Arts & Culture

“All the world's a stage/And all the men and women merely players.” But the play’s the thing and therein lies the rub. Mixed Shakespeare metaphors aside, play is anything but mere in Atlanta METRO, a true arts and culture playground: Active, engaging, colorful, whimsical and ooh-and-ah-worthy stage productions—everything from community theatre to Broadway shows, from storytelling to poetry readings, from the lyricism of dance to the drama of opera; inspired museum and gallery exhibitions that evoke moods and moments both meditative and magical; and the musical joy of jazz, contemporary and “oldies” tunes—from the 1970s, the 1870s and the 1770s. If music—or theatre or artwork—be the food of love, play on in Atlanta METRO.

Alpharetta

Matilda’s
Matilda’s is a magical complex of wildly decorated cottages filled to the brim with brightly painted pottery, furniture, fabrics and artwork. This whimsical gallery is dedicated to folk art and inspires the mind while it speaks to the soul.
Website: www.matildascottage.com
Address: 377 S. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009
Phone: 770-754-7831

Atlanta

High Museum of Art
From a stately home on Peachtree Street to its current award-winning buildings in a spectacular setting, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta has grown to become the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States with its renowned collection of classic and contemporary art and celebrated architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.
Website: www.high.org
Address: 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: 404-733-4444

The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Atlanta's Fox Theatre, originally the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, was designed in the late 1920s as headquarters for the 5,000-member Shriners organization. The Fox is an impeccably intact and aggressively preserved Landmark that has been designated a National Historic Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a Georgia Museum Building. Enjoy a variety of entertainment, including Broadway musicals, dinner theatre, musical performances, ballet and more. Regularly scheduled tours of the Fox Theatre are conducted by the Atlanta Preservation Center. 
Website: www.foxtheatre.org
Address: 660 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404-881-2100

Cobb County

Blackwell Playhouse
From a 200-seat puppet theatre to a two stage family theatre, John Christian's Blackwell Playhouse is the south's leader in changing the standard of community theater. Family and children’s theatre productions such as “Sleeping Beauty,” “Pinocchio,” “Hansel & Gretel” and “A Little Princess” are offered throughout the year.
Website: www.blackwellplayhouse.com
Address: 3378 Canton Road, Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: 678-213-3311

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Among the county's most beloved performing arts venues is the Cobb Energy Centre, located in northwest Atlanta, adjacent to I-75 inside I-285. The Centre is home to the Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Broadway Series and Atlanta Opera and also hosts concerts, family shows and symphony orchestras throughout the year.
Website: www.cobbenergycentre.com
Address: 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway¸ Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 770-916-2800

Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre
The Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre is metro-Atlanta’s only mid-size, outdoor concert venue with covered, reserved seats. Located in south Cobb County, the publicly-owned facility has the capacity to host 2,400 people for everything from country to rock concerts and from plays to symphony orchestra performances.
Website: www.themhba.com
Address: 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126
Phone: 770-819-7765 

Coweta County

Centre for Performing and Visual Arts
This “pearl of the community” shines with elegant lobby, diverse art gallery, lecture halls and star quality dressing rooms—all anchored by a 1,000-seat state-of-the-art theater that provides a forum for multiple forms of artistic expression.
Website: www.thecentreonline.net
Address: 1523 Lower Fayetteville Road, Newnan, GA 30265
Phone: 770-254-ARTS (2787)
Email: artscentre@cowetaschools.org

Clayton County

Clayton County Performing Arts Center
This 1,800 seat state-of-the-art performing arts venue, easily accessible from I-75, offers an array of year-round events, including student dramas, dance recitals, high school band and orchestra concerts and fine arts festival.
Website: www.clayton.k12.ga.us/pac
Address: 2530 Mt. Zion Parkway, Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: 770-473-2875

Spivey Hall
The intimate and acoustically superior Spivey Hall at Clayton State University has presented the finest in jazz and classical music to the metro Atlanta area since 1991 and is home to the astounding Albert Schweitzer Memorial Organ, a 4,413 pipe organ. 
Website: www.spiveyhall.org
Address: 2000 Clayton State Blvd., Morrow, GA 30260
Phone: 678-466-4200

DeKalb County

Arts at Emory University
The arts programs of Emory bring students, faculty and world-renowned guest artists together to enliven the Atlanta community each year with 300 free and ticketed arts events in a dozen campus locations, including the Donna and Marvin Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Explore Emory’s diverse arts programming from the Departments of Music, Film, Theater, Art History, and Visual Arts, and Programs in Creative Writing and Dance.
Website: www.creativity.emory.edu
Address: Emory Center for Creativity & Arts, Schwartz Center, 1700 N. Decatur Road, Ste. 314, Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404-727-5050

ART Station
Home to its own professional equity Theatre Company, five art galleries, a children’s gallery, a gift shop, classrooms and production and administrative space, ART Station is a contemporary arts and entertainment center located in historic Stone Mountain Village. The center features more than a dozen art exhibits annually, as well as professional theatre shows, including nine productions in the Children’s Theatre Series, and an annual storytelling festival.
Website: www.artstation.org
Address: 5384 Manor Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Phone: 770-469-1105
Email: info@artstation.org

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
An architectural landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Gothic-Tudor style mansion was originally built in 1920 for Charles Howard Candler, eldest son of The Coca-Cola Company founder Asa Candler. Today, it is one of the liveliest and finest arts education centers in the Southeast, offering more than 160 classes per quarter. Visitors enjoy poetry readings, storytelling evenings, music concerts, dance performances, opera presentations, gallery exhibits and special events each year. As one of the most photographed homes in Atlanta, Callanwolde is a favorite setting for weddings, corporate meetings or any special occasion.
Website: www.callanwolde.org
Address: 980 Briarcliff Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Phone: 404-872-5338
Email: info@callanwolde.org

Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University
The Carlos Museum showcases major collections of Classical, Ancient Egyptian, Near Eastern, Ancient American, African and Asian art, as well as works on paper from the Renaissance to the present. The Carlos Museum’s educational programming—with an active schedule of lectures, symposia, workshops, performances and summer camps—benefits adults and children. Free docent-led tours of the Museum depart from the Rotunda on Level One every Sunday at 2:30 p.m. during the Emory academic year (call 404-727-4282 to confirm).
Website: www.carlos.emory.edu
Address: 571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404-727-4291; 404-727-4292
priyanka.sinha@emory.edu

Douglas County

Douglasville Cultural Arts Center
Housed in a lovely 19th-century Greek Revival-style home, the Roberts-Mozley House, the Douglasville Cultural Arts Center hosts performing arts, festivals, visual arts exhibits, arts education classes and workshops and more.
Website: www.artsdouglas.org
Address: 8652 Campbellton Street, Douglasville, GA 30134
Phone: 770-949-ARTS

Gwinnett County

Aurora Theatre
Gwinnett’s premier theatrical venue is much more than a playhouse: Aurora’s performances are held in the brand-new, $3.5 million theatre known as “The Castle” and set in L-ville’s hip downtown square. The Aurora also hosts live comedy, Children’s Playhouse and book signings, as well as the popular seasonal Lawrenceville Ghost Tours. Area restaurants offer dinner packages to accompany play performances.
Website: www.auroratheatre.com, www.scarystroll.com
Address: 128 East Pike Street, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Phone: 678-226-6222

Marietta

Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art
Museum features significant traveling shows, which change about every three months, plus its own substantial art collection that focuses on 19th and 20th century American art, including the works of local artists.
Website: www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org
Address: 30 Atlanta Street, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 770-528-1444

The Earl Smith Strand Theatre
This beautiful 1935 art-deco theatre, recently restored, has become the home to the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, which stages locally produced, professional music theatre. The Strand also shows classic movies, presents organ recitals and other programming.
Website: www.earlsmithstrand.org
Address: 117 North Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 770-293-0080

Theatre in the Square
Marietta’s professional theatre, tucked into an old cotton warehouse and in a picture postcard setting, presents the best in drama and comedy. The theatre stages 12 productions a year, including Main Stage, holiday and youth productions. Past shows have included “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder,” “Sanders Family Christmas” and “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.”
Website: www.theatreinthesquare.com
Address: 11 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, GA 30064
Phone: 770-422-8369

Roswell

Georgia Ensemble Theatre
This professional regional theatre company, under the leadership of Robert J. Farley, offers five productions annually, September through April. Conservatory classes are ongoing, September to May and summer camp sessions are available. Season tickets and individual seats available.
Website: www.get.org
Address: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA 30075
Phone: 770-641-1260

Kudzu Playhouse
This community theatre showcases the talents of both professional and amateur actors from the Greater Atlanta area. The Main Stage series features comedies, dramas and musicals like “Mr. Hobbs Vacation,” “Man of La Mancha” and “A Christmas Carol,” producing seven shows a year. The children's theatre also performs seven shows each year.
Website: www.kudzuplayhouse.org
Address: 10743 Alpharetta Highway (Brannon Square), Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: 770-594-1020
Email: kudzuplayhouse@aol.com

The Rosewater Theatre
Family owned and operated, this hidden gem has two stages—one in the round—and provides professional quality theatre, including musicals, comedies, drama and Shakespeare. The excellent children’s program includes plays, musicals and summer drama camps. Adult acting lessons also offered.
Website: www.rosewatertheatre.com
Address: 633 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: 770-640-5500

Sandy Springs

Abernathy Arts Center
Abernathy Arts Center is Fulton County’s oldest neighborhood arts center dedicated to providing quality arts instruction to the community in a warm and friendly environment. The Center offers a broad range of day and evening classes for adults and children and the gallery features monthly exhibits that provide showcase opportunities for student and faculty work.
Website: www.fultonarts.org
Address: 254 Johnson Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 404-303-6172
Email: arts.council@fultoncountyga.gov

The Town Turtles of Sandy Springs
What started out as a public art exhibit has become one of the city’s most creative artistic displays. The hand-painted turtles, located all over town, serve as friendly ambassadors for visitors and residents alike and make fun photo ops.
Website: www.townturtles.org
Address: A map and guide on the Town Turtles may be found at the Sandy Springs Welcome Center, 6065 Roswell Road, Ste. 210, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.