Travis Smith News

As part of its 2016-17 Peach State Federal Credit Union Signature Series, Aurora Theatre is pleased to announce the addition of two-time Tony Award-winning musical The Bridges of Madison County, playing March 9- April 16! Based on the popular novel by Robert James Waller, the highly anticipated production will star two of the region's leading actors Travis Smith (MEMPHIS and CHRISTMAS CANTEEN) and Kristin Markiton (INTO THE WOODS). Directed by Aurora's Associate Artistic Director Justin Anderson, musical direction will be led by Aurora co-founder and Associate Producer Ann-Carol Pence.

'Daddy Sang Bass.' 'A Boy Named Sue.' 'I've Been Everywhere.' 'Folsom Prison Blues.' The music of Johnny Cash performed by five actor/musicians explains why we do what we do.

?Commemorating the landmark occasion of its 20th anniversary season, Aurora Theatre is preparing for a festive evening as it presents the Sixth Annual Aurora Gala on Friday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. Local artists, community members and Aurora staff will be honored for their contributions to the cultural community arts of metro-Atlanta and surrounding areas. All proceeds from the evening will go toward continued funding for the theatre's productions, workshops and events! Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased online at www.auroratheatre.com.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Atlanta Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

'Tis the season for festive cheer and everyone's favorite tuneful holiday obsession, as Aurora Theatre's Christmas Canteen 2015 ushers in the sounds of the season for its 20th anniversary, November 19-December 20. Home to Gwinnett County's longest running theatrical, holiday tradition, this winter wonderland spectacular will commemorate two decades of Aurora Theatre and Christmas Canteen. Including laugh-out-loud comedy and jubilant musical numbers, this high-energy spirited revue promises to be a delightful outing for all!

Atlanta, GA, November 2, 2015-The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. announced winners for the 2014-2015 Atlanta professional theatrical season this evening at the 11th annual awards ceremony held at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center. Presenters included local favorite performers Denise Arribas, Tiffany Porter, Gina Rickicki, Clifton Guterman, Kevin Harry, Jeremiah Parker Hobbs, Chris Kayser, and Topher Payne.

This evening, Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. revealed nominations for the 2014-2015 Atlanta professional theatrical season. The Suzi Nomination Party, which rotates venues, was hosted this year by Horizon Theatre. Guest announcers included the ladies of The Weird Sisters Theatre Project: Kelly Criss, Veronika Duerr, Jaclyn Hofmann, Tiffany Porter, and Megan Rose.

Theatrical Outfit opens its 39th season with MEMPHIS, a co-production with Aurora Theatre, September 10-20, 2015 at The Rialto Center for the Arts.

Tonight, the Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. revealed nominations for the 2014-2015 Atlanta professional theatrical season to theatre patrons and industry artists. The Suzi Nomination Party, which rotates venues, was hosted this year by Horizon Theatre. Guest announcers included the ladies of The Weird Sisters Theatre Project: Kelly Criss, Veronika Duerr, Jaclyn Hofmann, Tiffany Porter, and Megan Rose. Among the notable nominees are Broadway-bound TUCK EVERLASTING and stage vet Will Swenson, who starred in BULL DURHAM at the Alliance. Scroll down for the full list of nominees!

I guess when you're are a writer of Stephen King's stature you can't help be subject to expectations that are often simply too hard to live up to. Most of the criticism directed at THE GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY centers around the book he's cooked up for the show. He and composer (and rock icon) John Mellencamp had been kicking around this idea for about a dozen years, and when it was finally staged it was savaged in a number of ways, with most of the vitriol centered on King's narrative. I wonder if those critics felt the same way a few days after they'd posted their reviews. For me, I've found that the haunting mix of music and imagery has lingered in my memory long after I'd thought it would abate. Charged acting, a terrific roots rock and blues-inflected score, and a story that plays upon simmering tensions that threaten to boil over for the McCandless family, combine to produce something truly special and worthy of appreciation.

The full cast for the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, was announced today, with actor/writer/producer Billy Burke (The Twilight Saga) andactress/writer/singer Gina Gershon (Killer Joe, House of Versace, Boeing, Boeing) playing the lead roles of Joe McCandless and Monique McCandless respectively. Touring across North America this Fall,Ghost Brothers of Darkland County was written by best-selling author Stephen King, with music by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp, and musical direction by Grammy Award-winning T Bone Burnett.

The full cast for the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, was announced today, with actor/writer/producer Billy Burke (The Twilight Saga) andactress/writer/singer Gina Gershon (Killer Joe, House of Versace, Boeing, Boeing) playing the lead roles of Joe McCandless and Monique McCandless respectively. Touring across North America this Fall,Ghost Brothers of Darkland County was written by best-selling author Stephen King, with music by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp, and musical direction by Grammy Award-winning T Bone Burnett.

The full cast for the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, was announced today, with actor/writer/producer Billy Burke (The Twilight Saga) and actress/writer/ singer Gina Gershon (Killer Joe, House of Versace, Boeing, Boeing) playing the lead roles of Joe McCandless and Monique McCandless respectively.

To borrow a phrase from a less-comedic Bard classic, Georgia Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE is "a hit, a palpable hit." As has come to be expected, Courtney Patterson is exceedingly captivating as Rosalind, the show's female (and male) lead. The Suzi Bass Award winner leads this fantastic ensemble through a marvelously musical take on this story of betrayal, love-at-first-sight, and cross-dressing. With much discussion lately about women in theatre, it was exciting that Georgia Shakespeare chose a show that not only features strong female characters driving the story, but also to include women in central supporting roles that otherwise could have been portrayed by men.

RENO Nev.

Rehearsals started today for the Alliance Theatre's world premiere of THE TALL GIRLS, a play set in the depression-era Midwest where the success of a girls' basketball team may be the only way to a better life for the team's members. Playwright Meg Miroshnik, winner of the 2012 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition for her play The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, has been described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as 'a ferocious talent with a promising career in store.'

Rehearsals started today for the Alliance Theatre's world premiere of THE TALL GIRLS, a play set in the depression-era Midwest where the success of a girls' basketball team may be the only way to a better life for the team's members. Playwright Meg Miroshnik, winner of the 2012 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition for her play The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, has been described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as 'a ferocious talent with a promising career in store.'

AEG Live has just announced the touring cast for the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, libretto by Stephen King, with music and lyrics by John Mellencamp and musical direction by T Bone Burnett. The show will be appearing in 19 cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets are on sale now at aeglive.com.

Have you missed any of USA Network's new provocative original series, Graceland? Don't worry- you can catch up on all of the Season 1 excitement online or on demand now!

It is always dangerous to form an opinion of a show after seeing only its first preview. So I was a little apprehensive about writing a review after seeing the very first performance of the 2013 incarnation of Georgia Shakespeare's 'Metamorphoses.' Since the initial 2006 run, which was nominated for, and won, more Suzi Bass Awards than any non-musical in history, 'Metamorphoses' has held a special place in the Atlanta theatre consciousness; and I am happy to report that I now fully understand why their patrons were so excited for Georgia Shakespeare to bring back Mary Zimmerman's masterpiece based on the myths of Ovid.