With so many theatrical productions, concerts, cultural festivals and art installments, it's hard to choose what to attend. It's a good problem for a city to have, right? We've got you covered with an October breakdown of can't-be-missed arts and culture events around Atlanta.
Oct. 1-3
Oct.1-8: Out on Film Festival at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Prep for Pride weekend and head to the movies to celebrate the stories, lives and groundbreaking films of the LGBT community. This 8-day festival features timeless love stories, coming of age tales, a variety of short films and challenging social documentaries. Tickets start at $11. All access pass is $150.
Oct. 2-4: Designed + Crafted Show and Sale at Westside Provisions District. Are you in need of a special piece for your living room mantle or a one-of-a-kind find to add to your treasures? Swing by Signature Gallery's pop-up shop at WSPD and peruse the nearly 1,500 ceramic pots and sculptures for show and sale from nationally renowned artists.
Oct. 3: SCAD FASH presents Oscar De La Renta at SCAD Museum of Fashion. SCAD's new Museum of Fashion officially opens this weekend with the iconic style of Oscar de la Renta. The inaugural exhibition will showcase the classically elegant designs of the "sultan of chic" while introducing the work of Peter Copping, who was selected by de la Renta to continue his vision. Free admission Oct. 3. Show runs through Dec. 31.
Oct. 3-11: La Bohème by the Atlanta Opera at Cobb Energy Center. Get swept away to Paris with Puccini's classic tale of young, bohemian love (and loss.) Tickets start at $30. New to the opera? Read this handy guide for the beginner.
MORE: Read the AJC's review of La Bohème.
Oct. 4-10
Oct. 5: Naked City: Wrath at the Goat Farm Arts Center. Join fellow word nerds every first Monday of the month at the Warhorse and interpret the evening's theme in a song, poem, spoken word or comedic performance for five minutes. October is all about "wrath." Sign up to perform. Listening is free.
Oct. 5: It Makes Me Think: Our Stories About Reentry at the Atlanta History Museum. Written and performed by four formerly incarcerated women, this play tells the story of their imprisonment and the hardships these women faced reentering society upon release. This play is part of the Reforming Arts program at Lee Arrendale State Prison in collaboration with the Atlanta History Museum and University of West Georgia.
Oct. 8-11: Atlanta Black Theatre Festival at Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. Celebrate the theatrical works and achievements of African-Americans from around the country. Participate in celebrity panels and script writing workshops, or enjoy a play and or comedy routine about Black Lives Matter and the Underground Railroad. Tickets start at $25. Special event passes start at $50. Special pricing for students and senior citizens.
Oct. 9-Nov. 8: Informed Consent at the Horizon Theatre. This thought-provoking true story follows geneticist, Jillian, as she researches a cure for a disease which will not only save a Native American tribe but her own four-year-old daughter. The production delves deep into timely and relevant subject matter while challenging the audience with past social injustices. Tickets start at $25.
Oct. 11-17
Oct. 11: Don Quixote at Robert Ferst Center at Georgia Tech. Experience musical theater like never before with the Nritya Sankalpa Dance Academy's take on the classic Cervantes novel. Choreographed by Sheejith Krishna (from the Oscar-winning movie "Life of Pi"), along with dancers from Kalakshetra Chennai, India, this unique performance blends the beauty of Indian culture with its rich history and traditions. Proceeds will go to benefit the MV Foundation, which works to abolish child labor in India. Tickets start at $25.
Oct. 11: Jazz Pianist Joe Alterman at Marcus Jewish Community Center. Atlanta native, Joe Alterman, will perform two concerts at the Morris and Rae Frank Theatre -- one at 5 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. Since moving to New York City in 2007, Alterman has performed all over the world with various jazz duos and trios. Alterman's latest recording, "Georgia Sunset," reached #6 on the JazzWeek radio charts. Tickets $17 for members. $22 for non-members.
Oct. 16: On Being Black at Arnika Dawkins Gallery. As part of the Atlanta Celebrates Photography series, "On Being Black" explores race and cultural identity through the lenses of 23 renowned photographers. Ends January 22, 2016.
Oct. 17: Mark Morris Dance Group at Rialto Center. The Brooklyn-based modern dance troupe will perform three dances for one night only at Georgia State's Rialto Center. Performances include Pacific, A Wooden Tree and Festival Dance. Tickets start at $48. Student discounts available. Read more about the Rialto and the Mark Morris Dance Group.
Oct. 18-24
Oct. 18: Violinist, Itzhak Perlman at Atlanta Symphony Hall. Spend your Sunday afternoon with a living legend as he performs an intimate recital of chamber music for piano and violin. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to hear a classical music giant in person. Tickets start at $54.
Oct. 21-22: John Cleese and Eric Idle at Cobb Energy Center. For the very first time, the British comedy legends (and Pythons) will perform scripted bits, improvisations, musical numbers and a Q&A for fans of their unique brand of funny business. Tickets start at $59.
Oct. 24-25: Atlanta Arts Festival at Piedmont Park. Postponed this year due to scheduling conflicts, the beloved arts festival is back, bringing in artists from all over the country to display their wares throughout Atlanta's Piedmont Park. Enjoy food, live demonstrations, music and participate in classes all under an Autumnal sun.
Oct. 25-31
Oct. 27: Artists in the Wild at Chattahoochee Nature Center. Walk the beautiful grounds of CNC while observing local painters and sketch artists creating their nature-inspired masterpieces "en plein air" (in the fresh air.) Free to CNC members. Included in general admission.
Oct. 27: Poetic Voices of the Muslim World: The Worlds of Ghazal at the Central Library of Atlanta-Fulton Library. As part of an ongoing series at Atlanta-Fulton's Central Library, Dr. Syed Akbar Hyder of the University of Texas-Austin will explore the history and form of ghazal lyric poetry. The talk will be followed by a musical performance of the ghazal as interpreted by international singer, Kiran Ahluwalia.
Ongoing
Now-Nov. 15: Art on the Beltline - Eastside trail. Walk, run, ride along the urban oasis that is the Beltline's Eastside trail and explore the city's largest temporary public art exhibition. The trail showcases visual art and performances by Atlanta artists. Download the schedule for the what, when and where for both the temporary and permanent installations.
Every Sunday: Family Funday at High Museum of Art. Grab the whole family for Sunday fun at the High. Each Sunday throughout October, the High will offer family-friendly programs with the price of admission like interactive story time, animated films, art workshops and a little theater to get young people excited about the arts. Free with museum admission.
In October: Atlanta Celebrates Photography. This month-long photography festival brings local and nationally-renowned artists together in Atlanta for the country's largest photo exhibition. Explore themes of racial divide, the magic of flowers, China and technology along with the work of Atlanta's amateur photography community displayed at "My Atlanta Exhibition" at Ponce City Market. Head to Dunwoody's Spruill Gallery for Joshua McFadden's "After Selma" exhibition. Then pop by Sheila Pree Bright's "March2Justice" at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. More details on the Arts Culture Blog.
