Ritz Theatre Holds 10th Annual Putting on the Ritz Show

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Since the 1930s, the Ritz Theatre in downtown Greenville has been a landmark of the city. The Ritz has been host to hundreds of plays, musicals and performances. It has also been a safe haven for theatre lovers of all ages.

Including Show Director Nancy Idland, who considers The Ritz a second home. She refers to the casts from every show, including all of the past Putting on the Ritz performances, to be her family.

“We are family!” Idland sings. “Yes, for sure! We are family. We have people, there are only four of us who have been involved all ten years. But there are people who have done nine years, eight years, seven years. Some of our young people have been here since they were in the fourth grade.”

Putting on the Ritz is a tradition Idland hopes to keep around for a long time.

“In today’s times it’s more important than ever,” she says. “Because people are so bombarded with negative that we need to enrich and enhance our lives with positive: music, drama, singing, beauty, joy.”

Backstage is quiet until the actors start to rush in and put on their costumes and makeup. They are putting on a show to celebrate the past ten years, but this Putting on the Ritz is also a very special thank you.

“Putting on the Ritz got started about ten years ago, after we honored our beautiful mentor and friend Roberta Gamble, who is one of the people who helped us save the Ritz about 35 years ago,” says Idland. “On the occasion of Ms. Gamble’s 80th birthday, we put on a little mini show, and after that we decided we could put on a big show!”

The Ritz was almost torn down and turned into a parking lot. If it were not for Gamble’s actions and the city of Greenville stepping up to buy and maintain the Ritz, Greenville’s citizens would have nowhere to show off their talents.

“Singing is my passion,” says Madison Casteberry, an ensemble member and vocalist of the first song. “I love it. It just kind of gives me a taste of the theater you know, in a small town. So you don’t have to go far away to get that fix.”

Another ensemble member, Shera Stinson, agrees. Stinson was in previous shows, and decided to come back and join the cast of the 10th Anniversary Putting on the Ritz.

“It was so much fun the first six years, and after I had children, I stayed out of the show for the past four years,” Stinson explains. “So I’ve just missed it. Every year on opening night I wanted to be backstage with them.”

The same is true for Sheila Brooks, also a member of the ensemble. Brooks is a true veteran of Putting on the Ritz.

“This is my fifth year,” she says. “I did it the second, third, fourth and fifth year. And now, I wanted to come back for the tenth anniversary show. I thought I needed to do it one more time!”

Doors open at the Ritz at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. On Thursday and Friday nights, a special silent auction will be held starting at 6 p.m. All the proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will go to The Ritz Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at the shops in downtown Greenville.