Colonial Theatre Advisory Board: A commitment to the community to never let the lights go out again

"A piece of coal in the rough" was one of the various and negative quotes utilized within the recent article in The Laconia Daily Sun to describe the Colonial Theatre. A piece of coal is what could have described the theater back in 2015, when the revitalization project began. Not today. Today, Laconia’s Colonial Theatre sits as a crowning jewel for what a city can do when it thinks outside the box and prioritizes cultural growth, community stability and economic development over momentary economic profiting.

The vision of our late Mayor Edward Engler was one that sought to bring Laconia’s stagnating economy but vibrant community together into a project, though at times controversial, that would propel the city into a new era. An era in which Downtown Laconia grows through collaborative business development, cultural energy and vibrant streets where every member of our community can feel pride in being a Laconian. The vision was one that established the Colonial Theatre as a civic auditorium above a for-profit venue. A vision that recognized that managing a venue like this could not rest on existing departments within the city but needed to rely on an outside professional’s skillset.

Spectacle Live has been part of this revitalization from very early on and the theater would not have been able to open and operate successfully without them. A straightforward fact that often gets overlooked. Spectacle Live joined our community with this project; they saw the vision and mission of this revitalization and continually seek to provide quality entertainment and cultural opportunities for all members of the Laconia and Lakes Region community. Utilization of a facility needs to be constantly evaluated, it needs to be appropriate to the demands and response from its community, and it needs to be equitable for all users. These are factors that the management entity needs to manage. But this is also a regular topic of conversation during the quarterly Advisory Board meetings, where the members of the Advisory Board bring up the concerns we hear from our community to representatives of Spectacle Live and have meaningful conversation to understand the rationale. All parties agree that more regular use of the facility would be preferred and be the ideal outcome.

We can already see the success which the revitalization of the Colonial Theatre has achieved, both inside its walls and beyond, and like any initiative, there needs to be regular reviews and opportunities for growth. It was not long ago that this building sat vacant, looming over Main Street and Canal Street with its negativity, dilapidated marquee and empty storefronts. Today, on the other hand, it is recognized at the state level for being one of the most proactive art restoration projects in the state’s history; for being a catalyst for economic growth, and for understanding that cultural initiatives continually support and energize long-term economic success.

We encourage the council to look at the history and larger picture of the Colonial Theatre, and recognize the tremendous results we see throughout the community that were supported and encouraged by this revitalization project. The Colonial Theatre is not "a piece of coal in the rough" — the Colonial Theatre is as vibrant as it was during its golden era spanning from the 1930s through the 1950s. We encourage creative thinking on the part of the managing entity to achieve regular and continued use of the building. We recognize that there was a financial commitment made by the council at the time of the project, and a commitment to the community of never letting the lights go out in the theater again. We, the members of the Colonial Theatre Advisory Board, support this vision, and support our community.

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This text is adapted from a letter from the Colonial Theatre Advisory Board to the Laconia City Council on Jan. 22. Advisory board members are Jared Guilmett, Donna Hosmer, Karen Sullivan, Jim Rogato, Cori Tessier, Robert Salome and Seth Wingate.