East Cobb Arts & Entertainment

GSO awarded Bridge Grant from Georgia Council for the Arts

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GSO Give Back Program

Submitted information:

The Georgia Symphony Orchestra was awarded a $14,400 Bridge Grant from Georgia Council for the Arts, a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, for fiscal year 2025. The Bridge Grant provides funding for operating support to nonprofit arts organizations, many of which were negatively affected by COVID-19. As part of this year’s Bridge awards, 204 entities in 44 counties will receive more than $2.6 million in funding.

“These grant dollars will allow arts organizations in Georgia to focus on their primary mission to bring art and cultural events to their communities by relieving the burden of certain operating expenses,” said GCA Executive Director Tina Lilly. “Georgia Council for the Arts is excited to help our arts organizations continue to foster economic and cultural vitality in their communities.”

Georgia Council for the Arts received applications from arts organizations from across the state, including performing arts centers, museums, galleries, amphitheaters, and music festivals. Bridge Grants are available to arts organizations for eligible operating expenses like rent, utilities, programming expenses and marketing. 

“We are so grateful to have the support of the GCA as we begin our 74th season serving Marietta, Cobb County and the greater metro Atlanta area,” said GSO Executive Director Suzanne Tucker. “These funds will allow us to bring music into schools, senior centers and veteran’s homes, and to continue our special concerts for those on the autism spectrum or with other special needs. It means we can have a positive impact on our community beyond the concert stage.”

Funding for these grants is provided through appropriations from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

GCA uses Peer Review Panels to judge and review applications following standard practices set by the National Endowment for the Arts. Panelists are GCA Council members and fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed, or are citizens with a record of arts activities, experience and knowledge.

 

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Shakespeare for young audience set for Sewell Mill Library

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Submitted information and graphic: Shakespeare for young audience set for Sewell Mill Library

Atlanta’s Shakespeare Academy presents Tempest, Junior!, a 45-minute version of the comedy appropriate for children ages 4-7, at Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068, on Wednesday, July 10 at 7 p.m.

The free Theatre for the Very Young production in the Sewell Mill Black Box Theatre will feature much audience engagement while introducing Shakespeare language and characters to kids. The cast is four energetic professional actors and puppets.

For information on the Atlanta Shakespeare Co., visit shakespearetavern.com.

For information on programs and resources of Sewell Mill Library, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-509-2711.

 

 

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4th annual MiniCon returns to Sewell Mill Library in late June

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4th annual MiniCon returns to Sewell Mill Library in late June
A rendition of Beowulf at a previous MiniCon at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.

Submitted information and photo:

Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center welcomes back MiniCon, a free fan convention, on June 22, 2024, from 10am-5pm. Fans of all ages are invited to celebrate everything fantasy, Sci-Fi, and anime with their community.

MiniCon 2024 is set to be the best one yet! “We are all so excited to see MiniCon return once again in an even bigger “mini” fashion…[E]very corner of Sewell Mill will be buzzing with activity,” says Recreation Program Coordinator Christopher McDoniel.

Young fans can start their day with an intergalactic themed story time and craft before walking in the Children’s Costume Parade. Throughout the day, fans of all ages can attend a variety of panel discussions, watch live entertainment, and shop the Artist Alley that features 30 local artists. Cosplay enthusiasts are invited to enter the cosplay contest in one of three categories: Youth, Teen, or Adult. Guests can wrap up the day singing along in Cosplay Karaoke.

Local food trucks, C’est Tou Bon 2 Eat and Pelican’s Snowballs, will be next to the flagpole with delicious food and treats.

Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center are under Cobb County Libraries and Cobb PARKS, and they offer creative programming through their gallery, arts classes, and Creative Studios in addition to other library resources. For more information regarding MiniCon 2024, email smcc@cobbcounty.org or call 770-509-2711.

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GSO’s season-ending show to feature Ukrainian mezzo-soprano

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Submitted information and photo:GSO's season-ending show to feature Ukrainian mezzo-soprano

Having escaped the dangers of war, Ukrainian refugee Tetyana Vakhnoska is grateful for the opportunity to sing in the Georgia Symphony Orchestra’s season-ending performance of ‘Beethoven’s Universe.’ Two performances of this awe-inspiring, innovative, multimedia concert experience are scheduled to take place May 18-19, 2024, at the Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance Center in Kennesaw, Ga.

Vakhnoska is one of four winners of the GSO’s Beethoven’s 9t national vocal competition. She is a renowned, state-awarded mezzo-soprano who graduated from the National Academy of Music in Lviv, Ukraine, and was a leading opera singer at the National Opera in Lviv for 15 years. She has toured internationally with concerts and opera productions in Poland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, China and the United States.

In 2022, following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vakhnoska, her husband and their then 11-year-old son made the difficult decision to leave their hometown of Lviv for a new life in the U.S. “It was very, very scary and I had to save my son,” she said in a recent interview with GSO Executive Director Suzanne Tucker. She and her family settled in Park Ridge, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. She credits the kindness of many Americans in helping her and her family to resettle.

“I sang solos in Beethoven’s 9th many times in Ukraine and it was always festive, like a celebration,” Vakhnovska said. Since immigrating, she has been a soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and in Bruckner’s “Te Deum” with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.

Vakhnovska will be joined in the GSO’s ‘Beethoven’s Universe’ performance by fellow vocal competition winners and featured soloists: soprano Emma Robertson, tenor William Green and bass/baritone Jacob Lay.

In addition to Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” this unique musical program includes Eric Whitacre’s composition, “Deep Field,” which will be performed live by the orchestra and 100-plus members of the GSO Chorus to the film “Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe.” Combining stunning imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, never-seen-before galaxy fly-bys and custom animations, the film creates an immersive, unforgettable journey from planet Earth to the furthest edges of our universe. Audience members will be encouraged to take a more active role in the piece via a free app on their mobile devices.

Tickets are $15-$45. For more information, and to purchase tickets online, visit georgiasymphony.org/all-events.

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Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra seeks young musicians

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Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra seeks young musicians

Auditions have begun for the Marietta-based Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, which is seeking young musicians for the fall 2024 season.

The program is one of the largest in the Southeast, serving students from 17 metro counties in elementary through high school. It includes five orchestras and seven instrumental chamber ensembles, including jazz and percussion.

Two students currently in the program are Antonia Patel, a member of GYSO’s Camerata orchestra, who joined GYSO three years ago, and her brother Aidan, a violinist in the philharmonic orchestra who first auditioned for GYSO five years ago.

“I love the challenge of playing harder and harder music and seeing my friends each week,” Antonia Patel said.

Here’s more from the GYSO about the program, plus information on auditions and scholarships:

What sets GYSO apart is its dedication to providing a nurturing and supportive environment for young musicians to develop their skills and perform at the highest level. Led by professionals in their fields, each ensemble works tirelessly to prepare for performances throughout the year, giving students a comprehensive music experience that fosters excellence on both an individual and collective level.

For more information about the GYSO program, audition process or need-based scholarships, visit georgiayouthsymphony.org.

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New East Cobb Silent Book Club to hold reading sessions

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Barnes and Noble opens Avenue East Cobb
The Barnes & Noble at Avenue East Cobb is among the venues for the new East Cobb chapter of the Silent Book Club.

We heard recently from Cecilia Griesenauer, who’s part of a new chapter of the Silent Book Club in the East Cobb area.

The concept is similar to book clubs that are held at book stores and libraries, except that there is no assigned reading. Instead, reading sessions for participants including mingling, socializing and reading.

Participants bring or buy their own books and can interact with others how they choose, or not.

“There is no agenda or personal gain on my part other than meeting the founding goals, supporting local businesses who are willing to host our gatherings, meeting and mingling with others who love books, and finding my next read,” she said.

The group met earlier this month at the Barnes and Noble at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road, Suite 102) and there’s another meet-up there this Wednesday, April 24 at from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

On Monday, April 29, a meet-up is scheduled at Mzizi Coffee (2995 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 220), also from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Another Barnes and Noble meet-up will take place on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m.

The time frame includes mingling, and optional book discussions before and after a dedicated hour of reading.

The Silent Book Club started in San Francisco in 2012 and has more than 500 chapters in more than 60 countries, all organized by volunteers.

Here’s a recent story from The Washington Post explaining how the concept appeals particularly to introverts, and that it grew out of a sense of isolation readers felt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of the clubs formed recently, according to the story, which mentions the East Cobb chapter. Some of the participants said formal book clubs with assigned reading “were too much like homework.”

Griesenauer said she’s aware of 12 chapters in Georgia, including one that formed in Marietta late last year, as well as Smyrna and Roswell.

She said the Atlanta chapter began in December 2023 with 22 attendees at the first meetup, with growth from social media communications.

The East Cobb Silent Book Club updates its activities on its Instagram page.

 

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Wheeler students to perform at Woodruff Arts Center concert

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Two students at Wheeler High School will be performing in the Fall Into Spring Finale Concert, which features chamber music selections played by young musicians, at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta later this month.Wheeler students to perform at Woodruff Arts Center concert

The concert is a collaboration of Franklin Pond Chamber Music and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and takes place on Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m.

The Wheeler students, sophomore Angelina Lu, a violinist, and senior Christian Phanhthourath, a cellist, are part of the Eucalyptus Trio, and will be performing Henrietta Renié’s Trio for Harp, Violin, and Cello.

Here’s more from a Franklin Pond release about the event:

Twenty talented middle and high school musicians from six ensembles representing 13 schools from six counties will present some of classical music’s most beloved chamber works, including compositions by Dvořák, Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, Shubert, Prokofiev, Henrietta Renié and Paul Schoenfield.

The performances by these inspiring young musicians celebrate the ongoing collaboration between FPCM and the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra (AYSO). Several students also play with the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO) and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO). All these organizations provide students with comprehensive and collegiate-level music education to prepare students for success in college and beyond.

“This event showcases the dedication and incredible work of these talented young musicians, and each year they raise the bar, delivering truly inspiring performances,” said Ginny Fairchild, Franklin Pond program coordinator.

This year there are seven graduating seniors and 12 of the 20 overall participating students are in both FPCM and the ASYO. Two FPCM members are also members of the EYSO and two FPCM members are also in MYSO.

The young musicians are coached and mentored by Franklin Pond’s elite faculty, all members of the Atlanta Symphony or Atlanta Opera Orchestras. They also perform in masterclasses led by internationally renowned guest artists such as the award-winning violinist and chamber player, Itamar Zorman.

The Fall into Spring Finale Concert takes place April 28 at 3 p.m. in the Rich Theatre of Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta. Admission is free and open to the public with no ticket required. Visit FranklinPond.org or call 404-252-3479 for more information.

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Cobb Water System high school photo contest winners named

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Cobb Water System high school photo contest winners named
Ari Low of Pope High School was the overall winner with this photo of a swimming race.

The Cobb County Water System and the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority honored Cobb County high school student winners in its fifth annual High School Photography Contest.

Eight of the 10 are from high schools in East Cobb, including overall winner Ari Low of Pope.

The others are Ashley Ann Lafferty and Timy Dang of Sprayberry; Eleanore Witte, Jessica Mitchell, Kaitlyn O’Connor and Maya Story of Lassiter; and Samuel Moore of Walton.

The contest invites high school students enrolled in Cobb County and City of Marietta schools to enter a photograph in one of 6 categories: Water at Play, Water at Work, Water in Nature, Water and People, Protecting Water, and Conserving Water.

Cobb Water System high school photo contest winners named
Kaitlyn O’Connor, Lassiter
Cobb Water System high school photo contest winners named
Eleanor Witte, Sprayberry

You can view all the winning photos by clicking here.

The photo contest is part of the CCWS and CC-MWA’s waterSmart education program aimed at students at all grade levels “to learn about water conservation and the value of water.”

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Tickets on sale for Wheeler Theatre’s ‘Mamma Mia!’

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Submitted information:Tickets on sale for Wheeler Theatre's 'Mamma Mia!'

Wheeler High School Theatre rocks to ABBA’s timeless hits in the hilarious feel-good musical, Mamma Mia! April 18, 19 & 20 at 7 pm and April 20 & 21 at 2 pm. 

Told through Swedish pop group ABBA’s timeless music and inspiring the 2008 hit movie starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, Mamma Mia! tells the uplifting story of a young woman’s search for her birth father on the eve of her own wedding. Non-stop laughs, explosive dance numbers, the magical backdrop of a Greek island paradise, and infectious hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “The Winner Takes It All” make Mamma Mia! a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! 

Mamma Mia! is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Rated PG -13. Take a chance on Wheeler Theatre for an ABBA-solutely amazing evening and see why people all around the world have fallen in love with this sunny, funny feel-good show! 

ADVANCE TICKETS are $12 at WHEELERHS.BOOKTIX.COM. Tickets at the door: $20 for adults; $15 for students with ID; $12 for kids 12 and under. CCSD Faculty/Staff receive one free ticket at the door with ID.

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Mt. Bethel Christian Academy appoints new theater director

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Submitted information:

Mt. Bethel Christian Academy is thrilled to announce new leadership to further develop its theater program. Mrs. Brittany Leazer will be joining the Academy’s faculty as Theater Director, overseeing our drama program schoolwide. Mrs. Leazer is the owner/artistic director of Brittany Leazer Productions, the leading student theater organization in the region.Mt. Bethel Christian Academy appoints new theater director

Mrs. Leazer will be teaching Upper and Middle School drama classes, producing theatrical performances, and leading a Lower School after-school program. Mr. David Coheley, the school’s current Band Director, with his superlative career as a band instructor, will be focusing on building the band program schoolwide as well, developing new opportunities to accommodate school growth.  

“As a lower, middle, and upper school parent, I am excited about the future of MBCA,” said Mrs. Leazer. I hope to bring my many years of experience in acting, directing, and teaching theater to propel our school to excellence in Performing Arts.”

Mrs. Leazer and her husband, Mike, are parents of three MBCA students. She is an award-winning professional who has produced and directed over 60 children’s and young adult productions and is passionate about doing so from a Christ-centered approach. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Acting and a Master’s Degree in Playwriting. Passion for theater and teaching drives Brittany to help students reach their goals and shine on stage; she is excited about the future of MBCA and is committed to excellence in the performing arts. 

“We know the potential of these kids,” said Mrs. Leazer. “Our family has been, and will continue to be, a part of MBCA for a really long time, and I’m so excited to see the Performing Arts grow.”

Founded in 1998, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy is an independent, Christian preparatory school serving 700 students in Junior Kindergarten – twelfth grade. The school has two campuses in east Cobb County. Both campuses provide an extraordinary, Christ-centered environment where students are academically challenged, nurtured, and loved. 

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‘Music in the Park’ concerts resume Sunday at East Cobb Park

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The spring season of Music in the Park at East Cobb Park kicks off Sunday with a concert by Surrender Hill, a duo of Robin Dean Salmon and Afton Seekins featuring folk, country and Americana songs.

The concert takes place at the concert stage from 4-6 p.m. and is free to the public. Attendees may bring lawn chairs, blankets and food and drink.

Music in the Park is presented by the Friends for the East Cobb Park volunteers and is sponsored by Wellstar Health Park, the Rotary Club of East Cobb, Frameworks Gallery and Site One Landscape and Supply.

Music in the Park continues on April 14 with the local duo The Woody’s, on May 19 with the Dark Star Brothers and on June 2 with Jeannie Caryn.

A fall series of concerts will be announced later.

 

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‘COVID burnout’ author to speak at Sewell Mill Library

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Dr. Dhaval Desai, author of “Burning Out on the COVID Front Lines: A Doctor’s Memoir of Fatherhood, Race and Perseverance in the Pandemic,” will speak about his memoir Tuesday at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road).

'COVID burnout' author to speak at Sewell Mill Library
Dr. Dhaval Desai

He will be in conversation from 6:30-8 p.m. with veteran broadcaster Jeff Hullinger about his book.

Desai, who is director of hospital medicine at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital and as a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, writes about life during the pandemic.

“As a new father, frontline physician and healthcare leader on the brink of burnout, and a member of an ethnic minority in the South, his tale is marked by chaotic intersections,” the Cobb Public Library System said in a release. “Throughout, his commitment to fostering and advocating for caring and compassion in the practice of medicine shines as Desai shares his unique perspective.

The event is sponsored by Cobb County Public Library and Cobb Collaborative, which focuses on its Mind Your Mind mental health initiative, literacy and civic engagement.

Copies of the book will be available at for purchase from The Book Worm Bookstore and signing by the author. Dr. Desai will donate all proceeds to the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, which focuses on the de-stigmatization of mental health for healthcare workers and suicide awareness.

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East Cobb Quilters Club challenge quilts on exhibit in March

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Three locations in East Cobb are among the six venues from the Cobb County Public Library (CCPL) and Cultural Affairs Division of Cobb PARKS’ arts centers to feature quilt exhibits throughout the county in March.East Cobb Quilters Club challenge quilts on exhibit in March

They’re “challenge quilts” from an East Cobb Quilters’ Club competition, and they’ll be on exhibit from March 4-29.

The Sewell Mill Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) will exhibit all of the challenge quilts which were created in this yearly competition among guild members. The theme for 2023 was “Musical Madness” that challenged members to choose a favorite musical selection or type of music and create a quilt inspired by their choice.

This year’s winner (in photo) is “Canyon Melody” by Janice Chiaffredo, which was inspired by Native American flute songs. For more visit https://ecqg.com/quilts-on-display/.

Quilts also are on exhibit at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road) and the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road).

From April 13-May 29 The Mable House Arts Center will present an exhibit as part of “Quilts on Display” that will feature award winning quilts from prior “Georgia Celebrates Quilts” shows.

“This is such an exciting year for the Guild,” East Cobb Quilters’ Guild president Devon Pfeif said.

“We are so appreciative of our strong relationships with both Cobb Libraries and Arts Centers and to have the opportunity to share our talents with the community through these exhibits. I am proud to be part of this amazing and talented group of women and men quilters.”

“Quilts On Display” exhibits lead up to Georgia’s largest continuing juried and judged quilt show, the East Cobb Quilters’ Guild “Georgia Celebrates Quilts” show with over 300 quilts by artists from all over Georgia. The show is held every other year and this year will occur June 6-8. For information visit https://www.georgiacelebratesquilts.com/.

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2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns to Merchants Walk

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A total of 10 screenings of the 2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will take place at the GTC Merchants Walk Cinema this weekend.2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns to Merchants Walk

The films take place from Friday-Sunday, with tickets ranging from $16-$18 (full schedule here).

Prime-time screenings include Seven Blessings (Saturday, 7:40p) and Home (Sunday, 7:30p).

The former was the winner of 10 Israel Academy Awards in 2023, telling the story of a boisterous Moroccan-Jewish clan reunites for a cross-cultural wedding that surfaces festering secrets” in early 1990s Jerusalem. This is the Atlanta premiere.

The latter is a true-crime drama featuring “a newly married young man’s ambition to open a computer store in his ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood,” and which “begets a shocking clash of tradition versus modernity.” The film was nominated for nine Israeli Academy Awards in 2023.

The festival includes in-person screenings of 31 feature films at four other venues in metro Atlanta through Feb. 26, then streaming from Feb. 27-March 7.

For ticket and other information, click here.

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M2R Traveling Fence Art Gallery comes to Town Center Community

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M2R Traveling Fence Art Gallery comes to Town Center Community
Artist Diane Yancey’s work of Cobb’s iconic Lost Mountain Store is part of the traveling M2R gallery at Aviation Park through March 9.

Submitted information:

Town Center Community will host the M2R Traveling Fence Art Gallery in Aviation Park February 10 to March 9. The curated outdoor installation features high-resolution, printed images of original artwork from artists and photographers of all ages.

“This is our third year hosting the gallery,” said Jennifer Hogan, Director, Town Center Community. “It takes hard work and collaboration to install and remove the panels, but it is worth it because this is how we create a vibrant community people want to visit.”

Produced by the Marietta Arts Council, the yearly gallery debuts at M2R Trailfest and stays in Marietta for a 60-day exhibition before traveling to different locations throughout Cobb County. Newly printed weather-safe panels are installed at each location on a predetermined schedule.

After visiting Aviation Park, the gallery continues to Concord Road Linear Park and Arboretum in Smyrna, the last stop on the tour.

For more information or to view the online catalog of all works selected for the 2023-2024 gallery, visit M2rfence.com.

The Marietta Arts Council is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 exhibit until midnight March 24, 2024.

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Marietta History Center to take part in ‘Super Museum Sunday’

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Submitted information:Marietta History Center to take part in 'Super Museum Sunday'

The Marietta History Center recently announced that it will participate in the Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday on February 11, 2024.  Super Museum Sunday is part of the annual Georgia History Festival, the signature K-12 educational program of the Georgia Historical Society, reaching hundreds of thousands of students statewide.

The Marietta History Center will join over 100 historic sites, house museums, art museums, and other points of interest throughout Georgia that will open their doors to the public. These sites will offer a variety of in-person and virtual experiences that encourage Georgians of all ages to explore and experience the history, arts, and cultural opportunities of our great state.

At the Marietta History Center, guests will have the chance to discover the largest collection of artifacts relating to Marietta and Cobb County. From intriguing exhibits to engaging experiences, our mission is to ignite curiosity and foster connections through the compelling stories of our local history. Don’t miss this opportunity to uncover the hidden gems of Marietta’s past and create lasting memories with your loved ones.

Super Museum Sunday is supported by Delta Airlines.

For more information and to see which museums and sites are participating in your area, visit https://georgiahistoryfestival.org/events/2024-super-museum-sunday/

 

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Cobb New Horizons Band to honor late Wheeler band director

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The Cobb New Horizons Symphony Band, which is made up of senior adults, will hold a special concert Thursday to honor the memory of Wheeler High School band director Madison Argo.Wheeler HS band director dies

The concert takes place at 12 p.m. at the school, and will include works from John Williams and John Philip Sousa.

Another featured piece is “The Mandalorian” by Ludwig Göransson and which will be conducted by Debbie Davies, Wheeler’s first female marching band drum major.

A Cobb County School District spokesperson said the concert is not open to the public and had been scheduled before Argo’s death.

Here’s what Dr. Charles Jackson, head of Cobb New Horizons, said:

“We planned this concert several weeks ago but a new required form was created in the Cobb County Schools requiring visiting groups to go through an additional extensive vetting process. During the delay is when the passing of Madison Argo occurred. When I realized that our concert was going to take place after such a sudden and unexpected loss, I thought it would be nice to dedicate the program to celebrating his life. All of the 98 senior adult members of my band were inspired during their youth by a band director like Madison Argo who instilled a love of making music that was so deep and profound, that it inspired these people to continue playing their band instrument over the course of their life. Some members have now been playing for 50, 60, and over 70 years!  What a great legacy for a teacher to share with the world. I want his students to know that he dedicated his life to something that will add beauty and enjoyment over the rest of their life and they should never give up on this gift that he helped them to develop.“

Argo, 32, was in his second year as director of the Wheeler band programs when he died on Sept. 28. A cause of death has not been announced; his family has raised more than $18,000 for burial expenses.

He was a native of Alabama and graduated from Auburn University, where he was a drum major. Argo earned a master’s degree in fine arts from Ball State University and performed with the Cobb Wind Symphony, among other local musical organizations in the Atlanta area.

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Walton HS marching band to perform free community show

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Walton Band free community show

From JJ McKelvey, Taste of East Cobb event coordinator (and main fundraiser for the Walton Band programs), comes word of a free community show the Walton Raider Marching Band is performing Tuesday.

It starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Raider Valley football stadium (1591 Bill Murdock Road) and it’s the “Alice Underground” show that has won recent multiple awards, including first place at the Buford Marching Band Classic (outstanding music, outstanding visual, and outstanding effect).

Two weeks ago, the Walton band was named Grand Champion, Highest Music Award, Most Entertaining, and several 10 other awards at the Super Bowl of Sound Marching Band Competition at Central High School in Carrollton.

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Wheeler HS Theatre to present Cole Porter’s ‘High Society’

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Submited information:Wheeler Theatre presents High Society

Famed socialite Tracy Lord is planning a lavish wedding at her Oyster Bay estate, despite the meddling of her ex-husband and a couple of snooping reporters. Based on the 1939 play, “The Philadelphia Story,” with Katharine Hepburn and the 1956 musical film starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra, High Society sparkles with Porter standards such as “Ridin High,” “She’s Got That Thing,” “True Love,” “Let’s Misbehave, and “Well, Did You Evah?”

Join Wheeler Theatre for an elegant, ‘swellegant’ night of mayhem, moonlight, and gorgeous music! High Society is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Arthur Kopit, and additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. The production is directed by Atlanta theatre favorite Nick Morrett, with music direction by Thomas Chafin and choreography by Elizabeth Neidel Wexler. Rated PG (11 & up) for depiction of social drinking. 

CCSD Faculty/Staff receive one free ticket with ID. Advance Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at: WHEELERHS.BOOKTIX.COM. Tickets at the door: $15.

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CenterStage North, Cobb PARKS reach Sunday events agreement

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CenterStage North, Cobb PARKS agreement

Following up our story last week about the possibility that CenterStage North might halt its 2024 season at The Art Place-Mountain View due to Sunday staffing issues with Cobb PARKS:

Jonathan Liles, CSN’s managing director, told East Cobb News Friday that the community theater organization and the county have come to an agreement to continue Sunday staffing by employees of The Art Place.

He said he met with Cobb PARKS staff Friday and said that CenterStage North Sunday shows and Sunday musical recitals will continue into 2024.

“We discussed the potential of future partnerships and how it could benefit The Art Place,” Liles said without elaborating.

The county told CenterStage North last month that starting next year The Art Place would be closed to all Sunday activities due to staffing issues at the county-run facility on Sandy Plains Road, located in a complex with the Tim D. Lee Senior Center and the Mountain View Regional Library.

Liles said CenterStage North had been getting inquiries from patrons about the 2024 season. He previously told East Cobb News the all-volunteer non-profit couldn’t exist financially without ticket sales from Sunday matinee performances, and there was no other place to go.

“Without the Sunday revenue, I cannot afford to stay open,” he said.

The Art Place also offers art classes and holds special arts exhibits and receptions. Earlier this year, Sunday musical recitals there were discontinued due to the staffing issues.

East Cobb News has left a message with the county seeking more information.

CenterStage North will soon proceed with planning its 2024 season, which includes four to five performances a year, including a special Christmas event.

“We’d like to thank The Art Place Staff, Cobb Parks and Rec Assistant Director Mario Henson, and Marie Jernigan, the Cultural Affairs Director, for their support and partnership,” Liles said.

The 2024 season is as follows, with ticket sales starting in October:

  • The 39 Steps – Feb 2024
  • Drinking Habits – May 2024
  • Maytag Virgin – August 2024
  • Little Shop of Horrors (Musical, rights pending) – October 2024