From Elvis to Rihanna, The Ritz Emerges as Elizabeth’s Premier Entertainment Destination
New Jersey City— The downtown Elizabeth Ritz Theatre, formerly a popular performing arts venue, is now a great spot for all ages. From Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to Rihanna, the theater has shaped culture for 99 years.
George Castro II and IV run the Ritz Theatre. Events go beyond music. “We see the Ritz as more than a theater,” stated Castro IV. The area hosts boxing, concerts, talks, sports, and movie shoots. We want fun for the neighborhood.
The 3,000-seat Art Deco theater was meticulously restored to maintain its grandeur and accommodate current entertainment. The large, semicircular design lets everyone view the stage, and the sound is great. The site is renowned for making movies and songs. Netflix and HBO have filmed at The Ritz, demonstrating its versatility and sound quality. Two important projects are “The Life of Sylvester Stallone” and Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan film.
Drake Opera House opened in 1865. It was then called Proctor’s Theatre until Jacob Fabian bought it in 1926 and repaired it. Liza Minnelli, Johnny Cash, Willie Colón, and Maya Angelou have since come out. An immediate classic, Rihanna’s “Unfaithful” music video at The Ritz has been watched 500 million times.
They started going to the theater in 1994. George Castro II marveled with the 1993 World Cup’s beauty. The family bought the theater in 2002 with little money and started major repairs immediately. These developments updated the theater’s building.
Elizabeth enjoys the Ritz, but her business relies on it. When more than 10,000 people visit the neighborhood on weekends, especially in the Colombian section on Morris Avenue, motels, restaurants, and shops thrive. Theater partnerships like empanadas at concerts boost local companies.
City officials praised the theater’s transformation. Elizabeth mayor Christian Bollwage called The Ritz “a symbol of our city’s artistic spirit and a place where people can come together to celebrate cultural diversity.” Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste praised the theater’s cultural and financial activities.
They preferred theater to business. Colombian immigrant George Castro II worried how close. “We are many groups, but we are all one.” The Ritz is where people meet, he said.
Ritz is a cultural and entertainment staple of Elizabeth and New Jersey. It holds major concerts, movies, and sports. The Ritz Theatre shows how old and new ideas can create a theater everyone can enjoy.
Sources:
City of Elizabeth official website
National Register of Historic Places
NJ State Cultural Affairs Department
