Celebrate colorful pollinators at the annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival. (Courtesy of the Chattahoochee Nature Center)
Each week, ArtsATL curates a selection of the most exciting arts and culture events happening in Atlanta this weekend, highlighting nine must-see experiences.
::
Thursday
Written by hip-hop and spoken word playwright Psalmayene 24 and featuring all original music composed by Atlanta composer Eugene H. Russell IV, this world premiere spotlights the early years of politician, Civil Rights leader and Atlantan John Lewis. It debuts at Theatrical Outfit on June 4 and continues through June 29.
Pianist Inon Barnatan joins the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1. (Photo by Marco Borggreve)
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Mahler’s Symphony No. 7
The orchestra’s season wraps up with guest conductor Peter Oundjian taking on two orchestral heavyweights: Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Pianist Inon Barnatan is the soloist for the Shostakovich, and, despite the title, the work is also a showcase for the trumpet. Performances are at 8 p.m. on June 5 and June 7.
Friday
Virginia-Highland Summerfest
Local artists take center stage at this annual neighborhood celebration, showcasing their works and featuring a music stage in John Howell Park and other family-friendly activities. It’s also a chance to explore the shops and restaurants of the historic Virginia-Highland district. There’s a kick-off party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 6, and the fest continues through June 8.
Spelman graduate Alexis Woodard directs a play by Jessica B. Hill, onstage at Synchronicity June 6 through June 29. It tells the story of Emilia Bassano, who was the first Englishwoman to publish her own poetry.
La Refuge depicts a safe and colorful sanctuary for community, creativity and calm. It’s located in one of the four fictional districts, the Wynnberry area of the Roseville District, created by Sean Mulkey in Eternal City, opening this weekend at Gallery Chimera. (Photo courtesy of the artist)
Saturday
This is a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Sean Mulkey, showcasing a series of paintings that explore hyper-stylized urban environments. It opens with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 7 at Gallery Chimera. There will be an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. on June 21.
Flying Colors Butterfly Festival
Experience the beauty of nature at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell on June 7 and June 8. The “Butterfly Encounter,” an up-close guided experience with hundreds of native butterflies, is always a highlight. You’ll also find live music, photography and entomology exhibits, arts and crafts and face painting.
The Atlanta Opera will bring Handel’s Baroque masterpiece to the Cobb Energy Centre for Performing Arts on June 7, June 10, June 13 and June 15. The opera finds Princess Semele caught up in a love triangle with Jupiter, king of the gods, and his wife Juno.
Songwriters Harold Arlen, left, and Johnny Mercer composing at the piano. (Courtesy of Georgia State University’s Digital Collection)
Sunday
Accentuate The Positive: The Music of Arlen and Mercer
Flying Carpet Theatre, in partnership with The Breman, presents this hybrid of concert and cabaret, which blends songs and anecdotes to paint a picture of songwriting partners Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer at 5 p.m. on June 8 at the Breman. The cast includes Christy Baggett, Reeves Woods, Juan Unzueta and tap dancer Andrew Nemr, with musical direction by Greg Sudmeier. The show is part of the Levinson Family Music Series.
Classical Remix Music Festival’s Music Under the Moon
The worlds of pop and classical collide at the Classical Remix Music Festival, which begins this weekend with Music under the Moon at 7:30 p.m. June 8 at the Leafmore-Creek Park Club in Decatur. Future performances take place June 22 and June 27 at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse on the square in downtown Decatur. Musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony, the Toronto Symphony and more will take the stage for these concerts.
::
More things to do this weekend
Familial dysfunction and a funeral are at the heart of the dark Southern comedy Dearly Departed, up next at Onstage Atlanta, as the Turpin family convenes following the death of their “mean and surly” patriarch. It opens June 6 and continues through June 22 … Abernathy Arts Center in Sandy Springs presents Cheryl Henos’ It’s Not Just Black & White, an exhibit of hand-painted photography, opening June 5 and on view through August 7. Henos hand-paints her black and white photography in oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolor and pencil … Raymond Carr’s The Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza featuring Raymond vs Raymond is happening June 5 through June 15 at the Center for Puppetry Arts … Two sets of twins and a case of mistaken identity drive Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, which hits the stage at Shakespeare Tavern and runs June 7 through June 29 … Journey of the Spirit: The Multi-dimensional Artistry of Sean Haynes will be on view in the ArtsXchange’s Jack Sinclair Gallery in East Point (2148 Newnan St.) beginning on June 7, with an opening reception from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on June 14. There will be an artist talk from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on July 19 … Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations is at the Fox Theatre at 8 p.m. June 6 and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. June 7 … Mamá, a show by artist Catalina Bellizzi-Itiola, and Breathing Wor(l)ds, a sound and fabric installation by Annalise Nelson, will open with a reception at 6:30 p.m. June 7 at the South River Art Studios … The Fuzzstock Festival is back for its fifth year at Bogg Social Supply with performances from Leafblower, Bleach Garden, Bog Monkey, The Pinx, MammaBear, Gas Hound, Cortége, Phantom Electric, The Lobotomy Party, Turbo Gatto, James Hall Trio and Sugar Ransom, along with a DJ set from Vikki Vaden.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings