Here’s the latest update for the Ritz Theatre restoration project

The Ritz Theatre rehabilitation project has been in the works since 2006, and its new executive director, Arthur Seago, said Corpus Christi can expect the historic downtown venue to reopen by Christmas Day in 2029.

“We’re on track and we will be open before its 100-year anniversary,” Seago said during an interview inside The Ritz Theatre. “Officially, it’s Dec. 25, 2029, but it will open sometime in 2029 — if not a little sooner.”

Seago, a Corpus Christi native, moved “back home” to “do something fun and give back to the community.”

“The Ritz will be an entertainment hub for downtown. I firmly believe that,” said Seago, who joined the restoration project in October. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come down here and picked up this project if I didn’t think it had some value to the community. This is one of those projects that can show people what Corpus can do and become.”

With more than 25 years in the entertainment industry, Seago previously served as chief operating officer and interim CEO of Santikos Entertainment, a cinema and entertainment organization founded in 1910, in San Antonio.

As of early December, Seago said the project is in a good place. He said there’s a “good chunk of change” saved in the nonprofit’s bank, but it still needs more than $30 million to finish the rehabilitation and restoration.

“We know that not everybody can write big checks,” Seago said. “If you can afford a $25 check, that’s great. You know, $25 turns into $100, which turns into $1,000, and so on. Any support from the community is appreciated.”

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Looking ahead

Seago said he has three goals as the head of the Ritz project.

One is to continue setting deadlines and keeping the project moving. He said he wants to ensure his team doesn’t lose momentum.

Another is to get the Corpus Christi community more engaged with the project and and its progress. Seago said he needs the community’s support for the final push to finish the project.

The other goal is to show the community what will be happening inside the Ritz. In late November, the theater kicked off its Ritz Spotlight Series, which showcases different events that would be held inside once it’s open.

“We’ve got four more scheduled, and we will be announcing them for 2026 soon,” Seago said. “They range from a couple high-energy concerts to a very famous world-traveling dance troupe.

“The goal is to show the community that we’re doing stuff. We’re not just rehabilitating this building; we’re putting together programs that you can experience right now to get a taste of what it’ll be like in here.”

To learn more about the project, or donate, visit ccritz.com.