Ritz Theatre and Museum

The Ritz Theatre is a 400-seat theatre featuring a state-of-the-art sound system, theatrical lighting and a 30'x40' performance stage. On any given night, you might witness the old school sounds of the Manhattans or the smooth jazz sounds of Nnenna Freelon, Rene Marie, or Ahmad Jamal.

Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum features the finest in African American shows and educational performances, from the emotionally charged blessing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to intimate concerts by Blues legend Bobby "Blue" Bland and jazz man AHMAD JAMAL, to the storytelling genius of Kala Jojo and Queen Nur. Our season of events seamlessly blends old and new, classic and neo classical, bringing diverse musical and theatrical styles onto the same stage to celebrate the rich heritage of African American music and culture. If you've had a ticket to a Ritz event, you may have seen Porgy and Bess, Parliament Funkadelic, Neo Soul Artist KEM, The Baba Ishangi African Dancers, R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne or an original stage production of August Wilson's Pulitzer prize winning "The Piano Lesson". All stage performances take place in our intimate, state-of-the-art 400-seat auditorium.

On the first Friday of every month, the Ritz hosts "Amateur Night at the Ritz", one of the most popular talent showcases in Jacksonville since the Ritz grand re-opening in October of 1999. Amateur Night is modeled after Amateur Night at Harlem's famed Apollo Theatre, and like the Apollo show, the cheers or boo of the audience decides who goes home with the cash prize.