Theatre:

Continued from Page 7 he said, like with the Atlanta Balalaika Society, the Atlanta Vocal Project, the Song of Atlanta chorus and the Atlanta Dance Theatre.

“We were trying to find ways to partner with [GET] so that they wouldn’t have to worry about rent anymore,” Crowe said.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre had been behind on around $30,000 in rent for its space at the Cultural Arts Center. The City of Roswell offered reduced rent to the theater, but Allen-Farley said GET will pay half the cost at the Anderson.

Considering GET’s season isn’t quite over in Roswell, Crowe hasn’t actively sought other theater companies. But he intends to make those connections.

Crowe had been with the city’s Cultural Arts Center since 2015 but has known the founders of Georgia Ensemble Theatre much longer. He said Bob Farley, the late co-founder of the theater, gave him his “first big break” after graduate school to direct at GET. As a young person, Crowe also performed in “Of Mice and Men” in the 2004-2005 season.

“Georgia Ensemble Theatre has been an enormous asset to the city on and off for many years, and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t find a way to continue year’s festival, which will have more than 105 vendors including retail, food and sponsors.

A Global Marketplace will have arts and crafts from cultural artisans. From international restaurants and food trucks, visitors might smell the aroma of Asian and working together,” Crowe said. “But the way that I see this is: everything is an opportunity. I think this is a great opportunity for them and for us to find something different, maybe.”

Community connection

Despite city efforts to retain the theater company, Allen-Farley said she couldn’t afford the partnership.

“The biggest issue was the model has [the city] selling all of the tickets, keeping all of the money until after the show is over,” Allen-Farley said. “And I have people that I have to pay, months before we open the show.”

The agreement would have also cut the theater’s 20-week season in half. Saville said producing two shows, rather than four or five, would generate far less income. The cut also would have meant the theater wouldn’t have been able to produce the same variety of shows, Saville said.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Allen-Farley said it’s been fun to watch more and more patrons fill the seats. She said around 25 percent of the house was filled for the first two shows, which had gone up to 35 percent.

“And now, we’ve had some really nice houses with ‘Bright Star,’” AllenFarley said. For the foreseeable future, “Bright Star” will be GET’s last mainstage production in Roswell.

Many patrons have told Allen-Farley

Indian spices, sample the savory flavors of the Mediterranean and Europe and indulge in Latin American dishes.

The Global Beer and Wine Garden will feature brews and wines from around the globe. From stouts to chardonnay, festivalgoers ages 21 and over can explore differ - they’ll ride along with her to Marietta and have bought subscriptions, or a package deal. While the move is only 13 miles away, she knows some won’t be able to follow her. The theater sees an older demographic, and many can’t drive at night.

“What I’ll miss most is that connection that we’ve had,” Allen-Farley said. “We’ve had some people that have had the same seats for 30 years.”

But she’s exploring a shuttle option for those who can’t make the drive themselves.

A new space

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre released a statement, saying staff will continue to be in conversation with Roswell officials about the future and are open to return if an opportunity arose. The theatre also said it would continue its investment into Roswell’s growth and well-being, considering its studio will remain on Hembree Parkway.

The studio hosts the theater’s administrative offices, its conservatory and the GET Travel Team, which takes professional productions to schools and senior communities at their locations. The studio also serves as the rehearsal space for mainstage plays.

The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre has around the same number of seats as the Roswell Cultural Arts Center with 606 seats. It does not include a balcony, but handicap-accessible seat - ent beverages from countries far away and close to home. ing is on the front row.

There will also be a Kids Corner, hosted by the Johns Creek Arts Center, where the family can enjoy engaging and collaborative activities for the kids as they learn about cultures from around the world. Activities include face painting, cultural storytelling and art stations.

Cultural performances include some returning acts like the Drake School of Irish Dance and the Magic Eastern Ensemble, an instrumental group, as well as new performers.

For the first time, visitors will get the opportunity to see live African storytelling at the festival. Chetter Galloway, with the Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia, will use the Djembe drum and music to enliven African lore.

The rain-or-shine, free event is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the field located across from the Atlanta Athletic Club on Bobby Jones Drive. Visitors can enter the festival from Medlock Bridge Road. There will be ample on-site parking. Handicap parking will also be available. A local Boy Scout troop assisting with parking is asking for a $3 donation, but it’s not required.

Saville shared that the Anderson was once home to the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, which recently closed due to a collection of pandemic-related issues, like rising costs, reduced revenue and donations, and audiences’ reluctance to return quickly.

“Being able to regain our footing after our entire industry was closed for over a year has been a very slow process— much slower than anyone anticipated— and we all need patience, understanding and grace while we’re still in the ‘rebuilding’ phase,” Saville said.

While GET is raising prices of premium seating, it has made more “budget-friendly” seats available at the Anderson Theatre. Preview plays will be $15 a ticket, and regular performances will range from $25 to $70. Discounts will be offered to seniors, students, educators, military/veterans and first responders.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre is set to produce three plays at the Anderson, in October, February and April, though the titles have yet to be announced. GET will also co-produce two musicals in the Overture Series with the Anderson Theatre, “The Light in the Piazza” in December and “Ragtime” in June of 2024.

“I think people will enjoy the experience of watching a play [at the Anderson Theatre]. It is a change. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing,” Saville said. “Change is just inevitable.”