The City of Kennesaw, in partnership with Kennesaw State University, invites the community to experience “The Beauty Project: Through the Looking Glass,” an immersive outdoor theatre performance presented at Smith-Gilbert Gardens as part of Art Blooms 2026, “Inherent Resilience: Healing Through Art and Nature.”
Performances will take place Friday, April 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon; Saturday, April 18, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Friday, April 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon; and Saturday, April 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. The April 25 performances coincide with “Art Hatch: Spring Arts Festival,” taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission to the theatre performance on April 25 includes full access to all Art Hatch activities. A separate Art Hatch ticket is not required. Tickets are included with regular Garden admission and Garden members receive free admission. Additional details are available at smithgilbertgardens.com.
The production is designed for children ages 10 to 14 and their families, though audiences of all ages are welcome. Inspired by “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll, the performance invites audiences to move through the Gardens alongside performers in a site-specific theatrical journey exploring how ideas of beauty are shaped by nature, community and personal experience. Winding garden paths lead audiences to encounter familiar and reimagined characters including queens, Alices, curious creatures and the Jabberwock. The interactive format encourages participation and reflection in an outdoor setting.
The project represents a three-semester curricular collaboration between Kennesaw State University’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies and Smith-Gilbert Gardens. The production is co-led by KSU theatre professors Nicole B. Adkins and Emily Kitchens in partnership with Gardens Education and Exhibits Manager Vanita Keswani. Over the past three semesters, KSU students have worked with fifth-grade students from the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics, engaging in listening sessions and creative exploration before developing original material for the final production. Students from KSU’s School of Art and Design contributed costume and prop elements while students from the Department of Dance perform as the Jabberwock.
“As part of Art Blooms, this performance reflects the City’s commitment to providing meaningful arts experiences in a unique garden setting,” said Vanita Keswani, Smith-Gilbert Gardens Education and Exhibits Manager and Public Art Coordinator. “Smith-Gilbert Gardens continues to serve as a place where art and nature connect in ways that engage families and young audiences.”
“This collaboration exemplifies what is possible when higher education, public spaces and the arts work together with intention,” said Chuck Meacham, Chair of the Geer College of the Arts Department of Theatre and Performance Studies. “Our students are gaining real-world experience creating work beyond the classroom while young people in our community participate in a theatrical experience shaped by their perspectives.”
Art Blooms transforms gardens, parks, trails and public spaces throughout Kennesaw during April and May with installations, workshops, performances and interactive art experiences. The two-month initiative highlights the connection between creativity and the natural environment.
Parking is available onsite at Smith-Gilbert Gardens. In the event of inclement weather, updates will be posted on the Gardens’ website and social media channels.
Art Blooms is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Kennesaw, Smith-Gilbert Gardens Foundation, the Town Center Community, SA White Oil, the Marietta Arts Council, Cobb County School Visual Arts Department, and Kennesaw State University. For tickets and additional information, visit smithgilbertgardens.com.
