September 16, 2025

"Fiddler on the Roof" ✦ The National Center for Civil and Human Rights update ✦ "Remote" ✦ Weekly Comedy Round-up ✦ The Strand Theater turns 90

49 minutes

✦ When two of Atlanta's most innovative arts institutions—the Atlanta Opera and the Alliance Theatre—join forces, the result is bound to be something extraordinary. Their latest collaboration is a powerful new production of Fiddler on the Roof, the musical that has captivated audiences for generations. City Lights Collective member Zachary Brown recently spoke with two of the show's actors, alongside leaders from the Alliance and the Opera. They discussed the show's enduring relevance and how Fiddler on the Roof speaks to both the past and the present.

✦ The National Center for Civil and Human Rights will have its grand reopening on November 8, after being closed since January. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans shares more.

✦ Recently, stories have been circulating about the dropping number of major motion pictures being produced in Georgia, and consequently, Atlanta's film industry is in flux. But what about the work coming from independent filmmakers? Is there a way to help our ecosystem thrive again by pushing to make marketable, mainstream indies from start to finish locally? Atlanta filmmaker Ben Hall certainly thinks so, and his newest production, "Remote," aims to serve as an example. The movie explores what happens when problems related to human emotions, like grief and loneliness, collide with non-human solutions, like Artificial Intelligence. Ahead of the movie's premiere at the Tara Theater on September 20, City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes sat down with Hall to learn more about the film and his thoughts on the future of Georgia-made indie movies.

✦ City Lights Collective member and award-winning Atlanta comedian Joel Byars is one of the hardest-working people in the business. He hosts many comedy events around town, and his podcast, "Hot Breath Pod," aims to uplift his fellow comedians. Byars joins us weekly to share his picks for this week's must-see comedy, and today his mix includes a 1UP local comedy showcase and a live show from a Daily Show correspondent.

✦ For nearly 90 years, The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre has stood on the historic square in Marietta and served as both a cultural anchor and a community gathering place. Once a glittering movie palace, and later a fading relic, the theater is now a thriving hub for live performance, film, and celebration. The Strand's story is one of resilience, and the inventive people who refused to let its lights go dark. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane brings us this story ahead of the Strand's 90th birthday.

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By WABE