The 2025 Fall Arts Preview: Our picks in Theater

Take your pick this season: Classic productions are hitting the stage, as well as world premieres, zany musicals, adult puppetry and more.

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What constitutes an acceptable decision when innovation and progress are on the line? This is the question asked by Crystal Skillman’s The Rocket Men, a new play performing at Synchronicity Theatre from October 10 to November 2. The play interrogates the dark side of the Apollo 11 mission — the project that put the first human on the moon — by focusing on the Nazi scientists who were recruited to the program following World War II. Skillman seeks not only to unearth this oft-concealed part of our nation’s history but take a look at the complex and sometimes morally bankrupt decisions we make in pursuit of national glory. 

The Rocket Men is part of the National New Play Network Rolling program, meaning that in addition to the Atlanta production, it will premiere in Indianapolis and Nebraska as part of a rolling world premiere structure — allows Skillman’s work to reach a wider debut audience and also serves to build community with different theaters across the country.

The Atlanta production will be directed by Synchronicity co-founder Rachel May and features an all-female cast playing the male scientists. “I am fascinated and compelled by the stories of this time that were told and untold,” said May. “When I read Crystal’s play, I was riveted and inspired to help unearth the buried voices of Dora and bring them to light.”
–– Luke Evans 

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This season, Atlanta theaters bring new life to classic plays and musicals, reimagining timeless stories to resonate with contemporary audiences. The Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Opera join forces for Fiddler on the Roof (September 4 through October 5), a watershed collaboration starring Israeli actor Itzik Cohen as Tevye and Tony/Grammy winner Debbie Gravitte as Golde. Local favorites Deb Bowman and Brian Kurlander join the cast, along with Temple Sinai Rabbi Ron Segal as the Rabbi. “Fiddler is not just a popular musical with catchy tunes; it is a mirror to humanity,” said director Tomer Zvulun. “Telling this story with all its heartbreak, humor, hope and transcendent love is a personal dream for me.”

Theatrical Outfit opens its 49th season with one of the most famous and beloved American plays, Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (October 29 through November 23). Atlanta stage icon Terry Burrell takes on the role of Amanda Wingfield, with Stephen Ruffin as Tom, Devon Hales as Laura and Matt Mercurio as the Gentleman Caller. “We are going to push beyond the boundaries of realism to capture the delicate fragility of Laura’s glass animals,” said Artistic Director Matt Torney, promising a dreamlike staging with expressionistic lighting, plus a new score.

Closer to the holidays, City Springs Theatre Company rolls out a new production of The Wizard of Oz (December 12 through December 28), directed by Tony winner Baayork Lee. The staging of the L. Frank Baum classic includes all the songs from the movie and even a Christmas Eve matinee. The choice of the 1987 Royal Shakespeare Company version signals a production strongly rooted in theatrical tradition while offering an experience different from the classic film.
–– Andrew Alexander

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More Theater highlights . . .

Catch The Producers – A Mel Brooks Musical — a hilarious Broadway musical and winner of multiple Tonys — at City Springs. September 5 through September 21.

See Covenant, a new play on the Hertz Stage at the Alliance and billed as a “Southern gothic work” by The New York Times, October 8 through November 9.

Dog Man The Musical, based on a hero with the head of a dog and the body of a cop, is at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center October 11 and October 12.

9 to 5 the Musical is at Out Front Theatre Company, featuring the songs of Dolly Parton, October 23 through November 8.

The holiday comedy Mama Dearest! Here we Joan Again, written by Blake Fountain, is at Out Front Theatre Company December 11 through December 21.

The Ghastly Dreadfuls: Ancient Tales with Fresh Blood returns to the Center for Puppetry Arts October 8 through November 1 and is all created in-house at the theater.

The very last Christmas Canteen with co-founder and producing Artistic Director Ann-Carol Pence takes place at Aurora Theatre November 28 through December 21.

A must-see for fans of 10 Things I Hate About You — The Taming of the Shrew — is at The Shakespeare Tavern September 13 through September 28.

For fans of the experimental, Theater Emory presents My Foot, My Tutor, a wordless performance by Peter Handke, October 2 through October 5, and Peerless, a dark comedy about Asian American twin sisters, November 13 through November 23.

See outdoor free theater on the Avondale Estates Town Green with the new “A Shakespeare Happening” featuring three shows: The Tempest on September 11; Macbeth on October 11; and Much Ado About Nothing on November 15.

More 2025 Fall Picks