If you enjoy watching live theater this is your weekend. There is something for everyone in almost every part of Atlanta!
FRIDAY
Music: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra welcomes pianist Andre Watts, who joins the orchestra for Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. The orchestra also offers Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5 and the world premiere of Adam Schoenberg’s “La Luna Azul.” Performances are at 8 p.m. March 2 and 3 p.m. March 4 at Atlanta Symphony Hall.
Stage: The Atlanta Shakespeare Company continues its chronological run through the Bard’s comedies with “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” The show previews March 2 and continues through April 1 at the New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta.
Stage: Snow White may get more than she wishes for in “Snow White’s Birthday Surprises” when the evil Queen returns just when the Prince throws her a surprise birthday party. It runs through March 10 at New Dawn Theater Company in Duluth.
Stage: Three older gentlemen who share a large home need to rent out their fourth bedroom to help with the rent in “The New Kid on the Block.” Their problem seems answered when Will shows up, except Will turns out to be a woman. It runs March 2 through March 25 at Act1 Theater in Alpharetta.
Stage: Charlie’s shyness renders him helpless in conversation – so when a friend covers for him by telling the other guests in a rural Georgia mountain lodge that he speaks no English, Charlie ends up hearing more than he should in the Georgia Ensemble Theatre production of “The Foreigner.” It continues through March 11 at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.
Stage: The self-described “giant nerds” at Dad’s Garage explore the eccentric and outlandish realm of sci-fi fandom in “Wrath of Con.” It runs through March 16.
Stage: The Tony Award-winning Fats Waller-inspired musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is the latest production from Atlanta Lyric Theatre. It continues through March 4 at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta.
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 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 plays at the New London Theatre in Snellville through March 4.
Stage: “Red” is John Logan’s dramatic portrait of abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. The Theatrical Outfit production continues at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s in downtown Atlanta through March 11.
Stage: Atlanta Shakespeare Company offers its annual Valentine to Atlanta with a production of “Romeo and Juliet.” It runs through March 8 at the New American Shakespeare Tavern.
Stage: Horizon Theatre Company brings back its successful 2011 production, “Avenue Q, “ an upbeat, puppet-filled musical that is most definitely for grown-ups. It runs through April 1.
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.
Stage, families: A swamp chorus sings backup in “Petite Rouge,” a foot-stomping, family-friendly zydeco musical steeped in hot sauce and based on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The Synchronicity Theatre production runs through March 25 at 7 Stages in Little Five Points.
SATURDAY
Music, stage: The Atlanta Opera presents “The Golden Ticket,” a new comic opera based on Roald Dahl’s classic book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” also the inspiration for the film “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Performances are at 8 p.m. March 3 and 9; 7:30 p.m. March 6 and 3 p.m. March 11 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Families, arts: The Woodruff Arts Center Galleria transforms into a family fun fair at Families Centerstage, with live performances, arts, crafts and music. Includes admission to the Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which happens at 1 and 4 p.m. March 3.
Flowers: Spring is in the air and it’s popping out of the ground at the Atlanta Botanical Garden during “Atlanta Blooms.” Catch the profusion of hyacinths, crocuses, tulips and daffodils at this second annual floral tribute to the season of rebirth. Check the Garden’s website to see what’s in bloom. The event continues through April 29.
Music: Get your St. Patrick’s Day celebrating done early at Shamrock with Yacht Rock, which starts at 2 p.m. March 3 at Park Tavern near Piedmont Park.
Music: The 8th Annual Atlanta Blues Festival features performances from Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones, Denise LaSalle, Millie Jackson, Theodis Ealey, Shirley Brown and Clarence Carter. It begins at 7 p.m. March 3 at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center.
Music: Twist again, like you did so many summers ago, as Chubby Checker comes to Marietta’s Jennie T. Anderson Theater at 8 p.m. March 3.
Music: Musician brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are among the most sought after music directors in the Bollywood film industry. Salim has also been a judge on “Indian Idol.” The brothers bring their tour to the Fox Theatre at 8 p.m. March 3.
SUNDAY
Stage: Atlanta playwright Pearl Cleage examines the lives of four female former slaves in “Flyin’ West.” The women search for a better life in the West, away from the uncertainties of the post Civil War South. the show previews March 4 and 6, and opens March 7. It continues through April 8 at Theatre In the Square in Marietta.
Music: Pianist Yefim Bronfman makes his Spivey Hall debut playing sonatas by Hadyn, Prokofiev and Brahms at 3 p.m. March 4.
Music: The Choral Guild of Atlanta presents “In Paradisum,” which includes performances of requiems by Fauré and Cherubini. Performance is at 4 p.m. March 4 at Northside Drive Baptist Church.
Music: Get lost in the harmonies and joyous dance of South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir at 7 p.m. March 4 at the Fox Theatre.