September 2019 Open Mic Monday Winner Announced

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tami Mayhugh

Date: 09/18/19

RE: Open Mic Monday First Round Winner

The Historic Ritz Theatre kicks off its Third Open Mic Monday Season

Toccoa, GA, September 18, 2019 – Garrett Lott of Maysville, GA brought a little bit of country to the stage on Monday night, September 16^th and walked away as the first winner of the Third Season of Open Mic Monday.

Five others joined Lott in vying for the top spot. Jess Fowler, Jim Harper, Zikerion Reese, Jackson Rogers, and Greg “Pop” Smith also entertained the crowd and the judges in hopes of bringing home the $50 prize and a paid gig at the 2020 Ida Cox Music Series.

The three-judge panel consisted of local musician Seth Waddell, First Alliance Church Executive Pastor Chris Gambil, and Friends of the Ritz President Keith Kozicki. Lott wowed the judges by performing Help Me Hold On by Travis Tritt and Hurricane by Luke Combs.

The next competition is Monday, October 16^th with Bluegrass music on tap for the night. Our special guest judge will be Bluegrass great, Edgar Loudermilk. Open Mic Monday is held every third Monday of the month through December and is a free event. Interested performers can sign up by email at ritztheatretoccoa@gmail.com or at the Historic Ritz Theatre the evening of the show on a first-come, first-up basis until 6:30 pm.

For more information about Open Mic Monday, contact Tami Mayhugh, General Manager, Historic Ritz Theatre at 706. 244.0039.

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Joe Gransden to Kick Off Currahee Military Weekend

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact: Tami Mayhugh, 706.244.0039

Date: September 16, 2019

RE: Joe Gransden returns to the Historic Ritz Theatre

Toccoa, GA – September 16, 2019 – Take a step back in time with Joe Gransden and special guest Robin Latimore, as they bring a Tribute to the Great American Songbook to the Historic Ritz Theatre on Thursday, October 3^rd at 7pm.  Performing in conjunction with Currahee Military Weekend, Gransden and his Big Band-style of music is also the third in our series of Night at the Ritz performances.

According to the January 2018 issue of Atlanta Magazine, Gransden, a trumpet virtuoso, vocalist, and band leader, regularly tours the country and performs at Atlanta and New York City clubs. Based in Atlanta, he also runs a jazz camp for young musicians, gives private lessons, and collaborates with musicians as diverse as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Kenny G.  With fourteen cd’s released to date, his singing voice has been compared to that of Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker.

This special Night at the Ritz performance is funded in part, by a generous grant received from the Georgia Council for the Arts and local sponsors, First Franklin Financial and X-Factor Grill.  Tickets may be purchased online at Eventbrite.com, at the Toccoa Welcome Center, or at the theatre box office before show time. Adult tickets are $10, and children under 12 are $5.

For more information on Joe Gransden’s performance or Night at the Ritz, please contact Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh at tmayhugh@cityoftocccoa.com or via phone at 706.244.0039.

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Open Mic Monday to Return in September!

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Tami Mayhugh 706.244.0039

Date: 09/09/19

RE: Open Mic Monday

The Historic Ritz Theatre kicks off its Third Open Mic Monday Season

 

Toccoa, GA, September 9, 2019 – Who will be the first to take home a $50 prize and a paying gig at the 2020 Ida Cox Summer Music Series? Find out on Monday, September 16^th at 7:00pm at the Historic Ritz Theatre as we kick off the third season of Open Mic Monday.

Each month’s competitions will include up to ten performers and spots are still available. Sign up on-line at ritztheatretoccoa@gmail.com or at the door the night of the show on a first-come, first-up basis, until 6:30pm. Contestants can sing two songs or perform for ten minutes. This month’s musical category is “TheVoice.” Solo singers can perform with guitar accompaniment or music on a jump drive only.

This fun event is not only free for participants, but also for the public. Come hear some great talent and cheer on your favorites!

For more information about Open Mic Monday, contact Tami Mayhugh, General Manager, Historic Ritz Theatre at 706. 244.0039.

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Lightwire Theater Returns to the Ritz on September 26, 2019

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact: Tami Mayhugh

Date: September 9, 2019

RE: Lightwire Theater Returns To The Ritz on Thursday, September 26^th, 2019

Toccoa, GA – September –With a little science and a little magic, Lightwire Theater will bring to life a friendly dinosaur right here in Toccoa. Follow him on his adventures through the darkness on Thursday, September 26^th, 7pm at the Historic Ritz Theatre.

DINO-LIGHT, formerly known as Darwin the Dinosaur, was the recipient of the prestigious Jim Henson Foundation Grant and is the first feature-length theatrical production created and performed by creators Ian Carney and Corbin Popp.

​This glow-in-the-dark adventure is visually stunning and has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance by audiences all over the world.

Lightwire Theater is most famous for their semi-finalist win on America’s Got Talent and as a winner of TruTV’s Fake-Off.  The show is family-friendly and takes place in complete darkness.

Night at the Ritz, a regular event series at the Historic Ritz Theatre, is funded, in part, by a generous grant received from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Georgia Council for the Arts. Tickets for all shows may be purchased online at www.ritztheatretoccoa.com, at Eventbrite.com, or at the Toccoa Welcome Center. Adult tickets are $10, children under 12 and students with an ID are $5.  Doors open at 6:30.

For more information on Lightwire Theater’s performance or Night at the Ritz, please contact Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh at tmayhugh@cityoftoccoa.com or via phone at 706.244.0039.

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Friends of the Ritz Meeting Scheduled for September 14, 2019 at 10am

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Keith Kozicki, (404) 434-7705

Date: 9/9/2019

RE: September 14th Friends of the Ritz Public Board Meeting

Toccoa, GA,

The Friends of the Ritz, Inc. will hold its quarterly public board meeting this Saturday, September 14th at 10:00 AM in the Historic Ritz Theatre. Anyone interested in supporting additional programming at the theatre, or learning more about the organization is encouraged to attend.

"Now that we have entered the active membership and fundraising stage it's even more important to have the support of the community as we reinvest donor dollars into actual on stage activities" says Friends of the Ritz, Inc. President Keith Kozicki.

The board will finalize plans for the group's very first fundraiser; the 80 for 80 Celebration, which takes place on Friday, October 18th. The organization's goal is to have eighty people donate $80 in honor of the Ritz Theatre's 80th year in existence. A number of special activities are planned for that evening including a screening of The Wizard of Oz, which was released the same year that the Ritz Theatre opened its doors in 1939. General Admission tickets for 80 for 80 Celebration are currently available on the Ritz Theatre's website and are $10 for adults and $8 for children and students with ID.

Additional information about becoming a Friends of the Ritz, Inc. member or an 80 for 80 Celebration donor can be found on the Historic Ritz Theatre website at https://www.ritztheatretoccoa.com/donate.html

The Friends of the Ritz, Inc. board members are:

Rucia Adams

Randall Carpenter

Marie Cochran

Sharon Crenshaw, Secretary

Sharon Crosby, Treasurer

Evan Hellenga

Keith Kozicki, President

Elaine Alewine Martin

Bill Standard, President-elect

For more information contact Keith Kozicki, President, Friends of the Ritz, Inc. at (404) 434-7705.

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