The New Year begins with Atlanta theaters putting their spin on some of the best Broadway plays in recent memory.
It’s also a homecoming of sorts, with Kent Gash, formerly of the Alliance Theatre, and Kate Warner, formerly of Dad’s Garage, back in town to direct. Meanwhile, Theatrical Outfit’s Tom Key will channel the spirit of painter Mark Rothko in “Red,” which won the 2010 Tony Award for best new play, while the Fox Theatre welcomes the first national tour of “Memphis,” which won the 2010 Tony Award for best new musical. Here’s a look at what’s to come:
“God of Carnage,” Alliance Theatre
Kent Gash, the former Alliance associate artistic director who now teaches at New York University, returns to stage Yasmina Reza's dark comedy about two well-to-do couples who meet to discuss a scuffle between their sons. "What I love about 'God of Carnage' is that on the surface it is hilarious, funny and outrageous," Gash says. "It's a comedy of manners and civilized behavior at the start, until we discover that these people may not be all that well mannered or all that civilized and evolved." Alliance artistic director Susan V. Booth envisioned an African-American cast and invited Gash, who left in 2009, to direct. The vicious comedy, which won the 2009 Tony Award for best new play and was recently made into a film by Roman Polanski, stars Jasmine Guy as Veronica. "Veronica is a tour de force," Gash says, "and Jasmine is fiercely attacking the role." Jan. 11-Jan. 29. 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000, alliancetheatre.org
“Next Fall,” Actor’s Express
Luke is a devout Christian. His lover, Adam, is an atheist. When Luke is injured in a serious accident, his partner must negotiate the delicate matter of Luke's family, who is unaware of their relationship. This is how love goes in Geoffrey Nauffts' haunting play, which Kate Warner directs in a production starring Mitchell Anderson (Adam) and Joe Sykes (Luke). "This is the kind of play where the audience keeps talking about the choices the characters make long after the show is done," Warner says. Adds Express artistic director Freddie Ashley, "It really is about faith and family, but in a very expansive way. The different people in the play have to learn how to understand others who don't see the world the way they do. It's extremely moving, but also very funny." Jan. 12-Feb. 11. 887 West Marietta St. N.W., Suite J-107, Atlanta. 404-607-7469, actorsexpress.com
“Avenue Q,” Horizon Theatre
After a sold-out summer run and a whopping seven Suzi Bass Awards, the zany puppet musical is being re-mounted at the Horizon. Directed by Heidi Cline McKerley, the naughty "Sesame Street" send-up stars Suzi winners Nick Arapoglou (Princeton) and Mary Nye Bennett (Kate Monster). The raunchy puppets-gone-wild tale deals with a bunch of post-college kids grappling with topics like "What Do You Do with a BA in English?," "The Internet Is for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist." No matter that the characters are made of fleece and fur. "Avenue Q" deals with such universal themes as the quest for love, happiness and a sense of purpose in life. The Little Five Points playhouse's intimate digs is the perfect venue for "Avenue Q," winner of the 2004 Tony Award for best new musical. Jan. 13-Feb. 26. 1083 Austin Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-584-7450, horizontheatre.com
“Body of Water,” Aurora Theatre
Lee Blessing's play is "about a man and woman who wake up in a beautiful house with no memory of who they are, where they are or how they got there," says Freddie Ashley, who directs. "A young woman tells them exactly what has happened, but she seems to have an agenda and what she's saying may not be true." The couple is played by husband-and-wife team Mark Kincaid and Tess Malis Kincaid, with Cara Mantella as the mysterious interloper. "Working with Tess and Mark together is a dream come true," Ashley says. "They are both so skilled and there's such an ease between them in the rehearsal room, which isn't always the case with real life couples working together." The two, Ashley says, are "a perfect blend of heart and brains." Jan. 19-Feb. 12. 128 East Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222, auroratheatre.com
“Memphis,” Broadway Across America-Atlanta, Fox Theatre
"Memphis" is the story of a white DJ named Huey Calhoun who falls in love with an electrifying black singer. Set in the segregated South of the 1950s and loosely based on the real-life story of Dewey Phillips, "Memphis" recalls "Hairspray" and "Dreamgirls." The score is by Bon Jovi founding member and keyboardist David Bryan with lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro ("I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"), who also penned the book. For this national tour, Bryan Fenkart plays Huey and Felicia Boswell plays Huey's love interest, Felicia. Jan. 31-Feb. 5. 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-982-2787, ticketmaster.com
“Red,” Theatrical Outfit
Tom Key, Southern Baptist-turned-Roman Catholic, plays Mark Rothko, Russian Jew, suicide victim and a towering figure in the history of contemporary art. "I wanted to portray Rothko," says the Outfit executive artistic director, "because I so identify with his passion." In the play, Rothko says he wants to "create a place where the viewer can live in contemplation with the work and give it some of the same attention and care I gave it. Like a chapel. A place of communion." Says Key: "That's how I see The Balzer Theater at Herren's, a place set apart for the audience to commune with one another and the vision of the story." When he visited Houston's Rothko Chapel, Key says, "I started to weep. It overwhelmed me." Atlanta actor Jimi Kocina plays Rothko's young assistant. Feb. 1-March 11. 84 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. 678-528-1500, theatricaloutfit.org
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