7 Stages addresses bullying in new production

7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points is addressing school bullying head on with a production of the play fml: how Carson McCullers saved my life by Sarah Gubbins from Feb. 5 to 22.

Inspired by McCullers’ classic The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, the play is about a lesbian teenager’s daily struggle to avoid being bullied by classmates and to embrace a teacher’s determination to provide hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. fml is abbreviated Internet slang for “f-ck my life,” often used by teens on social media.

The play is being produced as part of the national program, The Big Read, which encourages Americans to read great works of literature for pleasure and enrichment. Since September, 7 Stages’ teaching artists have been visiting local schools, libraries, service organizations, and public festivals bringing free copies of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter to Atlanta’s community.

In schools, students have read the book, discussed its themes, and created artistic responses to McCullers work.

“The students’ responses to the book are so thoughtful. It is a gift to create with and learn from students,” said teaching artist Dorothy Bell.

The month-long run of the play, directed by Heidi S. Howard, will offer numerous opportunities for engagement, including an opening-night keynote address from Gubbins on Feb. 6, postshow conversations on Feb. 12 and 19 and a discussion on art as activism on

Feb. 15.

7 Stages has also been working with Theatre du Reve and their production of Jane, The Fox and Me, an adaptation of a graphic novel about bullying behavior, inspired by another classic, Jane Eyre.

For tickets and more information about the productions and events, visit 7stages.org.

Visual Arts

Pratfall Tramps: What happens at the intersection of humor and failure? Four artists take on this challenge in the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center’s newest exhibit about the different sides of comedy. Opens February 6. $5 to $8. thecontemporary.org

Orchid Daze: Pop!: Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual exhibit goes bold and playful this year with orchids paying tribute to iconic Pop Art images by Warhol, Lichtenstein and Haring. Opens February 7. $12.95 to $18.95. atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Wifredo Lam: Imagining New Worlds: The High takes a look back on the work of one of the Surrealist movement’s most influential figures in this retrospective exhibit of the Cubanborn artist. Opens February 14. $12 to $19.50. high.org

A Moving Image of Eternity: Beth Lilly’s exhibit begins with a question – Where are you now? – and explores the role of choice in navigating events of chance and circumstance. Closes February 14. Free. whitespace814.com

Fahamu Pecou: GRAV•I•TY: In his first solo museum exhibition, Fahamu Pecou uses the trend of “saggin” pants to talk about Black male mobility. Closes February 14. $5 to $8. mocaga.org

Thirst: Painter Zuzka Vaclavik tries to unravel the mysteries of the subconscious through the age-old design of mandalas. Closes February 14. Free. poem88.net

Gaia: #IfTheyGunnedMeDown: Renowned street artist Gaia questions the media’s selection of images to represent black victims in this original piece on display at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Tuesday through Sunday. $10 to $15. civilandhumanrights.org

Out of Fashion: See the highlights of the New York, Paris and Milan

2014 fashion weeks from the eyes of Landon Nordeman, New York’s “backstage photographer extraordinaire.” Tuesday through Saturday. Free. hagedornfoundationgallery.org

Sustainable Shelter: Dwelling Within the Forces of Nature: MODA uses interactive elements to show how American homes have impacted the environment and how new technologies borrowed from nature can help restore it. Tuesday through Saturday. $5 to $10. museumofdesign.org

Performing Arts

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company: After performing in more than 200 cities and 40 countries, this dance company comes to Emory’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts for three performances. February 5 through February 7. $30. arts.emory.edu

Yonder Mountain String Band: Yonder Mountain String Band plays by its own set of rules by bending bluegrass, rock and countless other influences to pioneer a sound of its own. February 6. $27.50. variety-playhouse.com

Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette: Back by popular demand, this Atlanta Ballet production is a fresh take on Shakespeare’s tale of young, forbidden love. February 6 through February 14. $23 to $124. atlantaballet.com

Mummenschanz

Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra: As part of Emory Jazz Fest 2015, Grammy and Billboard Music Award-winner Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra bring Dixieland jazz to Emory’s the Schwartz Center. February 7. $50. arts.emory.edu

Detroit ‘67: It’s 1967 in Detroit, and Chelle and her brother are making ends meet by turning a basement into a cool, after-hours club. But when a mysterious woman enters the picture, the siblings clash over more than the family business. Opens February 10. $20 to $50. truecolorstheatre.org

PHOX: American six-piece indie pop band PHOX is putting small town from Baraboo, Wis., on the map after its 2014 debut release and single “Slow Motion.” February 10. $12. terminalwestatl.com

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Robert Battle and his American dance company return to the Fox to present 10 works, including a tribute to singer Odetta Holmes of the Civil Rights movement. February 11 through February 15. $19.50 to $70. foxtheatre.org

Silent Sky: See how American astronomer Henrietta Leavitt (18681921) challenged the male astronomers of Harvard and her era in this period romance at Theatrical Outfit. Opens February 12. $20 to $35. theatricaloutfit. org

Red Baraat and Dirty Dozen Brass Band: Bollyfunk meets Bourbon Street in this fusion jazz concert featuring Brooklyn’s high-energy band Red Baraat and New Orlean’s Dirty Dozen Brass Band. February 14. $40 to $72. rialtocenter.org

Mummenschanz: Inspiring, captivating and playful, the performers of Mummenschanz create a magical world of possibilities on a dark stage with the help of light and shadows, all without uttering a word. February 15. $22 to $42. ferstcenter.gatech.edu

Pizza Man: Sex, women and relationships (or lack thereof) drive the story of this Pinch ‘n’ Ouch production in which the pizza man gets caught in the crossfire. Closes February 15. pnotheatre.org

Bad Jews: This savagely funny battle royale over a cherished family artifact returns to Atlanta after a critically acclaimed run in New York City. Closes February 22. $20 to $32. actors-express. com

The Waffle Palace: Inspired by amazing real life events at Waffle House restaurants, Horizon Theatre lets loose with this comedy in which a Midtown restaurant struggles to stay open against heavy odds. Wednesday through Sunday. $20 to 40. horizontheatre.com

StinkyKids The Musical: Synchronicity Theatre and Aurora Theatre team up for this kids musical based on the award-winning StinkyKids® books and characters, from the creative mind of Atlanta mom Britt Menzies. Opens February 13. $10 to $40. synchrotheatre.com

Wicked: Back by “Popular” demand, the story of what happened to the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good before Oz returns to the Fox Theatre. Opens February 18. $45 to $175. broadwayinatlanta.com

Rigoletto: Verdi’s story of lust, vengeance and sacrifice returns to Atlanta with one of opera’s most promising young stars, Nadine Sierra. Opens February 28. $26 to $140. atlantaopera.org

Rainforest Adventures: Anacondas, howler monkeys and sloths – it’s a jungle out there, and the Center for Puppetry Arts is taking you on a journey through the Amazonian rainforest to meet more than 30 exotic plants and animals. Tuesday through Sunday. $16.50. puppet.org

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