The Colonial Theatre

Location: 106 Boylston St., Boston

Time: Varies by performance

Age appropriateness: All ages

Cost: Varies

The Colonial Theatre, built in 1900, is the oldest continuously operating theatre in Boston. The creation of this magnificent showplace sparked a theatre building boom in Boston.

The Colonial was designed by Clarence Blackall, the most experienced and celebrated theatre architect of his era, and is ideal for both musical and dramatic productions.

Built on the site of the former Boston Public Library, The Colonial Theatre blends unobtrusively into the exterior facade of the storefronts along Boylston Street where it stands facing the Boston Common.

The Colonial has withstood the tests of time and the trials of age and restorations to remain one of the preeminent legitimate theatres in the United States, a jewel of American Theatre history. With the passing of generations of theatre-goers, it has flourished along with modern progress; the same progress which has led to the destruction of many other historic theatres.

What was said of The Colonial Theatre in 1900 still holds true today, "It is a palace dedicated to the play, a monument to the taste of New England, and a credit to the City of Boston."