The Colonial Theatre opens its doors on July 10 after nearly three years of construction with the world premiere of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
The original opening date of June 27 got pushed by about two weeks due to construction issues, leading to nine fewer performances overall. The show will run from July 10 to Aug. 19.
The original production is based on the Baz Luhrmann film, winning two Grammy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design at the 74th Academy Awards. The production is aiming towards Broadway, according the New York Times.
While the Colonial Theatre was under construction, the Moulin Rouge! cast used other Emerson’s studios for rehearsals and costume storage during the summer.
Kyle Costa, junior VMA major, is excited to see the show and thinks it’s amazing that he can see something like the Moulin Rouge! right on campus.
“I think it’s awesome that we get to be a part of this possibly Broadway history,” Costa said. “And I think it gives an amazing light to the Emerson community by hosting important shows like this one.”
Emerson announced a partnership with the Ambassador Theatre Group, or ATG, in a January 2017 press release. The organization operates two Broadway theatres, the Lyric and the Hudson. The agreement includes a long-term lease arrangement and the investment for major renovations to the theatre.
ATG has already announced in the last couple of weeks that Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be performed at the theatre for two weeks in December in addition to many more shows in the upcoming season.
The 118-year-old Colonial Theater is the birthplace to Broadway hits such as Ben-Hur, Oklahoma, Anything Goes, and La Cage aux Folles.
ATG expressed the mission to maintain Boston’s legacy for showcasing Broadway destined shows through the restoration of the Colonial Theatre in an email statement to the Boston Globe.
“We are dedicated to bringing that spirit—that mission, that creativity—back to the people of Boston,” wrote Kristin Caskey, ATG executive vice president of content and creative in North American operations.
Seat prices listed for the musical range from $70 to $250.
Shafaq Patel contributed to this article.
