Colonial Theatre

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

The Colonial Theatre is the oldest continually-operating theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Designed by Clarence Blackall the theatre first opened its doors for a performance of Ben-Hur on December 20, 1900. It is located at 106 Boylston on the 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.

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
La Cage aux Folles
Grand Hotel
Follies
A Little Night Music
The Diary of Anne Frank
High Fidelity

[edit] Present day

Presently the Colonial Theater houses pre-Broadway shows, is usually the first theater in the country to house the original national touring groups, and puts on the highly technical musicals that small play houses, such as the Shubert are unable to put on. Recent shows include Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast (1991 film), and Spamalot. It originally put on others like the Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables (which also went to the Wang Center), but after the renovation of the newly restored Opera House, some of its usuals were taken away.