William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts
1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070
Open · verified by Lumina November 2026
A 1922 Rutherford theater with three cinema screens showing repertory, cult, anime and midnight titles, plus live music, a film society and a silent film with live accompaniment.
Quick facts
- Type
- Repertory, Historic, Arts venue
- Address
- 1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070
- Phone
- (201) 939-6969
- Screens
- 3
- Opened
- 1922
- Hours
- Doors usually 15 to 20 minutes before showtime
What to expect
On screen
- Classics and revivals
- Cult and midnight movies
- International film
- Special events
- Live performance
The story
The building opened in April 1922 as the Rivoli Theater, designed by Abram Preiskel and developed by Harry Hecht, with room for about 2,200 people. It began with silent pictures and vaudeville and kept going through a series of changes until a fire in January 1977 destroyed close to a third of it. A group of local donors formed a nonprofit to bring the place back, and it reopened in 1982 under a new name honoring the Rutherford poet William Carlos Williams. Further renovations followed in 2006 and 2008. In July 2016 its three cinemas relaunched with first-run films after switching from 35mm to digital projection. Besides the film screens it now has two live stages and an open-air gallery, and a larger renovation was reported underway.
Good to know
- What kind of films play here?
- The November 2026 calendar mixes classics and cult titles, anime including Studio Ghibli Tuesdays, and midnight screenings.
- How much are tickets?
- Most listed films cost roughly $7 to $16, and some film society events are free.
- Does it have live music with silent film?
- Yes. The Phantom of the Opera (1925) is scheduled for Nov 24, 2026 with live accompaniment.
- Where is William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts?
- William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts is at 1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070. Phone: (201) 939-6969.
- Is William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts open?
- Yes. Lumina verified William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts as open in November 2026. Check the theater's showtimes for today's schedule.
- How do I buy tickets for William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts?
- Buy tickets directly from the theater using the Showtimes & tickets button on this page. You can also call (201) 939-6969.
- What independent theaters are near William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts?
- Bellevue Theatre in Upper Montclair (5.6 mi), Clairidge in Montclair (5.9 mi), and Quad Cinema in New York (8.1 mi).
- Bellevue TheatreClairidgeQuad Cinema
Getting there
1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070 · Get directions · Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Independent cinemas near William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts
Bellevue Theatre
Upper Montclair, NJ · 5.6 mi
Montclair Film's Upper Montclair screen, mixing new independent and documentary releases with a B-Sides series of cult favorites, B-movies and oddities.
Clairidge
Montclair, NJ · 5.9 mi
Montclair Film's main Bloomfield Avenue screen for new independent, international and documentary releases, with opera broadcasts from the Met added to the calendar.
Quad Cinema
New York, NY · 8.1 mi
A four-screen Greenwich Village cinema that plays themed retrospectives and new independent releases, with 35mm prints and a long-running Rocky Horror program. The current series is Femme Noir.
IFC Center
New York, NY · 8.1 mi
A five-screen Greenwich Village cinema showing new independent and foreign releases, documentaries and late-night favorites, often with director Q&As. It is the main venue for the DOC NYC festival and offers open-captioned shows.
Film Forum
New York, NY · 8.2 mi
A four-screen nonprofit cinema on West Houston Street pairing new independent releases with repertory series and restorations, including 35mm prints. Film Forum Jr. runs family matinees.
Cinema Village
New York, NY · 8.3 mi
A three-screen Greenwich Village cinema in a converted firehouse, playing independent releases, documentaries and small film festivals, often with filmmaker Q&As. Private screenings can be booked.
More repertory cinemas in New Jersey
Hours
Doors usually 15 to 20 minutes before showtime
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