Dad’s Garage Theatre, a celebrated comedy institution in Atlanta, is gearing up for a weekend of festivities to mark its 30th anniversary.
The theater plans various special events, including a multitude of improv shows and a grand party, to celebrate this significant milestone.
Eve Krueger, the Associate Artistic Director and a veteran performer, reflected on what has kept Dad’s Garage alive for three decades.
“There’s something really special about it. It is a very welcoming place, and it’s also a place where people give a damn.
People are really passionate about what happens at Dad’s and want to spend their time there,” she stated.
In conjunction with the festivities, the theater is aiming to raise $30,000 to secure its future.
“We’re holding it together with paperclips and snot right now,” Krueger joked about the theater’s current challenges.
She expressed enthusiasm for the unique contribution Dad’s Garage offers, not only to Atlanta but across the United States.
Founding member Sean Daniels shared his thoughts, noting the profound impact the theater has had on his life.
“Co-founding Dad’s Garage was the best thing I ever did. Now taking the style and flavor of Dad’s around the world is the second best.
I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without the influence and creativity of every Dad’s Garage artist I was lucky enough to work with,” he remarked in a statement.
Although many scripted performances have graced the stage since the opening of its first venue on Elizabeth Street in Inman Park in 1995, improvisation remains the core focus of the theater’s comedic expression.
George Faughnan, another founding member who still actively performs, highlighted the essence of improv in nurturing collaboration among performers.
“Improv encourages performers to listen to each other and build stories together,” he explained.
This art form also grants performers the liberty to explore, experiment, and take risks while aiming for humor.
Faughnan emphasized the unique freedom improvised theater provides, saying, “I want everybody to have that kind of freedom in life, not just in a dark room on a beautiful evening in Atlanta.”
He shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the theater’s quirky history, recalling when his son Alisdair, now 25, made his stage debut as an infant.
“It was summer 2000, and he was just a couple weeks old.
I played Mad Dog Maddox, the bartender at the Gregorio Hotel. I set the baby on the bar on stage, and everybody in the audience gasped. I was like, ‘He can’t even roll over yet! Relax!’ Good times, though,” Faughnan reminisced.
The theater has also established a robust education program over the years, focused on imparting improv performance skills to newcomers.
Many of the current performers began their journeys by attending classes and workshops at Dad’s Garage.
Jon Carr, Co-artistic Director, also rose through the ranks as a performer, expressing gratitude for the opportunities the theater provided.
“Dad’s has given me a place to develop and find my artistic voice.
Thanks to the theater and my 20-plus years working there, I create impactful work with other artists and find it a supportive community,” Carr stated.
The celebrations will kick off on July 24 at 8 p.m., featuring a free student showcase labeled the ‘Monster Student Jam.’
On July 25, a version of the signature improv competition, TheatreSports, will take the stage, showcasing performers from the theater’s rich history.
Following this event, a party will be held to culminate the day’s celebrations.
Lastly, the weekend will conclude with an improv extravaganza on July 26, which will include special guests.
These events promise to provide attendees with a joyous experience, reflective of the spirit Dad’s Garage embodies.
“The art is always joyous at Dad’s Garage.
And it’s really, really hard not to see the magic in that,” Krueger concluded.
The ‘Dirty 30’ birthday events will take place from July 24 to July 26 at 569 Ezzard St., with individual event tickets priced at $30; however, patrons are encouraged to reserve for the free Monster Student Jam.
image source from：artsatl
