Augusta, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited the Augusta Colonial Theater to see the plans for renovations and expansions made possible by the $1.5 million grant she secured in December as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. The theater, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, had previously been closed and vacant since 1969, falling into disrepair for several decades until it was saved from demolition.

The grant is allowing for the renovation of the 1,000-seat theater, making it wheelchair accessible, and the construction of an attached 2-level auxiliary building that contains expanded restrooms, adequate water supply systems, additional HVAC systems, a 200-seat multipurpose community theater, and space for classrooms and galleries. On the top floor, overlooking the Kennebec River, there will be an income-producing restaurant to provide self-sufficiency.

“Cultural institutions are part of the fabric of communities and enrich the lives of Mainers,” Senator Collins said. “Securing this grant has made it possible for the Colonial Theater to reestablish itself as a lively cultural center in the heart of Augusta for generations to come.”

The theater is set to become a vibrant hub for arts and culture in Augusta, offering an array of exciting events such as live performances, concerts, lectures, international streaming performances, and serving as the new home of the Kennebec Performing Arts (formerly the Augusta Symphony Orchestra). In addition, plans are underway to expand the existing Youth Theater and introduce a Senior Theater, both of which would make use of the newly expanded rehearsal and performance spaces.

AUGUSTA – The Augusta Colonial Theater will host its first live performance in 53 years on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. with a production of Lifting the Curtain, featuring Master Mind Reader Kent Axell. Tickets are $25 per person and are now available for purchase at givebutter.com/kaxell.

While the future is normally uncertain, this show provides the entertainment that only a Master Mind Reader can bring. It leans heavily on audience participation, from simple audience inclusion to manifestations of possible future events. In the spirit of such a performance, the Augusta Colonial Theater invites the community to join the theater as it “begins again” towards a new and better arts and cultural center for the capital area.

Not only will the audience be thrilled by mind reading and illusions by the performer, they will also get a glimpse into the theater’s future. The show’s title, Lifting the Curtain, signifies a new beginning and the theater’s rebirth into an arts and cultural center.

“We are thrilled to open the theater’s doors and welcome the community back for the first performance in over 50 years,” stated Kathi Wall, Executive Director of the Augusta Colonial Theater. “This is a step into the theater’s next chapter and a look at the capital area’s future with an arts and cultural center. Our community can look forward to more and more performances, live music, movies, and so much more in the very near future.”

Every ticket purchased for this amazing show brings the theater one step closer in creating a live performing arts venue for the enjoyment of all. To purchase tickets, visit givebutter.com/kaxell. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door, so be sure to get yours early.

Augusta Colonial Theater

The Augusta Colonial Theater (ACT) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to restore and operate the historic Colonial Theater for the artistic, educational, and charitable benefit of the community. To date, ACT has invested $1.5 million into the restoration of the theater, which has been raised through grants, fundraising events, and corporate and individual donations. For more information, visit colonialtheater.org.