For the first time in 53 years, a live performance will take place in Augusta’s Colonial Theater on May 6.
It’s a major milestone for the venue that’s survived decades of water damage and a fire that so badly scarred its exterior previous owners painted over the brick. While the theater opened in 1913, a fire in 1926 left extensive damage, leading to rebuilding and expansion.
When Las Vegas master illusionist Kent Axell performs in May, it will enliven the long vacant space that still needs years of work and millions of dollars before it can be the cultural hub envisioned by a dedicated group of Mainers.
“It’s a big deal,” said Kathi Wall, the theater’s executive director. “It’s the first time for a ticketed event. People are supportive of the project and they are interested in coming in.”
Plans call for an addition to be built on the vacant lot next door that will provide restrooms, an elevator and additional handicapped accessibility, she said. A recent $160,000 grant from the Maine Downtown Center will pay for restoration of the doors and windows.
So far, the group has raised about $1.5 million for the theater, while the total project is expected to cost $8.5 million, Wall said. The goal is to fully reopen by 2026, the 100-year anniversary of the theater’s restoration and expansion.
Augusta Mayor Mark O’Brien said the city has contributed $300,000 to the project that’s available for matching grants and issued letters of support to help the theater get federal funds. He said via email that he and his wife Julie have tickets to the May event, saying it will “provide the community with a glimpse of what is possible for the theater.”
“I think a successful rejuvenation of the Colonial Theater will create jobs, infuse the downtown with arts and culture, benefit the local dining and lodging economy, spur other investment in downtown buildings, help preserve our heritage and history, and improve our overall quality of life here in Augusta,” O’Brien said.
During a recent tour of the theater, rows of chairs donated by Kennebec Valley Community College sat clustered in the rear of the auditorium, while stacks of tin that had been removed from the ceiling were piled on the floor. Wall said ongoing investigations into the structural integrity of the building necessitated the removal of the tin, which likely dates to 1926.
In the lobby and the auditorium, there were signs of the holiday tree display that drew between 10,000 to 15,000 people, Wall said. Before the May show, there will be a temporary stage in addition to the main stage.
Augusta Downtown Alliance Director Michael Hall said recent improvements will mean the ability to host up to 300 people for live events. He said the building that was “basically a shell” six years ago is now coming to life, with the May show just the beginning.
“It’s going to attract a lot of people who have never been in the theater before,” he said.
In its heyday, the theater served mostly as a movie house, at times drawing lines so long they extended across the bridge over the Kennebec River, Wall said. But the theater closed in 1969 and was sold the following year. It suffered significant damage and was close to being torn down when a nonprofit purchased it in 1997, according to the theater’s website.
In 2014, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2015, the group began major structural repairs.
When the work is completed, it will be a 1,000-seat theater for live performances — music, dance, theater, orchestra, and live streaming.
“I really envision it being a center for community activities,” Wall said. “I also think with some of the performances that will be here it will have a wide appeal for central Maine, Kennebec County, depending on who we have in here. People travel long distances for entertainment.”