Colonial Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts)

This article is about the theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. For other uses, see Colonial Theatre (disambiguation).

The Colonial Theatre, Boston, 2009

The Colonial Theatre is the oldest continually-operating theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Designed by the architectural firm of Clarence Blackall and paid for by Frederick Lothrop Ames (see also Ames Building, Boston) the theatre first opened its doors for a performance of Ben-Hur on December 20, 1900. Ben-Hur operated with a cast and crew of 350 people and featured eight live horses on stage in full gallop during the chariot race scene. The play was so mechanically and technically extraordinary, it was featured on the cover of Scientific American. It is located at 106 Boylston on Boston Common at the former site of the Boston Public Library.

In the early and mid 20th century, Boston was a well-known venue for Broadway producers to try out new productions before bringing them to New York. The residents of Boston were therefore treated to a sneak peek at many well-known Broadway shows at the Colonial. Other notable Boston theatres of the day are the Majestic, Shubert, Wilbur and the Metropolitan.

Shows

Notable shows which were previewed at the Colonial before opening on Broadway include:

• Anything Goes
• Red, Hot and Blue
• Porgy and Bess
• Oklahoma! (called Away We Go! in Boston)
• The Merchant of Yonkers
• Born Yesterday
• Carousel
• Annie Get Your Gun
• Promises, Promises
• La Cage aux Folles
• Grand Hotel
• Follies
• Beatlemania (musical)
• A Little Night Music
• The Diary of Anne Frank
• Seussical The Musical
• Tallulah
• High Fidelity

Present day

Presently the Colonial Theater continues to house Broadway and Pre-Broadway shows and is often the first theater in the country to house national tours of Broadway shows. Because of its size, the Colonial can often host highly technical musicals that the smaller houses, such as the Shubert and the Wilbur, are unable to put on. Recent shows include Avenue Q, Mamma Mia!, The Producers and the kick-off of the first national tour of Monty Python's Spamalot.

The Colonial has also played host to much larger shows such as Les Misérables, but after the renovation of the newly restored Opera House, some of its usual shows were taken away. Nonetheless, the Colonial continues to be a testing ground for Broadway-bound shows.

External links

• Bostons Colonial Theatre website
• The Colonial Theatre at cinematreasures.org
• Seating chart from Ticketmaster.com
• Jersey Boys performance at Colonial Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts

Coordinates: 42°21′08″N 71°03′56″W / 42.3522963°N 71.0654283°W / 42.3522963; -71.0654283