Although Taprena Augustine is now a musical theater veteran, she makes it clear that appearing in the national tour of “The Color Purple” is both a professional and personal high point of her career. The musical returns next week to Atlanta, with its lesbian relationship intact.
Georgia author Alice Walker’s best-selling 1982 novel is the inspiration for the musical, which had its world premiere at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre in 2004. Shortly after that it bowed on Broadway where it became a commercial success and won a Tony for actress LaChanze. A national tour is on its third stop here.
Augustine was hired at the beginning of last year to play Shug Avery on the road. The actress calls the musical a classic.
Hilarious play opens at Atlanta's Fox Theatre tonight
Atlanta Lyric Theatre is preparing to open Jonathan Larson’s Tony-winning musical “Rent” with a heavily gay cast and crew.
The original “Rent” opened on Broadway in 1996, just after composer/playwright Larson’s untimely death from an aortic dissection, and ran an incredible 12 years. It’s been produced in Atlanta perhaps more than any other Broadway musical save for “Mamma Mia!” the last decade.
Director Alan Kilpatrick, who is gay, feels that “Rent” is that rare show that reaches audiences outside of typical theater patrons.
“I think it appeals to a broader spectrum than people would guess,” Kilpatrick says. “People have latched onto it. It has an infectious score.”
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During his long stage career, openly gay actor Erick Devine has found himself in quite a few Christmas-themed holiday shows. As luck would have it, he does so again this year, appearing in “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” debuting in Atlanta next week courtesy of Theater of the Stars.
According to Devine, the stage version follows the film pretty closely, with some exceptions. It’s set in 1954 on Christmas Eve, where two World War II Army buddies have a successful song and dance routine. After the two follow a pair of singing sisters to a Vermont lodge – belonging to their former commanding general — they decide to stage a Broadway revue in the hopes their Army pals can come out and help save the lodge. Devine stars as General Waverly, the gruff owner of the lodge.
He calls the gig a high point of his career.
Atlanta musician hosts first gala for Heart Foundation
Barry Brandon, 29, has overcome eight heart surgeries since he was a toddler and is now trying to give back to the community through his new organization, the Heart Foundation.
The Heart Foundation will hold its Inaugural Benefit Gala at The Fox Theatre on Sept. 19. The benefit includes cocktails, a catered dinner, dancing and the sneak preview of “The Tin Man Project” — a short documentary about Brandon’s eighth heart surgery when he was 27 that includes interviews with family members as well as footage of him recovering in the hospital.