Anticipation: 7 things on my calendar for Atlanta theater in 2025 

The Atlanta theater scene is already up and running for 2025 — see Luke Evans’ recent review of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Benji Carr’s review of Leave Your Fears Here — and many more exciting things are to come in the next several months. 

Here’s a short list of things I’m looking forward to right now, from literary adaptations to rom-com musicals, plus new work by Atlantan playwrights. 

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A timeless young adult science fiction novel . . . but make it theater

Produced by Theatrical Outfit in 2012 (before yours truly lived in the area), John Glore’s adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time is back onstage with Georgia Ensemble Theatre next month (February 20 until March 7)  and, as a lifelong fan of the novel, couldn’t be more excited to see it. 

A queer rom-com film from 1999 that turned into a world premiere musical

Did y’all catch the 1999 queer romantic comedy Trick? This May, we can watch the world premiere of the musical adaptation at Out Front Theatre. The plot — two men trying to “make it” in NYC have a one-night stand, which turns into a series of romantic complications — sounds more reminiscent of 2025 than 1999. 

A one-woman show based on mother-daughter dynamics

As a lover of poetry, I was immediately drawn to the e.e. cummings-inspired title of I Carry Your Heart With Me, on stage at Horizon Theatre in March. Winner of the 2024 Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, this one-woman show starring Atlantan Carolyn Cook in the role of Esther is based on playwright Jen Blackmer’s experiences with her own mother. 

The Cat in the Hat on stage

Watching beloved childhood books adapted for the stage is a great way to enjoy them in a new format. Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat at the Center for Puppetry Arts this spring is a production using rod puppets, and every ticket includes a chance to create the same kind in the theater’s Create-A-Puppet Workshop. 

New plays by Atlanta playwrights

The 2025 Launchpad Festival at Theatrical Outfit in March looks promising, featuring a new play called Venus by Steve Yockey (the guy who just brought us Mercury at Actor’s Express (my condolences if you missed it); a solo musical comedy called Stop the Vietnam War by Phong Le; the comedic tragedy Fat Juliet by Bridget McCarthy; and more. 

And in May, Alliance Theatre’s Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab Festival will present round 10 of new plays: Day; Peps! Cola Bitch; and Plastic Bottle Genie. 

A hip-hop musical about a Black congressman from Atlanta

I haven’t ever seen a hip-hop musical, but I’ll get my chance this summer with Young John Lewis, at Theatrical Outfit in June. With original music from Atlanta composer Eugene H. Russell IV, the world premiere is about 10 key years in the life of Black congressman and Atlantan John Lewis. 

A chance to watch Spelman grad Alexis Woodard’s directorial debut

Spelman graduate, previous Alliance Theatre fellow and soon-to-be Yale MFA graduate Alexis Woodard will make her directorial debut at Synchronicity Theatre this June with the American premiere of The Dark Lady, Jessica B. Hill’s production about the famous, mysterious and oft-discussed woman in Shakespeare’s sonnets. 

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Denise K. James is an ArtsATL senior editor.