Lights. Camera.

Commerce.
Old Hollywood in all its glamour returns to the Bonnie Kate Theater this week as the Elizabethton Carter County Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Gala.
“It’s an old Hollywood theme,” Chamber Director Tonya Stevens said of the event. “When you think of Hollywood in its heyday you think of places like the Bonnie Kate. The venue and the theme go hand-in-hand.”
This year’s event will be different in a number of ways, Stevens said. In years past the event has had a sit-down meal and a membership meeting with a keynote speaker. This year, the business portion will be lighter – as will the food fare. Stevens said the meal will be “very heavy hors d’oeuvres,” but said for folks not to worry, there will be plenty to eat. “We will have plenty of good food for everyone to enjoy,” she said.
Part of the reason behind the change, according to Stevens, was to give members of the Chamber a chance to mingle and network without the structure of a formal meal and meeting.
“We haven’t had anything of this magnitude in a some time and we wanted to do something a little different for our members,” Stevens said. “We decided we wanted to make it more of a social event. For the most part we want it to be networking. We want our members to be able to mingle.”
In addition to the food, Stevens said Barlow Gin and the Hatchetmen will perform.
“She played Covered Bridge for us last year and was a big success,” Stevens said of the band, which features local girl Kat Rush as the lead singer. “She is actually being played on the radio in Spain right now. She is internationally known.” Stevens describes the band’s style as a “jazzy rockabilly”
There is no dress code for the event.
“We want everyone to be as comfortable as they want to be,” Stevens said. “If they want to dress casual that is fine. If they had to work late and want to come straight from the office that is alright. If they want to get dressed up that is OK too.”
Keeping the old Hollywood theme in mind, Stevens said some may want to wear a period costume befitting a Hollywood starlet or dashing leading man, and she said that is just fine too. When asked what she will be wearing for the Gala, Stevens laughed and replied, “I haven’t decided what my attire will be for the evening.”
There will be some business discussed as well, Stevens said.
Current Chamber President Keith Young, the dean of off campus affairs for Northeast State Community College, will pass the gavel to the incoming president, Melanie Stanton, who serves as the chief nursing officer at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Despite it being an Chamber of Commerce event, Stevens said the Gala is open to anyone who would like to attend. The Gala will be held on Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m. at the Bonnie Kate Theater with catering provided by the Bonnie Kate Café. The cost is $50 per person and reservations are required. Stevens said reservations must be received by no later than 5 p.m .on Tuesday, June 3.
Sponsors for the event are Sycamore Shoals Hospital; Blackburn, Childers & Steagall accounting firm; Charter Business; Milligan College; Summers-Taylor; and the Elizabethton Star.
“We definitely appreciate the support of all our sponsors,” Stevens said. “Without their assistance it would be difficult to provide not only this event but many of the events that take place throughout the year.”