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The Augusta Colonial Theater (ACT) 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 founded the nonprofit, Colonial Theater, Inc. The all volunteer board of Colonial Theater, Inc. is devoted to the restoration and operation of the theater for the enjoyment of the residents and visitors to Augusta and the entire state of Maine. Every penny that comes in goes directly to the restoration, preservation and operation of the theater. It belongs to all of us. Augusta is the only state capital without an arts and cultural center. Two other performing venues in Augusta exist, but do not function adequately to provide the size and scope of services necessary for an arts and cultural center in the capital city. UMA seats around 250 and Cony High School is a public high school with limited amenities. ACT will not be “just a movie theater.” It will be a fully operational center for arts and culture that will include, but not be restricted to, live performances, lectures, concerts, international streaming performances and a home for a symphony orchestra. We need your help in ensuring that this critically important economic and community resource in our state capital becomes a reality. |
We're currently expanding efforts to restore and operate the historic theater parallel to the overall revitalization of the downtown Augusta historic district. Our initial 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 three million dollars has been raised through a combination of grant monies, fundraising efforts and donations. See our restoration timeline for more information on how these funds have been utilized.
Since that initial capital campaign, much has taken place and much work remains to be finished. A global pandemic temporarily put the brakes on the project, but we persevered and continued making small but marked progress. A small team researched other theaters to learn best practices and get ideas for development. This information, along with input from historical preservation experts, drove the development of 50% architectural design plans. With these plans and some number crunching, we now have a better idea of what will be needed to complete the project and bring a much-needed cultural center to our capital. The opportunity to invest in Augusta and the downtown is here and we need your help in molding a future where our children and families thrive with greater access to the arts. |
