The Legend of Georgia McBride is Legendary!

Who is Georgia McBride? She's a legend! Well, he's a legend. And they're mega-fans of The King of Rock 'n' Roll. See for yourself at Actor's Express!

The Legend of Georgia McBride | Actor's Express | Photo: Christoper Bartelski

The Legend of Georgia McBride is epic! It's hilarious! And...it's a love story. Yes, there are drag queens, too, and pizza, and a nightclub...multiple wardrobe changes, brilliant acting, and some of the most enthusiastic singing you've ever heard. It's a musical!

The Legend of Georgia McBride | Actor's Express | Photo: Christoper Bartelski

I was already a fan of Nick Arapoglou (Casey) from The Toxic Avenger and Avenue Q, and he's done a bit of television, including locally filmed, The Vampire Diaries. What a treat to see him in this show! 

In The Legend of Georgia McBride, Casey is a super-dedicated entertainer who is also a mega-fan of Elvis Presley. For other reasons he's wiling to put on a dress to keep a job. Complexity ensues in his relationship with his wife and others who want the same gig.

Casey's wife, Jo (Falashay Pearson), has huge news...the catalyst for her husband's putting on a dress, but she's in the dark. Drama, drama!

The Legend of Georgia McBride | Actor's Express | Photo: Christoper Bartelski

Casey's former job in the nightclub is being replaced with a drag show. Miss Tracy Mills (Jeff McKerley) shows up and steals the show...in the story and onstage! But she's also a "mentor". The entire cast is going to have you laughing out loud...and don't be surprised if there's a little (innocent) audience participation.

In fact, there are tables on the floor in front of the "stage", giving the show an authentic nightclub feel. If you can snag one of those tables, you're in for a real treat, but know that there's not a bad seat in the house! 

The Legend of Georgia McBride | Actor's Express | Photo: Christoper Bartelski

Everyone I've talked with who has seen the show—including the three friends I went with—has raved about it and can't stop smiling when recounting their evening with Georgia McBride and Miss Tracy.

See The Legend of Georgia McBride at Actor's Express through this Sunday, April 16...don't miss this show!

Superhero + Badass + Lover = The Toxic Avenger

I've seen The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre THREE TIMES already! And will very likely go see it again.

I'd seen all five of the stars in other performances last year, so I knew it was going to be phenomenal. This quintet masters more than 30 costume changes during the show, performing more characters than I could count. It's a fast-paced, raucous musical comedy that anyone with a sense of humor will absolutely love.

Julissa Sabino and Nick Arapoglou, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

The Toxic Avenger is based on the 1984 cult classic movie of the same name. The film was wholly ignored by the Academy, however the stage version won an Outer Critics Circle Award for "Best Off-Broadway Musical"! 

The show is about a nerdy-geek (I can relate) who is in love with a beautiful blind librarian. When he announces that he will save the city from a growing toxic waste problem, she totally falls for him. Later, the song "Thank God She's Blind"...well, just look at what happened to him when a government official's nincompoop puppets drop the ball...rather, drop him into a vat of toxic waste! He's not entirely disappointed with the results.

Nick Arapoglou and Julissa Sabino, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

The song list alone speaks to the fun that is this show. Songs like "Kick Your Ass", "My Big French Boyfriend", and "All Men Are Freaks" are hilarious and fantastic, but nothing compares to "Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore", a rapid-fire lyrical battle between Melvin's mother AND the Mayor of Tromaville—who are BOTH performed by the amazing Leslie Bellair. This is perhaps my favorite scene of the show! 

How can two characters performed by one actress be on stage at the same time, you ask? Brilliantly! That's how. This you must see live and in persons!

Austin Tijerina, Julissa Sabino, Michael Stiggers, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

I attended the pre-opening Sneak Peek at which we got to meet the cast, the crew and all of the theatre staff...what a magnificent, insightful treat that was! 

I'd seen Nick Arapoglou (Melvin/Toxie) and Leslie Bellair (Mayor/Ma/Nun) last year in Avenue Q, the first time I'd ever seen that show...they were fantastic and both won Suzi Bass Awards for their respective roles in that show! 

I saw Julissa Sabino (Sarah), Michael Stiggers (Black Dude) and Austin Tijerina (White Dude, and holder of at least two Suzi Bass Awards) all three in Rent last year at Actor's Express. I'd seen the movie a number of times, but that was the first time I'd seen a stage performance of Rent...it too was amazing!

I was super excited to learn that The Toxic Avenger was by Joe DiPietro (book and lyrics) and David Bryan (music and lyrics), the same guys who brought us Memphis, which I saw at Aurora Theatre last year. The two shows are not even distant cousins, but I love each for what they are and the theatrical mastery they bring to the stage.

The third time I saw The Toxic Avenger, Julissa (Sarah) had taken ill, so her understudy was standing in. Actress Rose Alexander was brilliant! That was the first time I'd seen her perform, but I hope not the last. 

Nick Arapoglou, Leslie Bellair, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

I'm totally a huge fan of Nick Arapoglou and Leslie Bellair. Having seen them perform together in Avenue Q was awesome enough, but in The Toxic Avenger, they went to a whole other dimension...fun, vengeful and lovable. 

Leslie said, quite modestly, during the Sneak Peek event that this was the first role where she was tasked with playing "sexy". As Melvin's mother, if the Golden Girls is what gets your motor running, she nailed it. And as the Mayor of Tromaville, she's totally smokin' hot! I mean that respectfully, Leslie. In fact, I would venture to say that there's not a role you couldn't perform brilliantly!

Michael Stiggers, Nick Arapoglou, Austin Tijerina
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

Nick's transformation from Melvin to Toxie is lightening-fast! The costume designers, Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay, who are also scenic designers, we got to meet during the Sneak Peek event. You figure out pretty quickly why they've received four Suzi Bass Awards!

Nick Arapoglou and Julissa Sabino, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

Surprisingly, many aspects of this ooey, gooey, eyeball-won't-stay-in-its-socket superhero story are true to life...people who care about the environment, corrupt government, egotistical criminals, a disappointed parent, a sex-crazed doctor and a published author wannabe included! Most of all, it's totally a love story! I think you're going to fall in love with this show and many of its characters.

Sluggo (Micheal Stiggers) and Bozo (Austin Tijerina), by Greg Mooney with Daryl Fazio
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

Michael Stiggers, "Black Dude", and Austin Tijerina, "White Dude"—seriously, those are their character's names in the program—are constantly in and out of costume, all over the set and a different character seemingly every other minute. To name a few, these two alone portray thugs, a folk singer, a doctor, illiterates, and salon technicians. They're awesome!

Jaquetta, Toxie, Nikki | The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre | Photo by: Travis S. Taylor

I love getting to meet the actors as much as I love seeing them perform. Following the show, theatre-goers are invited to stick around to meet the cast and make photos with them! When was the last time you had your photo made with a superhero? 

One of the times I saw the show, four friends joined me...it was a laugh-fest! Jaquetta (above left) and Nikki (above right) posed with Toxie, and friends Cameron and James were along, too. Yes, that's a Doctor Who phone case in Nikki's hand...she's a fellow sci-fi enthusiast!

The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre | Photo by: Travis S. Taylor

On another visit, my best friend Barry came along. We've seen a lot of shows together at Horizon Theatre and we love this one, too! Pictured with Barry is 'Ma', Melvin's mother (above left, performed by Leslie Bellair) and 'the cop' (above right, performed by Austin Tijerina).

The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre | Photo by: Travis S. Taylor

I am so beyond impressed with this production...the actors, the set design, lighting, choreography...everything about it makes for a super fun evening out. I highly, highly recommend this show! The run wraps up on Sunday, March 13, so don't waste time...get your tickets here and go see how to save a city and fall in love at the same time!

A pre-show dinner recommendation: Each time I've been to see The Toxic Avenger, I and friends have dined at the recently opened El Bandido Mex Mex Grill...I personally have been SIX times already! It's that amazing and it's very close to the theatre. Their calamari is some of the best I've ever had!

Up next at Horizon Theatre: Sex With Strangers! No, no, it's (probably) not what you're thinking, but it is provocative! Check it out at Horizon starting April 1...no joke!

Avenue Q Times Two

I had wanted to see Avenue Q for a number of years...on a few visits to New York City, when I lived in Washington, DC, and even since I've been back in Atlanta. I'd heard approximately a bazillion positive comments about the show...and now I understand why so many love it. And why it's a Tony Award and Suzi Award-winning show! 

But it's so much more than what I was expecting...it goes in a lot of different directions, but with a singular destination.  

That's me with some of the Avenue Q cast! | Horizon Theatre (in Piedmont Park)

Avenue Q is terrifically funny, delightfully romantic and more than a  little risque...it serves as a map that leads to understanding life's purpose. That last part may sound a little heavy, but you're going to have so much fun getting there, and perhaps experience an epiphany or two along the way. AND you have the opportunity to see it at two venues!

Every show I've had the pleasure of seeing at Horizon Theatre Company has been wonderful, and they continue that consistency with the sensational Avenue Q! I'm ready to see it again...and again...and again...

My favorite characters? The entire cast is absolutely amazing. Seriously. They're seriously funny and incredibly talented. But, character-wise—keeping in mind that the characters are puppets AND humans—I was side-splitting cracking up at the Bad Idea Bears. We've all had encounters with them—don't deny it—and now I know what to call them! Just hopefully not calling on them as often as I did in my 20s. 

I felt like I could relate to Princeton (performed by Nick Arapoglou, winner of a Suzi Bass Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical, in Avenue Q). Princeton has had the revelation that there's purpose in life, but he kind of misses out on (part of) life while looking for it. The story is more complex than that though. If you've lived life, you just might recognize some of his predicaments. I know I did.

Christmas Eve...was a total and wonderful surprise! For those who think Christmas Eve is the day before one of the biggest holidays of the year, think again. Think in terms of hilarious, loud (she projects well), demanding, forthcoming, frank, direct and telling-it-like-it-is! Meet the awesome Natalie Gray, who is reprising her role in Avenue Q. That's her in the foreground of the above photo...she's amazing!

The entire cast is fantastic...they seem like they'd be great fun to hang out with!   

"Avenue Q is about finding your purpose in life—whether you are young or old, gay or straight, yellow, red or blue. It fits perfectly with Horizon's mission of connecting Atlantans through smart, positive, provocative contemporary theater that speaks to our diverse community."

- Lisa Adler, Horizon Theatre

I'm always impressed when I see a leader of an Atlanta attraction who is totally engaged and involved. Lisa Adler, the co-founder and Co-Artistic/Producing Director of Horizon Theatre, not only introduced the show, she was there after the show helping theatre-goers get photos with the cast...that's totally awesome. Lisa is one of Atlanta's gems!


There are a couple more days to see the "PG-13 Edition" at the Promenade in Piedmont Park—very near Atlanta Botanical Garden, where Legacy Fountain is located. You can even bring your own picnic! Remember to bring blankets or low beach chairs. There is reserved seating—at the front—for $15 plus tax and fees, and there may still be some free tickets. Those are great too...the show is on a full-size stage! 

The PG-13 version maintains the basic story line and the comedy of the original, but is edited for content to make it appropriate for teenagers. But take note...neither production is intended for young children.

Personally, I can hardly wait to see the "Adult Version"! Described as a "politically incorrect cross between Sesame Street and The Simpsons".It's playing at Oglethorpe University's Conant Performing Arts Center Friday, June 12, 2015, through Sunday, July 12, 2015. I've been going to Oglethorpe University Museum of Art for years—love the Gothic Revival campus—but this will be my first time at Conant...can hardly wait! There will be a few "PG-13" performances at Conant, as well.

Tickets are going FAST! If you want to see Avenue Q—and I think a LOT of you will—get your tickets now. I feel like I'm one of the last of my friends to see Avenue Q, but now I find myself among those who will see it every chance I get!

I'd like to offer a special "Thank you" to BRAVE PR and Horizon Theatre for the tickets. The show is totally awesome and that's my own opinion!