[1] The opera house welcomed performers of all arts: jugglers, singers, dance troupes, theater companies, etc.
In 1933 Eugene Levy purchased the theater from George Cohen and “converted that playhouse of a gaudier era into an institution where cinematic and variety productions of the highest standard [were] presented with amazing skill, and affording the fascinated beholder the ultimate in comfort and convenience.”[2] This would begin a new era for the Ritz Theater, which became a frequent stomping ground of many big name stars such as: Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima, Mary Martin, Peggy Lee, Wood Herman, Dick Powell, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eddy Duchin, Red Skelton, Xavier Cugat, The Inkspots, Vaughn Monroe, Montana Slim, Les Brown, Ricardo Crotez, and many more.
[3] In 2002, the Ritz Theater was purchased by Patricia Haggerty-Wenz, Founder and Executive Director of Safe Harbors of the Hudson, which is a “nonprofit organization that is committed to transforming lives and building communities through housing and the arts in the City of Newburgh.”[3] The organization stumbled upon the theater in the process of restoring the adjacent former Hotel Newburgh, which is now the Cornerstone Residence, a supportive-housing facility.
It began hosting live performances in the newly restored lobby from musicians such as: Levi Kreiss, Pete Seeger and Odair Assad.
[citation needed] In 2009, Ritz Theater-Newburgh, Inc. continued providing programming and performances in the restored lobby from artists such as: Bucky Pizzarelli, Arturo O’Farrill, The Michele Ramo Group, Jesse Lege, and many others.
In July of the same year, Congressman Maurice Hinchey secured a federal appropriations bill which included “400,000 to begin renovating the Ritz Theater, the last remaining historic theater in Newburgh.” In 2010, the Tom Humphrey Guitar Series continued to perform featuring artists such as: Larry Coryell, Maria Zemantauski and Duke Robillard.
In February of the same year, the Ritz Theater secured 200,000 dollars in funding from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal’s Urban Initiatives Program.
There are a few nonprofit performing arts organizations who hope to make the newly renovated Ritz Theater their home; such as: “The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Company of the Highlands and the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy” (Ritz Theater Tour).