This fall, Atlantans have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the arts. From LGBTQ films, TV, and comedy to the world-famous Hamilton and Pablo Picasso, fall 2021 brings with it a slew of opportunities to connect with the art lover in all of us.
Comedy and Theater
Laugh Out Loud
August 13, 2021
Enjoy a night of queer comedy with some of Atlanta’s funniest LGBTQ comedians. Starting at 8pm, Ian Aber, Matthew English, Julie Marateck, Lily Campbell, Karen Felix, and Julie Osborne will take the stage — and hilarity will ensue.
Tickets are $20. Due to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ new mask mandate, masks will be required for this event.
Out Front Theatre Company
999 Brady Avenue NW
Hamilton
August 22–September 26, 2021
The musical sensation written by Lin-Manuel Miranda comes to the Fox Theatre this fall. Enjoy the award-winning story of America’s founding father, Alexander Hamilton, told through a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and traditional Broadway.
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street NE
Darlin’ Cory
September 8–October 3, 2021
This haunting new folk-country musical, set in ’30s Appalachia, follows the story of an ambitious young woman and a pastor committed to preserving the status quo as cracks begin to form in the town’s façade. Inspired by local lore, this show will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Alliance Theatre
1280 Peachtree Street NE
The New Black Fest’s Hands Up
October 8-31, 2021
This timely performance is a must-see this fall. Seven playwrights — Nathan James, Nathan Yungerberg, Idris Goodwin, Nambi E. Kelley, Nsangou Njikam, Eric Holmes, and Dennis Allen II — have written seven monologues for this performance, each depicting the harsh realities of Black America from a variety of genders, sexual orientations, skin tones, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Alliance Theatre
1280 Peachtree Street NE
Visual and Performance Art
The Show Must Go On
August 13–16, 2021
This solo show by mixed media visual artist Kate Luther is an installation and performance exploring the daily act of performance and persona. This unique exhibition allows visitors to see the mechanisms up close — at first glance, a theatrical production appears as this glamorous form of reality. However, the production is full of flaws as characters forget lines, costumes are worn, props are chipped and broken — but the show must go on.
Visit on Saturday night to enjoy performances from local burlesque dancers Ada Manzhart and Clara Toris.
The show will be held from 1 to 4pm on Friday, Sunday, and Monday, with donation-based ticketing on those days, and from
6 to 9pm on Saturday with $8 tickets.
The Bakery Atlanta
1526 E. Forrest Avenue
Calder-Picasso Exhibition
Now through September 19, 2021
The works from twentieth-century art icons Alexander Calder and Pablo Picasso come to the High in late summer. The exhibition includes more than 100 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper spanning the artists’ careers.
While there, explore the two other temporary exhibits: Electrifying Design, featuring 80 rare lighting examples from the past 100 years; and Outside the Lines, an immersive maze of accessible, sensory environments by Bryony Roberts Studio. Masks are required.
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street NE
Film and Television
Everyone’s Talking About Jamie
Out on September 17 on Amazon Prime
This British stage musical-turned-film tells the story — inspired by real events — of Jamie New, a gay teenager who gets pushback from his peers for wanting to go to prom in drag.
“Sex Education” Season 3
Out on September 17 on Netflix
The uber LGBTQ-friendly British series returns to Netflix this fall. This season brings on a new nonbinary student, Cal, played by gender nonconforming songwriter and recording artist Dua Saleh.
“Eternals”
In theaters November 5
“Eternals,” directed by Chloe Zhao, is set to feature the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first gay couple and first gay kiss. The story features cosmic-powered superhero Phastos and his husband (played by Brian Tyree Henry and Haaz Sleiman, respectively).
“Flee”
In theaters November 5
This animated documentary tells the story of Amin, a gay man who immigrated to Denmark from Afghanistan as a minor on his own. As he’s about to get married to his boyfriend, a secret from his past is revealed and threatens to upend his life.
“Prideland”
Streaming on YouTube now
Hosted by out actor Dyllon Burnside, this six-episode series — which won a Daytime Emmy this year — explores LGBTQ life in the U.S. The series spans topics like polyamory, LGBTQ health care, and same-sex adoption and follows subjects like an openly gay pastor and Burnside himself.