Greenville chamber Awards & Recognitions April 2021 | Page 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

AT THE RITZ :
A former Art Deco movie palace that had fallen on hard times , Greenville ’ s fully restored downtown gem , the Ritz Theatre , now serves as a popular venue for concerts , beauty pageants , school plays , dance recitals and more . Owned and maintained by the City of Greenville , the historic 1935 structure is also home to the Greenville Area Arts Council .
The GAAC has earned a strong reputation for the quality of its three to four professional touring productions each artistic season , leading to a soldout season for 2018-19 .
To help pay the fees to bring groups such as the Black Jacket Symphony and Shenandoah to the Ritz , the GAAC and its Ritz Players put on an annual three-night musical fundraiser , “ Putting on the Ritz ,” which draws patrons from near and far . GOTTA DANCE : Greenville is fortunate to have two experienced dance instructors in Sonya Rice of Sonya ’ s Dance and Fitness and Susan Andrews of Susan ’ s School of Dance . Between the two , pre-schoolers through high school seniors have the opportunity to explore the world of dance , including classical ballet , en pointe , jazz , contemporary , tap and hip-hop . LET ’ S MAKE ART ! The multi-talented Stacey Edwards offers opportunities for children and adults alike to discover their inner artist at her downtown studio , Artitude on Main . Classes , workshops , painting parties and more creative events are on offer throughout the year . MEDIEVAL FAIRE : The Alabama Medieval Fantasy Festival ( ALMFF ), 4776 Fort Dale Road , Greenville , transports visitors to the Kingdom of Dragon Croft with mirth , magic , history and adventure unfolding across its rolling green hills .
The 2021 festival has been moved from March to September 11 and 12 , and the pandemic has not stopped the Kingdom volunteers from working to add new buildings , constructing a new website and launching a YouTube Channel . New educational demonstrations are also planned .
“ We are determined to persevere and grow the best medieval faire in the southeast at our site in Greenville ,” says Nancy Johnson , co-owner of ALMFF .
CATCH A PERFORMANCE , BE INSPIRED BY BEAUTY , STAND IN AWE OF TALENT ... CELEBRATE COMMUNITY .
Artists , writers , musicians , painters , photographers , filmmakers and many other creative individuals have been drawn to our community over the years . They are the cornerstone of the rich cultural heritage that is enjoyed by residents and visitors to our community .
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