Our History

Centered in the historic St. George District of Staten Island, just steps from the iconic Staten Island Ferry, the St. George Theatre was the most magnificent theatre on Staten Island. Solomon Brill of the Isle Theatrical Company broke ground on a beautiful 2,800 seat venue, in August of 1928 and the doors opened on December 4th, 1929. The cost of the project, which included an attached office complex, was two million dollars, $500,000 of which was for the theatre. Brill, who owned several other theatres on the Island and once owned a nickelodeon with William Fox of 20th Century Fox fame, promised to bring top-of-the-line vaudeville to the borough for an admission fee of 75 cents. He envisioned the St. George as a “dream” show house rivaling Manhattan’s cathedrals of cinema.

The main architect was Eugene DeRosa; he was assisted by Staten Island resident James Whitford, who was known as the “dean of Staten Island architects.” Mr. Whitford also designed the Ritz, Liberty and Victory theatres, none of which exist today. The ornate interior of the theatre was designed by Nestor Castro. Mr. Castro was the art director for the Libman-Spanjer Corporation which designed the interiors of many theatres in the Times Square area. The majority of the elaborate architecture that is visible to theatre patrons is the result of Mr. Castro’s artistic genius.

At a time when many of the large movie houses were built by big Hollywood studios, Brill was an independent owner of fifteen theatres in the NYC area. Prior to his death in 1932, he sold one half of his interest in the St. George Theatre to Joseph Kohn, who later sold to the Fabian Theatre chain.

The Island’s newest movie and vaudeville house outshone most of its competitors of the day, including Manhattan’s Capitol Theatre on Broadway. Some of the theatres unique features included the absence of any obstructions; a $25,000 Wurlitzer organ; an advanced cooling & heating system; one of the largest cantilevered balconies ever built and velvet seats, gilded balconies and grand staircases.

The St. George Theatre’s interior is a variety of Spanish and Italian Baroque styles. The lobby is spacious with two box office windows and six windows displaying upcoming attractions. The foyer is illuminated by large stained glass chandeliers and majestic winding staircases lead up to the equally elaborate mezzanine level. Hanging above the grand lobby are oversized paintings of a bullfight and a Spanish village. Throughout the theatre are murals, tiled fountains and sculpted figures set in niches. The balcony and mezzanine originally had 1,400 seats and the orchestra section had another 1,600; about two thirds of those remain today.

The first movie to play was “So This Is College” and the headline “live” act was the husband and wife team of Blossom Seeley and Benny Fields. The movie and vaudeville format featured performers such as Al Jolson, Kate Smith and Guy Lombardo. The live performances ended in 1934 but began again during the 1940’s when shows promoting the sale of war bonds featured personalities such as Rose Marie and Arthur Godfrey.

The theatre was sold in 1938 to the Fabian Theater chain who continued to operate it as a movie palace until 1977. Several owners since then have tried reincarnations of the space that included a roller rink, an antique showroom and a night club, none of which were successful. An attempt was made in the mid-1990’s to reopen as a performing arts center and several performances were presented. This venture, too, failed and the owner ultimately gave up. With the exception of filming the finale of the 2003 film “School of Rock” at the theatre, the venue was basically dark for over thirty years.

Saving The Theatre

In 2004, Mrs. Rosemary Cappozalo with her daughters, Luanne Sorrentino, and Doreen Cugno, started a not-for-profit organization to save this historic theatre from being torn down. Mrs. Rosemary, a prominent dance educator, donated her life savings (over one million dollars) to the organization and “saved” the St. George Theatre. With the support from the community, business leaders, elected officials, and their board of directors, a white elephant was transformed into a beautiful, thriving, majestic theatre for Staten Island and all of New York City.

When they first entered the theatre, there was no electrical power, no plumbing, the bathroom ceilings were on the floor, large holes the size of their bodies where water was pouring through the ceilings, no orchestra seats, no carpeting, no stage lighting and no sound system. No heating system nor air-conditioning system working and only the birds and raccoons were finding comfort in the venue. Despite all the obstacles, the ladies had the theatre open in a few months. Restoration is still ongoing.

Restoration Initiatives

The theater has undergone an extensive and ongoing restoration process since 2004, all thanks to the dedication of our elected officials through city, state, and federal funding as well as our local foundations. These transformative projects have included the installation of new seating, flooring, and doors, as well as the modernization of the rigging system, and state of the art LED theatrical stage lighting and audio systems. We’ve also restored essential spaces such as the restrooms, dressing rooms, and both the front entrance lobby and vestibule. The marquee and mosaic front entrance wall have been redesigned, while the grand and mezzanine lobbies have been beautifully revitalized. We’ve meticulously restored the ceilings, oversized murals, dome, and chandeliers, and the stunning lower-level lounge has been brought back to its former glory and named the VG Lounge. These monumental efforts were managed by NYC EDC and DDC, made possible through collaboration with renowned companies like EverGreene Architectural Arts, Cube Construction Services, The LiRo Group, American & International Design, Inc., Aurora Lamp Works, Inc., and many others.

A Cultural & Community Pillar

Since 2004, prioritizing exceptional programming, customer service, and community engagement has been a priority. As part of the organizations mission since inception, they established impactful outreach initiatives, including The Summer Dance, Theater, and Literacy Outreach Programs, the Night of Theater program, and Career Paths in The Arts for High School students, providing access to arts education for disadvantaged individuals at no cost. They mentor aspiring performing arts professionals throughout the year. Additionally, they partner with over 50 local non-profit organizations annually to enrich the quality of life in the borough.

Every December, a large-scale Christmas show is produced, attracting 10,000 patrons who enjoy a high-quality and affordable holiday show. The inception began with the late Mrs. Rosemary with her vision to give everyone access to the arts and raise funds for the non-profit theater. The show features 125 talented volunteer performers who are the fabric of the St. George Theatre family. Additionally, in December, an annual toy drive is hosted in partnership with the Minority Women in Business Association of SI to distribute thousands of toys annually to children in need since 2020.

The 1,900 performing arts center hosts over 150 performances and special events a year through their headline series, classic movie series, arts-in-education series, affordable family shows, sensory friendly shows, educational outreach workshops, and host many local community events including recitals and graduations. The theater boasts a swanky space, named the VG Lounge, to enhance the patrons experience and to host small intimate events thanks to the Vincent Gruppuso Foundation.

Renowned artists have graced the stage. Since the re-opening in 2024, unforgettable performances include: include Tony Bennett, Jerry Seinfeld, Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Jason Mraz, k.d. lang, The B-52’s, Don McLean, Art Garfunkel, Joan Rivers, Kevin James, the Goo Goo Dolls, Wayne Newton, Chris Botti, Bobby Rydell, Darlene Love, Frankie Valli, Paul Anka, Yolanda Adams, Ringo Starr, Dion, Boyz II Men, Blondie, Tony Orlando, Cyndi Lauper, Rosie O’Donnell, Bret Michaels, Marc Cohn, Neil Sedaka, Evelyn Champaigne King, Donny Osmond, Lee Ann Womack, Adam Lambert, Taylor Hicks, Air Supply, Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, Huey Lewis, Jay Leno, Kathleen McPhee, David Foster, New York City Opera, Ailey II, John Edwards, Theresa Caputo, Howie Mandel, Brad Garrett, John Mulaney, Pete Davidson, Tracey Morgan, Chris Rock, Colin Jost, Jackie Mason, Jonas Brothers, Blues Clues Live!, Cirque on Ice, Doobie Brothers, YES, George Thorogood, Chicago, Beach Boys, Kansas, America, Bachman Turner Overdrive, REO Speedwagon, Blippi, Sesame Street Live!, Blues Clues Live!, Baby Shark Live!, National Broadway tours including Peter Pan, Mame, Cats, to name a few!

The St. George Theatre, once a shell of a theater on the brink of demolition in 2003, has been transformed into one of the most beautiful architectural theaters in our country, providing universal access to the arts in our community.