just an absolutely fabulous space where bound-for-Broadway shows incubate and refine for greatness…read more we went to see "Water for Elephants" and it was wonderful... even though the show itself needs work, the new Alliance space is the perfect setting where creatives can shine. terrible sound at Atlanta Symphony notwithstanding, the side-by-side pairing of both Symphony and Alliance is like having a Manhattan-show experience right here in Atlanta. we are very lucky to have such an important cultural experience here. if Florida is the 6th borough of Manhattan, Atlanta is the 7th--and yes I will die on that hill. I went to see "The Color Purple" when it was in previews, and it ended up a Broadway hit. go see any show at the Alliance and it's a de facto preview of what will open and thrive on Great White Way.

I would love to rate this as a five star, but the fact that they do not validate parking in the…read morehigh museum, does not allow me to give them a five star. My kid attends the Pnc story time. The space is amazing full of sensory and fun and the storyteller does an awesome job with engaging through music play and storytelling. I believe I enjoy it more than my child does at this point and it has become a hit for all of our Mom friends the ability to reserve the space and utilize it yourself for a playgroup or your own storytelling time is awesome as as well. I believe something like quarterly. They also provide you with a book to take home for your child which helps improve your child's library and diversifies it quite a bit because they also offer books in Spanish.

Wanting to support this theatre but straight attitude and lack of customer etiquette…read more There are a ton of theatres in the Atlanta and surrounding area. If you want people to come and enjoy and support and encourage others to come and support for more shows, do not talk to them like you are doing them a favor for them to spend their money, energy, their time and their attention. I recommend actors to select a different theatre for acting, because the energy of the leaders is off.

I Will Never Attend Another Play By Kenny Leon (True Colors Theater) Again!…read more I had the occasion to see "Holler, If Ya Hear Me," on Thursday, September 14, 2017, but missed a great deal of the play after the opening time was changed without my knowledge. I ordered my tickets on Friday, July 21, 2017 which has an 8:00 p.m. curtain, but started at 7:30 p.m. I took the night off from my work to attend this play with my fiancé and was disappointed when I was informed that the play had already begun when we arrived. The next day, I wrote a letter outlining my disappointment to True Colors with a request to receive two (2) complimentary tickets for another play in 2018 given the fact that I would be away on business for the duration of 2017. "Holler, If Ya Hear Me" closes in October 2017. On Thursday, September 21, 2017, I received a call from Chandra Stephens-Albright, True Colors Managing Director, in reference to my letter. Mrs. Stephens-Albright acknowledged that True Colors was at fault for changing the time. When I told Mrs. Stephens-Albright that I hadn't been notified of the change of time, she said a few other patrons had also complained, and that I could see the play again for free. After informing her that I wouldn't be available before the play closed, she said that they would not provide complimentary tickets for another play, and would not refund my purchase. It is surreal for a business to admit its error, and then to not reimburse a customer as a result of the error. Edward Brown

I was elated to find such a state if the art, clean, expansive and parking friendly performing arts…read morecenter on the Southeast side! I came to see Wiz, the return and I'll absolutely be back.

Upon arrival, there is a lot of parking and plenty of handicap access parking…read more Very clean facility. The lobby was spacious enough for vendor tables all around plus two step and repeat areas. The seating in the theater was very comfortable. This is my second or third event that I have attended here and each time has been a pleasant experience. Great place to look into if you have enough following to fill the seats.

If you're looking for some clean family fun, this is definitely the place for you. This family…read moreowned circus was such a fun time with a live band, funny host, and unique performances. I can't wait to come back with my family and enjoy this show again.

The HVazquez is amazing and comfortable for all ages. The performances were great! The clown was…read moreawesome! It's truly a fun family atmosphere. There really isn't a bad seat in the place. Speaking of seats they are the best seats I have set in. You'll have good leg room unlike some of the other circuses I've been to. I am all about culture and I would attend again.

That's a very useful tip to include because the parking price difference is significant. I'd add it…read morenear the end like this: I recently visited Center Stage Theater on two separate days for the Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott fight events--Thursday for Media Day and Friday for the official weigh-ins--and the venue was a great setting for both. Center Stage has a really cool atmosphere that works especially well for an event like boxing. It feels intimate enough that you're close to everything happening, but still has the professional feel you want for a major media event. From a media perspective, I appreciated being able to experience the venue on back-to-back days and see how well the space transitioned between Media Day and the weigh-ins. The staff was welcoming and professional, and everything felt organized throughout both visits. With fighters, trainers, promoters, photographers, videographers, media, and guests all moving around, organization can make a huge difference, and the venue handled the activity well. I also really liked the character of the theater itself. It doesn't feel like a generic event space--it has its own personality and creates a great backdrop for photos and video, especially during something as energetic as a boxing weigh-in. One tip I would definitely give anyone planning to visit is to check the parking apps before paying at the kiosks. I was able to find parking for $21 for the entire day through an app, while paying directly through the parking kiosk was $14 for only three hours. If you're going to be at Center Stage for several hours, especially for an event, using a parking app can save you quite a bit of money and keep you from having to worry about your time running out. Being there for the Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott Media Day and weigh-ins gave me the opportunity to experience Center Stage Theater in a completely different way, and I came away impressed. Two days, two different events, and a great experience both times. Definitely a venue I would be happy to return to for another boxing, entertainment, or media event.

Center Stage Theatre is a concert venue and I got to visit when I came to town for a concert. This…read morejust might be my favorite concert venue that I've ever been to for a more intimate show! I loved the layout of the theater, where it seemed like all seats were good seats. They had both floor tickets where it was standing room and then seating that looked kind of like colosseum or stadium seating. Although they had this seating, the place still felt intimate and really added to the ambiance of the concert. I also loved the layout of the lobby area where there were different entry points and a good space for the vendors to sell tour merch and several areas where they had mirrors that gave great photo ops or an area to check your outfit. Loved Center Stage Theatre!

I am a big kid! I loved this for the very reason that some people don't like it: there are no…read moreanimals. There were no bad seats. We were 3 rows from the stage. I would choose the front row of the next section up. Performers ran and danced throughout the rows. The costumes were colorful. I loved the representation from all over the world. Parking was affordable and close. Popcorn was pricey but very very good. I want to go back!!!!

My family and I decided to go to the Universoul Circus. The circus goes to two locations in…read moreGeorgia. They go to the area near the old baseball field, and they go to Gwinnett Mall. The Gwinnett Mall location was very convenient for me. There was an ample amount of parking. I was very entertained. There was never a dull moment, and lots to see. I loved the fact that there were lots of performers from many different countries. Everyone in the show kept a smile and had great energy. It seemed as if the performers enjoyed what they do. I enjoyed the motorcycle performers and the very last performances the most. I highly recommend the Universoul Circus. This is a long tradition that needs to be around for years to come.

Arts at Emory offers dynamic music, theater, and dance performances that guests are sure to enjoy…read morethrough the year. Everything is a bit more intimate and therefore the prices are a bit less than the Atlanta Symphony, but the availability depends on the event. Check the website for a listing of events. I attended a musical performance by The Vega String Quartet performing selections by Bach and Bartok. Tickets were $20 for non members, $15 for members, and free for all students. It was held in the larger Emerson Concert Hall of the Shwartz Center. It was completed in 2002 and is decorated with rich red carpets and classical Italian touches. The acoustics of the hall are excellent and every seat has a good view of the stage. Emory does a great job as a host. The student volunteers were polite while passing out the programs and were respectful to the artist and not disrupting the performance by preventing us to take our seats late. I also noticed the complementary cough drops by the entrance, a nice classy touch. Oh, and the bathrooms in this building make you believe your at a spa in Tuscany.

TLDR; worth the time and $60 (Atlanta)…read more A wide variety in act quality; some left the audience genuinely exclaiming and cursing, some were filler, and some I wanted to just be over with (invisible circus, couch mime with female audience volunteer...) Incredible vocals and music throughout. There are no bad seats in terms of angle, but note the slope is gentle and shorter audience members may want to ensure they end up in the front. Seats are narrow; you will likely touch your neighbor Interior of tent is well heated. Come on time; doors close between acts.

Just when I thought I might have "Cirque fatigue," VOLTA really impressed me. It reinvigorated my…read moreinterest in Cirque du Soleil. I've been to seven Cirque shows over the past 11 years (http://bit.ly/2MNU0st). With the exception of LUZIA, I've rated every show five stars. Cirque du Soleil shows are consistently amazing. That said, VOLTA is my favorite one yet and I'm not sure I've said that about any Cirque show up to this point. For me, it's the best of the best. I enjoyed everything about it: the story, the acts, the music, the costumes and makeup, and the set design. It was all superb. VOLTA is playing in Atlanta from October 10, 2019 to January 5, 2020. Cirque du Soleil set up their big top, the Grand Chapiteau, in its usual spot in Atlantic Station. We saw VOLTA this past weekend (opening weekend). It was sold out. A quick rundown of the Cirque shows I've seen, all in Atlantic Station: * Kooza - 1/23/2009 * Ovo - 9/18/2010 * Totem - 11/3/2012 * Amaluna - 10/28/2014 * Kurios - 3/15/2016 * Luzia - 9/28/2017 * Volta - 10/12/2019 Logistically-speaking, not much sets VOLTA apart from other Cirque shows that have toured through Atlanta. Parking is plentiful in the two-story Atlantic Station deck. You'll have to pay to park. I'm not sure what the price is because we walked this year. The Grand Chapiteau hasn't changed significantly over the last 11 years. It's a relatively intimate venue with 2,500 seats. There's hardly a bad seat in the house. The bad seats are those with viewing angles partially blocked by tent poles. On Cirque's website (https://cirk.me/2MMH7Pv), tickets start at $49 per person before taxes and fees. This year, one of our friends got us tickets through Goldstar. We paid $66.75 per person after taxes and fees for seats in Section 204, Row N. I guesstimate we were about two-thirds of the way back from the front row on the right side of the stage with a clear, unobstructed view. Check out my photos for reference. Speaking of photography, in recent years, Cirque du Soleil has loosened their restrictions. Before, pictures were forbidden. As of a few years ago, guests are allowed to take non-flash photography. Be sure to turn off your flash and dim your screen. Show up early or you may not get seated until after one or more acts are over. The site opens 45 minutes before showtime and the big top opens 30 minutes before. Allow yourself plenty of time to park, walk, use the restroom, buy gifts/concessions, etc. Our show started promptly at 4:30pm and ended just before 6:45pm, so the total elapsed time was about 2 hours 15 minutes including a 25-minute intermission. Even though you may receive PDF tickets intended for printing, you actually don't have to print anything. The ticket scanners can scan the tickets on your phone. Acts can vary slightly from show to show. Here's what we saw (might be missing some things): 1. The show started off in a futuristic dystopia game show setting with mini acts like juggling, human-sized circle balancing, jump rope, and contemporary dance. It was Black-Mirror-esque. 2. Choreographed precision-walking, roller-skating, and a hand-to-hand duo on a single unicycle. 3. "Acro Lamp." An aerialist performed maneuvers on a lamp rope suspended high above the stage. 4. Trampo-wall. Trampoline walls are some of my Cirque acts and this was definitely one of my favorite acts from VOLTA. I particularly loved the choreography, music, and costumes. The music had a TRON-esque 80s techno vibe and the performers were dressed in very bright colors, also evoking 80s culture. Combined with a rotating trampo-wall and bright lights synced to the music, this was really fun to watch. 5. Mr. Wow and the Mr. Wow Show. Washing machine act. Funny. 6. Flatland BMX and ballet duo. This was one of the more emotional acts of the show and it had my fiancee in tears due to its moving score and beautiful symbolism of the love between a mother and son. 7. Swiss rings/bungee, like super high-flying gymnastics. - INTERMISSION - 8. Acrobatic ladder duo. Two ladders, stacked almost to the top of the tent. 9. "Shape Diving." People jumping through hoops, choreographed, with increasing difficulty. The only screw-up of the show happened during this act. 10. Mr. Wow beach scene. Funny, but not as funny as the washing machine act. 11. Diabolo (Chinese yo-yo). Most jaw-dropping diabolo performance I've seen. The way the performer "whipped" diabolos, one-handed, and kept them suspended in mid-air was incredible. 12. Hair suspension. Fantastic performance, but the pop Indian/Bollywood music and theme didn't seem to fit in with the rest of VOLTA. 13. Contemporary dance. My least favorite of the acts. 14. Aerial straps. Standard Cirque fare (which means great). 15. Four-man BMX performance on an expanded stage. Yes, BMX in Cirque du Soleil and it works. Compared to other Cirque shows, I like how this one incorporated more technology. Big video displays on stage too. TL;DR - Go see VOLTA.