Ms. Terri Cox, Program Director for The Grand Theatre in Cartersville, announces her retirement to take effect at the end of March. Cox has served in this position since 1999. During her tenure as Program Director, Cox was responsible for the creation and implementation of the educational programs provided by the theatre. These include joint programs with The Bartow History Museum for all elementary grades where students are taught various curricula through storytelling, drama, music, and dance. She also selects five school day performances for all grades throughout the year, acting classes, and summer camps for elementary, middle and high school students. In addition to programs for students, Cox directs a Senior Citizen’s drama group and handles rental contracts for the theatre. She also supervises the house and box office staff and coordinates the volunteer program.
“Terri has been such an important part of the magic of The Grand Theatre”, says Theatre Administrator, Matt Santini. “She created most if not all of our educational programs and has built a phenomenal summer camp program.” “It has been a joy to work with Terri for the last eighteen years, and see the love and commitment that she has put into all the programs and to every child and guest that comes to the theatre.”
Ms. Cox has a background in education, having taught in public schools for 15 years. She is active in her local church and has served on the board for The Cultural Arts Alliance and United Way. She is currently getting ready to publish her first book and plans to continue writing during retirement. Ms. Cox has been married to Chip Cox for 37 years. She has two children—Joshua Cox and Megan Cox Verell. Upon her retirement she plans to travel and stay involved with her family and church.
Kristy Montgomery will take over as Program Director at The Grand. Kristy is a Cartersville native and graduate of Cartersville High School. She attended Kennesaw State University, earning her degree in Secondary English Education. After a year with the American Cancer Society working the Relay for Life events in Cartersville and Rome, she took a teaching position with Cartersville Middle School and taught language arts for a year before building and running the drama program.
In addition to these experiences, she has worked with the Grand Theatre's programming since 2011. She has directed for ACT I, Inc. for the last sixteen years, and has served as co-president of the organization for the last four.
Santini says, “Kristy has directed and taught several of the theatre’s camps and classes, and she brings a lot of energy and passion for the arts to our organization.” “She has some wonderful and creative ideas for programming that will build on the great legacy that Terri made, and she has also identified some programs she would like to create and expand to get more people participating in the performing arts.”