The mission is to restore and operate the historic Augusta Colonial Theater in the downtown of Augusta as an arts and cultural center for the artistic, educational and charitable benefit of the community. The Theater was opened in downtown Augusta in 1913 to plans by the Maine architect Harry S. The building exhibits the lingering influence of Beaux Arts design, coupled with Georgian Revival details and a retrained, geometric patterning that anticipated the Art Deco style. The building suffered extensive damage in a 1926 fire, and the theater was rebuilt and expanded. It featured silent films with live music until sound pictures were introduced in the late 1920s. In its heyday, the Colonial was a center for entertainment before the age of abundant automobiles, videotapes and cable TV. The Colonial was one of two theaters in Augusta; its competitor, the Capitol Theatre, was at the other end of Water Street. The Capitol was demolished in 1983 after a third major fire in the building. It has a long history as a gathering place for the community. Local filmmakers stored their movies in the film rooms and debuted movies at the theater. Community members were employed as actors, carpenters, and managers. During World War II, bond drives were held at the theater. In 1969, the Colonial Theater closed and sat abandoned for decades. In the mid-1990s a group of individuals formed the nonprofit, Colonial Theater, Inc. and saved it from demolition. In 2014, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, Colonial Theater, Inc. is resurrecting the Augusta Colonial Theater as an arts and cultural center for the community. Our major goal is the restoration of the historic theater, though our vision has expanded to include not just the theater, but an entire arts and cultural center in the Downtown Historic District of Augusta. We engage professionals and local tradespeople in historic restoration and are actively fundraising to make this vision a reality. In 2017, the Board began physical work on the ACT. The roof was repaired, toxic coal ash was abated in the basement, and structural supports for the auditorium floor were rebuilt. In 2019-2020, the beautiful 1926 Art Deco façade was recreated. In 2023-2024 the original doors and windows along the facade were restored. Our “new-old” public face has caused a great deal of excitement in the community. As part of our plan, we will engage the community in programming while using as much of the theater as possible for workshops, lectures, community gatherings, tours and events. We are not yet operational and amenities inside are limited, but we welcome programming that will "work" in our "construction zone" and eagerly await the day when our doors will reopen for good!
