City renews Colonial Theatre contract with Spectacle Live

LACONIA — The city council voted 6-0 to renew the Colonial Theatre management agreement between the city and Spectacle Live at their meeting April 27. The new 5.5-year contract comes with an opt-out clause after two years, and three, one-year automatic renewals. Advanced notice one year prior to termination must be received by Spectacle Live to end it early.

The term begins July 1, and ends June 30, 2028. The extensions would continue the agreement until June 30, 2031.

“Looking and reviewing the contract and stuff; I think it did cover everything we can try to do in keeping the Colonial going,” said Councilor Steven Bogert (Ward 5). “I think it’s a good contract at the moment and I like it.”

It was a lengthy endeavor to renew the contract, which expires June 30, with discussions starting back in 2025. The city published a request for proposals on two occasions, and Spectacle was the only respondent to satisfy the criteria.

City Manager Kirk Beattie acknowledged the process was drawn out, but done intentionally to satisfy both parties.

“We did intentionally drag our feet on this a little bit. It’s way later than we really probably should have it. It was to work through some issues. [Spectacle] said we hit a bunch of their issues and some of your concerns, as well. There’s been a lot of movement on it,” said Beattie. “Both sides stuck with it.”

The decision to renew the contract comes with public trepidation toward the city’s arrangement with the theater, and whether or not the institution is an economic driver for downtown. The council meeting opened with public comment, with many in attendance urging the council to refrain from voting just yet.

Business owner Melissa McCarthy, of The Studio at 598 Main St., keeps track of where her customers come from, most coming from BankNH Pavilion or attending city events, like Pumpkinfest.

McCarthy relocated her business to downtown nearly 10 years ago, and sees how the community supports the theater, but wanted to make it known is not the economic driver it’s made out to be.

“The reality is that the downtown business community supports the Colonial Theatre,” she said. “The Colonial is not the savior of downtown. The ring which is downtown Laconia is a thriving and growing small business community, and is the setting that the Colonial can be the shining gemstone of. If the theater were shuttered tomorrow, my business would continue to thrive and grow without missing a beat, as it has for the past 17 years.”

Residents in the audience agreed, and said the theater doesn't generate enough revenue for the city.

“Why are we paying someone else to manage it if we’re getting nothing out of it? Plain and simple, this is for Laconia,” said John Ash, Ward 5. “We’re not making any money on it, and that is ridiculous.”

The Colonial Theatre, though, was represented and advocated for.

“After working with [Spectacle] for five years, we’ve been very happy with their commitment to both our organization and the community as a whole,” said Johanna Helprin, a producer with Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre. “We hope to continue the partnership with the city going forward.”

Spectacle Live has operated the Colonial Theatre since its reopening in 2021, following an extensive restoration effort, resurrecting the turn-of-the-century performance venue.

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Gabriel Perry contributed to this reporting. Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.