THEATER
In 2017, when her play Roe, (above) about the landmark Roe v. Wade case of the early 1970s, was being readied to play Arena Stage, playwright Lisa Loomer told the Washington Post, “This is a way to tell a story not just about the issue, but about the cultural divide — about why we can’t even talk to each other as a country.” Five years later, abortion rights are all over the headlines, and the talk is as divisive as ever. Into this hottest of debates steps Horizon Theatre, which begins previews of Roe on Friday. The play follows Roe v. Wade through the personal journeys of Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”) and Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who argued the landmark case to the Supreme Court. Through June 12. Proof of vaccine or a negative PCR test within 48 hours and masks are required.
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Found Stages bills Addae Moon’s Cassie’s Ballad as “an immersive ritual and historical fable, that combines theater and nature to offer a source of community healing” for those affected by the Atlanta murders of African American children, teens and young adults between 1979 and 1981. Opening Saturday, the world premiere will unfold during a 45-minute, multiple-stop walking journey that will take place along a wooded path within the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. Through May 22.
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MUSIC
Mary J. Blige’s inaugural Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit happens this weekend in Atlanta, headlined by a concert at State Farm Arena Saturday evening that features Blige, Chaka Khan, City Girls and Omeretta the Great. There is another concert Friday night at the Tabernacle headlined by Kiana Ledè and Emotional Oranges. In addition the Buckhead Theatre will host a comedy show Friday night that features Mrs. Pat, Wanda and Just Nesh.
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Georgia-born singer/songwriter Sonia Leigh comes home Saturday for a show at Eddie’s Attic. Her 2007 album, Run or Surrender, was produced by John Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band. Leigh also co-wrote the Zac Brown Band singles “Goodbye In Her Eyes” and “Sweet Annie.” Her Americana sound has taken on pop leanings in recent years, but strong songwriting is always at the foundation of Leigh’s music. 9 p.m. Tickets $16.
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ART+DESIGN
We need water on our planet, but not when it floods an art gallery. Sandler Hudson Gallery has moved from its soggy previous location and relocated at 739 Trabert Avenue NW, Suite B, 30318. The first exhibit in this new space is Drawing and Painting, a small group show by 10 artists including Krista Clark, William Downs, Donna Mintz (an ArtsATL contributor), Rocío Rodríguez and Alan Xie. Opening reception Saturday 2-5 p.m. Through June 25. Masks optional.
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Whitespace Gallery’s new exhibit Is it not enough that I smile in the valleys? is curated by Corey Oberlander, Jamie Steele and Lindsey Stapleton and features works by 12 artists including whitespace’s Constance Thalken, Stephanie Dowda DeMer, Vesna Pavlović and Zipporah Camille Thompson. The title is an excerpt from Henry David Thoreau’s book The Maine Woods, written from the perspective of Mother Nature. The exhibition will span whitespace’s main space, whitespec and shedspace (that’s the shed in the garden) as well as Take It Easy, 546 Edgewood Ave SE. Opening reception Saturday, 5-8 p.m. Through June 18. Masks required indoors.
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Origami in the Garden is the latest exhibit to grace the lawns and flower displays at Atlanta Botanical Garden. Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box have created enormous cast-metal works inspired by the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes. Among the 80 installations, look for birds, butterflies, grazing deer and “Master Peace,” a 24-foot monument in the Howell Fountain depicting 1,000 origami cranes, symbols of peace. (Kevin Box also created “Conversation Peace,” the rock, paper, scissors sculpture at the corner of Peachtree and 10th Street.) Opens Saturday. Through October 16. Tickets start at $24.95.
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BOOKS
Atlanta author Kimberly Brock will discuss her new novel, The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Atlanta History Center’s Midtown campus. Brock’s novel imagines that the mystery of what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke is solved by a book left behind by Eleanor Dare and passed down through 15 generations of daughters. Brock will discuss her book with fellow Atlanta author Colleen Oakley. Tickets start at $10.
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DANCE
The Core Dance studio in Decatur is one of the featured ArtSpots in the Decatur ArtWalk on Friday. Passersby can enjoy a compilation of the five films that the company has presented on its studio windows as part of its REEL Art series. 6-10 p.m. Free.