3 fun things in metro Atlanta
SANDY SPRINGS
“Brighton Beach Memoirs” at Act3 Playhouse
Theater fans have the chance to watch 15-year-old Eugene Jerome battle puberty once again. Neil Simon’s Tony-winning stage play, reportedly based on his own life experiences, follows a young Brooklynite as he handles life’s obstacles with comedic results. It all takes place within the confines of a packed abode in the midst of the Great Depression. “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and its pubescent blues mark the first of what some call Simon’s Eugene trilogy. The play’s final three performances take place this weekend at Act3.
8 p.m. Jan. 31-Feb. 1; 3 p.m. Feb. 2. $18-$23; $10-$15 students and seniors age 65 and older. Act3 Playhouse, 6285-R Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 770-241-1905, www.act3productions.org.
ATLANTA
36th Annual Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival at Yaarab Shrine Center
Jugglers from all over the country bring their swords, balls, hankies and other show-stopping equipment for this three-day celebration. Put on by the Atlanta Jugglers Association, it remains the group’s major annual shindig. Spectators watch the devoted practice their craft while the surrounding vendor booths peddle juggling supplies and other fun and funky wares. The uninitiated may get an impromptu lesson from a pro, and juggling workshops often come together on the fly. Juggling shows drop at 2 and 10 p.m. on Saturday. The Seed and Feed Marching Abominable, Atlanta’s kitschy marching band, kicks off the Saturday performance with its wacky pageantry. Jugglers show off their mad skills in hopes of taking home a Phil award, a bragging-rights trophy in the shape of a gold-colored groundhog. The public gets to watch for free, but juggling participants pay $30 for a weekend pass.
5-10 p.m. Jan. 31; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 1; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 2. Free. Yaarab Shrine Center, 400 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta. http://atlantajugglers.org.
DUNWOODY
Caroline Herring at Dunwoody Library
Whether you’ve seen her at Eddie’s Attic or heard her on “All Things Considered” and “A Prairie Home Companion,” you might not get a more intimate Herring performance than this. The Decatur-based singer-songwriter plans on showcasing tunes from her most recent album, “I Will Go Into the Day.” Call it a melting pot, musical mash-up of styles including western swing, jazz, bluegrass and country blues. Although the disc mostly contains originals, Herring tips her folk hat to Joan Baez with a performance of “Donna Donna,” a Yiddish ditty popularized by the ’60s icon.
3 p.m. Feb. 1. Free. Dunwoody Library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-512-4640, www.dekalblibrary.org/branches/dunwoody.html.
