What to see, do and hear: Terminus, The Museum of Socially Engaged Art, Tony Hightower, more

DANCE

If you’ve survived Atlanta’s peak tree pollen season, now might be the time to finally celebrate spring. This weekend, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre presents its Spring Echoes concert in its White Box Theatre. In this performance, Terminus presents works from its repertory in an up-close and intimate setting. Free.

Saturday and Sunday.

::

Emory University’s dance program is one of the city’s best examples of incubating student work with the sustaining input of industry professionals. This weekend, the students take center stage in a concert of new choreographic works by six members of the Emory Dance Company. The company’s focus is on work that “investigates aspects of our humanity.” Tickets $12.

Tonight through Saturday.

::

THEATER

If you’re a Tommy fan or know all the words to Jesus Christ, Superstar, you might just be rock opera aficionado. 7 Stages presents Don Giovanni, Mozart’s famous classical opera adapted into a rock opera sung in English. The production transports the characters and settings to the modern world — complete with modern takes on morality and gender — while still remaining true to the source material. Tickets $32 and up with a $12 option for live streaming.

Tonight through April 21.

::

Playwright Steve Yockey continues to serve up laughs and revenge in Mercury at Actor’s Express through April 28. The comedy thriller features “a nosy neighbor, a bickering couple, a missing dog named Mr. Bundles, a guy with the worst job in the underworld and a housewife who is not handling the end of her secret affair very well.” Keep an eye out for our upcoming review in coming days. Tickets $20 and up.

Today and ongoing.

::

BOOKS

Slow down for a moment and join S l o w R e a d s, a gathering for all comers to relax at the Atlanta Contemporary as group members read aloud to one another from selected texts. The event is the brainchild of the Museum of Socially Engaged Art (MuSEA), which coordinates the texts based on current exhibitions. This weekend features writings addressing artist Theaster Gates and the concept of guerilla theater. Bring your own yoga mat for extra slowness. Free with RSVP.

Saturday only.

::

Doubling down on the book scene, the Atlanta Contemporary also features Lydia Amarouche and Rosa Duffy speaking about their respective practices in the independent book scene. Looking at processes of publishing, distribution, curating and reading, the two will unpack what they do and why. The talk, a partnership with Villa Albertine, an organization created by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and supported by the French Ministry of Culture, offers artists residencies in 10 major U.S. cities. Free.

Sunday Only.

::

ART+DESIGN

Based on a phrase that artist Amanda Greene heard at a funeral service, Her Fragrance Is Still Among Us showcases Greene’s unassuming yet powerful photography. The photography work is incorporated into the artist’s textile works, presenting slices of Southern life in unique and striking ways. On view at the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning in Duluth. Free.

Today through April 20.

::

UTA Artist Space has been mounting some of the most daring and thought-provoking exhibitions in the city since its opening a year ago. The tradition continues with the group show Stop & Stare, curated by multidisciplinary phenom Genevieve Gaignard. Many Atlantans know Gaignard from her 2022 billboard work “Look at Them Look at Us” on Marietta Street downtown. The current show, which runs through May 4, features artists who explore “realities and illusions.” Viewers are left to question how much distance lies between truth and perception. Free.

Today and ongoing.

::

FILM+TV

On Tuesday, April 16, Out on Film will show an advanced screening of Goran Stolevski’s Housekeeping for Beginners. The film follows Dita,  who unexpectedly inherits the task of raising her girlfriend’s two rambunctious and rebellious daughters. The three learn how to form a family despite continual friction and misunderstandings. The Macedonian Australian filmmaker’s second feature film, Of an Age, won the Best Film award at CinefestOZ in 2022. Admission is first come, first served.

Tuesday only.

::

In MUSE, filmmaker Tymani Alexis takes a look at media depictions of Black women’s bodies, focusing in on oversexualization as a recurring theme. The film uses dance to challenge social norms and separate women’s realities from the men’s fantasies. Tymani describes the film as “a love letter to the scars that paved the way for the woman I am becoming.” The premiere is scheduled to take place at 3 Milli Studios in Southwest Atlanta. Tickets $5.

Saturday only.

::

MUSIC

Singer-songwriter Tony Hightower takes to the Velvet Note main stage this weekend. Hightower comes by his craft honestly, having grown up with a musical mother in Atlanta and having learned directly from legends such as Bobby “Blue” Bland and Mother’s Finest. In his current turn, Hightower seeks to bridge R&B with traditional jazz, bringing younger audiences on the journey. Tickets $44.

Friday and Saturday.

::

Small but with a mighty voice in the community, Eddie’s Attic in Decatur continues to showcase some of the best in singer-songwriter fare. Caroline Herring comes to the hallowed venue this weekend, bringing her deep catalog of Southern music based on history, literature and personal experience. Herring has recorded eight albums and has toured throughout Europe and the United States for nearly 20 years. Tickets $18.

Friday only.

::