The historic Ritz Theatre located on the White Horse Pike in Oaklyn, N.J., opened in September, 1927. The original decor remains intact in today’s Ritz. The auditorium walls still feature the neo-classic murals typical of the late 1920s. The stage is surrounded by gilt trimmed marbleized columns and velvet-draped balconies enclosed by classic carved ballustrades. Intimate and ornamental, the 470-seat Ritz is the only producing theater in the area still resplendent in its original decor.

The entertainment was new flickers and old vaudeville in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Ritz was known for its fine art and foreign film bookings, drawing audiences from Philadelphia and far beyond the immediate community. The Ritz closed its doors in early 1985. today over 4,300 subscribers enjoy the six-production mainstage season, making the Ritz one of the best-attended theaters in the greater Philadelphia area.

Puttin’ On the Ritz Productions

It began when theater producer/director Bruce A. Curless, now Producing Artistic Director of Puttin’ on the Ritz Productions, noticed the closed and shuttered theater. By October, 1985, he had formed the new production company and rented the theater. The first season was mounted in January, 1986, with 801 subscribers.

The Ritz has since become known as a musical house, producing at least four major musicals each year plus drama, comedy and mystery plays, a Festival of New Plays featuring area as well as national playwrights, and ten children’s productions with Emmy Award-winning Ritzy the Wolf as host and star performer.

Children’s Theatre

Children’s shows by the Ritz Improvisational Children’s Troupe are an ideal introduction to the wonder-full world of live theatre for young children from pre-school and nursery through the third grade. Under the direction of playful host Ritzy, the Wolf, the storybook tales are re-enacted by the highly skilled performers of the Ritz Improvisational Troupe, an adjunct to Puttin’ on the Ritz, Inc., productions.

These children’s productions offer an alternative to the usual children’s theatre by including the children themselves in imaginatively reliving familiar fairy tales and stories in a totally new format. The children in the audience interact with the performers in recreating the story, both onstage and from their seats. This “hands-on” theatre is a unique introduction to the warmth of live stage performances for children who have been reared with television and electronics. It not only entertains but helps a child to grow emotionally, socially and intellectually.

Puttin’ On the Ritz Productions and the Ritz Theatre are members of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.

Contact Information

For tickets/information, call: 856-858-5230
Hours to call: 1 PM - 6 PM, Monday - Saturday.
Tickets may be reserved at this number and paid for at the door.