The Atlanta Boy Choir recently returned from a tour to Poland and the Czech Republic, and the highlights were many for the 40 men and 40 boys under the direction of maestro Fletcher Wolfe.
- They were invited to perform in Poland in honor of the canonization of Pope John Paul II. A longtime favorite of John Paul, the choir sang many times at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome with the pope participating in the service. One tour stop earlier this month was Saint John's Cathedral in Warsaw.
In honor of his bar mitzvah on June 28 at Atlanta’s Temple Sinai, singer Bryce Zimmerman presented 400 yarmulkes (prayer caps) for Warsaw’s Jewish community.
- At St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow, the choir performed before the 13th century Altarpiece of Veit Stoss, the enormous Gothic altar that is considered a Polish national treasure.
- At Theresienstadt concentration camp, in Terezin, Czech Republic, they sang "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," written by Charles Davidson from poems by children imprisoned at the camp. They later sang "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" before an overflowing and, in many cases, emotional crowd at Prague's Church of Our Lady Before Tyn.
Now back home, the boy choir will host a “Singin’ and Soccer” summer camp July 21-25 for boys ages 7 to 13 ($50).
1215 S. Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-378-0064, www.atlantaboychoir.org.
THEATER
Atlantan’s musical makes jump to N.Y.
"The show must go on" is one of show biz's most cliched expressions, but in the case of "The Snow Queen," it's true.
Featuring music by Atlanta composer Haddon Kime, the pop-rock musical made a well-received world premiere at San Jose Repertory Theatre last December and became an official selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.
And even though San Jose Rep earlier this month closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy after a 34-year run, it will be showcased at the prestigious fest, which runs July 7 through 27.
“The Snow Queen may have started at San Jose Rep, but our NYMF performances are being independently financed by us,” Kime explained to the AJC an an email. “So it’s still a go.”
In fact, Atlanta support is helping the production, a fantastical coming-of-age tale based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story, make its New York debut. Kime and his partners started an LLC in Georgia and ran a Kickstarter campaign. Nearly a third of the $65,000 they raised was pledged by Atlantans. Some 40 metro supporters will be in the Big Apple for opening night, July 14.
Adapted by former San Jose Rep artistic leaders Kirsten Brandt and Rick Lombardo, the steampunk-inspired show will have five performances through July 20 at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center. (Tickets, $25, www.nymf.org/SnowQueen.)
Kime's off-Broadway credits include "The Atheist," "Haymarket" and "The Blowin of Baile Gall." His regional work includes "By The Way, Meet Vera Stark" and "Managing Maxine" for the Alliance Theatre. To hear samples of his work: www.haddonkime.com.
VISUAL ART
African-American show in north Georgia
Piedmont College’s museum is hoping to tempt metro Atlantans who appreciate African-American art to make a summer day-trip visit to the northeast Georgia town of Demorest, roughly 90 minutes from Spaghetti Junction.
Through Aug. 27, the college’s Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art is showing “Umoja,” 17 works by 15 artists from the collection of Norm and Carnetta Davis of Birmingham, Ala.
“The African word translates to ‘unity’ and serves the collection well, describing the diverse but unified front the artists in the collection bring the audience,” museum director Daniel White said.
Included are pieces by Romaire Bearden, David Driskell and Kara Walker. Atlanta artists represented include Larry Walker (Kara’s father), Freddie Styles and Charly Palmer.
Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Reception: 5-7 p.m. Aug. 21. 567 Georgia St., Demorest. 706-894-4201, www.piedmont.edu/FA/index.php.
Georgia Museum appoints curator
The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia has selected Sarah Kate Gillespie as its curator of American art. Gillespie, who starts in Athens on July 1, most recently an assistant professor of art history at York College, City University of New York.
The Georgia Museum of Art’s holdings are strongest in American art of the 19th and 20th centuries, and Gillespie’s responsibilities will include planning a reinstallation of its permanent collection galleries.
DANCE
‘Dream Team’ to lead Georgia Ballet school
The Georgia Ballet has announced Fiona Fairrie as director of the School of the Georgia Ballet and Orlando Molina in the newly created job of school principal.
The Marietta company’s associate school director for more than a year, Fairrie is a graduate of the Royal Ballet in London and a former soloist with Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet.
The Cuban-born Molina, who has taught at the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, has extensive international dance education, performance and teaching experience.
Georgia Ballet class registration will begin Aug. 11. 770-528-0881, www.georgiaballet.org.
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