Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Arts annually presents a heady blend of jazz, world music and, especially strong in recent years, dance.
The recently unveiled 2014-15 Rialto Series is particularly strong in world music, the 18th annual series including visits by, among others, Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento, Chicano rockers Los Lobos, Japanese taiko drum ensemble Kodo and even a “Piano Battle” to be waged between two German piano virtuosi in which the audience audience votes the winner.
The lineup:
Oct. 11: Sweet Honey in the Rock, a cappella group on 40th anniversary tour
Oct. 18: Vertigo Dance Company, Israeli contemporary dance
Oct. 19: Laurent Coq Dialogue Trio, French jazz
Oct. 25: Los Lobos, Los Angeles-based Latino rockers
Nov. 23: Milton Nascimento, Brazilian singer-guitarist
Dec. 6-7: GSU School of Music 17th annual Gala Holiday Concert
Jan. 27, 2015: "Wendy Whelan: Restless Creature," the ballet legend in duets with four choreographers
Jan. 31, 2015: Urban Bush Women, African-American dance theater
Feb. 14, 2015: Red Baraat and Dirty Dozen Brass Band, concert in which "Bollyfunk" meets Bourbon Street
Feb. 17, 2015: "Piano Battle" between German virtuosi Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis
Feb. 28, 2015: CCN Créteil et Val-de-Marne / Compagnie Käfig, French hip-hop dance
March 14, 2015: Cirque Alfonse, a Quebec acrobatic troupe presenting its lumberjack-inspired show "Timber"
March 28, 2015: Kodo, Japanese drumming troupe
April 10 and 12, 2015: GSU Opera Theatre and Symphony Orchestra
April 17, 2015: Michael Abene, jazz pianist-composer with GSU Jazz Band
April 18, 2015: Capitol Steps, political satire
April 26, 2015: Joe Alterman (piano) with special guest Houston Person (saxophone) and the Hot Sardines (Dixieland jazz by way of Brooklyn)
Subscriptions are on sale, with single tickets available Aug. 1, at the Rialto box office (80 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta) or 404-413-9849, www.rialtocenter.org.
THEATER
Actors Express announces season
Actor’s Express’ just-announced 2014-15 lineup launches in the fall with a classic, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” and concludes next May with the venerable troupe presenting “The Whale,” the first Atlanta production by one of today’s top emerging voices, Samuel D. Hunter.
Before its 27th season kicks off in September, the Express will present a summer show, the kicky “The Rocky Horror Show,” July 10 through Aug. 9.
The season (full show descriptions at http://blogs.ajc.com/arts-culture):
Sept. 6-Oct. 5: "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," Christopher Hampton drama of carnal scheming in pre-revolution France.(Previews Sept. 4-5.)
Nov. 8-Dec. 7: "Murder Ballad," a tale of lust and death unfolds with a rock 'n' roll score. (Previews Nov. 6-7.)
Jan. 24-Feb. 23, 2015: "Bad Jews," Joshua Harmon's comedy of family dysfunction prompted by a grandfather's passing and a cherished family artifact over which his heirs battle. (Previews Jan. 22-23, 2015.)
March 28-April 26, 2015: "Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet," Tarell Alvin McCraney's tale of a young man's passage of self-discovery and revealing family secrets. (Previews March 26-27, 2015.)
May 17-June 15, 2015: "The Whale," Samuel D. Hunter's play about a 600-pound man, his estranged teen daughter and some unlikely candidates for human connection. (Previews May 15-16, 2015.)
Actor's Express performs at King Plow Arts Center, 887 W. Marietta St., Atlanta. Subscriptions are on sale: 404-607-7496, www.actors-express.com.
MUSIC
Lauren Cohan hosts Music Project concert
Lauren Cohan, who plays the role of Maggie Greene on Atlanta-filmed "The Walking Dead," will host the Atlanta Music Project Orchestra's 2014 Spring Concert at noon May 10. The free concert will be held at the W Atlanta-Midtown's 27th floor Altitude Ballroom.
“I’m so excited to be hosting this concert,” Cohan said. “The Atlanta Music Project is a program completely after my own heart.”
The concert will feature the 50 young artists of the Atlanta Music Project’s Gilbert House-South Bend Orchestra, conducted by Jose Luis Hernandez-Estrada, performing works by Purcell, Brahms and Beethoven.
188 14th St. N.E., Atlanta. Tickets are required for entry and can be reserved at www.ampspringconcert.eventbrite.com. More on Atlanta Music Project: www.atlantamusicproject.org.
Johns Creek Symphony goes Hollywood
Wrapping up its seventh season, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will perform a “Classic Hollywood” program of familiar movie scores at 8 p.m. May 10. On the bill: compositions by composers including Puccini, Rossini and Strauss to the music of “Star Wars” and “Gone With the Wind.”
Maestro J. Wayne Baughman conducts, and soprano Jeanne Brown is featured.
$30, $24 ages 55 and up, $15 students. Johns Creek High School Theater, 5575 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek. 678-748-5802, www.johnscreeksymphony.org.
EVENT
Preview Finster Fest in Atlanta
A High Museum of Art screening of a new documentary, "Paradise Garden: Howard Finster's Legacy," earlier on May 9 has sold out, but an after party at Midtown's Rhodes Hall is open to anyone, no ticket required.
The 9-11 p.m. wingding, hosted by the nonprofit Paradise Garden Foundation that is restoring Finster’s northwest Georgia art environment, serves as an Atlanta information session and kickoff for Finster Fest 2014. The festival is planned for May 31 and June 1 in Summerville’s Dowdy Park, with the Man of Vision Concert (featuring Shenandoah, Randall Bramblett Band, the Whiskey Gentry and Travis Denning Band) taking place on that town’s Washington Street starting at 5 p.m. May 31.
Free. Rhodes Hall, 1516 Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta. 706-808-0800, www.finsterfest.com.
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