Theater of the Stars History

60 Seasons of Outstanding Theatrical Presentations

For 60 Seasons Theater of the Stars, a-not-for-profit cultural treasure, has set the standard for theater in Georgia by presenting the best in comedies and farces, dance and drama. It is their belief that exposure to the arts and theater can be a life-changing experience. With their familiar motto "let us entertain you!" it is their on-going mission to provide the finest entertainment for audiences of all ages.

In 1953, with the enthusiastic support of Mayor Hartsfield and the Fulton County Commissioners, Theater of the Stars was founded as a non-profit cultural organization to present theatrical productions at Chastain Park Amphitheatre.

In 1960 Christopher B. Manos came on board as producer and began a series of innovations, including establishing a star system for the organization with his hugely successful production of The King and I, starring Opera Diva Blanche Thebom.

During 1964 Manos created something known as Grand Opera in the Park, which brought this art form to people who would otherwise never have seen the finest performers in classic operas. This also laid the foundation for the creation of The Atlanta Opera Company, formed in 1968, which evolved into the current Atlanta Opera.

Also in 1968 Theater of the Stars moved their home to the brand new Atlanta Civic Center in downtown Atlanta. This same year, Chris Manos and the managerial arm of Theater of the Stars, under the title of Municipal Theater, created The Atlanta Children's Theater, The Atlanta Repertory Theater Company (which later became the Alliance) and The Atlanta Opera Company. They professionalized the Atlanta Ballet and helped all four of these companies move to the new Memorial Arts Center, since renamed The Woodruff Arts Center. Due to enormous growth in a short amount of time, and some financial setbacks, the Municipal Theater and its various companies went their separate ways in 1970. Theater of the Stars continued to flourish.

In 1976 Theater of the Stars founded the first African American theater company in Atlanta, known as Just Us. It was Chris Manos' wish to help the company bring major African American stars and authors to Atlanta, as well as to develop what he saw as a wealth of local and regional talent.

Diahann Carroll in Bubbling
Brown Sugar

By 1979 Theater of the Stars had expanded their offerings by bringing in national touring companies of high profile productions. In 1988, Theater of the Stars moved all of their productions to the fabulous Fox Theatre, one of the nation's most glamorous and prestigious theaters. Today Theater of the Stars is the resident theater company at the Fox Theatre.

Robert Goulet in Camelot

Over the years, Theater of the Stars has continually sought out the best productions available to present to their audiences. A small sampling of past shows includes: Camelot starring Robert Goulet, The Ann-Margret Revue, The Odd Couple Starring Tim Conway and Tom Poston, Fiddler on the Roof starring Theodore Bikel, Hello Dolly! starring Madeline Kahn, The Unsinkable Molly Brown starring Debbie Reynolds, Man of La Mancha starring John Cullum, Purlie starring Sherman Hemsley, Robert Guillaume and Melba Moore, The King and I starring Stacy Keach, The Music Man staring Barry Williams, Victoria Mallory and Kathryn Crosby, The Wiz starring Stephanie Mills, Into The Woods starring Cleo Laine, Showboat starring Gavin MacLeod, Oklahoma! starring John Davidson and Jamie Farr, The Sound of Music starring Debbie Boone, Bubbling Brown Sugar starring Diahann Carroll, The Will Rogers Follies starring Marla Maples Trump and numerous national tours including CATS, Phantom, STOMP, RENT, and Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby.

In September of 2000 Nicholas F. Manos joined Theater of the Stars as Managing Director. He was named President of Theater of the Stars in 2008. Under his tenure he has been instrumental in the development, refinement and expansion of productions that Theater of the Stars undertakes both independently and with other organizations, and with the creation of national touring shows. In 2002 Theater of the Stars produced a 14-city tour of West Side Story and a special 20th Anniversary production of Dreamgirls starring Jennifer Holiday. In 2003 they produced a 15-city tour of The Sound of Music starring Marla Schaffel and Burke Moses.

Sandy Duncan in
The King and I

In the fall of 2004 they produced a nine-city tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Jon Secada. In 2004-2005 they produced an international tour of The King and I starring Sandy Duncan from June through December of 2004 and with Stephanie Powers starring in 2005. In 2005 they co-produced The Music Man with Houston's Theatre Under The Stars, and they produced a 10-city tour of My Fair Lady starring Marla Schaffel and John Vickery. They presented a 15-city tour of Bombay Dreams which opened in Costa Mesa, CA on March 3, 2006 and closed in Seattle, WA on October 1, 2006, which was co-produced with members of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN).

Theater of the Stars produced a seven-city tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast for the fall of 2006 and the new musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas played Atlanta in November, 2007 and toured seven cities through January, 2008.

Theater of the Stars co-presented Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world famous Rockettes with Broadway Across America during the 2005 holidays and will co-present the show again this year from Nov 19-Dec 6, 2009.

Their 2006 Season of Musicals included these fantastic shows: Chicago starring John O'Hurley from June 20-25, Brooklyn The Musical starring Diana DeGarmo and Melba Moore from July 11-16, Bombay Dreams from August 8-13 and the Theater of the Stars production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast from Sept. 5-10.

Theater of the Stars was chosen by Disney as the first theater in the country to produce the Professional Premiere of the full-length musical stage version of the Disney Channel's original movie, "High School Musical." Presented by Coca-Cola, the Theater of the Stars production of Disney's High School Musical played to sell-out crowds at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from January 12-28, 2007. Disney liked the show so much that they took it on a national tour for over a year.

2007 was an amazing year for Theater of the Stars! They co-presented the national touring production of Monty Python's Spamalot with Broadway Across America from February 20-March 4. A fresh, energetic new production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers played from June 26-July 1. Talkin Broadway called this show "an audience friendly, rousing, old-fashioned musical." They produced Dreamgirls starring the one and only Jennifer Holliday who reprised her Tony Award winning role as the talented but troubled lead singer Effie from July 20-29 in Association with the National Black Arts Festival. The show played sell-out crowds and garnered critical acclaim. From August 4-11 there was no place like the Fox Theatre when The Wizard of Oz delighted the crowds. And audiences were treated to one of the greatest musicals of all time with the Theater of the Stars production of West Side Story from August 21-26.

2008 was another exciting year. The lineup of shows included the classic musical Oklahoma!, the first collaboration between Broadway legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, from June 24-29. The roof-raising story of triumph, The Color Purple, ran three weeks from July 15-August 3. Atlantans loved this soul-stirring musical based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Georgia's own Alice Walker. Theater of the Stars produced an all-new epic production of Boublil and Schonberg's Les Misérables at the Fox from September 19-28. They followed up last year's Disney's High School Musical with the musical sequel: Disneyâ€™s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 from November 6-16. And the percussion sensation STOMP returned to Atlanta from January 27-February 1, 2009.

2009 was a season of magical memories for Theater of the Stars audiences. They enjoyed a fantastic lineup of award-winning entertainment starting with new Broadway hits like Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, from May 27-June 21 and Legally Blonde, the smash hit based on the hilarious MGM movie, from July 14-19. 42nd Street, one of the all-time great dance musicals returned from July 28-August 2. GREASE starring American Idol winner Taylor Hicks helped win over a new generation of "hopelessly devoted" fans from August 11-16. Broadway's razzle-dazzle hit musical Chicago starring Jerry Springer turned up the heat from September 8-13 and the fantastic new show Rain: A tribute to the Beatles rocked the Fox from October 6-11.

2010-2011 were seasons of challenges, growth and new shows for Theater of the Stars. They presented new musicals on the Fox stage including Little House On The Prairie and 9 to 5 The Musical in 2010. It was also the year of a successful produced production of The Sound of Music that included a lot of local talent. The 2011 Season included presented productions of Rock of Ages, Come Fly Away, Guys and Dolls and a wonderful produced production of Fiddler On The Roof. The Season concluded with the most successful production ever of Annie for Theater of the Stars. With a cast of over 85% local Atlanta talent and helmed with Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan and Brad Oscar as Daddy Warbucks it was an Annie to remember.

2012 introduces a "Season of New Beginnings" for Theater of the Stars. Theater of the Stars is proud to announce that it is celebrating its 60th Season this year. Expectations are high for a wonderful season that includes produced productions of The Producers (which hasn't been to Atlanta since 2004) and The King And I with Victoria Mallory and Ronobir Lahiri. This is the first ever five show season and it includes presented productions of Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan as well as The Addams Family and Mary Poppins. 2012 is an exciting time for Theater of the Stars.

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COME CELEBRATE OUR 60TH SEASON WITH US! For all Tickets - CALL 855-ATL-TIXX

Peter Pan
The Addams Family
The King & I
Mary Poppins

Blue Man Group - Season Special This show is not part of the Season Package. It will go on sale at a later date. Subscribers will be given the first opportunity to purchase tickets to the show once they have gone on sale!
*Please note that half price tickets for THE KING AND I are available for Wednesday September 5th and Thursday September 6th.

Our Calendar will be available very soon!