FRIDAY
Circus: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns to town with “Fully Charged,” which is at Philips Arena now through Feb. 20 then moves to Gwinnett Arena Feb. 23-26. $14-$130. Check out our preview of “Fully Charged” and the Universoul Circus, which continues near Turner Field.
Storytelling: Southern Order of Storytellers’ 30th Annual Storytelling Festival is happening at various venues around Decatur Feb. 17 and 18, including Atlanta Friends Meeting House (701 W. Howard Ave.), Eddie’s Attic (515 N. McDonough St.) and Decatur Presbyterian Church (205 Sycamore St.).
Dance: The acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre brings works by Paul Taylor, Rennie Harris and Robert Battle to the Fox Theatre, along with Ailey’s “Revelations.” Performances are at 8 p.m. Feb. 17, 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 18, and 3 p.m. Feb. 19.
Stage: The Tony Award-winning Fats Waller-inspired musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is the latest production from Atlanta Lyric Theatre. It opens Feb. 17 and continues through March 4 at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta.
Music: Country hitmaker Suzy Bogguss, who enjoyed a string of Top 10 singles in the early ’90s that included “Drive South,” is in concert at the Canton Theatre 8 p.m. Feb. 17.
Comedy: Andy Kindler has been a contributor to “The Daily Show,” an occasional guest on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and a voice actor on the animated series “Bob’s Burgers,” but he’s probably best known as a stand-up comedian and he’ll bring his show to the Laughing Skull Lounge Feb. 16- 19.
Comedy: Jim Norton is a regular on SiriusXM Radio’s “The Opie & Anthony Show” and a frequent correspondent for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” He’ll bring his stand-up comedy to the Punchline Feb. 16-18.
Stage: “Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom” line blurs between virtual reality and actual reality. It’s the latest production from Lawrenceville’s Aurora Theatre and continues through March 4.
Stage: “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a show-within-a-show about a die-hard musical fan who plays his favorite cast album, a 1928 smash hit, and the show magically comes to life. It opens Feb. 17 and continues through March 10 at OnStage Atlanta in Decatur.
Stage: An efficiency expert applies his business methods to his family in “Cheaper by the Dozen.” The show opens at the New London Theatre in Snellville on Feb. 17 and continues through March 4.
Visual arts: A former North Korean propaganda artist turned visual satirical commentator debuts in the U.S. with “Song Byeok: Departure.” The opening reception is 7-10:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and the show continues through Feb. 26 at the Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta.
Performing arts: The Atlanta-based Universoul Circus returns home for a three-week run in the Green Lot At Turner Field. The show continues through Feb. 26.
Stage: “Ruth and the Green Book” is Jon Ludwig’s adaptation of a book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Floyd Cooper which follows an African-American family as they travel from Chicago to Alabama in the Jim Crow South of the 1950s. After being turned away from hotels, gas stations and restaurants, 8-year-old Ruth and her parents are introduced to “The Green Book,” a pivotal publication that guided African Americans to establishments where they would be welcome. The show continues through Feb. 26 at the Center for Puppetry Arts.
Stage: The Southside Theatre Guild in Fairburn presents Lorraine Hansberry’s acclaimed family drama “A Raisin in the Sun.” It runs through Feb. 26.
Stage: In the Lionheart Theatre Company production “Bleach,” an exterminator is on a misguided quest to keep his life clean. The show opens Feb. 10 and continues through Feb. 19 at the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center
Film: The three-week Atlanta Jewish Film Festival continues at theaters in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta and Marietta through Feb. 29. Check out our look at the festival’s diverse offerings.
Stage: “Red” is John Logan’s dramatic portrait of abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. The Theatrical Outfit production will preview Feb. 3 and opens Feb. 4. It continues at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s in downtown Atlanta through March 11.
Stage: A husband’s efforts to deny his visit to the Moulin Rouge lead to mistakes and plausible presumptions in “The Ladies Man,” a Theatre in the Square production of a play based on a French farce by Georges Feydeau. See our review of the show. The show continues through Feb. 26.
Stage: 11 years after his sold-out run of “The Gospel of John,” Brad Sherrill returns to Marietta’s Theatre in the Square with “Red Letter Jesus,” which brings new life to Jesus’ words as written in Matthew, Mark and Luke. The show continues through March 4.
SATURDAY Music: Emory University’s Asian Music Festival includes concerts performed by the seven Asian music ensembles in the school’s world music program, featuring classical genres, folk repertoire and new compositions in the music of China, Korea, Indonesia, North India, South India and Tibet. It continues Feb. 18 and 19 at the Emory Performing Arts Studio.
Stage: Debra Ehrhardt’s “Jamaica, Farewell” is a one-woman play based on the story of her journey from Jamaica to America during the Manley Era. The show continues through Feb. 19 at Academy Theatre in Avondale Estates.
Dance: Atlanta Ballet present a family-friendly performance with their take on the fairy tale of “Snow White.” See it at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Pets, fundraiser:
Spelling bee: Put on your thinking cap and join the spellers at the Atlanta Open Orthographic Meet. The grown-up spelling bee happens at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Manuel’s Tavern.
Step show: The competition will be fierce at the annual Ryan Cameron Greek Step Show, which starts at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center.
Music: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Gala is headlined by beloved Broadway actress and singer Bernadette Peters. The show beings at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Atlanta Symphony Hall. Check out our interview with the star.
Music: Many know him as Nat King Cole’s brother, but jazz pianist and singer Freddy Cole has a long career of his own. He’ll perform with his quartet at 8:15 p.m. Feb. 18 at Spivey Hall in Morrow.
Stage: In “Our Time Has Come,” Solomon Chambers defies the odds of poverty and discrimination and becomes a lawyer. When his uncle is murdered in Mississippi, he serves as a witness for the prosecution. The show opens Feb. 18 and runs through March 4 at the 14th Street Playhouse.
SUNDAY Music: The Lynn Swanson Festival Singers offer “A Tribute to American Songs and Spirituals” at 4 p.m. Feb. 19 at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church in Smyrna.
History, performing arts: “Mark Twain Speaks! A Progressive Man’s View on Social Change in America” features historian Harry Carpenter as the author, discussing Twain’s views on Civil War-era society. See it at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
February is Black History Month, so check out our look at some of the arts and cultural events that celebrate the contributions of African-Americans, happening through the month of February.