THEATER
7 Stages announces 2013-14 season
The current 7 Stages season has been one of transition, with Heidi S. Howard and Mack Headrick taking over the leadership roles of artistic director Del Hamilton and producing director Faye Allen, who co-founded the Little 5 Points company in 1979.

But for the recently announced 2013-14 season, the troupe’s 35th and first full one under the artistic guidance of Howard and new associate artistic director Michael Haverty, it’s even easier to see the fingerprints of the new leadership team.

Take, for instance, the fall season opener, “The Navigator,” adapted by Haverty from the young adult novel by Irish writer Eoin McNamee and to be staged in a roving, large-scale production utilizing multiple venues at the Goat Farm. Described as an “interactive adaptation” in which audiences are encouraged to become part of the show, the world premiere promises giant puppets, film and shadow projection, actors, music and otherworldly objects.

The …

Continue reading Culture notes: 7 Stages announces, Aurora finalizes 2013-14 seasons; Madison Chamber Music fest launches this week »

Jay Hakes, the Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, will step down at the end of July.

Hakes, who has held the position 13 years, wants to devote more time to writing and speaking about energy issues.

“Jay has been a wonderful director,” said former President Jimmy Carter. “Rosalynn and I appreciate all that he has done for the library and will miss working with him and his wife Anita.”

Hakes and his wife plan to split their time between Atlanta and New Orleans.

Continue reading Carter Center chief to step down in July »

MOVIES

Fox’s summer screenings

The Fox Theatre has announced its 2013 Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival lineup: “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (7: 30 p.m. June 14), Saturday morning cartoons (10 a.m. June 15), “Oz the Great and Powerful” (7:30 p.m. June 15), “42″ (7:30 p.m. June 21), “Finding Nemo” (2 p.m. June 22), “Les Miserables” (7:30 p.m. June 22), “The Birds”(4 p.m. June 23), “Django Unchained” (7:30 p.m. July 26), “The Croods” (2 p.m. July 27), “Lawrence of Arabia” (4 p.m. July 28), Saturday morning cartoons (10 a.m. Aug. 17), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s (4 p.m. Aug. 18). Titles for Aug. 16, 17 and 29 are to be announced. Tickets go on sale Friday at at the Fox ticket office, 1-855-285-8499, www.foxatltix.com. HOWARD POUSNER

ARTS

Providing ‘Fuel’ for artists

C4 Atlanta, a nonprofit service organization that helps empower artists to build successful careers in the metro area, is mounting its first art exhibit. Featuring works by 25 artists who have completed C4’s entrepreneurship …

Continue reading Culture notes: Fox Theatre summer film series announced; two arts benefits Saturday »

FILM
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ … and a diet
A classic Southern story such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” should be followed, ideally, by a classic Southern desert, and this weekend at Lefont Sandy Springs Theater they’ll be dishing up a heaping helping of both. Screenings of the documentary “Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and “Mockingbird” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday will be followed by panel discussions with civil rights experts, then capped by complimentary banana pudding receptions. The showings (tickets for each: $8.50) are part of Sandy Springs Reads, focusing this year on Lee’s classic novel. 5920 Roswell Road. 404-255-0140, www.lefonttheaters.com. HOWARD POUSNER

Continue reading Culture notes: Harper Lee docu, ‘Mockingbird’ showing at Lefont Sandy Springs this weekend »

By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

After five seasons at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square, Atlanta Lyric Theatre will have a new home starting this fall.

Unable to strike a lease agreement with management of the restored 1935 movie theater, the musicals-loving Lyric has announced that it will present its 2013-14 season, its 34th, at Cobb Civic Center’s Jennie T. Anderson Theatre.

Lyric artistic director and general manager Brandt Blocker went public several weeks ago with unspecific plans to move but hinted that the company was committed to “a continued relationship with the restaurateurs and retailers on the Marietta Square.” The switch to the 600-seat Anderson Theatre, less than two miles from the historic square, achieves that.

This week, the Lyric added months for its previously announced 2013-14 shows, with the final run dates still to be released: Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” (August), Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls” (October), Duke Ellington’s …

Continue reading Atlanta Lyric Theatre moving to Cobb Civic Center starting next season »

VISUAL ART
Arts Institute of Atlanta-Decatur to host color experts
On April 27, the Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur will host a Color Summit, presented by the International Association of Color Consultants (IACC) North America, for artists, designers, color consultants and small business owners.

The 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. summit is to present expert advice on lighting, color and color rendering; help with business strategies; and offer the opportunity to network with consultants, artists and vendors from around the world. Environmental designer Frank Mahnke, IACC International president, will give the keynote address.

Registration fee for non-IACC members is $15 (and includes a networking reception, 6-9 p.m. April 26 at Sycamore Place Gallery). Go to 2013colorsummit.eventbrite.com. Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur is at One West Court Square in downtown Decatur. HOWARD POUSNER

Two photographers focus on childhood
The Arnika Dawkins Photographic Fine Art Gallery holds a 6-8 …

Continue reading Culture notes: Arts Institute of Atlanta-Decatur to host color experts; photographers focus on childhood; Dad’s Garage temporarily moving to 7 Stages »

CLASSICAL MUSIC
With free Piedmont Park concerts announced, ASO planning balanced budget
Last week’s announcement by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra that it will resume free concerts at Piedmont Park was a burst of positive news from an institution steadying itself after thorny contract negotiations that included a musician lockout before the season started.

In case you missed the news, the ASO and the Piedmont Park Conservancy will present a “Performance on the Promenade” series on May 17 and 23.

The 7:30 p.m. concerts are free but tickets (general admission seating) will be required. Tickets for May 17’s performance will available at 10 a.m. May 3 via atlantasymphony.org. May 23 tickets will be available at 10 a.m. May 10. Information: aso.org/piedmontpark.

The Piedmont concerts were launched in 1976, but concerns about protecting the park during a protracted drought caused them to move to other sites in 2008 and 2009, after which the series stopped because of a lack of …

Continue reading Culture notes: With free Piedmont Park concerts announced, ASO planning balanced budget; Callanwolde announces hot jazz dates »

THEATER
Georgia Ensemble’s season opener will be ‘Almost Heaven’ for Denver fans
If everything old can be new again, maybe everything deemed square long ago can be hip for the first time.

What other conclusion to draw from the announcement that Roswell’s Georgia Ensemble Theatre will open its 2013-14 season with the jukebox musical “Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America” — this following on the heels of the early April release of the album “The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver?”

The tribute album features artists including My Morning Jacket, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Dave Matthews and Train updating ultra-familiar Denver tunes for a new generation.

“Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America” does much the same. The musical features 29 “rediscovered and reinvented” Denver songs, according to Georgia Ensemble, including “Rocky Mountain High,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Annie’s Song” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

While the tribute album is new, “Almost Heaven” played …

Continue reading Culture notes: Denver’s ‘Almost Heaven’ to launch Ga. Ensemble season; Emerging Artist Award winner’s exhibit opens Thursday »

VISUAL ARTS
New owner fires up plans for MudFire ceramics studio, gallery
MudFire Clayworks & Gallery, the Decatur ceramics studio and showplace, has a new owner with plans for new programs and enhancements.

Deanna Ranlett has acquired a controlling interest in MudFire, founded in 2002 in Brookhaven by ceramic artists Luba Sharapan and Erik Haagensen. Ranlett also is owner of Atlanta Clay, a supply house serving ceramic artists.

MudFire is at 175 Laredo Drive in Decatur, near Your DeKalb Farmers Market and is considered part of Avondale Estates’ Rail Arts District. Changes under way or upcoming include:

• Adding a ceramic tools and supply boutique
• More ticketed workshops held in a dedicated workshop space
• Frequent special-topic clinics
• Increased local focus in the gallery, which represents nationally acclaimed potters as well as emerging Southeastern artists, showing functional and sculptural pottery
• Addition of a full-time artist residency program
• Expanded online …

Continue reading Culture notes: New owner fires up plans for MudFire ceramics studio, gallery; Earth Day concert; honors for Atlanta artists, administrator »

FILM
International art exhibits onscreen
The High Museum of Art has imported masterworks in exhibits including “Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting” (through May 12) and “Girl With a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” (opening June 23). Now Atlantans can get further exposure to international art riches through a film series, “Exhibition,” that opens with a tour of an Edouard Manet exhibit at London’s Royal Academy of Arts at 7:30 p.m. April 11  at seven metro theaters. Future cinematic tours, hosted by art historian Tim Marlow, visit exhibits of Edvard Munch (June 27) and “Girl With a Pearl” creator Johannes Vermeer (Oct. 10). Theater list, tickets ($12.50): www.fathomevents.com. HOWARD POUSNER

VISUAL ART
Steamrolling at Printmakers Studio
How big are the prints being created at Print Big 2013, the fourth annual event presented by the Atlanta Printmakers Studio from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 13. So big that it will take a steamroller to print the …

Continue reading Culture notes: ‘Exhibition’ series onscreen; steamrolling at Print Big 2013; vintage marketplace »