ARTSATL — Two world premieres, the inauguration of a White Box Theatre and the debut of three new company members will highlight Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s recently announced fall season.

The contemporary ensemble will premiere new works by Atlanta Ballet dancer-choreographer Darian Kane and Terminus’ own Rachel Van Buskirk when it kicks off the season over two weekends, September 23 and 24 and September 30 and October 1. These will be the company’s first performances in the White Box Theatre it has developed at the Tula Art Center in Buckhead. Also on that program will be a new work-in-progress by dancer-choreographer Shane Urton.

Urton graduated in 2009 from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and began his professional career with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. In 2014, he left the United States to dance with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, then the Den Norske Opera & Ballett in Oslo before joining the Royal Ballet of Flanders. [MORE}

ATLANTA MAGAZINE — After three years of talk, development, and construction, Dunwoody’s first food hall, the Hall at Ashford Lane, opened in late May. Then, just over a month later, the Hall abruptly closed in a bizarre story that involved several employees accusing the owner of failing to pay owed wages, among other accusations. Will Donaldson, CEO of food hall operator Politan Row had been following the Hall’s progress as a competitor and now, the 17,000-square-foot space will not stay empty for long. Slated to reopen in October as Politan Row, the Ashford Lane location (4500 Olde Perimeter Way) will feature some of the same vendors as the Colony Square location, as well as some new options.

“The mission of our company is to support these entrepreneurs,” Donaldsons says. “Food halls are fertile testing ground for a chef.

This is the first time Politan Row is moving into an existing food hall space rather than designing from scratch. As such, Donaldson says the company is working with most of the infrastructure put in place by the Hall but adding signage and new decor. They’re removing the center walls in the Hall to create clean sight lines for diners to stalls. They’ll build a banquette around the center, similar to that at Colony Square, repaint the ceiling (which is currently painted black), add rugs and sconce lighting, and remove the ornate chandeliers. An enclosed patio will be created near the garage-style doors to create an area for Bar Politan, which will sell drinks to the whole food hall. [MORE]

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — Politan Group, the business behind the Politan Row at Colony Square food hall in Midtown, is set to expand its metro Atlanta footprint with a new food hall in Dunwoody.

Politan Row at Ashford Lane is set to open this fall at 4500 Olde Perimeter Way in the Ashford Lane retail development. The project will take over the space vacated by the Hall at Ashford Lane, which closed in July after less than two months, with several former employees accusing the owners of failing to pay them, among other charges.

The new hall will feature nine food stalls, including several tenants that have stalls at Politan Row at Colony Square such as taco spot Pretty Little Tacos, hibachi and noodles concept Gekko and Indian fusion eatery Tandoori Pizza & Wings.

Several seasoned Atlanta restaurateurs will make their food hall debuts at the counter-service Politan Row at Ashford Lane, including Niki Pattharakositkul with 26 Thai, which has several metro Atlanta locations including one less than a mile away in Perimeter Mall; Gregory Vivier, who will open a second location of his Roswell restaurant Smokehouse Q; and Charlie Sunyapong and Paul Thai, who own Stäge Kitchen & Bar and Peche in Peachtree Corners and will open Mediterranean concept Sheesh.

Politan Group CEO Will Donaldson said that they targeted local vendors who are seeking to expand and grow their brands.

WANF CBS46 (Atlanta News First) — Georgia’s film industry has grown since the Georgia film tax credit was put in place in 2008. The $4 billion industry employs more than 46,000 people in Georgia.

Moonshine Post-Production puts the final touches on pictures and videos. Owner Drew Sawyer said Georgia’s film tax credit changed the industry forever, attracting bigger productions to support thousands of people in the film industry who wanted to live and work in Georgia.

“I’m just some kid running the student news program up in northwest Georgia. That turned a hobby into, you know, a trade and then provided opportunities for others. we have the largest equipped filmmaking army in the United States. It’s astounding,” said Sawyer.

While the strike is taking away most of his work, Sawyer is channeling his energy to make sure that the tax credit doesn’t change. He made this video “Made WITH Georgia: The Rise of Georgia Post Production,” which features some of the people he works with, including graphic designers, colorists, and composers.

The film tax credit has grown from $669.4 million in 2016 to $961.0 million in 2019, which is a 44% increase.

ATLANTA MAGAZINE — Another immersive experience for children has launched—this one in Dunwoody. Located in the Ashford Lane development on Olde Perimeter Way (near the Perimeter Target), Camp is a new store, play space, and interactive show with eight locations across the country. The “Canteen” or lobby area is free to enter; the themed “behind the Magic Door” area requires paid admission. Camp locations feature different themes. In Dunwoody, Camp partnered with Disney for The Little Mermaid experience. Elsewhere, Camp boasts Encanto, Paw Patrol, and Nike-branded experiences, among others. Themes rotate every four to six months.

“Camp is about play and happy, teachable moments,” says Kirk Larsen, Camp’s chief creative officer. “We’re a destination for families. It’s a place to go and have fun.” [MORE]

SAPORTA REPORT — Over the years, Georgia has increasingly become a hotspot within the world of film and T.V. Wanting to further analyze the impact of the local entertainment industry, Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) released “Building Georgia’s Digital Entertainment Future.”

The report offers a comprehensive look at Georgia’s media — including film and television production, digital media, gaming, music, and emerging technologies — through a lens of workplace opportunities, rural and suburban development and impact on the local economy. 

The study explores how Georgia’s investment in the film industry has helped shape Georgia’s current and future success stories. The information was pulled from various sources, including the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, the Georgia Production Partnership, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Motion Picture Association and others.  [MORE]

DALLAS OBSERVER — Four years ago, the esports show Dreamhack decided to give Dallas a try after outgrowing the only space available in Austin for its annual gaming tournaments.

DreamHack hasn't begun to fill up the space in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center even though it has grown with each new gathering. It returns this weekend, and the city is recognizing its efforts to making competitive gaming available in Dallas.

The massive gaming tournament that's offering almost a cool million in prize money to the best players in games like Rocket League, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Fortnite returns to Dallas this Friday through Sunday. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson will present a special proclamation declaring Friday, June 2, as "DreamHack Day."

"Everyone is just super proud of that," says DreamHack's vice president of strategy and growth, Shahin Zarrabi. "We have over 1,000 people working throughout the year to make it happen. It's just another thing that shows that people are doing something that matters." [MORE]

YAHOO FINANCE — Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups, today announced the launch of eon™, a powdered, herbal beverage supplement that supports overall health and longevity. Comprised of an all-natural, proprietary herbal blend, eon Longevity +Plus (eon’s signature product) underwent one of the largest clinical studies in the supplement space. The results verified that eon supports the health of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems; regulates normal metabolic balance; and helps reduce inflammation — all of which result in a healthier and stronger body. One of the most impactful findings is eon’s ability to reduce inflammation, which is a breakthrough since inflammation is at the core of most, if not all, diseases in the human body. [MORE]

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION / ARTSATL.ORG — Victor Ryan Robertson’s musical journey has been unique. The young tenor from Atlanta originally went to college on a tennis scholarship, but subsequently turned in his locker key to pursue a busy livelihood as a rock singer.

Fate brought him together with Mary Ann Hill, professor of voice at Georgia State University, who led Robertson to realize that his vocal gift might take him much further than he imagined. Robertson honed his skills at Georgia State, and then in the young artist program of Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New York, and as a chorister in Atlanta.

Since turning to opera professionally, Robertson has enjoyed a burgeoning career throughout the United States and Europe in an eclectic repertory ranging from the Italian bel canto to classic musical theater, and the most cutting edge of contemporary vocal works.

Atlanta audiences will have an opportunity to see Robertson with The Atlanta Opera, where he will portray four different characters in Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide.” Performances start March 4 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and run through March 12. [MORE]

WXIA 11 ALIVE (NBC) — Watch the Interview Here

February is Black History Month and 11Alive is celebrating the accomplishments of a Grammy-nominated Black opera singer who's based out of the Atlanta area.

Victor Ryan Robertson is the only person to make his Met Opera, Kennedy Center, and Broadway debut in the same year. Now he's bringing his talent and impressive voice to the Atlanta Opera while inspiring young people of color to reach for their highest dream and note. 

Robertson fell in love with singing in grade school. 

“I used to get in trouble all the time because I would sing in class," he told 11Alive. "I remember one time I was in the fourth grade and the teacher came. She knelt by me, and she goes, 'You're going to sing for a living.'"

Singing led Robinson to a rock band and touring all over the Southeast.

“We had one concert at a café and a professor at Georgia State University heard me sing. After the show said, ‘You need to sing opera.’ I was like, ‘What?’ I was like, ‘I'm not doing that,’” Robertson recalled. 

He did go into opera thanks to the astute ear of that GSU professor, which turned out to be a very good decision.  [MORE]

WSB-TV (ABC) — By Audrey Washington

Media mogul Tyler Perry was honored with a new exhibition at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon on Friday night.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington was the only Atlanta reporter in attendance at the Macon-based museum, where she got a sneak peek at the exhibit.

WATCH NEWS SEGMENT HERE

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — By Rodney Ho

In 2017, Harold Young, events coordinator at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon, had a dream to create an exhibit celebrating the life of Tyler Perry.

He sent frequent emails, made calls, even drove 80 miles to Tyler Perry Studios on a whim to drop off a note to Perry, a note the security guard couldn’t even accept.

Finally, after his latest request, on Dec. 3, 2020, he received an e-mail. “We’re good to move forward with this,” wrote Perry’s publicist Chantal Artur. “Tyler has approved.”

“I’m sitting at my desk blown away,” said Young, who soon after became the first ever Black executive director of the Tubman Museum, which opened in 1981 to celebrate the rich art and history of African Americans.

READ STORY HERE