  Catch “a tale as old as time.” Broadway’s sixth longest-running production is coming to the Fox Sept. 5 to 10. Best of all, “Beauty and the Beast,” presented by Theater of the Stars, cast 11-year-old Madison O’Brien of Woodstock. A regular starlet at the Towne Lake Arts Center, O’Brien took the stage at the tender age of 8 in a production of “Cinderella” and has been dancing and singing her little heart out ever since. About 100 local boys and girls auditioned, but only a handful made the cut. As of press time, she had no word yet about her role, but was very excited about adding it to her resumé in preparation for Julliard, said her mother Debbie. Her teacher Gay Grooms at Towne Lake, who also discovered Dakota Fanning at the age of 5, said O’Brien not only has the talent, but the drive. Tickets to the show, priced from $20 to $59, are available through Ticketmaster by calling 404-817-8700.
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  Take a hike. Before conquering the Appalachian Trail, pick up Bill Bryson’s travel book “A Walk in the Woods,” which details his misadventures along 2,100 miles of wilderness. Washington Post Book World called it “Choke-on-your-coffee funny.” Rumor has it that Bryson’s musings are being made into a movie starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. After you’ve read our Appalachian adventure on page 44, hike over to your nearest bookstore.
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  Win a mini mansion. The third annual Project Playhouse is once again setting up a tiny neighborhood in The Pavilion at the Mall of Georgia. Five fully furnished, child-sized homes are up for grabs and on display from Sept. 9 to Oct. 21. On the last day, one fanciful hideaway will be raffled off, while the other four are auctioned to the highest bidder. Proceeds benefit HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit that develops transitional housing for the temporarily homeless. A select group of Atlanta’s premium homebuilders designed and constructed these state-of-the-art toys, including Northstar Builders and Developers, Country Classic Builders Inc. Dovetail Homes, Harcrest Homes and Lanier Resort Homes. The themes this year are Pirate Ship, Mountain Retreat, Spirit of Light, Kidz Court, and the raffle prize The Summer House, which sports sliding wooden doors, custom cabinetry, a working sink and even an outdoor shower. Raffle tickets are available at the Playhouse Village on weekends, at Simon Guest Services on weekdays, and online at www.homeaidatlanta.org. Play the odds with one ticket for $3, four for $10, or 10 for $20. Purchased in advance, tickets to the auction party on Saturday, Oct. 31 are $20 for adults and $10 for children. For details, call 678-755-1401.
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  Book it. On Sept. 1 to 3, Atlanta’s largest book festival returns to Downtown Decatur. More than 75 national and local best-selling authors from a variety of genres will lecture and sign autographs, including Connie May Fowler, Mary Kay Andrews and Georgia’s own Terry Kay. The weekend will also consist of live music, poetry contests, cooking demonstrations, food and wine, interactive children’s activities, barbecue and fireworks. For more information, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com.
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  Laugh along with her. The season opening for Theatre in the Square recounts the extraordinary life of Celestine Sibley, a prize-winning Southern icon. A trail-blazing journalist and dearly loved syndicated columnist, Sibley reported for The Atlanta Constitution from 1941 until her death in 1999. Clever and comical, she penned more than 10,000 columns and nearly 30 books. And although she rubbed shoulders with lots of Hollywood greats, her life was also tinged with heartbreak. Celebrating the company’s 25th season, playwright/author Phillip DePoy adapted Sibley’s poignant memoir into “Turned Funny.” Located in Historic Marietta Square, the second largest theater in Georgia will perform the play through Sept. 24. Revel in a little homespun wit for $22 to $33, available by calling 770-422-8369 or visiting www.theatreinthesquare.com.
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