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F OX T H E AT R E
EXPERIENCE NEW EXPERIENCEA A WHOLE WHOLE NEW BEAT BEAT
JANUARY 2026
Hello Atlanta Theatre Fans – Welcome Back! Winter is here and that means it’s time again to gather at the fabulous Fox Theatre. What could be more exciting and fun than doing what you’re doing right now—seeing a great show live onstage? When you bought your ticket, you won a membership in the great brotherhood and sisterhood of theatre lovers: people who are prepared to embark on all sorts of grand adventures of the imagination. And not just shadows on a screen, but live-and-in-person adventures to boot! We’re deeply proud that the program you hold in your hand is part of our nationwide family of performing arts publications. Hold tight to this guidebook to the stars as we go laughing, dancing, crying, celebrating, and singing together at shows like today’s Blue Man Group the upcoming Six; the beloved The Sound of Music; the hilarious Monty Python’s Spamalot; the magic-filled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (being offered at only a few specially-chosen theatres nationwide) - that will have you shouting the name of our program: “Encore!” We’re glad you’re here, and we’re glad to be here too.
Brantley Manderson Publisher
P U B L I S H E R
Brantley Manderson brantley@encoreatlanta.com
E D I TO R
I N
C H I E F
Robert Viagas robert@encoreatlanta.com G R A P H I C
D E S I G N E R
Tamara Hooks tamara@encoreatlanta.com D I G I TA L
M E D I A
D I R E C TO R
Jennifer Nelson jennifer@encoreatlanta.com W R I T E R
Keith Loria
ENCORE ATLANTA is published monthly by B2 MEDIA, LLC. P.O. Box 1377 | Columbus, Georgia 31902 Phone 678-837-4004 Copyright © 2026 Encore Atlanta. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Encore Atlanta is a registered publication of B2 Media, LLC. The publisher shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical errors, or errors in publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication.
LEFT BLUE MAN The Left Blue Man is excited to be making their debut in tonight’s performance. Left Blue Man has come from somewhere else where they learned everything they know about humans by watching television reruns, listening to The Sex Pistols and doom scrolling on Tik Tok. Left Blue Man would like to thank Right Blue Man and Center Blue Man for being such a huge support for their endeavors.
CENTER BLUE MAN The Center Blue Man is excited to be making their debut in tonight’s performance. Center Blue Man has come from somewhere else where they developed a detailed and efficient plan for integrating into human culture. Unfortunately, this plan was eaten by Left Blue Man so Center Blue Man will just have to wing it. Center Blue Man sincerely hopes Left Blue Man and Right Blue Man know what to do and will follow their lead.
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RIGHT BLUE MAN The Right Blue Man is excited to be making their debut at tonight’s performance. Right Blue Man has come from somewhere else where they learned to appreciate human ingenuity by disassembling incredible inventions such as smartphones, bug zappers and toasters.
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THE ROCKSTAR The Rockstar isn’t a performer per se and thus is in no need of a bio. The Rockstar is the physical manifestation of the energy emitted from an exuberant audience during moments of transcendence. The Rockstar is a life force amplifier, absorbing good vibes then shooting them like a hydrant of joy. The Rockstar also kicks ass musically. The Rockstar would like to thank the Blue Men for being such a huge support for their endeavors.
THIS IS NOT A BIO In no way shape or form should you consider this a short bio of the performers you’re about to see onstage. This will not give you information about who these beings are. It will not tell you where these exuberant characters come from nor will it offer any insight into the differences between them. That would be silly. For instance, the Blue Men are three parts of one enigmatic energy, therefore it is ridiculous to try to give them individual names or attributes. You could pick names at random, like Left, Right and Center, but that wouldn’t help distinguish them at all and just seems dumb… Where were we? Ah yes, you can see that this is clearly not a bio. Otherwise, it would be filled with pertinent information like prior experience or pithy dedications. Nothing like that will be in here. Thus, this is definitely not a bio. It seems you’re still confused about what this isn’t. This isn’t useful, coherentor worthwhile. It is filler, something to use up space in this Playbill. Anything could be written here and it wouldn’t matter. It could be gibberish. Blobbity blobbo blah blah blabba. Or a foreign language. É important lembrar question nada disco importa. See? This is not a bio.
DO NOT READ THIS BIO Please refrain from reading this bio. There is no useful information here. You will learn nothing about who the Blue Men and The Rockstar are, so you shouldn’t read any further. It is difficult to believe that, despite explicit instructions not to continue, you are still reading. Turn the page. Move on. This is what is wrong with our culture. Despite the instructions you’ve been given you still think there’s going to be some sort of payoff at the end of this blurb. You are wrong. You will receive nothing for your investment of time. You will not learn anything about the Blue Men or The Rockstar. For instance, you won’t learn that the Blue Men might have climbed out of an Yves Klein oil painting or that The Rockstar is the embodiment of the energy inside this theater. You won’t learn that the Blue Men are a manifestation of the essence of humanness: connecting through untamed curiosity about science, technology, mathematics, music and the arts. Or that they represent the emotional hallmarks of our species. That information will not be covered in this bio which is why there is simply no reason for you to read it. It’s incredible that you are still here. It seems you have a problem following instructions. You continue to believe that this is going somewhere, so much so that you are willing to defy a direct order to stop reading. Perhaps you should examine this stubbornness with a professional. You may be suffering from ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) which is a serious problem that can lead to functional impairment. You’ve been warned.
A MISSING BLUE MAN PRODUCTION PHOTO CAN GO HERE
THIS IS THE REAL BIO It’s good that you have chosen this blurb to read as this is the one that will give you the information you are looking for. The next paragraphs will give you all the background you could ever want on the Blue Men and The Rockstar. The ensuing words will fill your mind with data and anecdotes about where these characters came from, how they became such successes, and how their influence has changed the face of the world’s culture. This blurb will be worth your time. After more than 30 years of performing around the globe to millions and millions of audience members there are so many stories to tell, and these next few paragraphs will capture the best of them. Like the humble origin story in the East Village of New York City where three longtime friends decided to try to “do something that nobody had ever seen before”. That’s the kind of thing you’ll be learning as you read on. These sentences will become a compendium of backstories and philosophical underpinnings of the Blue Man Group project. Strap yourself in. As you read this modest essay you may find yourself overwhelmed with information. This is completely normal when reviewing a magnificent collection of words such as this. Do not be alarmed. Absorb this information at whatever pace feels right to you, and don’t be afraid to take a break as this blurb is going to fill you up with the entire history and biographical details of Blue Man Group and the people behind it. To begin… oops, ran out of space.
encore 18 | etiquette 1. Please arrive early. Latecomers may not be seated until intermission. 2. T ake care of personal needs (water, restroom use) before the performance begins. 3. P lease silence or turn off all electronic devices, including cellphones, beepers and watch alarms. We encourage you to share your experience via social media but please refrain from doing so or texting during performances. The glow from your device is distracting. 4. Most shows do not allow photography of any kind. Flash photography inside the theater is never allowed. It distracts those around you and endangers the performers. 5. The overture is part of the performance. Please cease talking at this point. 6. D ear lovebirds, when you lean your heads together, you block the view of those behind you. Please consider those seated behind you when choosing whether to wear a hat or what hairstyle you choose. 7. P lease refrain from talking, humming or singing along with the show, except when encouraged to do so by the artists or show. 8. Please wait for an appropriate moment to dig something out of your pocket or bag. 9. G o easy with the perfume and cologne, many people are highly allergic. 10. I f you need assistance during the show, please go to your nearest volunteer usher. If additional assistance is needed, the usher will get the appropriate person to further help you. To review our full Guest Code of Conduct, please scan here:
“Mighty Mo”
The Fox Theatre organ, affectionately called “Mighty Mo” is performed by Ken Double. To learn more about the Fox’s historic organ, reserve a Mighty Mo Organ tour at foxtheatre.org/tours.
THE FOX THEATRE 660 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 404.881.2100 • www.foxtheatre.org
STAFF Allan C. Vella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President & C.E.O. William Renshaw. . . . . . . . . . Vice President & C.F.O. Jamie Vosmeier. . . . . . . . . . . VP of Sales and Marketing Rachel Bomeli . . . . . . . . . VP of Facility Operations Lucy Lawler-Freas . . . . . . Director of Programming Shelly Kleppsattel. . . Booking & Contract Manager Faustina Brooks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Finance Aly Grubb. . . . . . . . . . Director of Sales & Marketing Ben Dostal . . . . . . Director of Ticketing & Analytics Leigh Burns . Director of Community Partnerships April Sutton . . . . . . . . Director of Human Resources Scott Christopher. . . Sr. Dir of Facility Operations Nick Vecchio . . . . . . . Sr. Dir. of Hospitality & Merch Steve Moore. . . . . . . . . . . Director of Special Events Lisa Marie Malovoz. . . . . . . . Director of Production Gary Hardaway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head Carpenter Scott Hardin. . . . . . . . . . . . Head Props/Projectionist Rodney Amos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head Audio Antonio Tiggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head Flyman Wendy Derrick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asst. House
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robyn Barkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chair Scott Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chair Elect Mark C. Adams, Latanza Adjei, Renee Dye, Ryan Halpern, Larry Hanson, Doug Hooker, David Hutchison, Dr. Richard Kannwischer, Barbara King, Lauren Koontz, Sonjui Kumar, Celena Matlock, Jay Myers, Glen Romm, Ivan Shammas, Howard Smith, Ryan Wilson
EMERITUS MEMBERS Tony Aeck, Clara Axam, John Busby Jr., Beauchamp Carr, Rodney Cook, Ada Lee Correll, Richard Courts, Keith O. Cowan, Jere Drummond, Richard Flinn, Julia Grumbles, Sheffield Hale, John Holder, Walt Huntley, Edward Hutchison, Craig Jones, Steve Koonin, Charles Lawson, Starr Moore, Joseph Myers, Edgar Neiss, Carl Patton, Sylvia Russell, Nancy Simms, Preston Stevens Jr., Clyde Tuggle, Edward L. White, Carolyn Wills
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foryourinformation THE THEATER A fully restored 1929 “movie palace,” the Fox Theatre, with 4,665 seats, is a multipurpose facility, housing Broadway shows, ballets, comedies, concerts, movies and private corporate events. PRIVATE EVENTS The Fox Theatre has three private rental spaces, accommodating 25 to 1,200 guests. Our Egyptian Ballroom and Grand Salon are beautifully decorated and can be set up to your specifications. The Landmarks Lounge is adjacent to the lobby and is perfect for a small pre-show and intermission event. To book your “Fabulous Fox” evening, please call 404-881-2057 or send an email to affairsatthefox@affairs.com. TICKET OFFICE HOURS Ticket Office hours are Friday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. The ticket office will open approximately 3 hours before doors on show days. Doors to the Fox Theatre open one hour before showtime. Tickets for all performances may be purchased online at www.foxtheatre.org, or by calling 855-285-8499, or visiting the Fox Theatre Ticket Office during the times listed above. GROUP SALES The Fox Theatre Group Sales Department offers discounts to groups for most Broadway shows. It is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 404-881-2000 or email sales@foxtheatre.org CONCESSIONS Concession stands are located in the Spanish Room, main lobby and on the mezzanine lobby level. RESTROOMS Restrooms are located off the main lobby (downstairs), mezzanine lobby levels and the Gallery level. Accessible restroom facilities are in the Spanish Room; accessible/ Family restrooms are located through the office door in the main lobby. TOURS Tour schedules vary – please visit the Fox Theatre website for updated information regarding tour dates at www.foxtheatre.org. LOST AND FOUND Lost and found items are turned in to the event staff’s office. To check on lost items, please call 404-881-2119. Lost and found items will be retained for 30 days. EMERGENCY INFORMATION In the event of an emergency, and for your safety, please follow the directions provided by the Fox Theatre staff.
SMOKING In accordance with the Fulton County Clean Air Ordinance, the Fox Theatre is a smoke-free facility. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas. ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY The Fox Theatre strives to make events accessible to all guests. If you need assistance during your visit please ask for one of our Event Staff members. The Fox Theatre offers the use of wheelchairs, listening devices and booster seats at no additional charge. Our ambassadors will assist you to special restroom accommodations. Note: Steep steps lead to all seats on the upper levels. For assistance or more information, please call the Event Staff’s office at: 404-881-2100. ACCESSIBLE TICKETS To purchase accessible seating at the Fox Theatre please call 404-881-2016 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. MondayFriday or 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. A Ticket Office associate will be happy to help you. Ticket buyers may also visit the ticketing site at www.foxtheatre.org. ELEVATORS Elevators are at the north end of each lobby and are available during all performances. They make it possible to access each lobby without using the stairs. Patrons should be aware that access to upper seating areas do involve stairs. PARKING Parking is available within a four-block radius in all directions of the Fox Theatre. Advanced reserved parking is available for sale at the Fox Ticket Office or by calling 855-285-8499. The Fox Theatre assumes no responsibility for vehicles parked in any of the privately owned lots operating in the Fox Theatre district. PERFORMANCE NOTES All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to be admitted to the theater. Not all events are suitable for children. Infants will not be admitted to adult programs/ performances. Parents will be asked to remove children who create a disturbance. •L atecomers will be seated at the discretion of management in conjunction with the wishes of the producers. • Please turn off all pagers and cellphones before each performance. • Camera and recording devices are strictly prohibited. Backstage employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) MARQUEE CLUB PRESENTED BY LEXUS A stunning 10,000 square feet of exclusive space located on the northeast side of the theatre, the Marquee Club has access to the fabulous rooftop terrace overlooking the iconic Fox marquee and Peachtree Street. The Marquee Club is the perfect way to elevate your experience at the Fox. The club can be accessed through one of the annual membership options or on a per-event basis, as space allows. Entry to the club must accompany a ticket to the proceeding performance. For more information on club access, visit foxtheatre.org/MarqueeClub or call 404-881-2024.
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FRIENDS OF THE FOX Members of the Fox Theatre’s Friends of the Fox program help support Fox Gives, the theater’s community partnerships arm. The Fox Theatre’s legend lives on through their generosity, supporting the theater, the city of Atlanta and communities across Georgia. To learn more about the Friends of the Fox membership program, please visit www.foxtheatre.org/support-us, email membership@foxtheatre.org, or call 404.881.2023.
The Fox Theatre would like to thank the following Friends of the Fox who have given at the Legend ($10,000), Marquee ($5,000), Encore ($2,500) and Entourage ($1,000) levels: LEGEND Michael & Brad Colasso Gary Martin Hays & Sheri Hays
Ripple IT Tower Lights Charities MARQUEE
Blake’s on the Park Diana Blank Wynne Breland George E. Butler II Michelle & Matt Chambless Michael Crew
Drew Eckl & Farnham Jill & Mitch Lowery Brantley Manderson Margaret Ann Ross Carrie & Scott Taylor Andrea & Andy Wightwick ENCORE
Ira & Talmer Curry, Jr. Rachel & Chris Frishe
Susan Starr Nicole & Allan Vella Carolyn Lee Wills ENTOURAGE
Robyn & Tom Barkin Laura Braswell, DDS Harold Brody & Donald Smith Jeffrey Cooper Joy & Ritchie Dickey Cindy & Steve Ensor Christine & Drew Fry Josie Berry & David M. Green Jill & John Holder Tari & William King
Drs. Starane Shepherd & David Long Grace & Jason Martin Carole Cole Musarra Sara Ohmer Wendi & Andrew Schutt Sheryl & Tony Steadman Heather & Joe Vivona Riesling & Douglas Walker Jenny & Woody White Dorothy B. Ziemer
22 | encore FOX FUN FACTS
“Play It Pretty for Atlanta” is a phrase that lives quietly behind the scenes at the Fox Theatre and carries enormous weight for those who pass beneath it. Its origin traces back to a legendary moment in Fox history. In 1976, while recording the album One More from the Road live at the Fox Theatre, Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant turned to his band onstage during “Free Bird” and said, “play it pretty for Atlanta.” The words weren’t scripted, but they landed. That performance would become iconic, and the band later directed proceeds from their Fox performances to support the Save the Fox campaign, helping ensure the theatre’s survival. Over time, “Play It Pretty for Atlanta” evolved into a quiet ritual. At its core, the phrase is rooted in respect. Respect for the artists who step onto this stage. Respect for the crews who work tirelessly to make each show seamless. And respect for a city whose audiences are passionate and deeply connected to live performance. To play the Fox is to be welcomed into that relationship and to rise to it. For Atlanta, it’s an affirmation. For performers, it’s a challenge. For the Fox, it’s a reflection of who we are: a place where performance is treated with care, intention, and reverence. To “play it pretty” doesn’t mean perfection. It means giving your best to the music, to the moment, and to the city that’s listening.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURA HOLLEY
EVERY VENUE HAS TRADITIONS. FEW HAVE A MANTRA.