s Nutcracker also marks GYB’s return to a Fayette County venue - Patriot Hall at Sandy Creek High School, 360 Jenkins Road in Tyrone (30290). Performances are Friday, December 12 at 7:30pm (Family night – all tickets $8), Saturday, December 13 at 2:30 and 8pm, and Sunday, December 14 at 2:30pm. Except for the Family night performance, all tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors 55 and over. Tickets are available at the door or by calling The Studio at (770) 716-9858. For more information, please visit GYB’s website at www.gyb.us.
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Friday, December 5, 2008

Call for Entries to Regional University of Mobile Juried Art Exhibition

The University of Mobile is calling for entries of original artwork from artists in seven southern states for the second annual University of Mobile Juried Art Exhibition.

The competition is open to visual artists working in any media, and only original artwork is accepted. Artists must either be born in or currently live in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee or Texas.

Deadline for entries is Feb. 6, 2009. An entry form and rules may be downloaded from the University of Mobile website at www.umobile.edu/art or contact Phillip Counselman, assistant professor of art, at (251) 442-2283 or pcounsel@umobile.edu . The entry fee is $25 for the first work and $5 for each additional entry. All works must be original and completed during 2007 or 2008.

Melissa Crum Morgan, executive director of the Pensacola Museum of Art in Pensacola, Fla., will serve as juror.

Prizes include a $1,000 award for first place, $500 for second place, $300 for third, $200 for the Southern Humor Award, and three $100 prizes for honorable mention. The show will be open to the public May 3-30 at Thomas T. Martin Hall on the University of Mobile campus. A reception will be held May 3 from 2-5 p.m. in Martin Hall.

More than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at the University of Mobile in the College of Arts and Sciences, Center for Performing Arts, Center for Adult Programs, and schools of business, Christian studies, education and nursing. For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or contact Enrollment Services at (251) 442-2273 or adminfo@umobile.edu.
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Thursday, December 4, 2008

National Endowment for the Arts Announces First Round of Grants for FY 2009

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) today announced its first round of funding for fiscal year 2009, including Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America Fast Track, and Creativity and Aging in America grants, and Creative Writing Fellowships for individuals. The Arts Endowment will distribute $23,215,500 in this first round of fiscal year 2009 funding to support 1,951 projects by nonprofit national, regional, state, and local organizations nationwide as well as to 42 poets.

NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said, "I am delighted to announce the NEA's first round of grants for fiscal year 2009. We often hear from our grantees that the NEA's grant support has a catalytic effect, helping the organization to exponentially garner additional funding for its project. These grants are an investment in our nation's culture, and I'm proud to say that the return on that investment benefits Americans from coast to coast."

Access to Artistic Excellence grants support the creation and presentation of work in the disciplines of dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, media arts, museums, music, musical theater, opera, presenting, theater, and visual arts. Projects include commissions, residencies, workshops, performances, exhibitions, publications, festivals, and professional development programs. This round of funding also supported grants to local arts agencies for service-to-the-field projects that assist artists and arts organizations improve managerial resources. Through this category, the NEA will fund 886 projects out of 1,394 eligible applications, for a total of $20,325,500 million.

Examples of projects supported by Access to Artistic Excellence grants include:

A $70,000 grant to the Boston Symphony Orchestra to support the world premiere performances of a work by composer (and NEA Jazz Master) Gunther Schuller. Accompanying educational activities include an open rehearsal for local high school students, a pre-concert lecture by the composer, and interactive Web-based materials.

A $25,000 grant to Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music to support extended teaching residencies for traditional musicians scheduled to perform at the school. Residencies will include lecture-demonstrations, master classes, and workshops.

A $95,000 grant to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to support a U.S. tour highlighting work by both emerging and established choreographers as part of the company's 50th anniversary. The project will include school visits in tour cities and a curriculum that uses Alvin Ailey's signature ballet Revelations to teach language arts and social studies.

Please see the complete listing of projects receiving Access to Artistic Excellence grant support in this first round of fiscal year 2009 funding.

Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast Track Review Grants are an integral part of the NEA's mission to bring the arts to all Americans. Projects funded can have significant effects within their community because of the breadth of audiences and participants the projects include. One hundred and fifty-one grants of $10,000 each, totaling $1,510,000, will be given to primarily small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Many projects emphasize the potential of the arts to help strengthen communities. In addition, projects often feature partnerships between arts organizations and other cultural, educational, or civic organizations.

Examples of projects supported by Challenge America grants include:

A grant to Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, Inc. to support the bilingual mainstage production and tour of Papa Está en la Atlantida by Mexican playwright Javier Malpica with translations by American playwright Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas and accompanying outreach activities. The playwrights will participate in several discussions about their work and issues facing Latinos in America. The production will travel to several local Latino communities.

A grant to the Germantown Performing Arts Centre in Tennessee to support performances of Teatro de Piazza O D'Occasione's Farfalle. An interactive virtual landscape will be created for the youth audience through the use of projections, sensors, and audio design to complement the live performers.

Please see the complete listing of projects receiving Challenge America grant support in this first round of fiscal year 2009 funding.

Creativity and Aging in America grants support projects that involve older Americans as creators through literature and music, and that promote lifelong learning in the arts. Projects are conducted by professional artists and engage older adults as students, artists, and/or teachers. Fourteen projects were funded out of 55 applications, for a total of $330,000. Funded projects include Gemini Series' intergenerational life-writing program for seniors and high school students (San Antonio, Texas) and Settlement Music School of Philadelphia's Program for Seniors, a comprehensive music instruction and performance program for older adults (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

Please see the complete listing of projects receiving Creativity and Aging in America grant support in this first round of fiscal year 2009 funding.

Literature Fellowships are the Arts Endowment's most direct investment in American creativity, encouraging the production of new work and allowing writers the time and means to write. The fellowships alternate annually between poetry and prose. For fiscal year 2009, 42 poets will receive fellowships of $25,000 each for a total of $1,050,000. The poets recommended for funding include Nickole Brown of Louisville, Kentucky, Samuel Greene of Waldron Island, Washington, Bob Hickok of Blacksburg, Virginia, and C. Dale Young of San Francisco, California.

Please see the complete list of 2009 Creative Writing fellows.

A state-by-state listing of the four categories is also available.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established, bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Additional Performances Announced for Kooza in Atlanta

18 performances added - February 10 to 22, 2009

Due to overwhelming demand, Cirque du Soleil™ announced that 18 additional performances, from February 10 to 22, 2009, will be added to the KOOZA show schedule in Atlanta. Proudly presented by iShares, KOOZA will perform for a limited engagement under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) in Atlantic Station.

Tickets for these 18 additional performances will be available beginning Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 9:00am online at cirquedusoleil.com or by calling 1 800 678-5440.

TICKET PRICES (Taxes Included)• $55- $125 for adults;• $38.50- $87.50 for children aged 2 to12 inclusive;• $49.50- $112.50 for students 13 and older (Tuesday to Thursday, and Friday at 4:00 p.m. only)

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE• Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.• Thursdays thru Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.• Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. • No performances on Mondays.
A VIP Tapis Rouge™ package includes one of the best seats in the house, as well as access to the VIP suite one hour before the show and during intermission. The adult package is available for $215 and the child package for $150.50 (aged 2 to 12 years old). Prices include taxes.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.
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America's Most Beloved Musical 'Annie' Returns to The Grand

America’s most beloved musical, “Annie,” is back in its 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to Macon for two shows at The Grand Opera House, a performing arts center of Mercer University, Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 16-17. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tickets range $45-$49 and can be purchased through Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470 or online at TheGrandMacon.com.

Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and the ever-optimistic “Tomorrow,” “Annie” is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. “One of the best musicals ever,” proclaims the “Chicago Tribune.” The “Chicago Sun-Times” says, “Ageless “Annie” as engaging as ever.”

Set in New York City during the holiday season, the musical tells the tale of 11-year-old Annie, who decides to run away to find her parents who left her with nothing but half of a silver locket and a written promise to return. Annie sneaks out of the New York City Municipal Orphanage and comes across Sandy, an abandoned mutt who becomes her fast friend and constant companion. Soon after her escape, the police catch up with Annie, and she is returned to the villainous orphanage director Miss Hannigan. In the meantime, Grace Farrell, personal secretary of billionaire Oliver Warbucks, pays a visit to the orphanage. Warbucks wants to invite an orphan to visit his mansion for the Christmas holiday, and though Miss Hannigan does everything in her power to discredit Annie, Grace is drawn to the girl and is determined to take her back to the mansion. As Warbucks gets to know the young girl he decides to help her find her parents.

The original Broadway production of “Annie” won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score. It ran for 2,377 performances, and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest-running shows in Broadway history, and “Annie” continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.

“Annie,” with music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meehan, is again directed by its lyricist, Martin Charnin, who brought the original production of “Annie” to Broadway in 1977. Tony Award-winning set designer, Ming Cho Lee, has created a fresh look for this new production.

In addition to Charnin, Meehan, Strouse and Lee, the creative team for “Annie” includes original Broadway musical staging by Peter Gennaro, choreography by Liza Gennaro, lighting design by Ken Billington, costume design by Theoni Aldridge and sound design by Peter Hylenski. “Annie” is being produced by Networks Presentations, LLC. For more information, visit annieontour.com.

Tickets for the Macon performances of “Annie” are available now through Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or online anytime at TheGrandMacon.com. “Annie” is the third of seven nationally-touring shows in The Grand’s 2008-2009 Broadway Series that runs from October to May.

The Grand Opera House, a performing arts center of Mercer University, is a historical 1,000-seat theater located in downtown Macon, Ga. The Grand brings the very best in live, professional performing arts and entertainment to central Georgia. In addition to its popular “Broadway Series” of nationally touring productions and its “GrandKids Arts Education Series” for thousands of elementary, middle and high school students, The Grand hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. It is also home to the Macon Symphony Orchestra and The Nutcracker of Middle Georgia. For a complete schedule of upcoming performances, contact Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470 or visit TheGrandMacon.com.

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Theater of the Stars Announces Postponement of Production of TARZAN

Difficult economic times and the resulting general falloff in ticket sales has caused Theater of the Stars to indefinitely postpone its planned production of TARZAN® which was originally scheduled to play the Fox Theatre from January 16-25, 2009.

“Like most Performing Arts organizations, the recent economic turmoil has severely affected our ticket sales and as a result our cash flow,” states Nick Manos, President of Theater of the Stars. “As much as we love this show and have the greatest faith in our creative team and actors, it is impossible for us to continue with this exciting but intricate and expensive project at this time. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the production indefinitely until economic conditions improve sufficiently to allow the show to be produced in an appropriate scale and manner.”

“We sincerely apologize to all of our subscribers and patrons for the inconvenience that this action has caused,” adds Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. “We hope that you will continue to support Theater Of The Stars and other Performing Arts organizations during these difficult times. The Arts are an important aspect of the fabric of every major city especially in troubled times.”

Theater Of The Stars subscribers are being notified by mail separately about plans for replacing the show and how season tickets monies will be handled. Existing single and group ticket holders to the Atlanta engagement have two redemption options:

• Return their tickets to the point of purchase for a refund.
• If they purchased their tickets through Ticketmaster with a credit card, they will automatically receive a refund in the near future.

Theater of the Stars (TOTS) is one of America’s premier not-for-profit Regional Theaters. For over 56 years, TOTS has produced and presented the best of Broadway in Atlanta and throughout America. For more information, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.
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Monday, December 1, 2008

Popular Art Show, Sale Returns to Carrollton December 5

Calling all art lovers and artists. Come celebrate the winter holidays with the second annual “Good Things Come in Small Packages” show and sale.

The exhibit will feature artwork for sale from UWG faculty, students, alumni and community residents from Friday, Dec. 5, to Thursday, Dec. 11. An Opening Party will celebrate the event on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. The party and show is free and the community is invited to attend.

Submissions of up to three works of art no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” can be made by artists for “Good Things Come in Small Packages” at the Main Gallery in the Humanities Building on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and Thursday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Space is available on a first come, first serve basis until the gallery is filled. The specified size can be framed or unframed with the unframed work hung on the wall by pins.

Stephanie Smith, instructor of art and coordinator of the Gallery exhibits, said last year’s exhibit sold out.

“In these tough economic times, making the choice to support local artists and buying something handmade and unique is a powerful statement,” said Smith. “Giving handmade items is a gift from the heart.”

Last December, the Main Gallery was filled with a an eclectic range of works including oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings, photography, charcoal, pencil and ink drawings, ceramics, mixed media, printmaking and sculpture.

“This exhibition is an opportunity for students, faculty and the local art community alike to exhibit their work side by side,” said Smith. “We can share in their ideas and their inspiration.”
Take the opportunity to own a work of art at reasonable prices and benefit both the artist and the Department of Art. For more information, call 678-839-4950 or email slsmith@westga.edu.

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Magic Duo Presents Land of Illusion December 12

Stay close to home and enjoy a spectacular holiday extravaganza with modern day Houdinis Kevin and Cindy Spencer at the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts. The dazzling duo will present “The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion” on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. on the University of West Georgia campus.

The family show will cross the threshold of reality as the theatre of illusion launches you into a world of magic, comedy, romance and suspense. The Spencers propel the art of magic into an unforgettable theatrical experience for the entire family. Early ticket purchases are recommended, said Robert Jennings, artistic director of the Townsend Center.

“This is a wonderful holiday event for the community to enjoy,” said Jennings. “The high caliber of the entertainment matches other metro shows easily and the festive decorations will delight the children.”

The Spencers’ performance will follow the annual Rudolph to the Rescue Toy Drive and reception, a Department of Family and Children Services benefit for underprivileged children of Carroll County. The community is invited to join in the festivities in the lobby before the show at 6:30 p.m.

The Spencers are international stars and have been named Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year for six consecutive years. No other performer has held the title longer and only one other magician, David Copperfield, has received such recognition.

They have also been honored as the Best Touring Production, Best Major Performance, Best Variety Artists and Best Performing Arts Event. In 1996 and 2000, winning over such contenders as the Dave Matthews Band and Garth Brooks, they were recognized as College Entertainers of the Year. This show is one not to be missed.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and military, and $10 for children. Discount packages for purchases of three or more shows scheduled for December and the upcoming spring semester are available. TCPA Box Office hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and one hour before the start of the event. For more information, call 678-839-4722.

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Friday, November 21, 2008

New TV Show Supports Southside Arts

A new television show promoting the visual and performing arts began broadcasting Friday, November 21 on Comcast channel 25 in Fayette County. Produced by the Southside ARTS Agenda and Zeel TV for Comcast Cable Television it will also be carried by Charter Cable Television as well as Nu-Tel Cable. The month long, daily one-hour program will showcase arts events in Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, South Fulton, Spalding and Troup counties. The program’s Executive Producer is Andre De Lorenzo with Sue Ann Taylor, CEO of Zeel TV, Producer.

Currently the program can be viewed on Comcast channel 25 in Fayette County and on channel 22 in South Fulton County. Broadcast in areas served by Charter and Nu-Tel cable companies will begin shortly.

The pilot show, taped at Tyrone’s Legacy Theatre includes interviews and performances by the Henry Players, Georgia Youth Ballet, Ryan Academy of Irish Dance, the Southside Theatre Guild, the Southern Nights Chorale as well as a video tour of the Legacy Theatre.

Planned programming for The Southern Crescent Arts Round-up will contain visits to different theatrical venues throughout the Southern Crescent each month and include a variety of interviews with arts leaders throughout the Southern Crescent, performance segments by professional and community theatres, visits to local arts events and showcase the work of leading visual artists and crafts persons.

“We are very excited and pleased that Comcast Cable Television recognized the importance of the arts in the daily lives of residents throughout the Southern Crescent. Comcast embraced our concept and provided the professional support needed that brought the pilot program to the air in record time,” stated De Lorenzo. “The professional caliber of the visual and performing arts in the Southern Crescent deserve the exposure and recognition that the Southern Crescent Arts Round-up can provide. The fact that Comcast Cable has committed to supporting the arts by broadcasting the Southern Crescent Arts Round-up is a clear demonstration of their dedication to quality local television meeting the needs of our communities,” he continued.

The show can be seen throughout the day at various times until a firm time slot can be programmed into the schedule, however it can be viewed every day in prime time at approximately 8:00 PM Sunday through Saturday. An up-to-date daily schedule can be obtained on the Peachtree City Web site at www.pechtree-city.org/video .

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Southeastern Ballet Company To Perform at Ashley park, Nov. 29 and 30

Southeastern Ballet Company (SBC), principal dancers and soloists will perform highlights from its upcoming production, Le Petit Nutcracker Sweet, along with guest students from Classical Dance Theatre (CDT), at the Tree Lighting festivities at Ashley Park in Newnan on Saturday, November 29. SBC and CDT dancers will take the outdoor stage between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. that evening... Click to read: Southeastern Ballet Company To Perform at Ashley park, Nov. 29 and 30

Generations Gallery in The Village at Indian Springs welcomes author Estelle Ford-Williamson Saturday November 22nd

Ms. Ford-Williamson will address the free Kid’s Write Workshop at 11:00 am and the free Adult Writer’s Workshop at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 22 at the Generations Gallery in Indian Springs.

Estelle Ford-Williamson is a writer and teacher in north Georgia and former UPI reporter. Ms. Ford-Williamson’s research into period customs, from railroads to women’s roles resulted in her work “Abbeville Farewell”: a novel of early Atlanta and North Georgia.

Ms. Ford-Williamson will be available to autograph her books and meet guests of the Gallery as time permits.

Generations Gallery
is located in The Village at Indian Springs
1825 Highway South
Indians Springs, Georgia 30216
6 miles south of Jackson, Georgia

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Monday, November 17, 2008

BCTC Presents “Eclipsed” November 18-23

The Berry College Theatre Company will present “Eclipsed,” a doleful tale of unmarried mothers separated from their children and condemned to slavery in convent-run laundries, Nov. 18-23 in the E.H. Young Theatre. Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 opening night and $7 for all other performances. Call 706-236-2263 for more information.

Written by Patricia Burke Brogan, “Eclipsed” is set in Ireland circa 1963. The women in the story – though subjugated by a good nun/bad nun duo – prove to be a colorfully resilient brigade. This work of historical fiction is filled with entertaining characters and plenty of dirty laundry hung out to dry.

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Friday, November 14, 2008

Support Student Performers at Scholarship Cabaret, Nov. 22-23

Experience spirited theatrics and dynamic harmonies at the 10th annual VSU Theater and Dance Scholarship Cabaret at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23, in the fellowship hall of St. John’s Catholic Church, 800 Gornto Rd. Doors open at 6 p.m., during which time guests will enjoy appetizers and assorted wines and tea. A dinner, including stuffed chicken breast, garlic cheddar biscuits and sautéed vegetables, will be served at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the hour-long performance of musical theater classics and contemporary favorites, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., has provided scholarships for hundreds of talented theater and dance students.

VSU Theater and Dance professor, Jacque Wheeler, who has been involved with the cabaret since its inception, said money raised during the event enables the department to provide passionate student artists with scholarships so they can focus on their demanding craft instead of working to pay for classes.

“These scholarships enable students to commit more fully to the program without the necessity of maintaining a part time job, and they serve as the reward for students' excellent contributions to the program," Wheeler said. "The scholarships continue to help attract students of the highest caliber to Valdosta State University’s theatre and dance programs.”

Assistant Professor of Musical Theater Voice Michael Elliott is musical director for the program, “By the Numbers,” which features a range of standards from the Beatles’ “When I’m 64” to popular love song, “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Students will also perform musical theater favorites, like the toe-tapping “Tea for Two” from the musical comedy "No, No, Nanette" and “Three Coins in the Fountain” from Stuart Ross’ "Forever Plaid."

“We have an outstanding variety of great numbers from old standards to new favorites that everyone will enjoy,” said Elliott, who has provided musical direction for the cabaret since arriving at VSU in 2005. “This year’s group of students is one the strongest we’ve had, allowing us to perform some more difficult arrangements.”

Tickets, which include the dinner, cabaret performance and a donation to the scholarship fund, cost $40 per person. Call Associate Professor Duke Guthrie, area head of VSU Theater and Dance, at (229) 333-5307, to make reservations.

The Golden Circle Board - a volunteer group of university and community leaders dedicated to promoting VSU Theater and Dance programs and raising funds for scholarships - has coordinated the event since 1998.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

"Three Blond Moms" Comes to Atlanta Dec. 10 - 14

The hysterical national hit starring some REALLY Desperate Housewives!
Who saw mommy kissing Santa Clause while lighting the Menorah?!

***December 10-14, 2008**

3 Blonde Moms is making a stop in Atlanta for a limited engagement at the 14th Street Playhouse, December 10 – 14, 2008. From television, stage and screen, the stars of this production are some really “Desperate Housewives!”

This topnotch, high-energy, PG-13 comedy is jam-packed full of hilarious material about being a mom, having a mom, kids, schools, husbands, in-laws and more. If you have a family, know a family, or want a family, this is the show for you!

Three completely different moms from the cul-de-sac talk about everything moms go through in their daily lives in the most hysterical of ways. Throughout the performances, audience members will laugh alongside the relatable characters as they reveal very true-to-life insights.

3 Blonde Moms features an outstanding cast of female comedians. The real-life moms performing in the show include Joanie Fagan, Beaumont Bacon and Jennifer Rawlings.

After seeing Joanie Fagan perform, producers of “The Drew Carey Show” fell in love with her perky personality and wrote her into their show’s script as President of the Optimists’ Club.

Jennifer Rawlings, who has never turned down an invitation to perform for our troops overseas, has a hearty fan base following from country stars like Tim McGraw and Lonestar to former Vice President Al Gore.

The wacky Southern Beaumont Bacon was featured in the movie “Jerry McGuire,” has had guest-starring roles on sitcoms and more.

3 Blonde Moms launched its theatrical tour at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2005 and has been selling out large venues all over the country ever since. The show was voted "hit of the festival" and "most buzz worthy" in many entertainment industry trade publications including the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety.

3 Blonde Moms is brought to you by the nationally renowned producers GFour Productions.

3 Blonde Moms is hosting a food drive at 14th Street Playhouse to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. We encourage ticket holders to bring canned/non-perishable food items to the theatre for donation.

Performances are Wednesday, December 10, through Sunday, December 14, at 8 p.m., with an additional matinee on Sunday, December 14, at 4 p.m.

Single tickets are $39.50 and can be purchased at the theatre box office, by calling 404.733.4754 or going online to www.14thstplayhouse.org. Discounts for groups of 10+ are available by calling 404.606.2323. Group packages offered by the Fur Bus; for more information call 404.303.8950.

The 14th Street Playhouse is located at 173 14th Street in Atlanta. For more information and directions, please visit www.14thstplayhouse.org.

For further information about 3 Blonde Moms, please visit www.3blondemoms.com.
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Award-winning Author to be Keynote Speaker at GSU Women's Forum November 17

Southeast Georgia area women are invited to attend lunch with award-winning author Mary Kay Andrews at Georgia Southern University's Women's Forum on Monday, Nov. 17.

Tapped as the forum's keynote speaker, Andrews is a former reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the author of 10 critically-acclaimed mysteries including Savannah Breeze, Blue Christmas, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies and Savannah Blues. Her books may be purchased on-site the day of the forum.

Sponsored by the University's Continuing Education Center, the Women’s Forum will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building on the Georgia Southern campus. The forum provides an opportunity for women to socialize, network, and address issues that face women.

The $25 fee includes the cost of lunch. For registration or exhibitor information, contact Sybil Fickle at (912) 478-5557 or visit http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted/womensforum.html.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Arts Clayton Names Grant Recipients for Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Newton, Rockdale and Spalding Counties

Arts Clayton has announced its annual Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) grants to organizations in Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Newton, Rockdale and Spalding Counties. Over the next year, the projects of thirty-one organizations will be partially funded through the GAP program. South Side area organizations received grants totaling over twenty-six thousand dollars as part of the statewide Grassroots Arts Program. Each project was selected for their proposal to provide new art experiences for the community or to expand existing art programs and reaching out to new audiences.

The Grassroots Arts Program is funded by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly to ensure all Georgians have access to the arts activities which enrich our lives. Every Georgia County receives an equal per-capita allocation. Arts Clayton was once again selected by the Georgia Council for the Arts as a Grassroots Agency to administer this exciting program for the ten counties in the Southside region for fiscal year 2009. Arts Clayton, as the appointed re-granting agency, is responsible for promoting, collecting applications, developing, coordinating and administering the program in Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Newton, Rockdale and Spalding Counties in accordance with State regulations.

This statewide arts program is designed to encourage local collaborations between artists, arts organizations, and non-arts organizations, in order to serve a broad range of Georgia’s residents. Funding is open to any non-profit organization or unit of local government. Ideally, Grassroots Arts Projects create new opportunities for citizens to experience the arts, while fostering greater awareness and developing local partnerships in the arts. GAP also aims to have a positive impact on overall community development in these growing counties. Funded projects must be accessible to the general public, must provide 50% of the total project cost as a cash match for the grant, and projects must be completed by June 30, 2009.

The Grassroots Advisory Committee of 20 volunteers representing all ten counties in the region, met October 25th to determine and recommend funding allocations. The Committee, which was comprised of individuals with a variety of backgrounds in areas such as tourism, as artist, educators, journalists, business owners, retired military, political representatives, homemakers, and medical professionals, faced a very difficult task with over $70,000 in art grant funding requests and only $47,674.63 available to re-grant.

Primary consideration was given to applications reflecting art projects with a commitment to EXCELLENCE, ACCESSIBILITY, EDUCATION, COLLABORATION and SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ARTISTS. Projects with the potential for lasting impact and positive change took precedence. Funded projects for fiscal year 2009 are:

BUTTS COUNTY: Butts County Parks and Recreation Department, Summer Art Series; Jackson-Butts County Public Library, Summer Reading and Arts Program

CLAYTON COUNTY: City of Riverdale, Riverdale Playhouse Production; Friends of Clayton County Library, “Families Create Art” and “CAT” Community Art Treasures; Hearts to Nourish Hope, Original Production created by Hearts Youth; Pointe South Middle School, International Art and Culture Festival; Rainbow House, “Through A Child’s Eyes” Exhibit

COWETA COUNTY: Centered on Masterworks Chorale, “Music of the Masters; Coweta Community Foundation (Patrons of the Centre), “Annie Get your Gun”; Southeastern Ballet Company, Holiday Spectacular

FAYETTE COUNTY: Association of Village Pride, Kwanza, A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture; Fayette County Society for Fine Art (FSOFA), Spring Art Exhibit; Peachtree City Civic Ballet, The Nutcracker

HENRY COUNTY: Atlanta Festival Ballet, Dancing on the Square; Henry Arts Alliance, Visual Arts Camp and Workshops; Henry County Board of Education, Henry County Arts Festival; Psi Alpha Omega, Art Exhibit; Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra, English Masterworks Concert

JASPER COUNTY: Monticello Better Home Town Program, Restoration / Enhancement of BearLax City Mural; Monticello Little Theatre, Production of “Dearly Beloved”

LAMAR COUNTY: Lamar Arts Organization, Youth Art Camp

NEWTON COUNTY: Covington/Conyers Choral Guild, Performance of “Mass for Children”; Newton County Library, Creative Arts Series; Southern Heartland Arts, Artful Harvest Fall Exhibit

ROCKDALE COUNTY: Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts, “ART” Theatrical Production; New Depot Players, “A Gift of Mystery” Theatrical Production; Peachtree Academy, Youth Art Series

SPALDING COUNTY: Camelot Theatre, Radio Story Drama; Closer Look Ministries, “IMAGINE” Storytelling Festival; Griffin Area Arts Alliance, “Arts Alive” Weekly Radio Broadcast; Griffin Choral Arts, Spring Concert “Sweet Lovers Love the Spring”; Main Street Players, Free Night of Theatre- Audience Outreach and Development

For further information about these and other local art related events, be sure to check the Community Arts Calendar of Events at the Arts Clayton website, www.artsclayton.org.
For additional information about GAP or to put your name on the GAP mailing list to receive future information for this region contact: Arts Clayton, PO Box 669, Jonesboro, GA 30237 / PH: 770-473-5775 / FAX: 770-473-5422 / email: artline@artsclayton.org.
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Monday, November 10, 2008

The Nutcracker Tea . . . An Interactive, Family Event!

What makes Georgia Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker different from every other Nutcracker in our community? It’s the ONLY interactive, family event where you and your children can fill up on Holiday treats, dance with the infamous characters of the The Nutcracker Ballet, and tell Santa what you want for Christmas! Oh, and of course take home a picture with the jolly ole soul too!

Georgia Dance Theatre has been giving our community this timeless classic for 18 years. Don’t miss out on their newest holiday presentation: an enchanting afternoon that the entire family will enjoy! All children, ages 3 & up, will participate in the event! This is a great way to introduce your child to the stage in a very relaxed atmosphere! Girls can put on their favorite party dress, bring their favorite doll, and dance with the Sugar Plum Fairy, while boys (& girls) can help the Nutcracker doll in the battle against the Rat King! It will be great holiday event that your whole family will enjoy!

The Nutcracker Tea will be held at Bennett’s Mill Middle School on Saturday, December 13th at 5pm and Sunday, December 14th, at 5pm. Bennett’s Mill Middle School is located at 210 Lester Road, Fayetteville, GA. Tickets to this all-inclusive event are just $10 and can be purchased online at www.gadance.com with VISA or MasterCard! Make sure to purchase tickets for the entire family as soon as possible!

For more information, please call (770) 631-3128 or visit our website at www.gadance.com. Come celebrate the holidays with Georgia Dance Theatre, where passion, tradition, creativity, and performance is their gift to the community this holiday season!
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A Chorus Line Comes to The Fabulous Fox Theatre

The 30th Anniversary Production of A CHORUS LINE comes to The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta for a special engagement March 3 – 8, 2009, presented by Fidelity Investments Broadway Across America - Atlanta. Winner of nine Tony® Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, A CHORUS LINE showcases a group of working dancers auditioning for a Broadway musical while revealing their individual stories, personal joys and disappointments. A CHORUS LINE is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

This new production of A CHORUS LINE reclaimed its place in the heart of Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 W 45th St) where it opened to rave reviews on October 5, 2006. Ben Brantley of The New York Times hails the show “Heaven on Broadway!” Elysa Gardner of USA Today calls it “Exhilarating and endearing, it still has a freshness and fervency too seldom seen in contemporary musicals,” while The New York Daily News exclaims “There’s nothing better! The show thrills from the opening number to the glittering finale,” and Jeffrey Lyons of WNBC TV hails it "An American Masterpiece. A show for the ages." A CHORUS LINE is directed by its original Tony® Award-winning co-choreographer Bob Avian and is produced by John F. Breglio.

A CHORUS LINE, conceived and originally choreographed and directed by Michael Bennett, features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Baayork Lee re-stages the original choreography.

Tickets for A CHORUS LINE go on sale Sunday, November 16 and prices start at $18 (subject to change). They can be purchased through authorized ticket sellers at The Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street NE), Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 404-817-8700. For group orders of 15 or more, please call 404-881-2000.

The performance schedule for Atlanta’s engagement of A CHORUS LINE is as follows:

Tuesday, March 3………….……8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4……………8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 5……………….8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 6…………………..8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 7……………….2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 8…………………1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

To learn more about A CHORUS LINE, please visit the official A CHORUS LINE website at www.AChorusLine.com.

Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and led by Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Current productions include Tony Award-winners BOEING BOEING and SPAMALOT, 13 A NEW MUSICAL, as well as THE BACKYARDIGANS. Upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, DORA THE EXPLORER and the Broadway premiere of Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS opening this 2008 holiday season. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
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WICKED Breaks Box Office Records at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta

Broadway’s biggest Blockbuster, WICKED, flew out of The Fox Theatre Sunday night, November 2, after a record-breaking engagement. Over 136,000 patrons were in attendance at a total of 32 performances. WICKED broke The Fox Theatre’s Box Office record in each of the four weeks it played.

“We are thrilled with the success of WICKED and the experience that we have been able to provide to our patrons. This was a much anticipated production, and we have received a wonderful response from the community who truly embraced the show,” said Stephanie Parker, vice president of Broadway Across America – Atlanta.

Broadway Across America – Atlanta is thrilled to begin its season with a show as phenomenal as WICKED and invites the public to get more information on the rest of the 2008-2009 schedule. For season ticket information, please call 1-800-278-4447 (Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm) or visit www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and led by Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Current productions include Tony Award-winners BOEING BOEING and SPAMALOT, 13 A NEW MUSICAL, as well as THE BACKYARDIGANS. Upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, DORA THE EXPLORER and the Broadway premiere of Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS opening this 2008 holiday season. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
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Woodruff Arts Center Introduces New Campus-wide Gift Card

The Woodruff Arts Center introduces the perfect gift for the entertainment lover in your life – the all new, campus-wide gift card. This gift card is now available for purchase and can be redeemed for tickets, memberships, season subscriptions to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and High Museum of Art, as well as to purchase programming provided by Young Audiences.

The gift card can also be used to buy:

- items in the High Museum of Art and Symphony Stores;
- food and beverages at Table 1280, the High Café, Fanfare, intermission bars and food carts; and
- parking in the Woodruff Arts Center parking garage located on Arts Center Way.

The Woodruff Arts Center gift card is available in any denomination ($5 minimum) and allows the recipient of the card to have complete freedom of choice as to how it is used. Whether they love music, enjoy the theatre, appreciate masterpieces, or just want to have an elegant dinner – the gift card provides the total arts experience.

Woodruff Arts Center gift cards are available for purchase at the following locations:

- Box offices – located in the Memorial Arts Building (on the corner of Peachtree and 15th Streets) and the 14th Street Playhouse (on the corner of 14th and Juniper Streets)
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra gift shop
- High Museum of Art gift shops
- The Woodruff Arts Center Website (www.woodruffcenter.org)

For more information regarding the Woodruff Arts Center gift card, please visit www.woodruffcenter.org call the box office at (404) 733-5000.
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Sunday, November 9, 2008

Four Coweta Dancers in GA Youth Ballet's Performance of Nutcracker



Shows run from December 12-14 at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone.

According to Mary Caroline Moore of the Georgia Youth Ballet, there will be four Coweta County dancers in this year's four performances of the famed Nutcracker. Her daugher, Emily Moore, who has performed in many of the GYB's productions during the past several years, has graduated and is now dancing in college! But her sister, Ann Moore, is still here and she will be one of the Nutcracker performers, dancing as a sheep in the Court of the Sugar Plum Fairy in all four of the shows. Ann lives in Newnan.

Emily Ward of Senoia will be dancing as the Dream Fairy in two of the shows, and as the lead Russian in the other two shows. Olivia Jenkins from Sharpsburg will be the shepherdess in two shows, and the Arabian in two shows. The fourth Cowetan, Raegan Barnhill of Sharpsburg, who is a former GYB student and now is one of the teachers, will be a dancer in the Snow and Flowers scene. According to Moore, this is the first time a teacher has ever been one of the performers in the Ballet corps.

All four of the shows will be held at Patriot Hall in Sandy Creek High School. The first show will be Family Night on Friday, December 12 at 7:30 PM. Tickets for this show are $8. The other three shows will be on Saturday December 13 at 2:30 PM and 8:00 PM, and on Sunday, December 14 at 2:30 PM. The ticket prices for these shows will be $15 for adults and $12 for students (and also senior citizens).

Information on the Georgia Youth Ballet is available on their website http://www.gyb.us

Sandy Creek High School is located at 360 Jenkins Road in Tyrone in Fayette County.

By Forrest Schultz

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Friday, October 31, 2008

West Georgia Theatre Company Presents Flyin' West November 11-16

Is sisterhood strong enough to get through the most difficult situations? The gripping story of “Flyin’ West” by Atlanta playwright Pearl Cleage explores the strong bond of sisterly love and finding a place to call home. Please join the West Georgia Theatre Company as they proudly present their second production of the 2008-09 season with a play about independence, loyalty and the strength to persevere.

Performances for “Flyin’ West” will be begin with a community preview on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts. Performances follow from Wednesday, Nov. 12, to Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee on Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m. All performances will be in the Richard L. Dangle Theatre of the TCPA.

Taking place after the Great Colored Exodus of 1879, “Flyin’ West” tells the story of three sisters who travel West to find a place they can finally call their own. When one of them returns with a judgmental husband whose father happens to be an ex-slave owner, the other sisters know that they must let nothing and no one come between them and their home. This powerful play portrays what it really means to be a family.

The tight-knit family is comprised of powerful and memorable characters. Miss Leah and Sophie are played by Chantal Mpezo and Tangela Large of East Point; Fannie is played by Erika Ragsdale of Stone Mountain; Will Parish is played by Justin Allen of Tucker; Minnie is played by Paschelle Perryman of Covington; and Frank is played by Chris Ringkamp of Marietta.

Do not miss this touching, humorous production of Cleage’s “Flyin’ West,” directed by Atlanta’s own Andrea Frye. Frye, guest director for the West Georgia Theatre Company, has previously directed “Flyin’ West” twice, in both Atlanta at the True Colors Theatre and in Washington, D.C.

Ticket prices for the community preview are discounted at $3. All other show tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children and free to UWG students with ID. TCPA box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and one hour prior to the performance.

For more information, call 678-839-4722.

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