Search

Imagine a space created just for children from birth to five years old to explore, create and play. Imagine art installations and events curated to engage and inspire our youngest Atlanta friends. You are imagining the PNC PlaySpace, a brand-new space now open at the Woodruff Arts Center.

The PNC PlaySpace is an experiential learning space where children can explore, move, and make believe. Open six days a week, the PNC PlaySpace invites children from birth to five years old to enjoy free play, engage in interactive performances, and embrace the chance to move and imagine. Provided at no cost to families, this space offers a consistent, accessible environment that sparks creativity and supports early childhood development through joyful, unstructured activity.

“The first few years of life are essential to human development,” says Dan Reardon Director of Youth and Families Olivia Aston Bosworth, “but there are so few public spaces that tolerate babies and toddlers. At the Alliance Theatre, we celebrate these years and welcome children to be their authentic selves. They need to move, touch, laugh, and connect with their trusted adults. The PNC PlaySpace installation, BOSSA NOVA BABY, is a peaceful retreat where early learners and their grownups can experience joy, connection, and wonder. We hope this space provides a gentle landing place to imagine new worlds, take tiny risks, and form lasting memories with the people they love most.”

The opening of the PNC PlaySpace also celebrates the inaugural immersive exhibition — Bossa Nova Baby. Little ones are invited into a sensory journey through the Brazilian rainforest, starting from the moment they enter through a cascading curtain of soft rope vines and are enveloped by echoing rainforest sounds. Once inside there is so much to discover — snuggle into the hug wall, splash in the projected river and explore the fiberoptic rainbow wall. Bossa Nova Baby is created in partnership with Dash Studio and reflects the living and breathing nature of the space that can be forever reimagined with new experiences.

In addition to open play, free weekly programs will be offered for littles ones and their caregivers. Mark your calendar for engaging events, such as Babies: Off Book!, the Lullaby Project, Baby Rave, Baby Yoga, Baby Wearing Dance, and so much more. Children ages 0-5 are invited to dance, read, stretch, laugh and imagine at the PNC PlaySpace — a place just for our youngest Atlanta community.

The PNC PlaySpace is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am – 4pm and located within the Memorial Arts Building at the Woodruff Arts Center. Walk-ups are welcome. To guarantee immediate entry at arrival, patrons are encouraged to pre-register online. Park your stroller at The Selig Family Park & Play, remove your shoes and socks and enter a world of wonder.

What if students worldwide had access to the Alliance Theatre’s critically acclaimed Theatre for Youth and Families productions? What if teachers were equipped with resources that empowered them to daily integrate the arts in their lessons? Thanks to an exciting new partnership between the Alliance Theatre and Cox Campus, these “what-ifs” are becoming a reality.

Cox Campus is an innovative learning platform that was created to scale the transformative work of the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy, extending its reach far beyond Atlanta to communities around the world. Alliance Theatre Arts Integration on Cox Campus will extend the stage into every classroom and make arts integration accessible for every teacher. The impact will be felt by students and teachers alike.

When we built the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families, we dreamed of removing barriers to participation for our entire community,” says Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Christopher Moses. “We define that term [community] broadly and never wanted zip code to be the determining factor in who can access our work. Partnering with the world-renowned Cox Campus allowed us to immediately reach classrooms not only throughout the entire state of Georgia, but across the globe. Educators and students in over 135 countries can now experience the awe & wonder of Alliance Theatre for Youth & Families productions for free through Cox Campus’ online resources. Thank you to the experts at Cox Campus for helping us achieve our dream of making theatre a birthright for all children.

This partnership will provide classrooms worldwide with free educational access to the Alliance Theatre’s critically acclaimed Theatre for Youth and Families productions via the Cox Campus platform. Starting this January, students will experience Doctor De Soto come to life from the page to the stage when they stream the Alliance Theatre’s world-premiere production. And this is just the beginning!

Teachers will have access to training and instructional resources designed to introduce and equip them in effective, evidence-based arts-integrated theater strategies. Accompanying instructional videos model basic arts-integration strategies that teachers can implement as pre- or post-activities to extend learning across various content areas. This training seeks to make arts-integration accessible for teachers of all ages and stages.

Today, more than 400,000 members across all fifty states and over 135 countries engage with Cox Campus, a platform offering 100% free, unlimited access to a broad and deep range of courses, resources, webinars, and community discussions—all advancing language and literacy practices. The Alliance Theatre is honored to partner with this inspiring platform to leverage theater-based strategies that elevate student voice and foster deeper, more creative engagement with and response to artistic material.

Alliance Theatre Arts Integration on Cox Campus will provide worldwide access to theater in the classroom and empower teachers to expand their students’ minds through arts-integrated strategies and foundational literacy skills. Here’s to the beginning of a beautiful new partnership.

From the Alliance to the National Stage: Meet Isaiah C. Phipps, Georgia’s Lone 2026 YoungArts Theatre Winner

At Alliance Theatre, we witness the spark of young artistry every day in our rehearsal halls and classrooms. But every so often, that spark catches a national wind.

This year, YoungArts saw a record-breaking 13,000 applicants across 10 disciplines. Out of that massive pool, only 32 winners were selected for the Theatre discipline nationwide—and only one of those winners hailed from the state of Georgia.

That winner is Isaiah C. Phipps, a dedicated member of the Alliance’s Teen Ensemble and an alumnus of the Palefsky Collision Project. We sat down with Isaiah to discuss his journey, the power of persistence, and how the Alliance helped shape his award-winning craft.

Persistence Pays Off

For Isaiah, the road to YoungArts wasn’t an overnight success. It was a lesson in tenacity.

“I have entered this competition twice before, and I didn’t win,” Isaiah shares. “My mission was to use this last opportunity to hopefully be awarded, and it worked. I am proud of myself for staying focused and determined.”

As he looks toward high school graduation and college acceptances, being named a winner connects him to a prestigious 40-year history of excellence. He joins an intergenerational network of icons like Viola Davis and Timothée Chalamet. For Isaiah, the most exciting part isn’t just the title—it’s the mentorship. “I am most excited to engage with the mentorship opportunities… learning from past and present YoungArts alumni.”

The “Alliance” Advantage

Isaiah is no stranger to our halls; he has been training with the Alliance since he was a young child. From summer camps to specialized workshops in voice and diction, he credits his “extensive training” for giving him the tools to compete on a national level.

However, it was the Palefsky Collision Project and the Teen Ensemble that helped him find his unique voice:

The 2024 Palefsky Collision Project allowed me to dig into my creativeness as I helped to write scripts and songs… The collaboration allowed me to keep an open mind. Currently in the Teen Ensemble, watching plays through the eyes of a teen critic has brought me a new vision on how I approached my monologue.

Finding Authenticity in the Bass-Baritone

While Isaiah has deep roots in Musical Theatre, his recent exploration into “Spoken Theatre”—including a turn as the Earl of Gloucester in King Lear—has expanded his horizons. This shift toward authenticity was the key to his YoungArts breakthrough.

When asked what advice he would give to other Georgia artists eyeing competitive programs, Isaiah emphasizes the importance of playing to your true strengths rather than trying to fit a mold.

“The past two years I tried to perform more tenor-type songs because I thought my bass-baritone voice wouldn’t get me far,” he admits. “But this year, when I sang songs using it, I was recognized. Understand what your greatest artistic strength is and put your energy predominantly in that.”

What’s Next?

As Isaiah prepares to graduate, he is looking toward a future that includes more plays and potentially a transition to on-camera acting. Whatever stage he steps onto next, he carries with him the pride of Georgia and the foundational spirit of the Alliance Theatre.

Congratulations, Isaiah! We can’t wait to see what you do next.

Announcing the Cast and Creative Team of The Underground Rep

Coming to the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families January 2026

The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce the cast of its ambitious Underground Rep Series, where the same cast members will play a different role in each of the three productions running concurrently. The Underground Rep features the return of the Alliance Theatre’s delightful family musicals INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE (Jan 31 – Jun 27, 2026); NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE (Feb 21 – Jun 20, 2026); and the world-premiere, THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER (May 15 – Jul 5, 2025).

“This exciting repertory model lets us fulfill the promise of this new stage by offering families a reason to come back again and again – an open invitation to come whenever inspiration strikes, where every week holds something new to be enchanted by, and where the Alliance is a joyful part of growing up.”

– Jennings Hertz Artistic Directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Christopher Moses

The Underground Rep follows a year of construction on the new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families. Inspired by the massive construction project that uncovered the dirt floor beneath the Memorial Arts Building, the repertory runs from January 2026 through the summer. The Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families will be a transformative space for Atlanta’s youngest patrons, featuring thoughtfully curated, year-round programming by Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

The cast of the UNDERGROUND REP series will feature:

Shelli Delgado, playing:

• Squirrel Nutkin in INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE
• Tall Mole Rat in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
• And an Ant (Character TBD) in THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

Blake Fountain, playing:

• Pricklepin in INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE
• Grand-Pah Mole Rat/Stark Naked Mole Rat/Naked Mole Rat 4 in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
• And an Ant (Character TBD) in THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

Jontavious Johnson, playing:

• Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise in INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE
• Venti Mole Rat in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
• And an Ant (Character TBD) in THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

Candy McLellan, playing:

• Benjamin Bunny in INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE
• Grande Mole Rat in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
• And an Ant (Character TBD) in THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

Jordan Patrick, playing:

• Jeremy Fisher in INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE
• Weather Mole Rat/Naked Mole Rat 5 in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
• And an Ant (Character TBD) in THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

Juan Carlos Unzueta, playing:

• Peter Rabbit in INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT™ TALE
• Wilbur J. Mole Rat, Jr. in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
• And an Ant (Character TBD) in THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

Understudies for each production are Karastyn Bibb, Sarah Ann Burke, Hope Clayborne, Evan Ellicott, Arianna Hardaway, and Chris McKnight.  

Creative team members for THE UNDERGROUND REP include:

INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT TALE 

• Mark Valdez, Director
• Kerrington Griffin, Spelman Leadership Fellow, Choreographer
• Kat Conley, Set Design
• Garry Lennon, Costume Design
• Rachael N. Page-Blackwell & Ben Rawson, Co-Lighting Designers
• Clay Benning & Hidenori “Hide” Nakajo, Co-Sound Designers
• Brittany Bland, Projection Consultant
• Imani Quinones, Music Director

NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE 

• Samantha Provenzano, Director
• Kerrington Griffin, Spelman Leadership Fellow, Choreographer
• Kat Conley, Set Design
• Fabian Aguilar, Costume Design
• Rachael N. Page-Blackwell & Ben Rawson, Co-Lighting Designers
• Clay Benning & Hidenori “Hide” Nakajo, Co-Sound Designers
• Brittany Bland, Projection Consultant
• Imani Quinones, Music Director

THE GREAT ANT SLEEPOVER

• Jamil Jude, Director
• Kari Twyman, Choreographer
• Kat Conley, Set Design
• TBA, Costume Design
• Rachael N. Page-Blackwell & Ben Rawson, Co-Lighting Designers
• Clay Benning & Hidenori “Hide” Nakajo, Co-Sound Designers
• Brittany Bland, Projection Consultant
• Holt McCarley, Music Director

Performances of The Underground Rep run January 31 – July 5, 2026 on the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families – learn more.

Chef Craig Richards to Open Elise at Woodruff Arts Center August 19, 2025

Seafood-forward, French-meets-Italian restaurant brings culinary arts to Atlanta’s premier cultural campus

Elise, the highly anticipated second restaurant from Chef Craig Richards (Lyla Lila), is set to open Tuesday, August 19 at the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown Atlanta. Occupying the former Table 1280 space, Elise will offer an elegant menu of French and Italian-inspired cooking, a seafood-forward focus, and a refined, artful atmosphere that complements the energy of the Arts Center campus. 

Elise marks the first restaurant partnership for the Woodruff Arts Center, home to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Alliance Theatre, and High Museum of Art, and represents an intentional embrace of the culinary arts alongside its world-class visual and performing arts programming.

“We’re thrilled to officially welcome Elise this summer,” says Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. “Craig is a thoughtful and visionary chef, and his team is creating a concept that enhances the guest experience across our campus, offering a new way for visitors to engage with the arts.”

Designed by Renzo Piano, the original space provided a clean, modernist foundation that Richards and Smith Hanes Studio have reinterpreted. Their renovation introduces lighter wood floors and a warm white palette, layered with bold applications of color: red hues in the bar and natural green tones in the dining room—each element playing off the courtyard views and surrounding campus energy.

Key artworks include a large abstract piece in the dining room by Tommy Taylor, inspired by 1960s and ’70s American modernism; a sculptural entrance work by Sonya Yong James, known for her use of coarse horsehair and texture; and an energetic piece from Athens-based Chrissy Reed’s Blobbiesseries in the bar, echoing the restaurant’s color-forward interior design.
 

Chef Richards’ culinary style at Elise emphasizes a balance of classical technique and personal expression. The menu will highlight raw and cooked seafood, house made pastas, and French dishes interpreted through an Italian lens. With a focus on seasonal vegetables and sustainable sourcing, Elise will also offer prime-grade Midwestern steaks, a subtle nod to Richards’ Nebraska roots.

“I’ve always been drawn to cooking seafood,” says Richards. “It’s an evolution that began at St. Cecilia and continues here. Elise is a chance to showcase that growth and explore new expressions of technique and flavor.”

The restaurant will open with an à la carte dinner menu, with plans to debut a five-course tasting menu ($95) and optional wine pairings ($45) in the coming weeks. The menu begins with small plates such as scallop crudo with melon and bronze fennel, chicken liver mousse with strawberry hibiscus jam, and charred Persian cucumbers with pistachio chili butter. Four pastas include Richards’ signature cacio e pepe risotto, linguine with clams and langoustines, tagliatelle with rabbit ragu, and gnocchetti with crab and fennel pollen butter. Entrées range from smoked lamb shank with polenta verde and poached apricots to duck breast with Tokyo turnips and blackberry dashi emulsion, halibut with ginger beurre blanc and caviar, and premium steaks with Madeira–porcini jus and pomme purée. Desserts will include a warm lemon tart, housemade gelati and sorbetti, and a classic chocolate mousse finished with olive oil, sea salt, and za’atar.

The wine list will feature 100 selections, largely focused on French producers, from celebrated appellations to lesser-known winemakers bringing fresh perspectives to traditional styles. Beverage Manager Eric Potrikus’ cocktail program will balance flavors familiar to guests with unique ingredients and house-made elements that showcase creativity and seasonality. A curated vermouth menu will offer five to six artisanal expressions, providing an elegant start to the meal and showcasing a spirit that aligns with Elise’s “less is more” philosophy. Together, the wine and spirits selections will blend classic favorites with limited-production labels, resulting in offerings that are comforting, engaging, and undeniably delicious.

Service at Elise will be led by Chris Blackburn, who moves from his current role as general manager at Lyla Lila into a new position as Director of Hospitality for both restaurants. Elise’s approach will reflect the elevated, artful nature of its surroundings.

Elise will open for dinner service Tuesday–Sunday at 5 PM, with weekday lunch service launching shortly thereafter. Lunch will offer lighter, elegant fare designed for Arts Center guests and nearby neighbors like tuna Niçoise, seasonal vegetable-forward dishes, and lunch-size portions of pasta.

“There’s something meaningful about returning to a space that first inspired you,” says Richards. “When I dined here back in 2005, I was drawn to the architecture and the atmosphere. Now, to have the opportunity to contribute my own vision—one that is shaped by food, music, and design—feels both personal and creatively full circle.”

Reservations are now available on www.elise-atl.com or by visiting Resy. Follow along on social media @EliseArtsCenter. 

Alliance Theatre Announces World Premiere Musical, LIKE FATHER

The Coming-of-Age Musical by Jacob Ryan Smith and Caroline Pernick Premieres in October 2026

ATLANTA – (February 3, 2026) — Alliance Theatre today announced that it will produce the world premiere musical LIKE FATHER as part of its 2026/27 season. A bold new musical created by Jacob Ryan Smith, with book, music, and lyrics by Smith and Caroline Pernick, and direction by Alliance’s Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden (The Preacher’s Wife), LIKE FATHER will run on the Hertz Stage beginning in October.

LIKE FATHER is a coming-of-age musical set against America’s true-crime obsession. After her father’s arrest, seventeen-year-old Chris moves in with her estranged mother, Michelle, and stepfather, Ben. When a hit true-crime podcast exposes their family’s disturbing past to the world, they are forced to face the truth of what brought them together, or risk being undone by its consequences.

Driven by a bold, innovative folk-pop score, LIKE FATHER explores legacy, identity, and the cost of obsession, inspired by the loved ones left in the wake of infamous serial killers—and by the true-crime industry’s meteoric rise to over 250 million listeners worldwide.

The show was a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neill New Music Theater Festival and emerged as the winner of the inaugural Open Jar Musical Shark Tank.

Creative Team for the Alliance Theatre Production includes:

• Director: Tinashe Kajese-Bolden (The Preacher’s Wife)
• Book, Music, and Lyrics: Jacob Ryan Smith & Caroline Pernick
• Choreographer: Dell Howlett
• Music Director: Alejandro Senior
• Assistant Director: Rachel Sabo-Hedges
• Associate Music Director: Adam Beskind
• Dramaturg: Amanda Watkins
• Casting: Kevin Metzger-Timson, CSA & Frankie Ramirez, CSA, TRC Company

Casting details and specific performance dates will be announced in the coming months. The musical’s commercial producers are Howard Alter, Zachary Hausman, and Madison Thompson. Co-producers include Caryl & Kendrick Smith, City Cowboy Productions, Fahs Productions, Happy Recap Productions, Jonathan & Rae Corr, Kerri Mandelbaum, and Steven N. Lerner.

“At its core, LIKE FATHER is about learning to live beyond the shadows we inherit—a journey through grief, forgiveness, and the radical act of reclaiming your own name,” said Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden. “It’s a surprising, darkly funny, deeply human story that speaks to so many of us reckoning with the weight of our histories and the hope of transformation. New work like this needs room to take risks, and regional theaters are where those stories are given oxygen; I’m thrilled to work alongside artists and producing partners with an unflinching belief in bold, emotionally intelligent storytelling, and proud that the Alliance is a national home where artists are trusted to push boundaries, deepen our empathy, and imagine what’s possible.”

Performances of LIKE FATHER run on the Hertz Stage October 8 through November 15, 2026 – learn more.

Full Cast Announced for the World Premiere Engagement of Basura

The Inspiring True Story of Finding Music in Unlikely Places

MAY 30 – JULY 12, 2025 ON THE COCA-COLA STAGE

Introducing
JACI CALDERON

Featuring
DARIO ALVAREZ, ZACK CALDERON, NATHAN DIAZ, ISABEL GONZALEZ, MICHELLE ZINK-MUÑOZ

With
KEVIN DEL AGUILA

And
MANDY GONZALEZ

Joined By
DAVID ANDINO, MONICA GARCIA BRADLEY, VICTORIA GÓMEZ, MICHAEL MARRERO, GAGE MARTINEZ, AVITAL TIKVA MASRI, KARA MENENDEZ, COTY PERNO, JULIO REY, LANNIE RUBIO, DIEGO TURNER-FIGUEREDO, and ARIANA VALDES

MUSIC & LYRICS BY GLORIA ESTEFAN and EMILY ESTEFAN
BOOK BY KAREN ZACARÍAS
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL GREIF
CHOREOGRAPHY BY PATRICIA DELGADO
MUSIC SUPERVISION, ORCHESTRATIONS and ARRANGEMENTS BY ALEX LACAMOIRE
DRAMATURGY BY KEN CERNIGLIA

FEATURING
SCENIC DESIGN BY DAVID KORINS
COSTUME DESIGN BY DEDE AYITE
LIGHTING DESIGN BY BEN STANTON
SOUND DESIGN BY PETER HYLENSKI

Alliance Theatre and producers Michael Shulman and Colin Callender announced today the complete casting for the world premiere production of BASURA, a new musical with original music and lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan, premiering at Alliance Theatre on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

The production will star newcomer Jaci Calderon in the leading role of “Nambi with Dario Alvarez as “José,” Zack Calderon as “Nunu,” Nathan Diaz as “Dani,” Isabel Gonzalez as “Blanca,” and Michelle Zink-Muñoz as “Sofía” with Emmy Award® winner and Tony Award® nominee Kevin Del Aguila (Some Like It Hot, Peter and the Starcatcher) as “Mario” and Drama Desk Award Winner Mandy Gonzalez (In The Heights, Hamilton) as “Mónica.”

The production’s ensemble will include David Andino, Monica Garcia Bradley, Victoria Gómez, Michael Marrero, Gage Martinez, Avital Tikva Masri, Kara Menendez, Coty Perno, Julio Rey, Lannie Rubio, Diego Turner-Figueredo, and Ariana Valdes.

“What excites us most about this cast is the thrilling blend of theatrical veterans and emerging young talent that audiences are destined to fall in love with. Michael Greif’s ability to cultivate and discover new talent is a hallmark of his career and we can’t wait for the world to see Jaci Calderon take center stage. With Mandy Gonzalez originating her most significant role in a new musical since her career-defining turn as Nina in In the Heights, Kevin Del Aguila bringing his usual award-winning brilliance and charm, and a company of exceptional artists, we have a powerhouse cast bringing this inspiring true story to life on stage alongside a world class creative and design team.”

As previously announced, BASURA will be directed by the Broadway stage visionary and five-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen), written by National Latino Playwriting Award-winner Karen Zacarías (Native Gardens, Destiny of Desire). Grammy Award®, Tony Award® and Emmy Award ® winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, In the Heights) is the musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger. Tony Award® winner Patricia Delgado (Buena Vista Social Club) will choreograph, Ken Cerniglia (Hadestown, Newsies) is the dramaturg, Cynthia Meng (Dead Outlaw) is the Music Director, Andy Señor Jr. (“Revolution Rent”) is the Associate Director, Phil Colgan is the Associate Choreographer and Casting is by Kristian Charbonier, CSA for The Telsey Office. Casting Director for the Alliance Theatre is Jody Feldman. Grammy Award® and Emmy Award® winner David Lai is the Music Coordinator.

The production will feature scenic design by four-time Tony Award nominee David Korins, costume design by Tony Award winner Dede Ayite, lighting design by five-time Tony Award nominee Ben Stanton, and sound design by Tony Award Winner Peter Hylenski. Victoria Navarro will serve as the Production Stage Manager.

Performances of BASURA will begin on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Alliance Theatre’s Coca-Cola Stage (1280 Peachtree Street NE) in Atlanta, GA. Tickets are now on sale for the World-Premiere production, which is set to play through July 12, 2026. Opening night is scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2026.

Eleven-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan — whose music has sold over 100 million records worldwide — has shaped generations through song.  Now, she joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter, Grammy Award® nominee Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for BASURA, a powerful and bold new musical inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra, where young artists turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities.  This world premiere musical continues Estefan’s global legacy — proving that music can rise from anywhere and change everything.

What do you do when the world gives you nothing?  You build something beautiful.  In a community against all odds, an inspired music teacher starts an orchestra for the students, but they have no instruments.  Empty paint cans, a fork, and a bent license plate become a violin, an oil drum transforms into a colorful cello, and the newly formed orchestra hits every note to the beat of something bigger.  When the students’ instruments become symbols of possibility, the sound is heard around the world.

Based on the award-winning documentary film Landfill Harmonic, the new musical carries the sound of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra farther than anyone could have ever imagined.  BASURA is an unforgettable journey of rhythm, resilience, and extraordinary music — a radiant, heart-swelling reminder that even in the most unlikely places, you can build something beautiful. Show the world what you’re made of.

Produced in partnership with Michael Shulman (Sand and Snow Entertainment) and Colin Callender & Daniel Unitas (Playground).  Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey Wilson of 101 Productions, Ltd will serve as Executive Producers and General Managers.

BASURA was developed, in part, with support from The Orchard Project, Ari Edelson, Artistic Director.

Alliance Theatre’s production of BASURA is presented by Invesco QQQ and sponsored by Graphic Packaging and King & Spalding. The Alliance series on The Coca-Cola Stage is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company.

Performances of BASURA run on The Coca-Cola Stage May 30 through July 12, 2025 – learn more.

Full Creative Team Announced for the World Premiere of Basura

The Inspiring True Story of Finding Music in Unlikely Places

MAY 30 – JULY 12, 2025 ON THE COCA-COLA STAGE

MUSIC & LYRICS BY GLORIA ESTEFAN and EMILY ESTEFAN
BOOK BY KAREN ZACARÍAS
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL GREIF

CHOREOGRAPHY BY PATRICIA DELGADO
MUSIC SUPERVISION, ORCHESTRATIONS and ARRANGEMENTS BY ALEX LACAMOIRE
DRAMATURGY BY KEN CERNIGLIA

FEATURING
SCENIC DESIGN BY DAVID KORINS
COSTUME DESIGN BY DEDE AYITE
LIGHTING DESIGN BY BEN STANTON
SOUND DESIGN BY PETER HYLENSKI

Producers Michael Shulman, Colin Callender, and Daniel Unitas announced today the creative team for the world premiere production of Basura, a new musical with music and lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan, premiering at the Alliance Theatre in Summer 2026. The production will feature scenic design by four-time Tony Award nominee David Korins, costume design by Tony Award winner Dede Ayite, lighting design by five-time Tony Award nominee Ben Stanton, and sound design by Tony Award Winner Peter Hylenski. Victoria Navarro will serve as the Production Stage Manager.

“From the very beginning we set out to surround this uplifting musical with the most passionate and talented creatives in our industry. We are thrilled that these award-winning designers will be working with us to bring this story and the authentic world of BASURA to life on stage. Their collective artistry will perfectly capture the ingenuity and heart that define the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura.”

– Producers Michael Shulman, Colin Callender, and Daniel Unitas

 As previously announced, Basura will be directed by the Broadway stage visionary and five-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen), written by National Latino Playwriting Award-winner Karen Zacarías (Native Gardens, Destiny of Desire). Grammy Award® and Tony Award® winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, In the Heights) is the musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger. Tony Award® winner Patricia Delgado (Buena Vista Social Club) will choreograph, Ken Cerniglia (Hadestown, Newsies) serves as dramaturg, Cynthia Meng (Dead Outlaw) will serve as Music Director, Andy Señor Jr. will serve as Associate Director and Casting is by Kristian Charbonier, CSA for The Telsey Office. Casting Director for Alliance Theatre is Jody Feldman.

Performances of Basura will begin on Friday, May 30, 2026 at the Alliance Theatre’s Coca-Cola Stage (1280 Peachtree Street NE) in Atlanta, GA. Tickets are now on sale for the World-Premiere production, which is set to play through July 12, 2026. A private developmental reading of the musical will be held in New York in December 2025.

Ten-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan — whose music has sold over 100 million records worldwide — has shaped generations through song.  Now, she joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter, Grammy Award® nominee Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for Basura, a powerful and bold new musical inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra, where young artists turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities.  This world premiere musical continues Estefan’s global legacy — proving that music can rise from anywhere and change everything.

What do you do when the world gives you nothing?  You build something beautiful.  In a community against all odds, an inspired music teacher starts an orchestra for the students, but they have no instruments.  Empty paint cans, a fork, and a bent license plate become a violin, an oil drum transforms into a colorful cello, and the newly formed orchestra hits every note to the beat of something bigger.  When the students’ instruments become symbols of possibility, the sound is heard around the world.

Based on the award-winning documentary film “Landfill Harmonic,” the new musical carries the sound of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra farther than anyone could have ever imagined.  Basura is an unforgettable journey of rhythm, resilience, and extraordinary music — a radiant, heart-swelling reminder that even in the most unlikely places, you can build something beautiful.

“This is a story that has been close to my heart for several years since I first encountered the determination and ingenuity of the young people of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra.  Emily and I are thrilled for our music to be a part of telling their story in this original musical.  We could not be more excited for BASURA to begin its theatrical life in a city as influential and diverse as Atlanta with a theater as consequential as the Alliance.”

– Gloria Estefan

Produced in partnership with Michael Shulman (Sand and Snow Entertainment) and Colin Callender & Daniel Unitas (Playground).  Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey Wilson of 101 Productions, Ltd will serve as Executive Producers and General Managers.

Basura was developed, in part, with support from The Orchard Project, Ari Edelson, Artistic Director.

For more information, please visit BasuraMusical.com

Performances of BASURA run on The Coca-Cola Stage May 30 through July 12, 2025 – learn more.