This month, I lost a place that was very dear to me, a second home of sorts. Theatre in the Square, a community theater in my hometown of Marietta, Georgia, closed its doors after 30 years. I spent four years of my life in their Teen Ensemble, where I studied drama under director Susan Reid, met some of my best friends and got to see productions like Sanders Family Christmas, a local favorite. The theater just couldn’t survive the recession.
I was gutted to hear this news because I know how important it is to support your local arts, whether “local” means your hometown or in the cities you visit. I also got to see Rick Steves at the Georgia Public Broadcasting studios and Frances Mayes at the Atlanta History Center. I enjoyed these community events because they bring together common interests and are inexpensive.
If you’re a visitor in a new city, the arts are the best and cheapest way to understand that place. Most museums are free with tickets for special exhibits. Theaters, the symphony and the ballet typically have discounted tickets for students and matinee performances. Bars with live music and comedy shows also make for a cheap night out.
For cheap local arts events in Atlanta, check out what’s going on at the Woodruff Center for the Arts, which is the umbrella group fro the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art. For comedy, check out The Punchline or Funny Farm. For ballet, the Atlanta Ballet is the South’s premier dance company.
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