Thoroughly Modern Millie at Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township, NJ Opens Strongly

Theater: Ritz Theatre Company
Show Title: Thoroughly Modern Millie
Opened: January 18, 2008
Seen: January 18, 2008
Reviewer: Charlie Seymour Jr
Submitted: January 26, 2008

[As I've written before, though I will write here from time to time, I will not present formal reviews - others do that better and I think it's just better to leave it to them.]

Ryan Bunch's review of this uplifting and rollicking musical has already been written. But since I only write non-review reviews, I take a different slant on what has happened. Let me share some thoughts.

To put it simply: What the Ritz Theatre Company has created for Haddon Township is nothing less than remarkable. Producing Artistic Director Bruce A. Curless and his organization were in full swing on Opening Night when I saw this season-opening show.

I sat next to Camden County Freeholder Rodney A. Greco (who graciously told this PA boy what a Freeholder is - like our County Council members here in Delaware County, but with the history of land owners owning their land free and clear, the name Freeholder was born into their regional system of government many years ago). I instantly saw why this educator-by-training has been elected to public office as we chatted about the needs and desires of his constituents.

The Mayor and some of his cabinet were there. Donors were there. And the Ritz Theatre Company building was recognized as a national historical site, with the unveiling of a plaque that will forever mark the building as important to the wider community.

This theater is part of the fabric of what makes Haddon Township and its surrounding communities so great. It's easy to get to off I-295 from one direction and Rt 130 from the other, sitting on Rt 30 so the drive to get there is simple from the greater Philadelphia - Trenton - Camden County area. Restaurants are nearby as is shopping. And even the on-street parking is not difficult.

Other theaters would do well to study what Bruce Curless and Jon Geisler (Board Chairman) have going here - there are lessons to be learned about making your theater IMPORTANT to those you want to attract.

And as an aside, it was terrific to see someone like Mark Lenard (a frequent choreographer, designer, and performer (he doesn't perform as much because of the constraints on his time - he was in the production of RAGS I directed several years ago)) supporting this theater not only with an ad in their program (for Countrywide Home Loans where he is a Senior Home Loan Consultant) but with his own attendance at Opening Night. We hadn't chatting in a while and it was great to see him.

And it was great to see Paul McGrath in the cast. We worked together in A Chorus Line in the 1990's and I swear he hasn't aged a day… and wait until you see what he's able to produce on the stage in his role of Bun Foo.

So… a tip of the hat to Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township, NJ. Twenty three years of success with many more ahead!

Charlie Seymour Jr
Founder / Chief Marketing Director
StageMagazineOnline.com