A small theater creates an intensity for those on the stage and in the audience that can be missing in large productions. Here are 11 of Atlanta's intimate professional theaters, each under 250 seats -- many are smaller.
7 Stages Theatre. (Little Five Points) 7 Stages devotes its efforts to performances that stir the political, spiritual and social provocations of our culture. See a show on the Main Stage, with 200 seats or the Backs Stage, with 90 other theater-lovers.
Actor's Express Theatre Company. (At the King Plow Arts Center, Westside) Enjoy a theater environment that focuses on pushing the envelope with new talent. The 175-seat theater offers general admission seating, though there is a premium section for subscribers.
Aurora Theatre. (Lawrenceville) Performances at Gwinnett's only professional theater focus on nurturing a love of theater and cultivating a new generation of theatergoers. The Strickland Family Stage seats 250 visitors, while the more intimate Peach State Federal Credit Union Studio holds 100 guests.
Dad's Garage Theatre. (Old Fourth Ward) Clever original productions and regular improv shows steal the show at Dad's Garage. Performances are currently at 7 Stages, but will move to their new location at the end of 2015, a church on Ezzard Street that promises to be their "forever home."
Hertz Stage. (At Alliance Theatre, Midtown) Alliance Theatre, one of Georgia's premiere theaters, includes multiple stages including the intimate and underground Hertz Stage. 200 guests enjoy general admission seating while experiencing the new voices of American theater.
Horizon Theatre Company. (Little Five Points) Get inspired at Horizon Theatre's 172-seat space, with shows that run year-round and focus on connecting people, inspiring hope and promoting positive change.
OnStage Atlanta. (Decatur) Relax in one of 135 comfortably padded tip-up theater seats at the main stage, or take in a Cabaret-style performance in the more intimate 70-seat second stage. OnStage commits to diverse and eclectic theatrical offerings that have emotionally move audiences since the 1970s.
Red Door Playhouse. (Roswell) The founders of Red Door Playhouse successfully led children's programs for many years before opening in Roswell. High-quality programming in theater, music and visual arts drive the offerings here, with periodic shows in the downstairs 75-seat theater.
Theatrical Outfit. (At The Balzer Theatre at Herren's, Downtown) Atlanta's third-oldest professional theater company brings to life classic and contemporary literature. See stories of southern culture come to life in the 200-seats environmentally-friendly space. The theater's name is a tribute to the restaurant previously housing the space, Herren's Restaurant, the first dining establishment in downtown Atlanta to voluntarily desegregate.
The New American Shakespeare Tavern. (Downtown) If only they had Shakespeare like this when you were in high school. All the work is performed in Original Practice (in the voice of the original playwright,) but with an energy and excitement that ensure you always know what is happening -- even if you doth not speak Elizabethan. Tavern-style seating for about 200 guests includes the opportunity to purchase British pub food and drink.
