Petition Posted Urging Emerson College To Preserve Historic Colonial Theatre

As reported earlier today on BroadwayWorld, Boston's Emerson College is considering plans that would convert the 115 year old Colonial Theatre, where classic shows like PORGY AND BESS, OKLAHOMA! and FOLLIES tried out before their Broadway openings, into a dining hall/performance space, as part of a larger Colonial Student Center.

A petition has been posted on the website Change, urging readers to "Tell Emerson the Colonial Matters."

Click here for the petition, which reads:

"The Colonial Theatre is the oldest continually operating theater in Boston; it has served as a pre-Broadway testing ground for many of today's American classics, and for the city of Boston it has served as a beautiful and historic venue to take in a show. Emerson College is known for their role in the reinvigoration of the theatre district, including restorations of both the Paramount and Cutler Majestic theatres. Now, as the College turns the Colonial dark and the future of the building has been left concerningly vague, it's important for the Emerson Community and City of Boston to speak up before the Colonial is relegated to dining hall or campus center."

Click here for a previous article from BroadwayWorld about the historic musicals that tried out at the Colonial.