{"id":2217632,"date":"2025-12-31T11:13:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T11:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2217632"},"modified":"2025-12-31T11:13:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T11:13:18","slug":"how-atlantas-variety-playhouse-remains-a-music-staple-after-35-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/how-atlantas-variety-playhouse-remains-a-music-staple-after-35-years\/","title":{"rendered":"How Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse remains a music staple after 35 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Arts & Entertainment<\/a><\/p>\n

The storied Little Five Points venue, featuring acts from Adele to Andr\u00e9 3000, is rooted in community. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Audience members queue up before doors open for a show at Variety Playhouse in late December. This year marks the venue\u2019s 35th anniversary. (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

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Shawn Mullins<\/a> remembers his first show at Variety Playhouse<\/a> as both nostalgic and novel. <\/p>\n

It was 1994, before the Atlanta folk singer\u2019s \u201cLullaby<\/a>\u201d became a hit and scored a Grammy nomination. Mullins opened for Sugarland founder Kristen Hall<\/a>. The show marked Mullins\u2019 first time performing in a \u201cbig theater in town.\u201d Variety Playhouse was also where his parents frequented as kids, when the venue was a movie theater.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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s\u2019eunev eht eht eht .pets .ffats tnemom evol ekil nwotemoh sih tnaig elcric-lluf morf rof tlef deromane ylrae trecnoc reerac yb emaceb dna dna a a ,snilluM eH ,yltneuqesnoC <\/p>\n

I\u201c I\u201c erehw nehw detnaw \u201d.nwot ot ot ot ot s\u2019taht taht \u201d,wohs .dias detcepser yllaer yalp wenk teg tlef od emoc snilluM I I<\/p>\n

lacol\u201c sraey .semit ,neht eht llits \u201d,tops ecnis .dias ylhguor demrofrep ekil ti ,noitpecni eh sah s\u2019llah sleef trecnoc ta a yteiraV evif-ytrihT ecniS esuohyalP snilluM 03 <\/p>\n

\u2014 dekrow ev\u2019ohw eunev gniruot ot ot eerht eht s\u2019taht taht niatsus sseccus elpoep ylraen yllanoitan gnol yek si depleh flah rof rof sedaced ta sa gnilaeppa dna dna dna .ekila stca a a yteiraV esuohyalP desucof-atnaltA A<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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From movie theater to concert venue <\/h3>\n
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\"An<\/figure>\n
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An old photo of the former movie theater that was reborn as Variety Playhouse is displayed in the manager’s office. (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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sraey ,neht elyts-retaeht eht taht gnizilaiceps gninihs denepo no seipucco seivom eivom eivom dehprom ,s08\u2019-dim eeuqram dekram sti sti ti ti otni eidni ni ni ni ni ni ,esuoh ngierof rof wef ).eraf nwod gnidliub sa yrasrevinna dna a a htiW yteiraV ;ertaehT .rebmetpeS ,stnioP esuohyalP elttiL eviF dilcuE dilcuE sillE ,ameniC eunevA ht53 0491 ehT( <\/p>\n

\u2014 esohw eunev etubirt eht eht tnelat gnikat tops ecaps swohs demaner .recudorp yliramirp syalp ecnamrofrep revo gnireffo fo tnemeganam tnemeganam evil ti otni dedulcni ni morf gnirutaef gnitrevnoc stneilc cissalc demussa dna .srotca a a yteiraV atsodlaV evetS esuohyalP luaP evitaN ,dleifsnaM enyaJ nI doowylloH sirraH ,enalB ,enalB natnaltA ,0991 ,9891 <\/p>\n

erehw\u201c uoy nehw yrev s\u2019eunev .eunev detar-pot koot dlot ot ,emit retaeht eht eht eht \u201d,gnittes ees retomorp yramirp ecalp revo eno laiciffo laiciffo cisum ekam sti ti ti etamitni tnednepedni dedulcni ni ni eh dah :laog siseneg tsrif gnihsilbatse strecnoc trecnoc trecnoc setic nac tub nageb ta sa sa dna dna a a a a .xocliW yteiraV moT ehT ehT hsuR esuohyalP ,artsehcrO noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ sirraH sirraH divaD tnuoC eisaB atnaltA A dlo-raey-03 .0991 ,0991 <\/p>\n

taht stcelfer lacitcarp no erom laog .are gnirud ta a ,yadoT sirraH ,56 <\/p>\n

oT\u201c I\u201c \u201d.elihw saw saw .eunev yrt dlot ot ot eht ,ffats \u201d,gnihtemos os gninnur nur .yltnecer ,retomorp ro ton reven gniganam gninrael wonk tsuj ti ti otni eh og rof t\u2019ndid evruc tub dliub ekorb rab gnihtyna dna tuoba a a a a a a d\u2019I I CJA <\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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dah\u201c ohw saw saw eunev ot ot ot ot eht eht eht )taht emos xis swohs dias ,nur mrofrep no fo ym snaicisum ,htnom ylniam seenk ni dah teg .serneg klof evif neve \u201d.emoc ,gnignellahc .yticapac dellac dekoob gninnigeb geb erofeb ta dna dna stca a a yteiraV esuohyalP gnidausreP nI eH \u2019sirraH ,sirraH anaciremA anaciremA taes-005 tub( <\/p>\n

htiw saw ot rieht eht .smaet gnilles gnisir noitatuper deiler spihsnoitaler tniop no .won gnitekram ti sih evah esitrepxe syojne t\u2019ndid dliub stsitra dna .ytilibatpada yteiraV ,nehT siH sirraH <\/p>\n

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\"Penelope<\/figure>\n
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Penelope Road, the Atlanta band with a soulful, retro-infused sound, does a sound check at Variety Playhouse in December. (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

s\u2019atnaltA\u201c saw eunev dlot stekcit rieht eht eht eht taht taht .dlos moor evitcepsorp sremrofrep ylno fo .doohrobhgien accem sreganam ekam kool detacol ti ni fi truh eh ,lluf neve t\u2019ndid \u201d,erutlucretnuoc dluoc lufroloc dna aka stnioP elttiL sirraH eviF dnA 002 <\/p>\n

eW\u201c dluow gnikrow htiw htiw \u201d.elihw erehw erew erew ew ew pu ot stekcit meht eht taht taht gnitrats .swohs gnilles ro ffo kool ekil tpek ti dah rof rof dedne did ecnivnoc dna stca stca a iroT esohT ,nehT .KO haroN ,senoJ I somA 008<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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\"In<\/figure>\n
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In 2015, Steve Harris sold Variety Playhouse to Agon Entertainment, owner of the Georgia Theatre in Athens. (Hyosub Shin\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 eunev ot eht naht swohs staes kcor reimerp .elpoep won erom .htnom s0991-dim otni eidni ni dah gniworg rof klof ylrae nezod depoleved noitanitsed dna dna stca a a a yteiraV ehT esuohyalP yB ,s0002 000,1<\/p>\n

52\u201c sraey saw eunev desolcsidnu ot ,emit eht ,ygetarts gnihtemos dlos os ydaer dennalp gnol si t\u2019ndah rof rof tixe \u201d.esle tub na na .tnuoma a nI I eH sirraH tnemniatretnE nogA ,5102<\/p>\n

dlrow erehw eht .noitats swohs oidar no fo won cisum sevil zzaj ni stsoh eh ytinummoc dna UJTW s\u2019ainigriV ,ainigriV ytisrevinU sirraH ,MF 1.19 <\/p>\n

si\u201c enO\u201c gniht ,ereht eht taht llits tros .dias duorp elpoep fo fo fo fo ynam dnik s\u2019ti si woh eh \u201d.enog \u201d,ylimaf neve era retfa a yteiraV esuohyalP m\u2019I m\u2019I<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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A live sound and warm atmosphere<\/h3>\n
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\"Variety<\/figure>\n
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Variety Playhouse General Manager Brad Syna at his desk at the Little Five Points concert venue. (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

dekrow nihtiw ohw s\u2019eunev s\u2019eunev ereht eht eht sseccus ecnis tsicilbup ecnenimorp deton thgin ,reganam reganam sah dah lareneg rof rof .rotcaf nageb neeb sa sa dna dna a a MF-GFRW yteiraV ,anyS ,anyS stnioP ,esuohyalP elttiL eviF darB .4991 <\/p>\n

nehW\u201c s\u2019tI\u201c \u201d.oot yeht ereht ereht eht \u201d,spohs .dias fo fo fo .doohrobhgien syatsniam tol tol tol ekil tsuj ti ,ereh spuorg yknuf nuf yojne nwod emoc egnahc tub esuaceb era era tsomla a a a a s\u2019erehT ,anyS ,)stnioP elttiL s\u2019tI .yrubhsA-thgiaH )s\u2019ocsicnarF eviF ,46 ni( ,)ereh( naS(<\/p>\n

doohrobhgien\u201c saw \u201deunev ,semit eht eht taht taht ecaps wohs wohs kcor sniamer sezitiroirp demrofrep txen .reganam sevol tsael ni sih sah ,namtnorf tsrif nezod s\u2019dnab dnab ta ta sa .stsitra a a a yteiraV s\u2019anyS esuohyalP N .hcraM emitgnoL ,yenniK yenniK nveK nivirD niyrC atnaltA<\/p>\n

,sraey yhw ohw seunev .enot .ereht ,dnuos wohs dias raluger ytilauq demrofrep eno naicisum htnom gnithgil tsael tcapmi ytilatipsoh s\u2019eh sah yltaerg rof rof detiderc s\u2019trecnoc nac ta dna a a a a yteiraV s\u2019esuohyalP ,yenniK eH sA ,46 04 <\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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era\u201c fI\u201c ll\u2019ew ew ,eunev noinu s\u2019taht .gniklat gnikat .dias noitatuper fo fo ton snaicisum ekil eh sah doog \u201d.nevig \u201d,spihsdneirf rof t\u2019nod yletinifed erac eb ,stsitra dna syawla a a a a yteiraV gniruoT <\/p>\n

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\"Stage<\/figure>\n
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Stage Manager Audrey Birnbaum sets up cables on stage before a Variety Playhouse show. (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

ohw .gnimoclew .eunev eht eht dnuos wohs desaeler dedrocer smrofrep netfo evil tsuj si eh ta ta sa mubla a a ,yteiraV gnivigsknahT nwahS ,snilluM nI roF ,8002 <\/p>\n

tI\u201c ,yllacitsuocA\u201c htiw htiw htiw mraw elitasrev \u201d.emit s\u2019ereht eht eht s\u2019taht laiceps sdnuos .dnuos dnuos gnihtemos emas .dias moor yllaer yllaer nep evil tsuj snroh raeh taerg .gnihtyreve neve \u201d,pord dluoc dnab ta dna dna tuoba a a a a uoY ,snilluM s\u2019tI ,75 eceip-51 … <\/p>\n

ehT\u201c \u2014 elohw mraw :noitarbiv ,emit gniht ev\u2019yeht ereht eht eht \u201d.taht taht ffats dnuos yllaer .elpoep ylno gnol ti t\u2019nsi si sih s\u2019llah lufetarg rof tseggib neeb dna dna dedda tuoba a snilluM m\u2019I darB <\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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krow pu ot .ereht meht eht ,ffats elpoep sremit-trap ylno fo raen kram sah emit-lluf ruof )srotcartnoc .trecnoc era dna a yteiraV esuohyalP tsoM hguohtlA 03 raey-51 gnidulcni(<\/p>\n

.sraey sraey dekrow htiw s\u2019eunev ot gnitekcit eht eht eht seillat ecaps yramirp .s0002-dim ,reganam ni ytilatipsoh yrotsih sah lareneg rof gnitad ,rekoob ta tnatsissa dna a .yteiraV ,nrehtuoS kcirtaP relliM asiL ,lliH kereD 22 41<\/p>\n

eW\u201c eht eht tros \u201d,ylhtooms .dias gninnur thgir ecalp fo fo gnipeek evah laog dna lla anyS <\/p>\n

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\"Variety<\/figure>\n
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Variety Playhouse Assistant General Manager Derek Southern, a 22-year staffer at the Little Five Points concert hall, works at his desk. (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

gnikrow .eunev eht taht llits s\u2019ehs on regnol rof sleef ,eiredaramac hguohtla relliM<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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tI\u201c I\u201c dekrow \u201d.htiw htiw spirt gnitekcit llits gnihtemos roines dias elpoep no won ton reganam edam tsuj boj ti og rof \u201d,elbayojne tub dna a oreZ ,relliM .eliM ev\u2019I GEA <\/p>\n

htiw seunev eunev eunev tnewrednu ot ot ot eht eht eht eht taht dehctiws ffats tirips gnitaes dias ,noitavoner tip pihsrentrap snwo snoitarepo fo cisum noillim ,noitacol speek sti sti gnidulcni ni stnemevorpmi .evlove neve citcelce seunitnoc stifeb srab sa .aera dna dna osla noitidda a a a oreZ .tseW yteiraV lanimreT nrehtuoS esuohyalP .eliM nI nI nretsaE atnaltA ,GEA GEA ,9102 ,6102 3.1$<\/p>\n

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er\u2019eW\u201c eW\u201c er\u2019uoy ohw .keew yrt ot ot eht gnillet ffuts kcuts .wohs ,wohs ,wohs wohs ees emas .dias knup ro ro ton on thgim peek ti ni ni poh-pih \u201d.ereh evah gniog serneg .erneg \u201d,nuf morf neve gniod od tnereffid yrtnuoc .ydemoc s\u2019enoyna na lla a er\u2019eW eW eW s\u2019erehT nrehtuoS B;pma&R <\/p>\n

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\"Andr\u00e9<\/figure>\n
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Andr\u00e9 3000 performed the first of his six “New Blue Sun” shows at Variety Playhouse in February 2024. (Courtesy of Tiffany Powell)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

,sraey .)raey elihw erehw erehw saw eunev eunev ruot siht ereht eht eht eht eht remmus rats gnos detekcoryks .swohs nur .demrofrep demrofrep demrofrep denepo ylno ffo-eno fo eenimon txen ni nwotemoh sih reh gnivah etulf .yrtnuoc reerac erofeb ta sanera a yteiraV yezoobahS esuohyalP aivilO .oN s\u2019tI ymmarG roF naeD yrtnuoC atnaltA \u00e9rdnA dnA eledA 0003 6202 1 ll\u2019ehs( <\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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s\u2019eunev regnis kcor puenil sedulcni gniworg dnab dna .yadsendeW ehT nosidaM gninniw-ymmarG mahgninnuC 6202<\/p>\n

ruo\u201c eht metsys hcus laiceps dnuos segakcap edistuo no fo ,rettelswen wen erom gnithgil sti si si stnemevorpmi syawaevig yllamrof desucof gnirusne t\u2019ndid etarbelec \u201d.tseb sa .yrasrevinna dna dna syawla a yteiraV anyS ,llitS esuohyalP ht53<\/p>\n

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\""We\u2019re<\/figure>\n
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“We\u2019re not stuck in anyone\u2019s genre,” says Variety Playhouse Assistant General Manager Derek Southern. “There\u2019s no telling who you\u2019re going to see here.\u201d (Abbey Cutrer\/AJC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

dna\u201c ,yllufepoH\u201c nehw stnaw ot \u201d,sevlesmeht eht taht llits enoemos \u201d.wohs ees ,dias tuo cigam sruoh gnipleh og rof leef leef epacse yojne elpuoc emoc dna dna a a anyS m\u2019I I I <\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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\"DeAsia<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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