Walkable Wonders: The Ritz Theatre

Last weekend was the final weekend for “Anything Goes” – starring ‘Berg alumna Kirsten Lilly as “Reno Sweeney.” The show was put on by the Ritz Players, who will be putting on “Little Women” next month.  The Ritz Players’ 2022 season starts in October with the play, “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” Alongside their plays, starting in mid-October, the Ritz hosts its “Friday Night Live” – a cabaret series that features local performers.

The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin was built for $255 thousand in 1928, as a movie theater and vaudeville house. It showed films during the Golden Age of Hollywood, until going bankrupt in the 1970’s. In the early 80’s, it was purchased at auction for $35 thousand, by the concerned citizens who renovated it and turned it into the playhouse it is today. 

I talked to Michael Strong, the executive director of the Ritz, who told me about their engagement in the community. “I think of us like a jewel in the crown of Tiffin, and I’m happy that we’re able to be part of the downtown Tiffin resurgence,” Michael said. Today, the Ritz theatre helps generate $1.5 million in economic activity per year – “people don’t just come to the Ritz. They go to other businesses and restaurants in the downtown area, as part of their night out,” Michael explained. 

Michael also told me about the many ways that the Ritz shows its love and support to local students. The Ritz hosts Tiffin University and Heidelberg University in their Christmas pageants every year. They also offer a “Student Rush,” where with the presentation of your student ID up to one half-hour before curtain time, you can purchase discounted tickets for $5. Students can also intern for credit, and are encouraged to audition for roles.

The Ritz Theatre is a 12 minute walk away from the center of Heidelberg’s campus, located on South Washington Street. For more information about the Ritz, check out their website.