Our mission is to restore and operate the historic Colonial Theater, located in downtown Augusta, Maine, for the artistic, educational, and charitable benefit of the community.
The Colonial is a signature landmark of downtown Augusta and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Beginning with silent films and vaudeville acts, the Colonial served as a beacon for culture for the entire Kennebec Valley region from 1913 to 1969. In the 1990s, after many years of neglect, the building was saved from demolition by concerned citizens who became the nonprofit's founding members. Read more about the history of the Colonial.
Today, a renewed effort is underway to restore and operate the theater at the same time Downtown Augusta is experiencing a revitalization. Our capital campaign ACT Now launched in 2016 with a goal of 8.5 million to restore the original theater to its former glory, construct an adjoining building, and set aside funds for two years of operations. To date, nearly 3 million of our capital campaign goal has been reached through a combination of grant monies, historic tax credits, fundraising efforts and donations. Major structural repairs including a new roof and subfloor in the auditorium have been completed.
Our Board of Directors is all-volunteer and continues its work of bringing this theater back to life for the cultural and economic benefit of Augusta, and for future generations to enjoy. In the spring of 2019, we announced the hiring of our first-ever Executive Director Peter Bezemes.
We are especially grateful for the continued support of community members, business leaders, and to the the City of Augusta. See how you can get involved.
