Carolina Mooring, Macy Ladner, Gary Fuqua, and Tanner Rhodes
SHEFFIELD-The Tennessee Valley Art Association recently announced their plays for the Ritz Theatre’s 2023/2024 season! Featuring four productions, the season is bookended by two musicals by legendary composer Stephen Sondheim. Theatre lovers will get to enjoy Into the Woods in July, The Savannah Sipping Society in August, a modernized Merchant of Venice in September/October, and Company in February/March. Season tickets and individual play tickets are available at tennesseevalleyarts.org.
The season will launch with the classic fairy tale musical Into the Woods, which is this year’s SummerStock at The Ritz production. Featuring a cast of local young-adult performers, the play is scheduled for July 21-23 and 28-29.
Christi Britten, executive director of the Tennessee Valley Art Association, says Into the Woods is the perfect kick-off for the year’s productions.
“This theatre season, we are excited to pay tribute to one of America’s greatest theatrical composers, Stephen Sondheim,
Spotlighted performers are Larissa Huissen (red dress) and Maggie Clark (center, black dress).
by opening the season with our SummerStock production of Into the Woods and closing the season with Company.”
Between the two Sondheim shows will be the The Savannah Sipping Society and
Merchant of Venice, rounding out a season “full of laughs, drama, and inspiration.”
Sipping Society is the latest Jones Hope Wooten Comedy produced by The Ritz. Last year’s Deliver Us from Mama! was a big hit, due to its fast pace and mile-a-minute laughs. Audiences can expect a similarly fun and lighthearted Southern comedy in this year’s show. Then in the fall, Merchant of Venice will offer a twist on the classic tale, in what the theatre is calling a “Shakespeare shake-up.”
Kara Mobley (left) and Avery Guinn (right)
Producing a season like this requires many talented people who are committed to creating extraordinary theatre experiences. Britten says that the TVAA has “an inspired group of directors excited to bring their performances to the Ritz stage this season: Suzanne Reese-Mills with Drew Mills, Laura Connolly and Andrew Maples, Jaleesa
Escott, and Macy Ladner.”
Patrons who want to see all four shows can purchase a season ticket for $75. Season ticket holders will be issued a coupon code that will let them choose their dates and seats for each play. Tickets for individual plays range from $15-$25.
To purchase tickets or to learn more about the Tennessee Valley Art Association, visit tennesseevalleyarts.org or call 256-383-0533.
The Ritz Theatre 2023/2024 Season:
Into the Woods
July 21-23 and 28-29
The Savannah Sipping Society
August 24-27
Merchant of Venice: A Shakespeare Shake-up
September 28-October 1
Company
February 23-25, March 1-2
