On 227 Bridge Street, in Phoenixville, across the front of a building reads COLONIAL, in bright yellow letters. When you step inside, you’ll notice stairs to your left and right that lead to the balcony seats. Straight ahead lie the doors to the theatre. To the right, former PAHS student Ryan Wilson sells popcorn, soda, and candy. Through the theatre doors are rows and rows of seats and a stage in the front, with a drop screen hanging down.
The Colonial Theatre is a building with a rich history that has much more to offer than the average high school student might think. On this stage, professional and live entertainment was introduced to the town of Phoenixville for the very first time. The first silent movie debuted here in 1903. Fourteen years later, the world famous magician Harry Houdini performed on this stage. In 1958, the Colonial Theatre was used in the sci-fi horror film The Blob (and every year hosts a “Blob Fest”). The Colonial Theatre closed for a while in the 1990’s and reopened in 1999. In the last couple of years, some major changes and renovations have been made to the Colonial Theatre. There’s brand new carpeting in the lobby, an elevator for convenience of the disabled, and new seats. Everything is old-fashioned, yet comfortable and beautiful. The theatre is still undergoing renovations to its third floor.
In fact, right now the Colonial is working on installing a restored pipe organ, and needs community volunteers to help with the painting and heavy lifting. High school students – this is a great opportunity for a senior project! If you are interested in helping out, contact Jack Serdy (the project manager) at 610-933-3601.
Currently, The Colonial Theatre is owned and operated by the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT), a nonprofit corporation. Nowadays, the theatre shows art and independent films on weeknights and weekends. “There are a wide range of programs for all ages downtown,” said Scott, an employee at the theater. “[The Colonial] brings a lot of people who’d never usually come to Phoenixville.” There are children’s movies on Saturdays, and ‘Classics’ on Sundays. Regular admission is $7. Seniors and students with ID’s get in for $6. Children under 13 get in for $4. Starting April 4th, the Colonial will be showing horror films on the first Friday of every month. The Colonial Theatre is also well known for the concerts it hosts. Upcoming acts include Gaelic Storm on April 18th, Brain Damage (a Pink Floyd tribute band) on April 19th, and Dickey Betts (an original member of the Allman Brothers) on April 30th. These concerts sell out fast, so be sure to keep an eye on the website, HYPERLINK "http://www.colonialtheatre.com" www.colonialtheatre.com.
The Colonial Theater is a wonderful part of the Phoenixville community, offering fun films for all ages and tastes. Don’t be turned off just because it’s an older theatre… that’s the charm! Go see a movie you’ve never heard of! Attend the festivals and activities you might not normally attend! Combine the trip with a nice lunch or dinner at one of Phoenixville’s great restaurants or The Steel City coffee shop. I encourage you to try something different than the usual trip to the mall or regular Regal Cinemas. You can help Phoenixville grow as a fun-filled community. Plus, chances are, you’ll wind up having a wonderful time.

Posted by
Lindsay Burgess