BOSTON (CelebrityAccess) — After the touring version of the Broadway hit "The Book of Mormon" ends its run in October, the Colonial Theatre in Boston will be shutting its doors to face an uncertain future.
According to a report by the Boston Globe, the 1,700-seat venue, one of the oldest theaters in Boston, will close for at least a year while its owners, Emerson College, consider its future.
“All options are on the table,” Emerson’s vice president for communications, Andy Tiedemann told the Boston Globe. “Whatever direction we end up going, any option will make sure that the space can be used for performances.”
“That’s not to say it will be used in that way, but the stage will be preserved,” Tiedmann added.
The venue has long been a fixture in the city's lively arts scene but competition from other venues and the recent swell of performances space in the city have left the Colonial in a very competitive market. According to the Globe, nearly 4,600 theater seats have been added in Downtown Boston with the reopening of venues such as the Boston Opera House, Cutler Majestic Theatre, and Paramount Center after extensive renovations.
Emerson College acquired the Colonial in 2006 and most recently, signed a three-year lease with Citi Performing Arts Center who contracted to operate the venue starting in 2012. However, the lease has expired and the venue needs substantial renovations.
“We knew we had to take a step back. We know the building needs renovation, and we couldn’t renew a lease without doing the renovations,” Tiedemann,told the Globe, noting that the repairs will cost millions of dollars. “The building’s air conditioning and heating system is well beyond its useful life.” – Staff Writers
