September 07, 2006
Spotlight : Save The Ritz / Safe Harbors
The Ritz Theater is the last remaining of several Newburgh theaters that regularly sent productions to Broadway during its heyday in the 1940s. Neglect and fire have claimed all the others. With a history starting way back in 1913 as Cohen's Opera House, the space saw many changes including conversion to a cineplex. The doors finally closed in June 1999. But the story does not end there.
Although the house was carved up to make the movie theaters, the original stage with the four floors of fly space remains untouched in the building. The plan is to restore the original stage and recreate the house for the stage. Stop by their table and get a peak of what the interior will look like.
As part of the Hotel Newburgh building, which is undergoing an extensive 6 year renovation overseen by Safe Harbors of the Hudson, the completion of the Ritz will be the crowning jewel of this project. Slated to be a state-of-the-art venue for theatre and music performances, this will be a significant development for the City of Newburgh and the the Mid-Hudson region. Just as significant to our city is that under the guidance of Safe Harbors, there will be creation of jobs and the training needed to fill them. ¶ 4:23 PM
The Ritz Theater is the last remaining of several Newburgh theaters that regularly sent productions to Broadway during its heyday in the 1940s. Neglect and fire have claimed all the others. With a history starting way back in 1913 as Cohen's Opera House, the space saw many changes including conversion to a cineplex. The doors finally closed in June 1999. But the story does not end there.
Although the house was carved up to make the movie theaters, the original stage with the four floors of fly space remains untouched in the building. The plan is to restore the original stage and recreate the house for the stage. Stop by their table and get a peak of what the interior will look like.
As part of the Hotel Newburgh building, which is undergoing an extensive 6 year renovation overseen by Safe Harbors of the Hudson, the completion of the Ritz will be the crowning jewel of this project. Slated to be a state-of-the-art venue for theatre and music performances, this will be a significant development for the City of Newburgh and the the Mid-Hudson region. Just as significant to our city is that under the guidance of Safe Harbors, there will be creation of jobs and the training needed to fill them. ¶ 4:23 PM
