9 essential Atlanta arts events this weekend

Each week, ArtsATL curates a selection of the most exciting arts and culture events happening in Atlanta this weekend, highlighting nine must-see experiences. Due to this weekend’s weather forecast, please check with the venues before heading out.

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Thursday

SCAD TVfest 

For more than a decade, this event has spotlighted the latest in design, creativity and innovation on television, streaming and digital media. SCAD TVfest takes place at two venues in SCAD Atlanta’s Midtown location from February 4 through February 6.

Arnez J

Arnez J held the coveted hosting slot on BET’s longest-running comedy series, Comic View, for two seasons, joining the ranks of hosts such as D.L. Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer. His latest comedy special, Not Gonna Stop, is available to stream online. He’ll be at City Winery at 8 p.m. on February 5 and at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on February 6 and February 7.

Friday

Alpharetta Symphony

The orchestra marks America’s 250th birthday with Revolution, featuring music that celebrates both our origins and our rich national history, from British composers such as Elgar and Holst to works by American composers Copland, Gershwin and Bernstein. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. on February 6 at the Innovation Academy Auditorium, with a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

Chicken & Biscuits

A funeral gathering exposes long-buried family secrets, sparking chaos and comedy in this Douglas Lyons play from Onstage Atlanta, running February 6 through February 22 at the company’s home in Scottdale.

Blazing Light: Photographs by Mimi Plumb

Over the last 50 years, photographer Mimi Plumb has expertly and poignantly captured the evolution of the Western U.S. landscape and the lives of those within it. In her first solo museum exhibition, the High Museum of Art will present three of her major bodies of work, featuring more than 100 photographs captured in and around San Francisco and across the American West. See it at the High beginning February 6 and continuing through May 10.

Saturday

Serial Killer: The Original Exhibition 

Beginning February 7, Atlanta will host a first-of-its-kind experience when this new exhibition makes its U.S. debut at Pullman Yards, transforming more than 27,000 square feet into a self-guided, immersive exploration of criminal psychology, notorious cases and forensic science. The largest and most ambitious edition of the internationally toured exhibition will feature more than 2,100 original artifacts — from Ted Bundy’s dental mold to Jeffrey Dahmer’s glasses — alongside archival documents, immersive environments and expert analysis.

Bad Dates

Stage Door Theatre presents a one-woman play of self-discovery involving the Romanian mob, a Buddhist rainstorm, a teenage daughter, shoes and a few very bad dates. It opens on February 7 and runs through February 22.

Romeo and Juliet

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company presents its 23rd anniversary production of William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of young lovers, feuding families and a friar with good intentions at the Shakespeare Tavern from February 7 through March 1.

Sunday

Atlanta Chamber Players

The ensemble’s Winter Public Concert takes place at 2:30 p.m. on February 8 at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. The program features Beethoven’s Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1 No. 3; Rachmaninoff’s Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 19; and the world premiere of Andrea Casarrubios’ Sextet for Clarinet, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano. The latter celebrates ACP’s 50th anniversary.

More things to do this weekend and beyond

Bach Bowl

The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta’s annual Bach Bowl, a pre-Super Bowl celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach, takes place at 4 p.m. on February 8 in Emerson Concert Hall at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts … The DeKalb Symphony Orchestra’s family concert features Peter and the Wolf and other orchestral classics. Peter and the Wolf will be choreographed and performed in collaboration with young dancers from Decatur School of Ballet. The concert takes place at Decatur Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. on February 8 … The rescheduled Atlanta Comedy Film Festival will include film screenings, table reads, industry panels and stand-up comedy. The Festival was originally planned at 7 Stages Theatre from January 23 through January 25 but has been moved to February 6 through February 8 … Join the Emory Chamber Music Society on February 6 at the Michael C. Carlos Museum for the annual Pajama Concert – Musical Bedtime Stories. Enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows starting at 6:45 p.m. before hearing beautiful musical stories to Vivaldi, Debussy, Dvorak and more performed and told by the Vega Quartet and pianist William Ransom. Wear your PJs and bring a pillow if you like. Designed for young audiences but fun for music lovers of all ages … Australian country blues and Americana-noir singer/songwriter Nigel Wearne will perform at Commune, a wine bar and listening room located in Olive & Pine in Avondale Estates on February 6. Before Wearne’s set, see Atlanta-via-Athens singer-songwriter and troubadour Adam Klein, joined by local instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Jon Harris (The Sundogs, Kevn Kinney) on electric and lap steel guitars. The evening begins at 8 p.m. with a performance by Del Roscoe … The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns returns to the Fox Theatre from February 11 through February 15 with Ailey’s Revelations and Ronald K. Brown’s Grace — along with the world premiere of Jamar Roberts’ Song of the Anchorite, danced to jazz trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s interpretation of a Ravel adagio and Fredrick Earl Mosley’s Embrace, set to popular songs by Pink, Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran and Kate Bush … The next installment of pianist Joe Alterman’s Toast & Jam Jazz Brunch series at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center welcomes singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben, with performances at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on February 8.