Roll over Beethoven. Atlanta Ballet is kicking up its heels to tunes by Johnny Cash, Jean Sibelius and Quentin “E.Q.” Johnson.
The Man in Black , a compilation of three distinct works by three stand-out choreographers, runs this weekend at the Cobb Energy Centre.
The Man in Black – Choreography by James Kudelka, Music by Johnny Cash
James Kudelka, the former artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada, channels Johnny Cash in a tribute titled “The Man in Black.” It features heart-tugging, gallant, humorous choreography over an adventurous suite of Cash’s hits and hidden gems. Dancers even don cowboy boots as a nod to Cash’s country roots.
A 2010 Dance Magazine review called the piece “ingenious.” “One of the finest works I’ve seen this season,” said writer Steve Sucato. “In smartly crafted and marvelously danced vignettes, Kudelka tied his choreography to the emotions expressed in Cash’s music.”
1st Flash – Choreography by Jorma Elo, Music by Jean Sibelius
Power, energy and athleticism are paramount in Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo’s ultra-modern “1st Flash.”
A former hockey goalie, Elo’s dance career began on the ice when he turned to ballet to improve his flexibility and found he was quite good. Elo has now become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the business and was even singled out as a “talent to follow” by Anna Kisselgoff in her 2004 Year in Review for The New York Times.
A daring physicality infiltrates his works, which are characterized by movements that swivel precariously off-kilter, only to resume balance with total grace and control.
Moments of Dis – Choreography by Juel D. Lane, Music by Quentin “E.Q.” Johnson
A product of metro Atlanta’s Tri-Cities High School, Juel D. Lane has become a mainstay of the city’s burgeoning dance scene.
His work – as a dancer and choreographer – has appeared on major stages around the country. Lane’s world premiere “Moments of Dis” will be the first main-stage foray for Atlanta Ballet.
In this number, Lane examines the implications of the prefix “dis”: “Sometimes we become disillusioned, disrespectful, or dishonest with our personal choices in life,” said Lane. “When we start to discern what the truth is, we can truly explore and manage our psyche.”
Lane describes his style of movement as very physical with a flare of hip hop and modern dance. The choreography is set to music by fellow Atlantan Quentin “EQ” Johnson. “We wanted to go with a house style rhythm for the first section – really groovy – to capture the essence of discombobulated,” explained Lane. “The second section is really mellow, and has an acute feel for discipline. The third section is up-tempo, very funky and blends catchy rhythms together to produce discernment.”
The Man In Black runs for four performances Friday, March 23 – Sunday, March 25 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets start as low as $20. Call the Ticketmaster Arts Line at (404) 817-8700, stop by a Ticketmaster outlet or the Cobb Energy Centre Box Office. To order on-line, visit www.atlantaballet.com. Groups of ten or more may call Atlanta Ballet Group Sales at (404) 873-5811 ext. 207.
Charles Bevel and Dieterich Gray; Photo: Jeff Roffman
Not for blues lovers only, “I Just Stopped By to See the Man” stands out for its interesting storyline and talented cast.
To increase his lagging popularity, a white British rock musician tries to exploit the talents of an old forgotten black blues player from Mississippi. Perhaps not too far from some truthful accounts, this fictional story is brought to life at the Hertz Theatre.
The play, which takes place in the Mississippi Delta in the 1970s, mixes drama, comedy and just a couple of blues numbers, but in no way is it a Musical. British rock musician Karl (Dieterich Gray) plays guitar well and whips up images of Russell Brand, donning tight cranberry, velvety bell bottoms with a matching jacket. He’ll make you laugh and cringe. Gray has performed at Yale Repertory, the Goodman Theatre and this same role at Steppenwolf.
Jesse (Charles Bevel), who sold his soul to the devil to play guitar, faked his death 14 years ago to exorcise that demon. Since then, he has refrained from playing the blues as over time it became the source of his pain. Jesse appears to be the real thing, an original blues musician born in the early 1900s who likely can’t even write. When his college educated daughter, Della (Bakesta King), asks him to write a note to Karl, he asks her to write it. (In 1981 at a concert in New York, I asked Big Joe Turner to sign the album I had just purchased from him. He drew an “X.”)
Part of the reason Bevel is so believable as Jesse is that he is a native of the Mississippi Delta, he’s a blues musician–he has opened concerts for Taj Mahal and B.B. King–and he’s a seasoned actor who has appeared on Broadway.
Written by Stephen Jeffreys and directed by Ron OJ Parson, “I Just Stopped By to See the Man” runs through April 8 at the Hertz Stage at the Alliance Theatre.
See the comedic Gray and hear musician “Mississippi Charles Bevel.”
Randy Cohlmia and Denise Arribas; Photo Mark DeLong
Actor’s Express has opened “The Motherf**ker With the Hat,” which premiered on Broadway last year with Chris Rock playing the role of Ralph.
Neal A. Ghant slips into that role beautifully in this production along with a handful of other fine actors.
Two volatile brawling New Yawk couples with alcohol and drug problems trying to straighten their lives out can’t seem to stop fighting, lying and betraying one another. Welcome to darkness with an ex-convict, drug addicts and a deceitful, self righteous AA sponsor.
Epithets fly as the women spar with their mates and men spar with one another.
F you and your F’in #*@ and your F’in mother!
If you’re ready for a rough and tumble evening of theater, this one’s for you. A nice group of actors does a good job with this. I don’t know how funny Chris Rock was in this show, but when the somewhat effeminate character Cousin Julio (Luis Hernandez) rubs seductive circles on Ralph’s chest as he threatens him with violence, you will laugh your a** off!
Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Freddie Ashley, “The Motherf**ker With the Hat” runs through April 14 at Actor’s Express.
Cast:
Veronica-Denise Arribas
Jackie-Randy Cohlmia
Victoria- Stacy Melich
Oh, boy! Here it is, the show I’ve been dying to see since it rocked me out of my chair while watching the Tony Awards in 2009! “Billy Elliott the Musical” ended up winning 10 Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical.
The play, adapted from the 2000 film “Billy Elliott,” is about an 11-year-old boy who struggles to become a dancer. His father, a coal miner who is out on strike during the 1984-1985 UK miners strike, forbids him to take ballet and encourages him to take boxing lessons. Against the odds, Billy struggles to pursue his dream of becoming a dancer in spit of his father’s wishes.
When Sir Elton John saw the film “Billy Elliott” screened at the Cannes Film Festival, he was so touched by Billy’s struggles–which he has said resembled his own personal struggles growing up–he began writing the music for “Billy Elliott the Musical.”
The musical has been playing in London consistently since 2005, and my mother said the Broadway show she saw was phenomenal.
The national touring company coming to the Fox Theatre played in Miami earlier this month, and the Miami Herald raved about it.
Music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, the show runs at the Fox Theatre through March 18.
Take it from Late Night With David Letterman band leader Paul Shaffer, who had seen “Jersey Boys” three times in its first year alone on Broadway, this is a show not to be missed. Out of all the shows I’ve seen in the past couple of years, there are less than a handful I’d see again this year. But I could not be more thrilled that “Jersey Boys” is coming back to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.
Originally I was reluctant about seeing this show when I went a couple of years ago. I imagined a sappy, flat, dull script about Frankie Valli and corny songs. But from the moment the lights went up on the cast, I knew it was going to be terrific. The stage and the cast had that rare energy that was electrifying. The play floated seamlessly as it moved from scene to scene with more drama and more obstacles, enveloping me each step of the way. I don’t know when I have cared so much for so many characters.
Whether this cast is going to be as stellar as the one here in Atlanta in 2009, remains to be seen. But I’m getting my tickets now.
You can see my earlier review here.
“Jersey Boys” will play in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre May 22-June 10.
On sale now, ticket prices start at $28 and are available through the Fox Theatre Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at BroadwayinAtlanta or by phone at 1-800-982-2787.
- Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess and the Goblin” Photo: Kim Kenney
Atlanta Ballet presents the world premiere of Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess and the Goblin.” But it ain’t all ballet.
Whether you like the ballet or find it boring as hell, this may change your mind. Because Tharp mixes a variety of styles in her humorous choreography, filled with dancers who mock one another with flexed feet, squiggly squirms and, yes, even a slap of krumping.
Tharp has a knack for story telling. Just as her masterpiece and world premiere of “Come Fly With Me” needed no words to tell stories, neither does this fairytale about a princess who discovers the town’s children are being kidnapped by a goblin.
Tharp not only choreographed the show, for six weeks she worked with the dancers, which include members of the Atlanta Ballet, and 11 ballet students ranging in age from 7 to 15. She shaped these dancers like no one else could.
Tharp, 70, is one of the most prominent choreographers of our day. After studying with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, she joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company before she began her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance, in 1969. She has choreographed for dance companies around the world and five Hollywood movies, and has directed and choreographed four Broadway shows. Her numerous awards include a Tony Award and two Emmy Awards.
Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) co-commissioned Tharp to create a world premiere. Both companies shared resources and split costs down the middle. Atlanta Ballet built all the sets and RWB offered the expertise of their costume designer who created the costumes. RWB dance company will premiere the show in October.
Story by George McDonald, conceived, directied and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, music by Richard Burke. Co-porduced by Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
“The Princess and the Goblin” runs through Feb. 19 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
Atlanta Ballet Company
Jacob Bush
Rachel Van Buskirk
Peng-Yu Chen
Christian Clark
Pedro Gamino
Heath Gill
Jonah Hooper
Yoomi Kim
Tara Lee
Nadia Mara
Jackie Nash
Brandon Nguyen*
Tommy Panto
Alessa Rogers
Claire Stallman*
Abigail Tan
Jared Tan
Jesse Tyler
John Welker
Christine Winkler
HarryYamakawa*
Lisa Barrieau (Apprentice)
Nayomi Van Brunt (Apprentice)*
Melissa Mitchell (Apprentice)*
Pablo Sanchez (Apprentice)*
Miguel Montoya (Apprentice)
Briley Jozwiak (Fellowship)
Children’s Cast
Stella McFallFlannery BogostSophie Basarrate
Tristan Bogost
Charlotte Brewer
Christina Carlos
Catherine Carlos
Hanae Dillon
Anna Scott Johnson
Pryor Krugman
Joshua Nunamaker
Kevin Silverstein
Cameron Walls
Not only has Horizon Theatre brought back “Avenue Q” for a second time in less than a year, the show has been extended through March 11. If the cast is as good as last year’s, it’s no wonder Atlanta can’t get enough.
A Sesame Street-type irreverent comedy for adults, this is the perfect show for even those who don’t like musical theater.
Whether you’ve seen “Avenue Q” on Broadway or the national touring company that whipped in and out of the Cobb Energy Center a couple of years ago, it’s worth it to see the show at Horizon.
Horizon’s cast, intimate theater setting and palpable energy make the show even better than the national production. The current cast features some of the same performers at Horizon’s original version.
“Avenue Q” is a Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Horizon’s production won seven 2011 Suzi Bass Awards, Atlanta’s version of the Tony Awards.
“Avenue Q” runs through March 11 at Horizon Theatre.
“Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, hits the Fox Theatre this week.
Judging from the bios on the website, this cast is going to be first rate. Members have danced with Ailey II, appeared in Broadway shows, as well as in the Broadway “Memphis” cast, and have performed at Carnegie Hall and with Cirque du Soleil.
Story by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Tony Award-winning original score by David Bryan (Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro, direction by Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).
“Memphis” runs Jan. 31-Feb. 5 at The Fox Theatre.
Jasmine Guy, Geoffrey Darnell Williams, and Keith Randolph Smith. Photo: Greg Moody
The Alliance Theatre is bustin loose and banging heads in “God of Carnage.” A rip, roarin’ drag-out fight ensues between couples who try to act civilly after the Raleigh’s son knocks out two teeth and disfigures the son of the Novaks.
Within this 90-minute play, writer Yasmina Reza takes the Novaks and the Raleighs on a roller coaster wave of emotions, and the cast’s fine actors bring the audience right along with them.
Keith Randolph Smith is hilarious as Michael Novak, who goes from sedate, adoring, obedient husband and son to cynical, unruly lout.
This production has so much going for it–a great script and wonderful acting–but the vomit scene is too much like a Linda Blair cartoon with volcano-erupting vomit. Nonetheless, the cast and script are great. This is a definite go-see-it.
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, “God of Carnage” runs through Feb. 4 at the Alliance Theatre.
Directed by Kent Gash, “God of Carnage” features Jasmine Guy, Crystal Fox, and Geoffrey Darnell Williams.
“Blast!,” which won the 2001 Tony Award-winner for Best Special Theatrical Event and the 2001 Emmy Award for Best Choreography, will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre through Sunday.
Think “Stomp” with martial arts, gymnastics and halftime show-like marching bands.
“Blast!” features 35 brass and percussion players performing classical, blues, jazz, rock ‘n roll, and techno-pop music.
Tickets for evening and matinee shows are available at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
