20 teenagers take on John Lewis’ ‘March’

Plus: Tiny Doors ATL’s three-year anniversary and Essential Theatre’s 18th festival

Every summer, the Alliance Theatre brings together 20 teenagers from metro Atlanta for the Palefsky Collision Project. The teenagers spend three weeks honing their performance skills through improvisational exercises, oral history, choreography, and writing, focusing on a classic text that they unpack and explore alongside a professional playwright and director. This year’s classic text is March, the graphic novel by Georgia Congressman John Lewis. The Palefsky Collision Project Performances will explore the civil rights movements through the teenagers’ “unique and contemporary prism.” Free. Fri., July 28, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., July 29, 2:30 p.m. National Center for Civil & Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Junior Blvd. 678-999-8990. www.alliancetheatre.org.

Despite the size of its art installations throughout the city, Tiny Doors ATL continues to make a big impact in Atlanta. To celebrate its third anniversary, those at Tiny Doors ATL are hosting a Tiny Block Party. The celebration will include a tiny art sale featuring limited edition pieces by Atlanta’s favorite local artists, retired doors on display, free tiny treats, as well as Tiny Doors ATL merchandise. There will also be an exclusive sneak peek at Tiny Library, Tiny Door ATL’s next project. Free. Noon-4 p.m. Sat., July 29. Indie Craft Experience HQ, 1390 McLendon Ave. N.E. www.tinydoorsatl.com.

Since its first festival 18 years ago, Essential Theatre has given a platform to over 24 unique local playwrights and showcased 29 new plays. This year, the 2017 Essential Theatre Play Festival returns to highlight the best of Georgia’s playwriting, featuring three plays by writers across Georgia. This festival’s stories follow Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer; Genevieve, an adopted woman piecing together her many identities; and John Cassavetes, the “godfather of American independent films.” $18-$160. July 27-Aug. 27. West End Performing Arts Center, 945 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. 404-613-6465. www.essentialtheatre.com.

Mercedes Moreno’s in love with her best friend, she can’t seem to get out of her creative rut and grandmother is in a coma. Just when Mercedes thinks her artist’s block will last forever, art begins to show up in her life in sudden and unexpected ways. This is the premise of Lauren Karcz’s debut novel, The Gallery of Unfinished Girls. Karcz is a local author and a self-described language nerd who has worked as an ESL teacher and a language test developer. To celebrate her debut, Charis Books & More is hosting The Gallery of Unfinished Girls Launch Party, where Karcz will read, discuss and sign books. $5 suggested donation. 7:30-9 p.m. Fri., July 28. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E. 404-524-0304. www.charisbooksandmore.com.

To begin its Trans Leadership Initiative, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now has organized a Trans Leadership Initiative Interest Meeting. SPARK Reproductive Justice Now advocates for protection and expansion of access to reproductive services like family planning options, abortion and sexual health education for women and youth of color in Georgia. The initiative will focus on strengthening trans communities in Atlanta by “creating community and social events specifically for and by trans people of color.” Free. 6-8 p.m., Thurs., July 27. Hodgepodge Coffeehouse, 720 Moreland Ave. S.E. 404-622-8528. www.sparkrj.org.

In June, 10 states threatened to file a federal lawsuit against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) if Trump did not terminate the program himself. DACA grants lawful presence for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, and the threat of its termination puts thousands of those children in danger. To discuss the future of DACA and its recipients, organizations in Atlanta are holding The Future of DACA and Immigration Law and Policy, a workshop on advocating for the program. Free. Noon-2 p.m., Sat., July 29. Latin American Association, 2750 Buford Highway N.E. 404-638-1800. www.thelaa.org.

As police misconduct continues to gather attention, civil protest and unrest grow in cities throughout the country. With this unrest comes more involvement from police forces, and a cycle of violence seems to repeat itself. To discuss balancing a “safe yet effective police force,” Our Future Atlanta has organized How Do We Create Safer Communities? The Community discussion will focus on police brutality, violent crimes in communities and safety. Our Future Atlanta is a coalition of organizations across Atlanta focusing on the importance of local elections and political issues. Free. 6-8:30 p.m. Mon., July 31. Center for Civic Innovation, 115 Martin Luther King Jr Drive S.W. www.ourfutureatlanta.org.

When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published in the U.K. in 1997, it had an initial printing of 500 copies. 20 years later, over 400 million copies of the seven Harry Potter novels have been sold worldwide. To celebrate the series’ 20th anniversary, Fado Irish Pub is hosting a special Harry Potter Pub Quiz. Who hands Katie Bell the cursed opal necklace in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? How does Sirius Black escape the dementors in Azkaban? Invite your Ravenclaw friends to guarantee you the glory of first prize. Win or lose, there will be plenty of butterbeer to go around. $5. 8 p.m. Mon., July 31. Fado Irish Pub, 933 Peachtree St. N.E. 404-841-0066. www.fadoirishpub.com.

Some may argue that the age of Fueled by Ramen bands are long gone, but from the new Fall Out Boy single to Paramore’s recent comeback, pop punk may have never truly left us. To bask in the good old days, the folks at the Basement are hosting Tell All Your Friends: Atlanta’s Pop Punk/Emo Party. If you remember ditching your family at the mall to sneak into Hot Topic or having a wardrobe consisting of only band tees, you’ll feel right at home at Atlanta’s only pop punk/emo/indie sing-a-long dance party. $7-$10. 10 p.m. Sat., July 29. The Basement, 1245 Glenwood Ave. S.E. 404-622-8686. www.basementatl.com.

Ever watch The Walking Dead or Zombieland and wish the zombies had a little more fashion sense? Returning from the dead for the fifth time is the 2017 Atlanta Zombie Pin-Up Contest. Whether you’ve always wanted to be a zombie pin-up girl or you’re interested in seeing how zombies clean up, the contest will put those famous zombies you’re used to seeing on TV to shame. The contest welcomes photographers, make-up artists and everyone in between to enter and attend. After the contest, the alive and undead are invited to the zombie pub crawl through Virginia-Highland. Free. 4-11 p.m. Sat., July 29. Diesel Filling Station, 870 N. Highland Ave. N.E. 404-815-1820. www.atlantapinupcalendar.com.