The Bodyguard

Spring Arts Preview: ‘Hedwig,’ ‘The Bodyguard,’ more grace Atlanta stages this season

From the return of a beloved diva (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) to a classic musical with a twist (“Grease”), it’s an awfully queer time at local playhouses this spring.

As created by John Cameron Mitchell, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” – about a transgender punk-rock girl following her former lover around the United States – is one of the most iconic stage musicals of the last quarter-century, combining a classic outsider story with poignant, beautiful music (“Midnight Radio,” “Wicked Little Town”) The acclaimed national tour hits the ATL for, alas, just two days – a shame, considering most productions run for almost a week.

Out Front Theatre, dedicated to producing LGBT work, closes its inaugural season with the humorous Paul Rudnick comedy “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told.” It follows Adam and Steve and Jane and Mabel all the way from the Old Testament through modern society.

Another not to be missed production is Broadway Across America’s take on “The Bodyguard,” based on the popular Whitney Houston-Kevin Costner film. In it, recording artist Deborah Cox takes on the role of a movie star who has started to get threatening notes. How this comes to the stage remains to be seen, but the iconic score (“Run to You,” “I Have Nothing” and the immortal “I Will Always Love You”) and Cox should bring the gay community out in droves.

At Actor’s Express, the just-opened “The Legend of Georgia McBride” follows an Elvis impersonator (Nick Aropoglou) who, needing extra funds to take care of a pregnant wife at home, goes on as a drag performer, while at Decatur’s OnStage Atlanta, out director Cathe Hall Payne helms the comedic “Savannah Sipping Society,” in which four Southern women, strangers to each other, meet by fate and begin weekly meetings to re-charge their batteries.

Courtesy of 7 Stages – never afraid to present LGBT work – comes “Curious Queer Encounters,” curated by Michael Haverty and featuring stories of LGBT queer culture and definition, as told by various artists and ensembles, while Theater Emory serves up “Ravished,” a “dirty, nasty” riff on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Finally, never one to bring formula to his productions, openly gay artistic director Brian Clowdus of Serenbe Playhouse presents a spring version of “Grease.” Clowdus stages the show with a drive-in movie setting. With Bubba Carr choreographing the show and a great cast, it should be a lot of fun.

“The Legend of Georgia McBride”
March 18 – April 16
Actor’s Express
887 W. Marietta St., Atlanta, GA 30318
www.actorsexpress.com

“Grease”
March 23 – April 16
Serenbe Playhouse
9110 Selborne Lane, Ste. 210, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268
www.serenbeplayhouse.com

“The Bodyguard”
March 28 – April 2
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308
www.broadwayacrossamerica.com

“Ravished”
March 30 – April 9
Mary Gray Munroe Theater
Dobbs University Center
605 Asbury Circle N.E., Atlanta, GA 30322
www.theater.emory.edu

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
April 4-5
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308
www.broadwayacrossamerica.com

“Savannah Sipping Society”
April 13-30
Onstage Atlanta
2969 E, Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
www.onstageatlanta.com

“The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told”
April 27 – May 14
Out Front Theatre Company
999 Brady Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318
www.outfronttheatre.com

“Curious Queer Encounters”
May 4-14
7 Stages
1105 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
www.7stages.org

SIDEBAR: Five-pack of additional Atlanta arts treats

As always, the area has an assortment of other arts treats, including opera, ballet, art openings and special events.

“Don Pasquale”
March 25 – April 2
Atlanta Opera
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
www.cobbenergycentre.com

Sutton Foster
April 21-22
Atlanta Symphony Hall
1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309
www.aso.org

Adam Schwerner’s “The Curious Garden”
May 2 and 4
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309
www.atlantabg.org

“Camino Real”
May 12-14
Atlanta Ballet
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
www.cobbenergycentre.com

“Andy Warhol: Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation”
June 2 – Sept. 3
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree St N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309
www.high.org