Get your tickets early for these plays, festivals, concerts and exhibits coming to Atlanta in February.
This story originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Living Northside magazine.
Theater: Inner beauty
In the 1991 film "Dogfight," Vietnam-bound Marines compete to find the ugliest date for a party, but instead find themselves learning compassion and self-acceptance from an unlikely source. Under the direction of Liane LeMaster, Act3 Productions stages Peter Duchan's touching musical.
"Dogfight." Through Feb. 20. Act3 Productions, 6285 Roswell Road N.E., Sandy Springs. 770-241-1905. act3productions.org
Theater: To be or not to be
Andrew Rally, a successful television actor, is offered the role of Hamlet, but he deeply despises the part. His dilemma becomes more complicated when the fully costumed ghost of legendary actor John Barrymore arrives to convince Rally to take the part. Chaos and comedy ensue in this 1991 play by writer Paul Rudnick.
"I Hate Hamlet." Through Feb. 21. Stage Door Players, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-396-1726. stagedoorplayers.net
Ballet: Get your kicks
The Atlanta Ballet's performance of "Moulin Rouge: The Ballet," which the troupe debuted in 2010, gives a kick to classical ballet. The love story of Matthew and Nathalie, set against the provocative backdrop of Paris' famed cabaret, is told through vivid costumes and energetic dances like the tango and can-can.
"Moulin Rouge: The Ballet." Feb. 5-13. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2800. cobbenergycentre.com
Food: Table for two
Skip the crowds for Valentine's Day dinner reservations in favor of a home-cooked meal. Barrington Hall's couples cooking class helps couples prepare a gourmet meal of flank steak, roasted potatoes and white chocolate pie, which can then be enjoyed in the beauty of the estate.
Cooking Classes at Barrington: Couple's Cooking for Valentine's Day. Feb. 9. Barrington Hall, 535 Barrington Drive, Roswell. 770-640-3855. roswellgov.com
Dance: Body language
One of the most acclaimed modern dance companies in the world, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns for its annual Valentine's engagement at the Fox Theatre. New and returning works of storytelling through dance include "Revelations," a rousing piece that combines spirituals, song-sermons and the blues.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Feb. 10-14. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-2100. foxtheatre.org
Fitness: Run from the heart
Put down the candy hearts and spend Valentine's Day weekend doing something healthy instead. The With or Without You 5K allows runners to compete as singles or couples, and all runners get chocolate, a finisher medal, a shirt and entry to a post-race party.
With or Without You 5K. Feb. 13. Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. active.com
Comedy: Laughter is the best medicine
With the 2016 presidential election just a few months away, the Capitol Steps have their work cut out for them. Take a break from the election drama with an evening of laughs courtesy of the political satirists and their catchy songs and clever skits.
Capitol Steps. Feb. 13. Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth St., Atlanta. 404-413-9800. rialto.gsu.edu
Music: Getting into T-R-O-U-B-L-E
With seven certified platinum albums, two Grammys and a membership at the Grand Ole Opry to his name, country superstar Travis Tritt has earned his bona fides. Tritt gets back to basics at Atlanta's Symphony Hall for a night of acoustic performance and storytelling.
Travis Tritt. Feb. 19. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-733-4900. atlantasymphony.org
Exhibition: No place like home
It's never too early to start thinking about landscaping and planting for the spring and summer. The 19th annual North Atlanta Home Show provides inspiration for remodeling, decorating and landscaping of all kinds. More than 150 experts gather to talk shop and offer discounts.
North Atlanta Home Show. Feb. 19-21. Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-998-9800. atlantahomeshow.com
Music: Ranch hands
With impressive resumes that boast 24 collective Grammy Awards, country stalwarts Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett team up for a stripped-down acoustic show that features no pre-determined set lists of solos and duets, as well as plenty of time to shoot the breeze.
An Evening with Vince Gill & Lyle Lovett. Feb. 20. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2800. cobbenergycentre.com
Festival: It's a bird, it's a plane!
The Chattahoochee Nature Center explores the phenomenon of flight. The STEM-focused event primarily uses our feathered friends to explain the mechanics, with an added conservation component.
Flying into the Future. Feb. 21. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055. chattnaturecenter.org
Theater: Swashbuckler extraordinaire
"Peter and the Star Catcher" earned many accolades when it debuted on Broadway in 2011, including a Tony nomination for Best Play and several Tony wins for set design. Humorist Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson wrote the novel, which provides a backstory for Peter Pan.
"Peter and the Star Catcher." Feb. 25-March 13. Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-641-1260. get.org
Exhibit: Delusions of grandeur
In some of his most famous works, Brazilian photographer Vik Muniz combines photos with unconventional materials like sugar, magazine clippings, tomato sauce and diamonds to create what he calls "photographic delusions." The High Museum presents a Muniz retrospective with more than 150 works tracing the course of his celebrated career.
Vik Muniz. Feb. 28-May 29. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-733-4444. high.org
About the Author
