Tickets are now on sale for Horizon Theatre's summer remountings of its hit "Avenue Q," a "PG-13" version outdoors at Piedmont Park and a more adult one indoors at Oglethorpe University's Conant Performing Arts Center.
Early this year, the Atlanta-based Loridans Foundation, the lead funder of the summer theater series in Piedmont Park, a favorite Atlanta rite since 2004, announced that Horizon would replace founding series company Georgia Shakespeare. As part of that announcement, Horizon said it also would transfer “Avenue Q” to the Conant, former home of the now-defunct Georgia Shakespeare, after the park run.
- "Avenue Q: PG-13 Edition" opens at the Promenade green space on Piedmont Park's north end on June 3 for five nightly shows through June 7. The grounds will open at 6 p.m. for picnics, with the performance at 7:30.
Horizon currently has 1,000 free tickets (bring blankets or low beach chairs) and 500 reserved tickets ($15 plus tax and fees) for each evening available at www.horizontheatre.com.
The performance site is most conveniently reached from the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s SAGE Parking Facility. Bring your own picnic (neither alcohol nor glass containers allowed) or purchase from a food truck, with wine, beer, water and soft drinks also available for sale.
- The adult version of "Avenue Q" will open at Oglethorpe University on June 12 for a run through July 12. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 3 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays.
Horizon will present the PG-13 Edition, appropriate for teens, here three times: 3 p.m. June 20, 5 p.m. June 28 and 8 p.m. July 8. Neither version is recommended for small children.
The Conant’s veranda, with food and beverage service, will open two hours before showtime. Guests may bring their own picnic or order through Horizon in advance.
Regular tickets start at as low as $30 (plus tax). VIP tickets, including reserved preshow table, a drink and other perks, start at $45. (Prices change based on availability and demand, so early purchase is suggested.)
Horizon scored seven Suzi Bass Awards (Atlanta’s Tonys) for its 2011 production of the musical-with-puppets, which it describes as “a politically incorrect cross between ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘The Simpsons,’” co-created by “Frozen” songwriter Robert Lopez. The premiere staging and a 2012 encore both set box office records at the long-time Little Five Points theater.
Six of the eight original actors will return, joined by newcomers Molly Coyne as Kate Monster and Natalie Gray as Christmas Eve.
Tickets and information: 404-584-7450, horizontheatre.com.
THEATER
Payne’s ‘Arrangement’ to go off-Broadway
Off-Broadway's Primary Stages theater company has announced that it will present the New York premiere of Atlanta playwright Topher Payne's "Perfect Arrangement" starting in September.
Process Theatre Company gave the drama with comedic elements its Atlanta premiere last fall at Onstage Atlanta. The play made its world premiere at Washington's Source Festival and received the 2014 American Theater Critics Association's Osborn New Play Award.
Set in the 1950s, “Perfect Arrangement” tells the story of Washington neighbors the Martindales and the Baxters, who have lives seemingly as peppy as a sitcom. However, through a secret door at night, they live as two gay couples.
Information: www.primarystages.org.
Atlantans sweep August Wilson Competition
Two promising Atlanta high school performers topped the recent 7th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition held earlier this month at the August Wilson Theatre in New York.
Moyè Light, a junior at McEachern High School in Cobb County, won first place, and Cameron Southerland, a senior at Meadowcreek High School in Gwinnett County, was the runner-up.
The victory was especially meaningful for Light, whose mother and biggest supporter passed away from breast cancer in late January.
An actor and singer since age 6, Southerland is a member of the Mustang Players, Meadowcreek’s theater group.
Presented by Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company and Broadway theater owner-operators Jujamcyn Theaters, the May 4 event featured high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland (Ore.) and Seattle performing monologues by the late American playwright.
First place winner Light received a $3,000 cash prize, and runner-up Southerland, $2,000.
Leon directing play off-Broadway and Atlanta in ‘16
Before Kenny Leon directs Lydia Diamond's "Smart People" for his True Colors Theatre Company at Atlanta's Southwest Arts Center in July 2016, he'll do the same early next year in New York for Second Stage.
The off-Broadway company recently announced that Leon would stage the latest from the “Stick Fly” playwright. “Smart People” probes, through a quartet of Harvard-connected characters, whether social and sexual prejudice is hard-wired into our brains.
Second Stage hasn't announced dates for "Smart People." The True Colors run is July 12-Aug. 7, 2016. Individual tickets on sale July 1: 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com or www.truecolorstheatre.org.
