Three different musicals are premiering in the coming weeks, each of them showcasing blues music and talking about the various hopes and pains inherent to the genre. Theater in the Square’s “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” is a one women show featuring music by Ethel Waters. The Theatrical Outfit is staging “Blues in the Night” and includes popular songs in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Horizon Theater will be showing “Black Pearl Sings,” which stars a Depression-era ex-convict who becomes a blues star. While the shows differ in terms story and content, their music and themes are universal.
The 33 annual Atlanta Jazz Festival will start at Piedmont Park during Memorial Day weekend. The event is free and will feature acts such as Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, along with The Steven Charles Band. The following day will feature more major performances. Visit atlantafestivals.com for more information.
Food lovers prepare. Four major food festivals are coming to Atlanta in the following weeks. The Taste of West Cobb starts on April 17 and features a wide variety of barbecue burgers, deserts as well as Mexican and Italian cuisines. The Taste of Marietta event starts on April 25 and features more barbecue as well as several seafood options. The Taste of East Cobb will feature an interesting medley of seafood, Italian and Creole cuisines. Finally, Taste of Alpharetta will feature several Asian and Mediterranean dishes and will include alternative rock bands such as Sun Domingo and State of Man. Entrance is free for all events.
Combine your passion for food and nature this May 1 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of the latest sustainable food craze, the Botanical Garden features a brand new $2 million Edible Garden expansion. Starring mini crop circles and featuring a collage of vegetables, fruits and herbs, the Botanical Garden also contains an outdoor kitchen with an oven and fireplace for guests with a culinary bent. The festivities will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grand opening day and will include activities with Garden admission, as well as food and drink available for purchase. For more information, please visit www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.
The Atlanta Film Festival is currently running from April 15-23 and is featuring even more independent movies than ever. The Film Festival will cover a wide array of topics and issues, such as music, comedy, African-American culture as well as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) issues. Certain movies are directly originated from local talent, such as the short film “To Comfort You”, directed by “NCIS” star and Fulton County native Pauley Perrette. Also featured at the festival are several documentaries on the working lives of comedians, such as Tommy Davidson, Sarah Silverman, and others. Tickets for regular screenings cost $10. For more information, see atlantafilmfestival.com.