Home > Shark Guides > Culture > Theatre > Colonial Theatre

Colonial Theatre

The Boston Colonial Theatre is famous for showing pre-Broadway shows and has become a historical sight in Boston because of the performances it hosts and its wonderful architecture. Offering shows year round, this theatre is a must visit for those who love the arts and for those who are just looking for a fun evening out. Whether you have a Les Miserables CD in your car, or don’t even know who wrote Hamlet, the Colonial Theatre is the place for you.

History of the Colonial Theatre

Constructed in 1900, the Colonial Theatre stands as the oldest theatre in Boston[ that is regularly performing shows. It is located on Boylston Street, right in the heart of Boston,beside the Boston Commons and China Town. The architectural company of Clarence Blackall designed the theatre and built it in a new office building on the land of the old Boston Public Library. The architecture echoes Victorian-era style and the theatre’s sound amplification is considered to be top-notch. The theatre specializes in musical productions, plays, and comedy performances.

The first-ever performance at the Colonial Theatre was Ben Hur on December 20^th, 1900. Over the years, the Colonial Theatre has hosted many famous productions, such as Oklahoma!, The Merchant of Yonkers, and Porgy and Bess. The Ziegfeld Follies put on performances at the Colonial Theatre a total of eight times during the early 20^th Century, and Irving Berlin's Music Box Revue played there twice. Anything Goes and Red, Hot, and Blue made their debuts at the Colonial Theatre. Other classic shows that have performed at the Colonial Theatre include such as Beatlemania, The Diary of Anne Frank, Les Miserables, Born Yesterday, and many more.

Shows at the Colonial Theatre

Many pre-Broadway plays first perform here in order to test out their audience reactions and other show details. This is an essential stop before heading to Broadway. The theatre has hosted a variety of music concerts, operas and comedy shows. The hall is open year round with different shows performing nightly, with options varying depending on the season.

Seating at the Colonial Theatre

Whether your seat is in the mezzanine or the orchestra, you are sure to enjoy any performance at the Colonial Theatre. If you are willing to spend a few more dollars, a good deal of box seats are available as well as four sections of balcony seating. These offer the best views of the stage and are definitely the best seats sound-wise. The Boston Colonial Theatre is particularly known for its high-tech capabilities and its’ ability to host high-tech shows unlike other small theatres. Special seating is available for the visually impaired and the hard of hearing

Getting to the Colonial Theatre

Because it is in the central area of Boston, many hotels in the downtown area are close to the theatre and can be reached easily. The theatre can also be reached via the Boston subway, commuter rail or by driving. Downtown parking is not the most convenient and is expensive, so consider taking the T if you want to avoid this. To get there, you can take subway’s Red Line to the Park Street stop, the Orange Line to the Chinatown stop, or the Blue or Silver lines to the Boylston stop. All of these stops put you within short walking distance to the theatre.

Book a Boston Hotel today!

More Shark Guides

FIND HOTELS NOW

Colonial Theatre