The Arts Council of Mississippi County

The Ritz Civic Center

306 W. Main Street, Blytheville, AR 72315

(Phone) 870-762-1744  (Fax) 870-763-1950

WEBSITE: www.artsmissco.com

The Ritz Review
 The "Ritz Review" is the monthly newsletter of
The Arts Council of Mississippi County in Blytheville, AR.
 6th Edition – Volume 3 – September, 2008

Director's Corner

     Barbara Bailey Hutchison is on her way to Blytheville!  She is a Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter, who has toured internationally and performed twice at The White House.  She has also performed in all 50 states.  Although her name may not be familiar, you will recognize her voice from commercials for McDonald’s, Hallmark Cards, Heinz and other national advertisers.  Not only will we have the joy of hearing Barbara in concert at The Ritz on Friday, October 3, 2008, at 7:00 pm, we will also have her share her special program about women in history with students from Osceola, Rivercrest and Blytheville Middle Schools.

     Her music defies categorization.  Her lyric driven, melodic, often humorous, alternative folk music speaks to issues of tolerance and human rights, as well as personal relationships and funny circumstances.

     In addition to her Grammy, and other Grammy nominations, Ms Hutchison has also been voted “Best Solo Performer”, “Best Acoustic Performer”, and “Best Female Performer” in a national music magazine poll.

     You want to be sure and allow time to visit her art exhibit in The Ritz Gallery.  It is a collection of eleven “heads”, as she calls them, perhaps better known as portraits.  These works are contemplative and sincere, and it is obvious that she loves the human face.  This show is entitled “All Kinds of Kinds” and will be in our gallery until October 15, 2008.    

2008-2009 Sponsor Update

     Our Corporate Sponsor drive has increased to a current total of 46  underwriting our 08-09 Series of programming.  We have Platinum Level donation from Nucor Steel Arkansas, Gold Level from Peggy Lemons and Temps Plus Staffing, First National Bank, and Farmers Bank and Trust,  Silver Level from Westminster Village and Nucor-Yamato Steel Co., Bronze Level from Lee Wilson and Company, Thomas, Speight and Noble, ACT2!, Schlosser Photography and Frame, Bistro Eleven21, Comfort Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn of Blytheville, Perkins Family Restaurant, Quality Inn, That Bookstore In Blytheville and American Greetings.  For Copper Level we have Arkham Comics, Bugmobile of Arkansas, Michael Williams, D.D.S., Scott Johnson Vision Care, State Representative Charlotte Wagner, Dr. & Mrs. James D. Hess, D.D.S., Glenda’s Hallmark, Dave Simmons, CPA, PA, Pollard-Geeslin Insurance, Klassi Kopies, Inc., Omnium, Bill Nelson and Crye-Leike Missco Realty, Fondren’s Hardware, East Ash Animal Hospital, Mary Ellen Ziolko, PhD., The Cullom Clinic, Kiwanis Club of Blytheville, NIBCO, Dr. T.E. Westbrook, Jr., P.A., Liz N Company, Langston Enterprises, Inc., Dr. Van O. Parker, D.D.S., Hays Stores, Inc., Fosters Liquor Store, Jeri-Lin Donuts, Russell’s Rents and Sales, The General Insurance Agency, and Osceola Progressive Club.

Patrons for 2008-2009

     We currently have 50 Patrons for our Year.  This is an increase of four since last month.  Eighteen are new and 32 are returning.  Patrons are Sarah Jackson, JD and Tonya Harris, Harrell and LaGene Hampton, Shirley Overman, William and Betty Koval, Jack and Nancy Goodman, Douglas and Shelly Bush, Kenneth and Louise Gipson, Sallye Russell, Dr. and Mrs. Mark K. Wilson, Frances Jackson, Ann M. Moore, A.J. Parrett, Ron and Becky Williams, Bill and Clorita Hardy, Jack D. Simers, Chuck and Lisa Ryan and family, Jonathan and Margaret Abbott, Ramona Clower, Paul and Veda Jenkins, Tibor and Jill Mazar, Eileen O’Neal, Bob and Eleanor Royer, Kathy Cooper, Liz Smith, Charles Moody, George Klee, Donna Mosley, Laura Martin, Jerry and Betty Brown, Jerry Musser, Rae Glidewell, Sharyn Stevenson and Kathryn and Donald Musholt.

Our 2008-2009 Series

     In addition to The Ritz concert mentioned above, Barbara Bailey Hutchison will also present a program at Osceola High Auditorium for Osceola Middle School, Osceola Charter School, and Rivercrest Middle School at 1:00 pm on Thursday, October 2^nd, and another program at Blytheville Middle School at 1:00 pm on Friday, October 3^rd.

     For our next Series event, we will see a national touring production of the stage comedy “A Tuna Christmas”, presented by Springer Theatricals on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 7:00 pm.  This is a hilarious comedy which enjoyed a successful run Off-Broadway. 

     “Tuna” will be followed by a national touring production of the Tony Award winning musical “Bye, Bye, Birdie” on Friday, February 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm.  Presented through Windwood Theatricals, this production will include over 35 professionals, including an eight piece orchestra.

      “The Barber of Cactus Canyon”, presented by Wildwood Park Opera To Go is set for  April 28, 2009, with school day performances for area students on both the 28^th and 29^th.   This year our guests invited to The Ritz will include every Kindergarten, First and Second Grade student in our county.

Other programs are being considered for addition to our 08-09 Series. 

October Arts Council Events –

     October 2, Thursday at 1:00 PM—Barbara Bailey Hutchison in concert at Osceola High School.

     October 3, Friday at 1:00 PM—Barbara Bailey Hutchison in concert at Blytheville Middle School.

     October 3, Friday at 7:00 PM—Barbara Bailey Hutchison Live on stage at The Ritz, 306 W. Main Street in Blytheville.

     October 6, Monday at 6:00 PM—The Arts Council of Mississippi County monthly Board Meeting in the conference room of The Ritz, 306 W. Main Street in Blytheville.  Visitors Welcome!

     October 14, Tuesday at 1:00-7:00 PM—Provide an information booth about Arts Council events and donation opportunities at The Blytheville/Gosnell Area Chamber of Commerce 2008 Community EXPO and Job Fair at the Briggs/Seabaugh Wellness Center on the ANC Campus.

     October 23, Thursday at 7:00 PM—Opening night for the 2008 Haunted Theater which will continue through Sunday, Nov. 1^st.  Call 870-762-1744 for specific daily operating schedule.  Admission is $5.00.

     October 30, Thursday at 6:30 PM—Join local celebrity George Hamilton at The Ritz for a visit with our local Chamber Director, Liz smith.  Mr. Hamilton has recently released his autobiography entitled “Don’t Mind If I Do” and will be signing at That Bookstore In Blytheville that afternoon.  The evening special is being sponsored by The Blytheville/Gosnell Area Chamber of Commerce and will provide an opportunity for Mr. Hamilton to share some of his memories of growing up in Blytheville.

Tickets are $20.00 for Premier Seating and $10.00 for General Seating and are available at The Chamber Office, 300 W. Walnut in Blytheville.  Call 870-762-2012.

October Rentals

     October 10, Friday at 7:30 PM—“Birthday Bash” for Cooper Lewis, featuring the music of “Finding Jimmy Hoffa”.  For tickets or info, call Jagger McGuire’s Salon at 870-776-1161.

     October 11, Saturday at 7:00 PM—“A Night To Remember” presented by Sacred Love Records and James E. Graham.  A Gospel Music Celebration.

Our Affiliate, ACT2! –

     “Dracula” by Philip Grecian, under the direction of Ken Jackson, will hit the stage of The Ritz for one performance only on Saturday, October 4^th at 7:00 pm.  The cast is made up of twelve voice talents, as well as sound effects specialists, commonly referred to as “Foley” artists who will create all of the special sounds for such a story, and a Mystery Theater Pianist.

     The show will be presented in “Readers Theater” style as a staged radio play.  The story is based, of course, on the original novel by Bram Stoker and was first produced on radio stations in 1973.  Be sure and get this event on your calendar.  Tickets are $5.00 for all ages.

        Anyone needing additional information about ACT 2! can call 870-762-1744.

Our New Website--

     You may have noticed our new Web address in the heading of this edition of “The Ritz Review”.  Please check it out sometime and let us know what you think.  The address is fairly easy to remember if you think about it—“artsmissco”—“arts-miss-co”—Arts Mississippi County! See!  Isn’t that cool.  I mean, everyone can remember “www.” and “.com”.

     For now we have info on our staff and Board Members, How to Rent The Ritz, current listings of our Patrons and Sponsors, info on how to be a Patron, Sponsor, how to rent The Ritz, historic pictures of The Ritz, current events, our current Series events, fliers and posters of our events you can print out and post at your work or church, our “Mission”, the Ritz Review, and what we have “in the news”.

     Let us know what else you would like to see here and how we can better tell our story.

     Please encourage your business or organization to become a Sponsor for the Arts in Mississippi County, and encourage your friends to become a Patron.

SEE YOU AT THE RITZ!