ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
FORECAST 2022 7
The show is on: Cobb’s arts
and entertainment venues head
back to the stage in 2022
By: Madison Hogan
A year ago, the world was headed into its
second year of the COVID-19 pandemic with
hope on the horizon.
Vaccines had just become available for
the elderly and immunocompromised,
and would later be accessible to everyone
in Georgia. As vaccines and boosters have
become more readily available, the local
arts and entertainment industry is eager to
continue serving the community in this “new
normal” despite the emergence of the delta
and omicron variants of the virus.
While many operators said they’re still
taking things one day at a time, Raul omas—
owner of Marietta’s New eater in the
Square—told the MDJ in April 2021 he was
going to open his theater two months later,
in June. He believed increasing vaccination
rates and a hunger for live entertainment
would allow the theater to ride a wave of
demand through the summer.
“We’re going to open up with Motown
Motor City Revue. Instead of doing multiple
shows, as we’ve done in the past, we’re going
to run that for three months,” omas said.
“e idea is if we get restricted, or we get
pushed back … we don’t take the hit as hard
as we’ve been taking it.”
In the fall, the Cobb Galleria was bustling
with activity, with two trade shows reopening
the venue. And the Cobb Energy Performing
Arts Centre welcomed audiences back with
a full lineup of shows, many of which were
rescheduled from 2020. CEPAC opened its
doors in early October with comedians Bert
Kreischer and Bill Burr, two sold out shows.
In December, one year past its intended
CEPAC debut, the Atlanta Ballet made its
long-anticipated return to the theater stage
with “e Nutcracker.” Members of the
Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority,
which manages the Galleria and CEPAC,
told the MDJ they believe 2022 could
be their year for a proper recovery.“We’ve got
multiple events that are here at the (Galleria),
which is really the busiest week we’ve had
since the pandemic hit,” John Hill, the Galleria’s
marketing director, said in September.
Vickie Hubbard, CEPAC’s managing director,
noted the venue’s two comedy shows
were an encouraging sign for the venue’s rst
public, indoor events of 2021.
“We are just full steam ahead,” added Hubbard.
“Just so excited to be back in business.”
With that in mind, the Exhibit Hall Authority
plans to boost its operating expenses
in its 2022 budget, which were whittled down
Vickie Hubbard and Tom Rowland of the Cobb
Energy Performing Arts Centre pose before the
venue’s 2,750 seats, which sat empty for much
of the pandemic. - Chart Riggall