ABOUT TOWN: Love is a four letter word
But there’s more to this February
The month of February brings with it amorous tales and other existential entanglements, presented on stage in all their toxic glory. Also, the Martha Graham Dance Company returns to Atlanta for the first time in decades, the Oddities & Curiosities Expo opens downtown, and a musical about the great Tina Turner plays at The Fox. The eagle-eyed among you will notice that playwright Katori Hall is behind two of this month’s listings.
From her website, one learns that Hall is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright from Memphis, Tennessee. She won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, The Hot Wing King, which she is directing in Atlanta for the first time at the Alliance Theatre. It was for Broadway that Hall most recently wrote and produced the hit musical, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, based on the life of the popular singer, the production of which will play Atlanta’s Fox Theatre this month.
Now through Sun., Feb. 12
Completeness, Stage Door Theatre — Two graduate students, Elliot and Molly, hook up in the computer laboratory on campus. Played by local actors Chris Hecke and Irene Polk, the comedy examines what happens next while depicting the precariousness of relationships and their self-destructive proclivities. The production is helmed by director Joey Davila (Horizon and Essential theaters) and current Development Director of Stage Door. “This is a unique love story at its core,” Davila says. “We root for couples we know so often in real life, and how often are we actually right? How crushed do we feel when we see two people breakup that we were hoping would stay together?” Originally commissioned by the Manhattan Theatre Club, the play was first presented 12 years ago by South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa and was last staged as a virtual performance by Atlanta’s Horizon Theatre in September of 2020. Artistic Director Justin Ball says he was drawn to the project immediately. “When you have the level of talent and excitement for this specific show, especially from actors like Chris Hecke who have worked with the play and the playwright before, there’s no way you pass on a golden opportunity like that.” — Kevin C. Madigan
$15-$35 Stage Door Theatre, Cultural Arts Building, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody 30338. 770-396-1726 stagedoortheatrega.org/completeness
Now through Sun., Feb. 19
Kim’s Convenience, Aurora Theatre — A Netflix sitcom about a Korean family in Toronto running a neighborhood store is now on stage at the Aurora. Played by James Yi, irascible owner Mr. Kim spends his days dispensing fatherly wisdom, history lessons and potato chips from behind the counter, the synopsis explains, while fending off attempts by developers to buy him out; he’s also navigating recalcitrant relatives and pesky customers. Kim’s wife Umma is played by Yingling Zhu, and Caroline Donica and Ryan Vo are the couple’s adult children, Janet and Jung. The play - written by Ins Choi about his own father - debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2011 and ran for six years. John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote that the show “stays away from the pseudo-seriousness that could easily plague a comedy about immigrants and family dynamics,” and called it “a clever, generally engaging screwball comedy with an eye on entertainment.” — Kevin C. Madigan
$28. All performances will be accompanied by Korean supertitles. Lawrenceville Arts Center, 153 Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 30046. 678-226-6222 lvilleartscenter.com
Now through Sun., Feb. 19
Urinetown, Conant Performing Arts Center — The extolled satirical musical is being presented this month at Oglethorpe University as an opener for the 35th season of Actor’s Express. The dystopian tale involves a corrupt megacorporation known as Urine Good Company that aims to monetize the bodily fluids of the local citizenry due to a 20-year drought. The hordes rebel, of course. Themes of capitalism, social irresponsibility, bureaucracy, corporate greed and municipal politics are delved into with abandon. “The fact that the biting satire is washed down with hummable songs and hilarious comedy just makes it work on every level,” director Freddie Ashley says. The cast and creative team includes Actor’s Express veterans such as Jeff McKerley (Fun Home, Head Over Heels), Kevin Harry (Sweeney Todd, Head Over Heels and Murder Ballad), choreographer Precious West (Heathers) and Musical Director Ashley Prince (Lizzie). “I think its themes are more relevant than ever, and it has only gotten funnier as time has gone by.” Variety labeled Urinetown “rousing and infectious” while Time Out observed, “Urinetown packs tremendous fun.” — Kevin C. Madigan
$20 Conant Performing Arts Center, 4484 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven 30319 404-607-7469. Actors-express.com
Sat., Feb. 4 - Sat. Mar. 4
Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse — William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of a doomed romance between two youths is one his most celebrated plays. Published in 1597, Romeo and Juliet draws on a heritage of ill-fated love stories dating back to antiquity. According to Britannica, the appeal of the young hero and heroine, whose families are implacable enemies, has turned them into quintessential star-crossed lovers; the two characters have been depicted in literature, music, dance, and theatre. (The 1968 film version by Franco Zeffirrelli has been in the news of late following a lawsuit filed by its then-teenage stars - Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting - who claim they were forced to do nude scenes against their will). Directed by J.L. Reed, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company production has Sariel Toribio and Destiny Danielle Freeman in the lead roles. “This is the 21st production of Romeo and Juliet we have done in a row - every February,” says spokesperson Jeanette Meierhofer. “As it’s a remount, the director is eager to do a bit of remixing of the great foundation that was laid the year before. What makes this production special is that it’s yet another opportunity to go deeper into the story, theme and characters, and hopefully illuminate things that haven’t been before.” — Kevin C. Madigan
$20. Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse, 499 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30308. 404-874-5299 shakespearetavern.com
Sun., Feb. 5
Martha Graham Dance Company, Rialto Center for the Arts — The last time the Martha Graham Dance Company appeared in Atlanta, Graham herself took the stage to dance “Sarabande,” “Deep Song” and “Frontier,” and the troupe performed with her in “American Document.” The year was 1939. Under the title “The First and The Future,” the company now returns to showcase pieces inspired by her oeuvre and to present new dances created by modern choreographers. “Today, the Company is embracing a new programming vision that showcases masterpieces by Graham alongside newly commissioned works by contemporary artists,” its PR rep says. “These men and women easily embody the choreographer’s sense of dancers as angelic athletes,” says Robert Greskovic of The Wall Street Journal; Marina Kennedy of Broadway World notes, “This is contemporary dance at its very best.” Her Kennedy Center bio says Graham revolutionized dance, lighting, stage designing, costuming and music with her “creative perfectionism,” producing a total of 181 compositions over a 70-year period. Graham was the first dancer to perform at the White House, the first dancer and choreographer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and among the first recipients of the United States National Medal of Arts. Active until the end of her life, Graham was in the midst of creating an opening ceremony piece for the Barcelona Olympics when she died in 1991. — Kevin C. Madigan
$46, $56, $66, $81. 3 p.m. Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, 80 Forsyth Street, Atlanta 30303. 404-413-9849 info@rialtocenter.org rialtocenter.gsu.edu
Fri., Feb. 10 - Sun., Mar. 5
The Hot Wing King, Alliance Theatre — Written and directed by P-Valley creator Katori Hall, the Alliance’s production of The Hot Wing King kicks off this month with a cast featuring Nicco Annan (TV: P-Valley, Off-Broadway: The Hot Wing King) as Big Charles; Bjorn Dupaty (Broadway: Thoughts of a Colored Man) as Cordell; Myles Alexander Evans (Netflix: Teenage Bounty Hunters) as EJ; Armand Fields (TV: The Chi and Queer as Folk) as Isom; Jay Jones (TV: Lovecraft Country, Horizon Theater: Pipeline) as TJ; and Calvin Thompson (Off-Broadway: Couriers and Contrabands, Regional Theatre: The Bluest Eye) as Dwayne. The Pulitzer board called the play a “deeply felt consideration of Black masculinity and how it is perceived filtered through the experiences of a loving gay couple and their extended family” and awarded it its Best Drama prize for 2021. “This play is a love letter to my brother and his partner, inspired by their commitment and love,” says Hall in a news release. “This is the Southeast premiere, and I’m over the moon to be working with such an amazing group of artists and collaborators.” She added, “It’s a story of Black joy and Black love and the risks and rewards of being your true self, and I’m so ready to share it with Atlanta audiences.” — Kevin C. Madigan
Prices and details online. The venue is hosting a Pride Night on Feb. 15 with a pre-show reception (use promo code HWKPRIDE to access the $40 package) as well as a College Night on Feb. 16 featuring a pre-show mixer with dinner & open mic, plus an appearance and Q&A with Katori Hall. (use code COLLEGENIGHT to book a $15 ticket). Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30309. 404-733-4600 alliancetheatre.org
Sat., Feb, 11 - Sun., 12
Oddities & Curiosities Expo, Atlanta Convention Center — Enjoy a showcase of all things weird and macabre, organizers plead, noting that local and national vendors will display an array of taxidermy, preserved animal specimens, original horror artwork, antiques, handcrafted oddities, skulls, bones, and funeral collectibles at this gathering of anomalies. The expo will feature photo ops, tarot reading, sideshow performers and concessions. Curated by Michelle Cozzaglio, the six-year-old Tulsa-based confab is described as “the world’s largest traveling freak show” with classic stunts such as swallowing swords and walking on glass, plus a human pin cushion thrown in for good measure. “(My husband) Tony and I have been organizing offbeat events since 2013 - mainly involving punk and hardcore music,” Cozzaglio told Indy Maven. “As a collector of strange items myself, I thought it would be fun to organize an event catering just to the strange and unusual.” Day-long taxidermy classes are also available for an additional fee. Incidentally, the official blurb insists all animals in the taxidermy class and other parts of the show “are sourced ethically and died of natural causes.” The Oddities Museum which will have its curated show on the premises under the title “The Cryptic Collection of a Mad Clown,” reminiscent of big top attractions of the early 1900s. — Kevin C. Madigan
$10 in advance, $15 at the door. Free for children 12 and under; parental judgment advised. $235 per taxidermy class. 10 a.m - 6 p.m. America’s Mart, 240 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30303. Odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com
Fri., Feb. 17 - Sat., Mar. 4
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change Lyric Studio on the Square — Marietta Theatre Company kicks off the 2023 season with the musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Book and lyrics are by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts. It is the second-longest running Off-Broadway musical and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award in 1997. It’s “hilarious and heartwarming,” say producers at the Marietta Theatre Company, adding, “This musical celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as ‘the relationship.’ Through sketches and songs, the show explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while revealing the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, not to mention pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. The revue pays tribute to those “who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, ‘Say, what are you doing Saturday night?’” The cast includes Jordan Mitchell, Joshua Baldwin, Leah Keelan, Nicholas Baggarley, Susannah Carson and Sophia Decker. Director Corianna Di Julio says, “This musical will showcase our comic approach to life and love when we embrace the joy, humor, and eccentricity in our relationships. Love is in the air, with just enough sweetness or change to go around.” — Kevin C. Madigan
Prices online. Lyric Studio on the Square, 12 Powder Springs Street, Marietta 30064 mariettatheatre.com
Tue., Feb. 21- Sun., Feb. 26
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Fox Theatre — When she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, Tina Turner became one of only three women to receive the honor more than once. The fact attests to a remarkable career going back six decades that now includes a musical tribute in her name, which she personally endorses. “It has been years since I toured the US and I am very excited that my own musical can now bring my music and story to my fans in their home cities across America,” Turner says. “It’s a homecoming and that is very special to me.” The cast is led by Naomi Rodgers (Frozen) and Zurin Villanueva (The Lion King, Mean Girls, Shuffle Along, The Book of Mormon) who will evenly share the role of Turner, each playing four (of eight) performances a week. Also starring are Garrett Turner as Ike Turner, Roz White as Zelma Bullock, Ann Nesby as Gran Georgeanna and Lael Van Keuren as Rhonda. It was written by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. “The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll,” the press release says unabashedly. “One of the world’s best-selling artists, Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.” The Hollywood Reporter deems the show “irresistibly uplifting.” — Kevin C. Madigan
$39+ Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30308. 855-285-8499 foxtheatre.org