ABOUT TOWN: Funny Bus rolls into Atlanta
Plus other things to see and do in the merry month of May
This spring sees the launch of Funny Bus Atlanta Comedy Tours, a saturnalian idea on wheels that originated in Charlotte and will feature local comedians Connor Lyons, Peyton Johnson and Nate Rowlands doing a mix of humor, music and games rolling through parts of our city. Organizers will initially offer five weekly tours, Friday through Sunday, each lasting 90 minutes, in addition to private or “team building” tours any day of the week. Perfect for a girls-night-out or a date with a difference, we are assured. You can bring beer and wine in sealed containers or small coolers. The company wants to hire additional comedians and drivers as well. All-inclusive tickets are $38 at funnybus.net/atlanta or 404-220-8600.
The BeltLine Lantern Parade returns this month, as does the Decatur Arts Festival, and we take our usual look at what’s going on in art galleries and theaters. Details below:
Through Sun., May 12
Fat Ham, Alliance Theatre — Playwright James Ijames has given Shakespeare’s Hamlet a modern twist in what The New York Times called “a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy.” The play, directed by Stevie-Walker-Webb, garnered the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as five Tony Award nominations. The cast features James T. Alfred, Thomika Marie Bridwell, David J. Castillo, Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Victoria Omoregie, Laurie Roach, and Atlanta native Marshall Mabry. Walker-Webb says the story is full of surprises “but ultimately takes you on a journey of celebration and victory as you watch characters become their truest selves.” The production team advises that the play contains considerable explicit language and addresses topics such as death, violence and sexuality, so leave the kids at home.
$60+ The Hertz Stage at Alliance Theatre, Woodruff Arts Center, Memorial Arts Building, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30309. 404-733-4600 allianceinfo@alliancetheatre.org alliancetheatre.org
Through Sat., May 25
José Ibarra Rizo: Depth Within a Gaze, MOCA GA — Rizo hails from Mexico and is described as a multidisciplinary artist based in Atlanta who uses photography, sculpture and painting to express himself; his work primarily focuses on the life of migrants to this part of the country. He is one of three recipients of the 2022 Atlanta Artadia Awards, and a winner of the 2023-2024 Working Artist Project for MOCA GA. Rizo, whose clients include Time and Rolling Stone , is featured in the permanent collections of the High Museum of Art and the Virginia Museum of Fine Art. “This exhibition delves into my family’s intimate connection with labor, prompting contemplation on the fruits — both tangible and intangible — of the sacrifices endured,” Rizo says. “The sculptural pieces foster a sense of immersion and interactivity, while painting is used to reflect on America’s relationship with immigrants, often characterized by both intolerance and dehumanization.”
Free entry. There will be an artist talk on Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. MOCA GA, 75 Bennett Street, Atlanta 30309 mocaga.org
Through Sat., June 29
Solo Exhibitions by Lalla Essaydi and Shanequa Gay, Jackson Fine Art — Artists Lalla Essaydi and Shanequa Gay are calling their Jackson exhibits ‘Conflicted Identities’ and ‘Gateway to the South,’ respectively. “Through a dynamic blend of visual storytelling and multimedia art, both artists invite viewers to delve into rich tapestries of personal experience, societal norms, and the enduring legacy of colonialism,” curators announced. Also on view in the gallery are works by Great Depression era photographers Walker Evans, Arthur Rothstein, and Ben Shahn.
Free entry. Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday & Monday, closed. Jackson Fine Art, 3122 East Shadowlawn Avenue, Atlanta 30305. 404-233-3739 info@jacksonfineart.com jacksonfineart.com
Through Sun., Aug. 18
Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful, SCAD FASH — Since his international debut in 2005, Manish Arora’s dazzling designs have been worn by the likes of Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Aishwarya Rai, Katy Perry, Fergie, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Grimes. But a New York Times exposé in 2020 revealed that the once-mighty brand of ingenious Indian fashion designer Manish Arora had been felled by business deals gone awry, unpaid wage lawsuits and vendor quarrels. “His messy downfall has also been particularly disappointing for those who had hoped he would help bring international attention to the quieter but vital layers of the Indian fashion industry — like the anonymous artisans (known as karigars) who are responsible for much of the meticulous and beautiful handwork that goes into the garments,” the author writes. Arora’s output, however, appears undiminished, as evidenced by this stunning collection now showing at SCAD FASH. Nor has he been idle in the interim; in 2021, he cooked for refugees in Paris, where the 51-year old now lives. He then released a cookbook of family recipes, and in May 2022 took part in London’s Kornit Fashion Week and spoke about diversity. He collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana to dress ABBA for the quartet’s recent hologram concerts and designed dresses for the Netflix hit Emily in Paris. Not bad for someone who was said to be washed up. Arora himself presided over the new show’s opening in Atlanta and seemed delighted by the strong turnout at his comeback.
Free entry. SCAD FASH, 1600 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30309. 404-253-3132 scadfash@scad.edu scadfash.org
Fri., May 3 - Sat., May 18
Ruth Franklin: Golden Isles, A One-Woman Show, Different Trains Gallery — A new series of small works by English contemporary artist Ruth Franklin will be on show at Different Trains during May. She refers to them as her ‘daubs.’ The exhibition will be part of the Decatur ArtWalk on Friday, May 3 and an opening reception will take place that evening at the gallery from 5 to 9 p.m., and it’s open to all. The new paintings will be available to view and purchase online the same day. The show will also coincide with the Decatur Arts Festival that weekend. Franklin established her studio in Decatur thirty years ago and is known for toiling in it practically every day of the week. The title of the show, Golden Isles, is inspired by recent visits to St. Simons Island (to visit her newly minted grandchild) as well as her past life in the British Isles.
Free entry. The gallery will be open during the weekend of the Decatur Arts Festival, then again on May 9-11 and on May 16-18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and also by appointment. Different Trains Gallery, 432 East Howard Avenue, Decatur 30030. 404-939-2787 differenttrainsgallery.com
Tue., May 7 – Sun., May 12
To Kill a Mockingbird, Fox Theatre — Playwright, screenwriter and film director Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird got its start on Broadway with Jeff Daniels in the role of small-town lawyer Atticus Finch. Its premiere in December 2018 was met with positive reviews and the play became a financial success, despite quarrels with Lee’s estate and difficulties with notorious producer Scott Rudin, who was eventually fired from the production. Richard Thomas plays the lead in the national touring version, landing at the Fox for one week this month. It was, of course, Gregory Peck who played Finch in the lauded 1962 film version, winning an Oscar for the role.
$39+ Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30308. 855-285-8499 foxtheatre.org
Sat., May 11
Art on the BeltLine’s Lantern Parade, Adair Park I — Led by creator Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, this colorful parade is back in its fourteenth year for a mile-long saunter along the Westside Trail. Five marching bands will accompany the Krewe: Atlanta Drum Academy, Black Sheep Ensemble, Seed & Feed Marching Abominables, Atlanta Freedom Band and the Wasted Potential Brass Band, plus GRAMMY® winner Kebbi Williams and his band The Wolfpack. The public is welcome to bring lanterns and join in the parade (and attend the after-party at Lee + White). The official guidelines state all participants must have a lantern to walk in the parade; no flying lanterns, bikes or pets are permitted on the route; and pedestrian traffic on the trail during the parade must flow in the same direction to the northwest.
Free. 7:45 p.m. Parade Start: Adair Park - 742 Catherine Street, Atlanta 30310; Parade End: Lee + White - 1070 White Street, Atlanta 30310. Alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged, such as taking MARTA to the West End station, using a ride-share service, or biking. Train and bus schedule information can be found on itsmarta.com. Limited parking will be available in the adjacent neighborhoods and 1200 White Street. A free shuttle service to and from Lee + White and the 1200 White Street parking lot will be provided. art.beltline.org @atlantabeltline #beltlineart
Sat., May 11 – Sun., June 16
The Preacher’s Wife: A New Musical, Alliance Theatre — Be careful what you wish for. In Penny Marshall’s 1996 film, a beleaguered preacher in a Harlem neighborhood begs for assistance from his favorite deity and is granted an angel in the form of Denzel Washington. That’s when things get really bad. The movie inspired this musical adaptation by writers Tituss Burgess and Azie Dungey, both known for their work on the television series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. “The stars aligned in our favor bringing Amber Riley and Akron Watson together as our dynamic leads, with the legendary talent of Loretta Devine and the fantastically debonair Donald Webber as our Angel,” says Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden. “But what I believe will make this story unforgettable is the joy that radiates from each one of these inspired artists which will undoubtedly give us all a little more faith in the world.”
The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre, The Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30309. alliancetheatre.org
Wed., May 15 – Sun., June 9
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Theatrical Outfit — Edward Albee’s torrid tale of marital discord and excess first saw the light of day in 1962 on Broadway. Its dialogue proved incendiary for the era, with frequent use of terms such as ‘goddamn’ and ‘son of a bitch,’ as well as ‘screw you,’ ‘up yours,’ ‘monkey nipples’ and ‘hump the hostess.’ Mike Nicols’ film version four years later — starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor at the peak of their considerable powers — kept much of the then-controversial verbiage intact, ruffling even more feathers. Women’s Wear Daily called it a “scorching, scalding, revealing and completely engrossing drama.” Atlanta stage actor Tess Malis Kincaid plays Martha in the Theatrical Outfit production, and describes her character as “complicated, infuriating, broken, hilarious, tragic.” The play, directed this time by Matt Torney, has to be seen to be believed.
$15 Youth; $25 Adults & Seniors. Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta 30303. 678-528-1500 theatricaloutfit.org
Sat., May 18 - Sun., May 19
Elders Igniting: Many More Stories To Tell, ArtsXchange — Three one-act plays by African American writers are being presented by Third Eye Productions at ArtsXchange to celebrate Older Americans Month in May. The plays, directed by Byron C. Saunders, are Move The Car, a farce by Barbara and Carlton Molette; a drama titled Dying Well by Jamil El-Shair; and Janice Liddell’s comedy Senior Prom . Cast members are Donald S. Hinson, Marcia Jones Cross, Jon Hayden, Eddie L. Oliver, Greta M. Glenn, Adrienne Carlotta and Justin Jerome Jordan. These works form part of the 2023-24 ArtsXchange Paul Robeson Theatre Incubator Project.
$20 – $40. Sat., May 18: 3 p.m. matinee & 7 p.m. evening show with reception; Sun., May 19: 3 p.m. matinee. ArtsXchange, 2148 Newnan Street, East Point 30344 eventbrite.com