Bruce Allen Curless, 78, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. As the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township for 40 years, his vision, skill, and heart-on-his-sleeve stewardship leave an indelible mark on the South Jersey theatre community, as well as the wider arts region.

Born on February 5, 1948 in Wabash, Indiana, to Robert and Virginia Mae Curless, Bruce was involved in theatre since the third grade, when he produced, directed, and starred in a little “back-of-the-classroom” show called The Beanstalk Grows Again. This theatrical debut was later revived at the school for the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classes.

Bruce discovered The Ritz in 1985 when seeking a new home for a group of eager and passionate theatre artists. Under the original company name of “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” the first season launched in 1986 with a production of The Boyfriend. Later the same year, Bruce debuted the character of Ritzy the Wolf to audiences in South Jersey. Becoming a beloved children’s theatre character and community staple for many years to follow, Ritzy reimagined numerous fables and fairytales, not only on the stage, but in a television series as well. In 1993, Bruce was honored with a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for his work on The Adventures of Ritzy the Wolf, and a second Mid-Atlantic Emmy would follow in 1994.

Next to Ritzy, Bruce’s other most memorable role was that of Ebenezer Scrooge, a character he portrayed on the Ritz stage for over thirty years in the musical Scrooge! Families across the South Jersey and Philadelphia region made it an annual holiday tradition to see Bruce tackle the iconic Dickens miser every December. His final performance as Scrooge came in 2018.

Among Bruce’s favorite directorial projects at The Ritz were Candide, Master Class, Jekyll and Hyde, and Sweeney Todd, the latter for which he received a 1997 Philadelphia Barrymore Award nomination. He also served as a guest director at The University of Pennsylvania, Foundation Theatre, Off-Broad Street Theatre, and Rowan University. Bruce later received the Applause Award for “Outstanding Community Contributions” in the area of theatre and Camden County’s Martin Luther King Freedom Award. In 2001, he co-created and directed The Magick in the Music of Stephen Schwartz, an original musical revue developed at The Ritz with Stephen Schwartz, the composer of such popular musicals as Pippin, Godspell, and Wicked.

Beginning in 2021, Bruce and collaborators dreamed up a trio of spirited holiday pantos, bringing them to life on the Ritz stage. His final directorial project was this past summer’s mainstage production of Grease, in which he teamed up with daughter Roberta Curless, who served as choreographer. It was one of many collaborations between the two over the years, dating all the way back to Ritzy the Wolf and Cub Girl.

Beyond the myriad accomplishments on the stage and from the director’s chair, Bruce was equally extraordinary off the stage, making The Ritz feel like a second home for countless actors, directors, designers, and other creatives since the company’s formation. Across the 40-year history of the organization, Bruce helped nurture and cultivate a large, ever-growing Ritz family, with long-lasting friendships and even a few marriages forged within the walls of the theater. The community he built is a lasting tribute to his welcoming spirit and unwavering dedication.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, sisters Barbara Jean and Roberta, and brother Barry (Mary Lou). He is survived by his wife, Kimberly (Valde); his daughter, Roberta, and son-in-law, Steven; brothers Lew (Joy) and Craig (Jeri); sister Susan (Brent); and many nieces and nephews.

Bruce’s loss is immeasurable, but so is the love and legacy left behind. He will be deeply missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 7th from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, NJ 08107.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Bruce's memorial fund at https://gofund.me/593287e37 

Arrangements by Jackson Funeral Home, Haddon Township, NJ www.jacksonfh.net