Atlanta Ballet has revealed some positive numbers from its 2015 fiscal year, covering its 2014-15 season:
- $3.1 million in box office sales, the highest ticket revenue for the company in at least two decades (as far back as its records go). That included $2.1 million from "Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker," breaking a box office record for the second straight year. Total season attendance approached 72,000.
- $4.1 million in contributed income, an increase of more than $1 million over the previous fiscal year.
- $2.2 million in revenue by its school, Centre for Dance Education.
- 13,000 students engaged by the Centre for Dance Education's community programming.
Under the leadership of president and CEO Arturo Jacobus and artistic director John McFall, the company completed the season with a balanced operating budget.
“As an organization, we have never been healthier,” board chairman Allen Nelson said in a statement, “and I am proud of the progress we’ve made in further establishing a distinct Atlanta Ballet brand.”
The news emerged from Atlanta Ballet’s 85th annual meeting, a board gathering.
2014-15 season highlights included the March world premiere of Atlanta Ballet resident choreographer Helen Pickett’s “Camino Real,” based on the 1953 Tennessee Williams’ play; and an encore of French choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot’s “Roméo et Juliette.”
Also at the annual meeting, Nelson (of Crawford & Company) was reelected to his seventh term as chairman. He will be joined on the executive committee for 2015-16 by vice chairs Elizabeth Adams (community volunteer), Kristen Manion Taylor (Delta Air Lines) and David Crosland (Harbert Management Corp.); secretary Kathleen Knous (community volunteer); and treasurer Sue Gibbs (Comcast Corp.).
After its summer hiatus, Atlanta Ballet’s 23-member professional company returns Aug. 18 to prepare for the 2015-16 season, opening with “Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker,” Dec. 11-27 at the Fox Theatre.
More: www.atlantaballet.com.
EVENT
Decatur Book fest details children’s, teen programming
The AJC Decatur Book Festival has released more details on children’s and teen programming for the 10th annual event planned Sept. 4-6.
Highlights are to include appearances by “Skippyjon Jones” author Judy Schachner, “The Day the Crayons Quit” author Drew Daywalt, “Saint Anything” author Sarah Dessen and “Fancy Nancy” co-creators Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser
Schachner, who will be launching a picture book, “Dewey Bob,” about a sweet raccoon in search of a friend, at this year’s festival, gives the free Kidnote talk at 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at Decatur High School’s Performing Arts Center (310 N. McDonough St.).
The festival will kick off Sept. 5, with a children’s parade from the Community Bandstand on Decatur Square led by Daywalt, who will be promoting his follow-up, “The Day the Crayons Came Home.” Participants are invited to dress as their favorite color from the crayon box. Stepping off at 9:30 a.m., the parade will lead to the gym at the Decatur Recreation Center (231 Sycamore St.), the new home of the Children’s Stage.
A second children’s parade, also from the square to the Recreation Center, will start at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 6, led by the “Fancy Nancy” authors. Participants are encouraged to dress their fanciest. Actors from Synchronicity Theatre’s fall presentation of “Fancy Nancy, The Musical!” will join them.
Featured novelists on this year’s Children’s Stage will include Jeanne Birdsall (“Penderwicks in Spring”), Gennifer Choldenko (“Chasing Secrets”), Adam Gidwitz (“Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi?”), Jacqueline Kelly (“The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate”), Ingrid Law (“Switch”) and graphic novelist Craig Thompson (“Space Dumplins”).
Two popular young-adult authors will anchor the Teen Stages (located on the MARTA Plaza). Dessen opens Saturday with a conversation about “Saint Anything,” her newest novel; and on Sunday, Libba Bray shares “Lair of Dreams,” her follow-up to “The Diviners.”
Graphic novelist and real-life roller derby competitor Victoria Jamieson will share her debut novel, “Roller Girl,” and will be joined onstage by members of the Atlanta Derby Brats of the Atlanta Junior Roller Derby League.
Kidnote tickets (limit: four per person) may be obtained at Charis Books & More, Eagle Eye Books, Little Shop of Stories and Tall Tales Books.
Festival schedule: decaturbookfestival.com.
VISUAL ART
KSU’s Zuckerman Museum opening 5 exhibits
Ushering in the school year and fall arts season in a major way, Kennesaw State University’s Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art will open five exhibitions and unveil a permanent installation with a 6-8 p.m. public reception Aug. 22.
The diverse shows explore the theme of legacy. More than 20 artists will be represented by some 70 works exploring relationships between elder and younger, teacher and student and parent and child.
A highlight promises to be "Rites," curated by Atlanta artist Fahamu Pecou, in which four African-American male artists (John Goode, Robert Hodge, Alexis Peskine and Cosmo Whyte) show works that comment on how one becomes a man, and more specifically, a black man. Through Dec. 6.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 492 Prillaman Way, Kennesaw. Free. 470-578-3223, zuckerman.kennesaw. edu.
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