As April arrives, it brings spring blooms and colorful arts happenings. From silent films with live scores to world-class chamber music, student theater to shadow puppetry, this month’s offerings span an extraordinary range of forms, traditions and voices. Whether you’re drawn to the cinematic, the musical, the theatrical or the literary, April invites the Emory community to revel in the creative energy of the season.
Spring into cinematic screenings
Campus cinephiles can delight in a rich mix of classic screenings, ethical discourse and genre-bending cinematic experiences this month. The Emory Cinematheque continues the semester-long celebration of Matthew H. Bernstein’s Farewell Favorites, screening films for free on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in White Hall, Room 208. This month, film screenings include “The Gold Rush” (April 1), “Sense and Sensibility” (April 8), “The Lady Eve” (April 15) and “The Rules of the Game” (April 22).
The Michael C. Carlos Museum welcomes film and art lovers alike to a screening of “La Grande Bellezza” on Thursday, April 2, at 5:30 p.m. in Ackerman Hall. This free event features an introduction by Achille Castaldo, assistant professor of Italian, and a talkback session led by Ruth Allen, curator of Greek and Roman art, and Giovanni Lovisetto, visiting assistant professor of art history.
The Center for Ethics at Emory University partners with the Atlanta Film Society to present Ethics at the Movies: “NATCHEZ” on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in the Rita Anne Rollins Building, Room 102. This documentary captures an unsettling clash between history and memory through a small Mississippi town reliant on antebellum tourism to survive. The free screening will be followed by a Q&A with Suzannah Herbert, producer and director, continuing the Ethics at the Movies series’ tradition of using cinema as a lens for moral and social reflection.
The Emory Music Department presents Setan Jawa: Silent Film/Live Music on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Studio. This screening will feature a contemporary horror film based on Javanese mythology, presented with live musical accompaniment created by Peni Candra Rini — an immersive experience that bridges silent cinema with living sound.
Soak in outdoor soundscapes
April's musical programming ranges from jazz under the open sky to an intimate singer-songwriter evening and a landmark chamber concert. Jazz on the Green returns to Patterson Pavilion two Thursday evenings this month — April 2 and April 16, both at 6:30 p.m. — offering the Emory community a chance to unwind with live, outdoor jazz as spring takes hold.
On Friday, April 10, at 8 p.m. in Emerson Concert Hall of the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, the renowned Candler Concert Series presents the Catalyst Quartet alongside mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and pianist Spencer Myer. The program, anchored in Coleridge-Taylor's “Fantasiestucke,” op. 5 and featuring works that highlight the composer's influences from and on American vocal traditions. is not to be missed.
The following day, Saturday, April 11, at 5 p.m., the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta presents “Flower Music,” taking a beautiful listening experience outdoors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The event is free with admission to the gardens.
At 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, attend “Weir’s World: A Journey through the Musical Memories of Craig Weir,” in the Performing Arts Studio, presented by Music at Emory. This is Weir’s first appearance in the state of Georgia. The multi-award-winning musician from Carnoustie, Scotland, has performed for prestigious dignitaries such as The Royal Family, Dalai Lama and First Lady Michelle Obama. He is a multi-instrumentalist, perhaps most renowned for his bagpiping skills, but also recognized as an equally talented singer-songwriter. The event is free and open to the public.
Later that day, the Emory Big Band performs at 8 p.m. in Emerson Concert Hall, showcasing the breadth and energy of Emory’s jazz program and tradition. The event is free and open to the public.
Experience new on-stage performances
April is a landmark month for on-stage performances at Emory. Theater Emory’s “Bright Star,” the Steve Martin and Edie Brickell musical that began its run on campus in late March, continues through Saturday, April 4, in the Mary Gray Monroe Theater.
Later in the month, Theater Emory presents Brave New Works: “I’m Gonna Be the Governor” by Ainsley Powers on Saturday, April 18, at 5 p.m. The following day, April 19 at 5 p.m., the series continues with Brave New Works: “Love and Abolition” by Phanésia Pharel. Both events are free and open to the public, taking place in the Schwartz Center Theater Lab. Come enjoy the work of these trailblazing student playwriters as they showcase the talents of the next generation of theater creatives.
Dance takes center stage with the Emory Dance Company’s Spring Concert, with 7:30 p.m. performances from April 15-18 in the Schwartz Center Dance Studio. These concerts feature brand new works by student choreographers. Tickets are required and can be purchased through the Schwartz Center Box Office.
Return to the Dance Studio April 24-25 to catch the work of Emory Arts Fellow Madelyn Sher at 7:30 p.m. In her new evening-length work, the New York City-born choreographer explores rhythms of change, cycles of loving and losing, and coincidence. Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased through the Schwartz Center Box Office.
Theatergoers can join the Emory Javanese Gamelan Ensemble as they present Shadow Puppetry Theater across two parts. Part A begins on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m., followed by Part B the same day at 3:30 p.m., both in the Performing Arts Studio. This theatrical event weaves together live musical scoring, ancient storytelling tradition and the artistry of the Javanese gamelan in an experience unlike anything else on campus this spring.
Absorb the arts around Atlanta
Graffiti-lovers and Atlanta historians alike will enjoy The Painted City Tour, leaving from Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m. Guided by graffiti photographer and documentarian Antar Fierce and assistant teaching professor Julia Tulke, the tour invites guests to explore three locations across Atlanta where Style Writers and muralists have transformed public spaces with intricate, expressive works. The event is free but tickets must be reserved in advance.
Literary cultural life pulses through April with two standout events centered on the celebrated poet Danez Smith. Smith’s time on campus begins with Emory Libraries’ annual 12th Night Revel, a festive gathering on Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at the Atlanta History Center. Tickets for the 12th Night Revel are available for purchase online.
The following afternoon, the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library Reading Series presents Smith in a dedicated reading at 2 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, offering a rare opportunity to hear one of contemporary poetry’s most vital voices for free.
Relax during a concert at Oxford
Oxford campus kicks off the spring season with a string of performances across music and dance. The month opens with An Evening with Turner Cody: Singer-Songwriter on Thursday, April 2, at 8 p.m., in the Tarbutton Performing Arts Center. Cody is a New York singer-songwriter whose literate, story-driven songs draw on folk, rock and poetry in the spirit of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt. The event is free and open to the public.
The following week, sink into the luxuriant sounds of the Oxford Chamber Ensemble Concert on Thursday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Williams Hall.
The Oxford Soul Collective Concert presents a distinct collection of soul, funk and R&B selections on Saturday, April 11, at 3 p.m. in Tarbutton Hall.
Later in the month, audiences can enjoy an ethereal blend of voices in the Oxford Chorale Concert on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Oxford Chapel. The month closes with the graceful movements of the Oxford Dance Company on Monday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Williams Hall, a fitting finale to a month of exceptional artistic programming across both campuses.
Kickstart World Cup excitement
As Atlanta looks ahead to hosting some games during the World Cup this summer, several events are happening across Emory in conjunction with the university’s Footwork initiative.
“Footwork: Celebrating Soccer, Culture, and Community” is open in the Schatten Gallery, located on the third floor of the Robert W. Woodruff Library. The exhibition tells the story of the city’s first major league soccer team, the Atlanta Chiefs, the long soccer history at Emory, and how the two are intertwined.
“Footwork: Where We Gather” features works by photographer Sheila Pree Bright, whose new series celebrates Atlanta sports culture and uplifts the community that sports engenders. The exhibit is in the Works on Paper Gallery at the Carlos Museum and is included with museum admission.
On Thursday, April 2, enjoy a free movie screening of “Bend It Like Beckham,” in White Hall, Room 208, at 6 p.m. This beloved classic highlights the ambitions, culture and joy of the game and the power of sports to bring people together. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
The Carlos Museum will host a Sneaker Print Paper Making Workshop in the Tate Room on Tuesday, April 28, at 11 a.m. Participants will make their own small pieces of paper from recycled conservation materials, and are encouraged to wear or bring a pair of favorite sneakers or indoor soccer shoes to impress the print on the paper. The workshop is free, but registration is required.