Their original play Joe won first prize at a Newark YMHA contest in 1939, launching their reputation. In the 1940s–60s, with guidance from WPA director S. Iden Thompson, Center Drama staged acclaimed productions like Awake and Sing!, All My Sons, and Death of a Salesman, becoming known for its artistic quality and multigenerational community involvement.

Relocating to the Deal Park JCC in 1971, the company flourished under Harold and Ellie Arm, embracing modern musicals and building a close-knit ensemble that made it a pillar of Jewish cultural life in Monmouth County. In the early 2000s, following renovations, Center Drama became one of the first groups to perform at the new Axelrod Performing Arts Center.

A dedicated committee — Ellen Jemal, Ruthie Levy, Larry Lowenstein, Deborah Murad, Aaron Rosenfeld, Harold Schaector, and Erica Seigal — helped lead a creative revival, with productions like Fiddler on the Roof, Funny Girl, Man of La Mancha, and The Wedding Singer, renewing Center Drama’s reputation for excellence while honoring nearly a century of tradition.