The City Lights Collective

Laura Ardan, principal clarinetist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for 39 years, joins us to kick off our new series celebrating 50 years of ASO broadcasts on our station. Plus, we learn about a free series of theatrical readings coming to 7 Stages Theater, and Mike Jordan joins us to recap his experience hosting the 2024 Atlanta Michelin Guide ceremony. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Film scholar Matthew Bernstein discusses "Young Frankenstein." The conversation was recorded live at the Plaza Theater as part of the "City Lights Cinema" series. Plus, we hear about the ATL Style Writers Jam coming to the Atlanta Beltline this weekend, "The Noorologist" takes the spotlight for our series, "Speaking of Poetry." We get details on artist Alexi Torres's new solo exhibition, "Unb...

Actor Colman Domingo joins us to discuss his latest movie, “Sing Sing.” Plus, the Illustrated takes the spotlight for our series, “Speaking of Music,” and we hear about the Atlanta Opera’s production of “The Magic Flute.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Blake Nelson discusses his new film, “Bang Bang,” and being honored with the “Flannery O’Connor Award for Storytelling” at this year’s upcoming Rome International Film Festival. We also hear about the “Improv for Writers” workshop at the Plaza Theater and looked at this weekend’s “Chomp and Stomp” festival in Cabbagetown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer and music educator John Snyder joins us for another episode of “Notes and Narratives.” Today, he features American jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. Plus, Multidisciplinary artist Shanequa Gay discusses her new exhibition, “Psalms for Black Girls,” which is on view at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum and Conference Center through January 18, 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Sundiata Rush, the creative behind “Tales of Downtown Atlanta,” discusses his audio-rich project that combines history with innovative storytelling. Plus, we’ll get to know Avondale’s Waffle House Museum, built on the land once home to the chain’s first location. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artist Jeffery Gibson and collector Jordan Schnitzer discuss “Jeffrey Gibson: They Teach Love,” which is on view at KSU’s Zuckerman Museum of Art through December 7. Plus, music contributor Dr. Scott Stewart joins us for the newest installment of “Music in Media,” today, he highlights music from your favorite Halloween movies and shows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin W. Tucker, the High Museum of Art’s Chief Curator, discusses “Georgia O’Keeffe: My New Yorks,” which opens on Friday and runs through February 16. Plus, Katie Coleman of “Run Katie Run” takes the spotlight for our series, “Speaking of Music,” and we premiere “The Beverage Beat with Beth McKibben,” our new series that examines Atlanta’s vibrant world of cocktails and zero-proof beverages. See...

Atlanta Botanical Garden President and CEO Mary Pat Matheson discusses the new “Atlanta Garden Gateway Project,” which will expand the Botanical Garden footprint by 8 acres and open onto a Beltline Plaza. Plus, Ray Sweatman takes the spotlight for our series, “Speaking of Poetry,” and Sculptor Allison Armour details her installation, “The Eye,” at the Alta Porter on Peachtree complex in Brookhaven...

Core Dance artistic director Sue Schroeder discusses “Braiding Time, Memory and Water,” an outdoor performance on October 19th at Powers Island on the Chattahoochee River. Plus, H Johnson stops by for the latest installment of “H Johnson’s Jazz Moment,” and we speak with soprano Chelsea Lehnea ahead of her performance at Morningside Presbyterian Church on October 20th. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Atlanta Symphony Principal Oboist Elizabeth Tiscione discusses her upcoming performances of "The Flower Clock" by Jean Francaix alongside her ASO colleagues. Plus, comedian Nate Rowland is in the spotlight for our series, "Speaking of Comedy. "Food historian Akila McConnell and chef Asata Reid from the WABE podcast "Savory Stories" detail the history of food and politics, and filmmaker William Fea...

Children’s book author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh, alongside playwright and lyricist Jessica Rosa Espinoza, discuss their live puppetry adaptation of “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant Story.” The production is on stage at the Center for Puppetry Arts through October 20. Plus, we’ll kick off the Halloween season with Chantelle Rytter, the creative behind the “Where the Weird Things Are”...

Producer, director, screenwriter, and comedian Judd Apatow discusses “Judd Apatow and Friends.” The live comedy showcase is on stage at Variety Playhouse on November 3. Plus, film director Nicholas Ma details his new documentary, “Leap of Faith, which screens at the Tara Theatre on October 18. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia State University student Imani Okwuosa and GSU Artist-in-Residence Tom Luse discuss the student-created film “Rejuvenation,” which is available to stream on Tubi and Amazon Video on Demand. Plus, Nilüfer Yanya details her most recent album and her creative process ahead of her October 11 show at Terminal West. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curator Kimberli Gant discusses the new exhibition at the High Museum of Art, “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.” Plus, Dr. Scott Stewart joins us for the latest edition of “Music in Media,” curator Faron Manuel details the downtown Atlanta digital art installation “Local Stories,” and we hear about the new mural “Aging Is Living: Celebrating Legacy and Community...

MacArthur Fellow, social entrepreneur, multimedia artist, and founder of the Sphinx Organization, Aaron Dworkin, discusses his new memoir, "Lessons in Gratitude." Plus, we celebrate Whole World Improv Theater's 30th anniversary and we hear about the No Words Music Festival, which takes place at multiple Atlanta venues October 11-13. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Eve Byrd and Georgia state representative Kim Schofield discuss the “Healing Arts Atlanta” conference and event series, which takes place at multiple Atlanta locations through October 11. Plus, independent rock artist Tron Austin takes the spotlight for our series, “Speaking of Music,” and master woodworker and sculptor Doug Pisik walks us through his new exhibition at Mable House Arts Center...

Playwright Lloyd Suh and actor Keiko Agena discuss “The Chinese Lady,” which is on stage at the Alliance Theatre through October 17. H Johnson stops by for the latest edition of “H Johnson’s Jazz Moment” with the story behind The Ink Spots. William Bell enters the National R&B Hall of Fame and Catfight! band members Katy Graves, Jennifer Leavey, and Stacy Kerber detail (cat)FIGHT! FOR YOUR RIG...

Director Rachel May discusses Synchronicity Theatre's production of "POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive." Plus, hospitality in the service industry is the focus of this week's Savory Stories, and we hear from the Art Farm at Serenbe's executive director, Madalynn Mentor, with details on "Celestial," the new production from Paris cirque troupe "Les Farfad...

Joe Barry Carroll, former NBA player, author, and artist, discusses his upcoming conversation with the Decatur Book Festival’s 2024 keynote speaker, Joyce Carol Oates. Plus, director and producer Michael McNamara details his documentary “Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit,” screening at KSU on October 7, and travel expert Rick Steves stops by for the latest installment of our series, “ATL Up...

For two decades Muscogee Nation has been fighting for their ancestral tribal land . We hear from Raelynn Butler, the secretary for culture and Humanities for the Muscogee Nation, and attorney Mary Kathryn Nagle regarding a lawsuit against the Poarch Band of Creek Indians over their handling of sacred land dating back to 2012. Plus, a shelter-in-place advisory is now in place for more than 90,...

Voting Rights Activist and author Stacey Abrams discusses the third installment of her children’s book series “Stacey Speaks Up.” Stacey Abrams will be the Kidnote speaker at the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, October 5th at 10am. Plus, we hear from the co-writers of The Lion King, both the animated film and the stage version, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. The Lion King musical is coming to t...

“In the Beginning” is a new group art exhibition at Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville. It brings together an international assembly of artists whose work explores fundamental human identity and the ways our cultures distinguish themselves. “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes speaks with Nairika Cornett, the museum's executive director. Plus, we hear about “SITE” at The Goat Farm Art Center on...

Lois Reitzes speaks with Atlanta Art Week founder Kendra Walker about the annual event, which brings together a community of galleries, patrons, collectors, artists, and art industry professionals from all over the city. It takes place September 30th through October 6th. Plus, Atlanta artist Pilar discusses her new exhibition at the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson airport, “Portals.” And WABE music con...

Former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal discusses his new children’s book, “Veto, the Governor’s Cat,” written in honor of his late wife, Sandra. Plus, Lois speaks with Pam Morton, director of the Arts & Authors program at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and Olivia Aston Bosworth, director of “The Curious Cardinal,” which is showing at the MJCCA on Sept. 29.  See omnystudio.com...