St. George Theater on Staten Island

The St. George Theater is a cultural and performing arts center providing community outreach programs, educational programs, and public performances for Staten Island and all of New York City.

Mrs. Rosemary and daughters. Photo Credit: Staten Island Advance.

In 1928 the theater was built in St. George, on the North Shore of Staten Island. Solomon Brill, who owned several other theaters on the Island and 15 in the greater New York area, promised to bring top-of-the-line vaudeville to the borough for 75 cents a ticket. The theater opened on December 4, 1929. A few years later, a movie theatre chain, Fabian Theatres, bought it. They owned and operated the St. George Theatre as its flagship on Staten Island for more than three decades beginning in the 1940s. In 1978, the St. George Theatre ended its life as a movie house.

Several entrepreneurs tried to revive it as a dinner theater, a nightclub, and an antiques showroom, but none were successful. In 2004, Mrs. Rosemary Cappozalo, a prominent dance educator, with her daughters, Luanne Sorrentino and Doreen Cugno, started a not-for-profit organization to save this historic theatre from being torn down. With the support from the community, business leaders, elected officials, and their board of directors, the St. George has been transformed into a beautiful, thriving, majestic theatre for Staten Island and all of New York City.

Since the theatre reopened in June 2004, over 1000 events have taken place there. The St. George has hosted performances from the likes of Sly Stone, Tony Bennet, the Jonas Brothers, Chris Rock, Steve Martin, and Staten Island natives Pete Davidson and Colin Jost. The site has even been used for filming movies like The School of Rock and TV shows like Gossip Girl. If you are interested in catching a performance, you can check out their calendar HERE and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

As mentioned, the St. George has thriving outreach and education efforts. Included in these efforts are the 2023-2024 Arts-In-Education Performance Series, the Summer Dance Theater, and Literacy Free Outreach Program, the Performing Arts After-School Master Series, Career Paths in the Arts, Community Outreach Initiatives, and The Scouts Experience.

The St. George Theatre, is a thriving, majestic Staten Island performing arts center. As you might expect, maintaining the facilities, providing outreach and education programs, and ensuring quality programming is a costly undertaking. Your support helps fund our community programming and restoration efforts. Consider making a donation here.

Broadway Stages has a soft spot for reborn community theaters. After all, we got our start in one located in Astoria. With strong, caring leadership, we know the future is bright for the St. George. Staten Island is lucky to have this grand resource in their backyard. Schedule a visit and when you get there, be sure to tell them Broadway Stages sent you!