Our mission is to restore and operate the historic Colonial Theater in downtown Augusta, Maine, as an arts and cultural center for the artistic, educational, and charitable benefit of the community.
The historic Colonial Theater / Colonial Theatre, opened in 1913. |
The yet-to-be-restored building as it stood in the early 2000s, after years of neglect and abandonment. |
The Augusta Colonial Theater as it stands today, on a journey to restoration. |
THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE
This is the vision for a fully operational Capital Area Arts and Cultural Center, housing the restored historic Augusta Colonial Theater. Design plans are subject to change.
Phase I includes complete restoration of the historic theater plus the construction of an attached 18,000 square foot building on the north side of the existing theater. It will provide modern restrooms, a box office, concessions, multi-function rooms, art spaces, a conference area, storage, elevators, loading, and green room / back of house functionality for a variety of uses. Completion of Phase I will allow us to be fully operational.
Phase II, to be completed at a later date or at the same time if funding is available, will include an additional 216 seat flexible use space and an upper-floor income producing restaurant overlooking the Kennebec, in order to aid in the sustainability of the center. Phase II is not necessary to become operational so the current focus is on completion of Phase I. Phase II will certainly add more revenue, ensuring the sustainability of the center, but it will also allow for a greater variety of events and programs for the community.
Phase I includes complete restoration of the historic theater plus the construction of an attached 18,000 square foot building on the north side of the existing theater. It will provide modern restrooms, a box office, concessions, multi-function rooms, art spaces, a conference area, storage, elevators, loading, and green room / back of house functionality for a variety of uses. Completion of Phase I will allow us to be fully operational.
Phase II, to be completed at a later date or at the same time if funding is available, will include an additional 216 seat flexible use space and an upper-floor income producing restaurant overlooking the Kennebec, in order to aid in the sustainability of the center. Phase II is not necessary to become operational so the current focus is on completion of Phase I. Phase II will certainly add more revenue, ensuring the sustainability of the center, but it will also allow for a greater variety of events and programs for the community.
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ABOUT US
Get to Know UsThe Augusta Colonial Theater is a signature landmark of Downtown Augusta, Maine, 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. 
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Colonial Theater Building Exterior, 1938, Augusta Historical Society
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This video, made from a slide deck, was shown to theater visitors in the summer of 2025. It runs about 24 minutes and contains some great historic information as well as a summary of what is to come.
What's Going On
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RESTORATION
The Augusta Colonial Theater’s Doors & Windows Restoration Project was funded by Maine Development Foundation’s RevitalizeME Gen2 subgrant program, which was funded by the Historic Preservation Fund as administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Additional grant and individual funding was also received from the Davis Family Foundation; Maine Preservation, through a 1772 Foundation grant; Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust; and Evelyn Hunt on behalf of the Randy Mackay Trust. 
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EVENTS & INFO
In 2022 the Augusta Colonial Theater hosted its first ticketed entertainment event in over 53 years. Although not yet operational, we are scheduling small events for the near future. Join us as we celebrate the revival of this historic landmark known as the Augusta Colonial Theater in downtown Augusta, Maine. Click on links below for UPCOMING EVENTS, VENUE & INFO, our FACEBOOK page, or to see a photo GALLERY of past events. LATEST NEWS
PUBLICATIONS
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