Built in 1919 and originally known as the Hippodrome, the Colony Theatre was a focal point of community life in Marietta throughout most of the twentieth century. The theatre closed in 1985 and lay vacant for over a decade until it was identified as one of the town’s most important – but underutilized – assets during a major community planning exercise in 1998.
Now, the Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre Association (Colony) is working to preserve this architectural treasure, while reviving its role as a cultural and educational center of the community. The Colony has assembled public and private funds of almost $3 million and has estimated Federal Historic and State Historic tax credit equity of $3 million to complete the project.
The Colony will serve as an anchor for downtown revitalization located in a critical block between the Marietta College campus and the major retail sector along Front and Second Streets. The rehabilitated 1,000-seat theatre will fill a unique niche in the surrounding multi-county area, providing a venue that is sized and outfitted to attract new performing groups and national tours that could not previously be accommodated by existing regional theatres. Programming and services provided by the theatre will be broad based and encompass the numerous requests of the region’s local arts, educational, and cultural groups including:
Theatre and Music of all types - Educational programs - National performing arts events - Classic, independent, and foreign films - Pageants, graduations, and recitals - Lectures series - Historical programming - Charity events, meetings, seminars, and church services.
Built in 1919 and originally known as the Hippodrome, the Colony Theatre was a focal point of community life in Marietta throughout most of the twentieth century. The theatre closed in 1985 and lay vacant for over a decade until it was identified as one of the town’s most important – but underutilized – assets during a major community planning exercise in 1998.