2015 YEAR IN REVIEW: “Legit & Live Events”

As part of my growing involvement in watching live shows in 2015 I must say that this is where I fell flat on my ass.  I always intended to watch more plays and go see more live events since as a lighting technician I work on so many productions every year.  Unfortunately, I only ended up watching and attending five live shows.  This is something I will definitely have to make up for this year going forward. 

The most important thing about 2015 is the fact that I ended up going to theaters and venues I had never gone to before which means that at least I made an effort to do something new.  The most striking venue I visited in 2015 was Serenbe Playhouse (www.serenbeplayhouse.com) to see their production of “The Sleepy Hollow Experience.”  The venue does all their productions outside sans an actual stage.  The outdoors and the woods are their stage and the audience becomes a willing participant in the production.  This was an amazing production with great production values and an amazing cast.  The story is a universally known one but they put on an amazing presentation.  After seeing this production I will definitely look forward to what they craft for the rest of their current season and into the next.  This was a highlight of the year for me.

Moving onto another new venue was my experience seeing the acclaimed production of “Proof” at Out of Box Theatre (www.outofboxtheatre.com).  Although a small venue the intimacy of the production played well in the venue and the cast did a great job.  It’s definitely a great venue to look out for as they do some very interesting plays for a small Atlanta theatre.  Another venue I plan on visiting this year.

At Horizon Theatre (www.horizontheatre.com) I had the opportunity to see their production “Informed Consent”.  Although a typical production of the venue, they continue to put a lot of great production value in each of their productions.  This was another well done production although not as exciting as “The Sleepy Hollow Experience” or “Proof”.

Next I headed over to the Red Light Café (www.redlightcafe.com) for their Christmas themed “Tease Tuesday Burlesque” show.  This was the first time I’ve ever seen a burlesque show and this one didn’t disappoint despite being more rated PG-13 than NC-17.  The great thing about this show was the fact that it was a bunch of individual performances of both the burlesque and spoken word poetry and even had a couple of dance performances.  And it was made even better with a special appearance from Santa Claus and Krampus who hosted the event.  If you like burlesque and spoken word then you can catch this show once a month and it’s different each time you go.

The last show I saw was probably the best with was “Craig Ferguson’s The New Deal Tour” at Cobb Energy Center (www.cobbenergycentre.com).   I never really watched his television show before it went off the air but he’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever seen live.  I was on the floor laughing almost the entire show and recommend this show for everyone.  Ferguson interacts with the audience creating a very personal experience that few comedy shows achieve.

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I may not have seen many shows in 2015 but the shows that I did see were well worth it.  More importantly I have to ask myself why I didn’t see more live shows since all the ones I did see were pretty damn good.  If you don’t go to live events then this is a good year to make a change and explore some of the great venues and shows out there.

“This Halloween is Not Safe Because THE SLEEPY HOLLOW EXPERIENCE Is Here!

Serenbe Playhouse is reviving The Sleepy Hollow Experience this Halloween season to thrill and chill audiences in a unique way as only they can provide.  Using The Horseman’s Meadow at their premiere outdoor venue audiences get to experience the tale of Ichabod Crane, Katrina, and Brom Bones like never before.  This is not just a theater show but an interactive experience that allows the audience to step into their world and experience the horrors of the Headless Horseman first hand.

As an audience member you follow the action of the story from one location to the next as The Horseman’s Meadow has been broken up into several “scenes” from the story.  In Ichabod’s classroom you get to sit within the students’ chairs whereas at the haunted bridge you get to witness events unfold just at the edge of it’s opening, so as not to meet the stare of the Headless Horseman himself.  This is an amazing look and experience into one of classic literature’s most enduring spooky tales.

Brian Clowdus directs an amazing cast led by Chris Mayers as Ichabod and Justin Walker as Brom Bones, who is new to this production.  The cast also features returning favorites of Atlanta and the Playhouse Laura Floyd and Jessica Miesel, both whom steal the show whenever they can with their sharp wit and allure.  Daniel Burns rounds out the small, yet excellent, cast.

One of the stand out contributions to the production is the amazing set design by Adam Koch and lighting design by Bobby Johnston who craft an amazing world for the characters and the audience to inhabit.  The only thing leading your way through the dark meadows are the numerous flaming torches that remind you that this was the main source of illumination in those days.  Johnston also contributes the sound design for the production which is instrumental to making this production work the moment you step beyond the concession stand and into an American legend.

This is not just a production to enjoy but to experience as there are ample opportunities to join the characters in a drink at the pub or learn some new school lessons while visiting Ichabod in his classroom.  There were several times where I found myself joining in the festivities because I never knew when or where the Headless Horseman would show up next.  The show makes you laugh when you need to and chill you when you least expect it.  It’s a great night out for both small and large groups.

This Halloween, Serenbe Playhouse has concocted an alternative to the boring old ghost tours and haunted houses to take you to a place called Sleepy Hollow where nightmares do come true and monsters still exist.

For more information about Serenbe Playhouse and to purchase tickets go to www.serenbeplayhouse.com or call 770.463.1110.  You can follow Serenbe Playhouse on Facebook, @OnstageSerenbe on Twitter, and SerenbePlayhouse on Instagram.