No, this isn't Sweeney Todd. It's Titus Andronicus at Georgia Shakespeare. Photo by Jennifer Hofstetter.
Allow me for a moment to venture outside the visual arts. I was surprised to read a quote by Sean Daniels, cofounder and former artistic director of Dad’s Garage Theatre, in Creative Loafing last month:
The NBA does an incredible job of marketing its players, not its team, something we do the opposite of in theater. … Is either more or less spectacular, given the odds of failure?
Theatre is by nature collaborative. Visual art, on the other hand, centers on individuals who are encouraged to compete. Sharing doesn’t come easily, and the market can be ruthless, especially at a time when collectors are shy, or are reluctant to even leave home. Why, then, do we all strive for stardom, to become the next Damien Hirst or the next Shepard Fairey? There might be something to learn from the performing arts.
Although I’ve met several local actors, stage managers, and the like, the performing arts still seem distant and closed off. Then again, whenever I bring new people to galleries, I always find myself fighting against the common perception that Art is exclusive and obscure. So, I wonder: What’s happening in Atlanta’s theatre scene?
In the meantime I plan to check out Georgia Shakespeare Festival’s production of Titus Andronicus, a weirdly compelling play where “[b]odies are chopped and baked into meat pies.” (A motif that, aside from the musical starring Johnny Depp, was most likely inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses.) The ticket might seem a little steep—between $15 and $45, depending on the seat—but past experience tells me to expect a good show. Any other suggestions?
Georgia Shakespeare is a repertory theatre; several plays are shown in a continual rotation, so it’s best to check the show calendar before you buy tickets. August 2 is the final performance of Titus Andronicus and the conclusion of Georgia Shakespeare’s summer season.
