Emerson College Alters Plan To Convert Colonial Theatre Into Dining Hall; Assessing Programming Options

A major step was taken today in regards to the preservation of Boston's historic 115-year-old Colonial Theatre, currently owned by Emerson College, when the school's president Lee Pelton sent an email to the Emerson community confirming unanimous approval of a plan to restore and renovate buildings at 122-124 Boylston Street and 19 Boylston Place to create a permanent student dining facility and expanded social spaces that will be completed before the beginning of the fall of 2017.

As previously reported on BroadwayWorld, it was announced in September that the school's future plans were uncertain for the theatre where musicals like PORGY AND BESS, ANYTHING GOES, OKLAHOMA! and FOLLIES premiered in their pre-Broadway tryouts. This was followed in October with word that a plan under consideration would convert the theatre into a student center and cafeteria, resulting in a cry of outrage throughout the theatre community.

An online petition protesting plans that would demolish portions of walls and replace orchestra-level seating with round dining tables and countertop seating received thousands of signatures from theatre fans and working theatre artists alike.

"I've had shows which tried out in the Colonial," stated Stephen Sondheim, "and it's not only beautiful but acoustically first-rate, two qualities which are rare in tandem, even on Broadway. For those of us involved in musical theater, it's a treasure and to tear it down would be not only a loss, but something of a crime."

In regards to the future of The Colonial, the Emerson College website quotes Pelton's email: "The College continues to be engaged in a parallel effort that has been underway for several months to assess the Colonial Theatre programming options for its future. I appreciate and remain touched by the interest that the performing arts communities and some of our faculty demonstrated in their commitment to the Colonial. We value the theater's history and its beauty. We have a team of people working hard on studying the options for its continued use as a theater space."

An ad hoc task force will continue to meet to identify programming partnerships, lease options and other arrangements for The Colonial as well as identify, analyze, and price repairs and renovations.

Click here for the full article.