“It is clear,” he asserted, “that maintaining the Colonial for its intended purpose is no longer viable.”
Really?
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Emerson College Take Heed: The Colonial Theatre Matters
“It is clear,” he asserted, “that maintaining the Colonial for its intended purpose is no longer viable.”
Really?
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14 comments:
I personally heard about the Colonial theatre just a day after I heard about BU and the Huntington, and I was shocked. To me, these seemed like the most unexpected events. Particularly with the Colonial, the plans are for a complete renovation, and as such it removes the past century of history found in the building. I don’t understand why Emerson would choose such a historic building to convert into a student center. I understand that the university has needs and a limited budget, but this feels like more of a process than it’s worth. I know that many people have complained about the plans for the Colonial, and I saw a petition circling around trying to save it. I hope this important piece of theatre history can be saved. I also can’t help but wonder if there was a way to declare the building a historical landmark or something, so that they couldn’t renovate it. I doubt that is likely to happen, but I really do hope things work out. The loss of the Colonial Theatre would be a loss for the entire theatre community.
This is outrageous. Emerson College was my top choice and the only reason I’m not there right now is because it was extremely expensive. I loved Emerson because of the Colonial Theater! To perform and design on a Broadway equivalent stage is incredible for a college student. The fact that both Boston University and Emerson College are getting rid of their theaters is atrocious for any of the current theater students, and definitely will impact them negatively which lack of serious applicants now. At least Boston University just got rid of their theater; making the Colonial into a glorified dining hall is disrespectful to its history and utterly disgusting. The Colonial is a beautiful theater, and I cannot see how it can be easily changed into a dining hall without major changes and damage to the theater. Thinking from a student’s perspective, what is it going to be like to go to theater school and perform in a cafeteria? If CMU follows on this path, I’m going to be highly disappointed.
Wow. This is actually the first time I’ve read anything concrete about Emerson’s plans for the colonial. Boston University and Emerson were both programs that I had considered strongly and eventually applied to both. Now both of them have in the span of a few months announced at best, uncertain futures for their historical theatres. These spaces are worth supporting even only for their historical value but also for the theatre programs of both of these colleges. I think it’s vitally important for us to remember where the past fits into our modern theatre. These historical venues are very important to that history and provide so much more than a space to do theatre. The modern theatre is rapidly advancing but this doesn’t mean that more traditional theatre is somehow less valuable or that modern theatre pieces and audiences cannot be satisfied by these same spaces. I hope that both emerson and BU will reconsider these decisions.
I actually saw this article a few days ago when my parents sent it to me, and I agree with the writer that the President of Emerson’s justifications were confusing and half hearted. To me they read like a desperate attempt to stem the tide of backlash that he is receiving for this plan. I get that Emerson wants a university center, and that the Colonial theater is in the middle of their campus. That being said there’s a building literally next to the Colonial that Emerson not only owns but already uses for some of the tasks a university center would be used for. So why not redo that building? It has no historic status, its not a beautiful marvel of design and architecture, and it connects to several of their other student life buildings. If Emerson’s President is serious about making a university center for his school, he should stop trying to get rid of the Colonial and just use one of the other buildings the school already owns. It even makes more sense on a logistical level. It would be incredibly difficult to do this kind of large scale renovation/conversion on the Colonial theater. It’s been in the process of getting landmark status for years (I think its some thing around 55 years at this point) so any changes have to go through the board responsible for that, and its probably under the protection of the historical society which would make it even harder to make any changes to the building. (posted)
I find it.. interesting that Emerson's President led with the argument that "the landscape of theatre is undergoing a transformation.". I am not really clear on what he means by this. I agree with some of the previous comments that claim this explanation is a poor excuse for his actions. It is really sad to keep hearing stories of these aged theatres being thrown out like they mean nothing anymore. I can't help but worry about the opportunities the students of these organizations will miss because respect for these award-winning and classic theatres, that have done more for these programs than can be expected, have been tossed aside. I also wonder what is going through the minds of the people who make these decisions. I mean, they have to know that selling these theatres will lead to a drop in the applicant the programs will get and that can lead to a program being diminished. I hope that the future of these wonderful theatres will be alright and that they will continue to produce art and not dinner parties.
The statistics given in the article about the staggering amount of people who went to see Broadway shows this year, while they provide me with hope about the continuation of theater as an art form people are interested in, make the possibility of the Colonial’s transformation even less easy to understand. This article definitely gives more information about Emerson’s plans than the previous article about this issue did, but nevertheless, I am still left just as confused. The idea of getting rid of such a historical, culturally important theater for its designated purpose just seems ridiculous to me, especially given Emerson’s exceptional reputation as a theater school with beautiful theater spaces. The Colonial, along with the Cutler Majestic, are some of the main selling points of Emerson to its incoming theater students. As someone who almost decided to attend Emerson College, their impressively large theater spaces were the main attractions for me, as someone who wants to pursue scenic design especially. I wish they would release a clearly, concisely stated mission statement that addresses the public’s concerns, instead of using vague language to beat around the subject at hand. This, combined with BU’s recent shocking decision, makes me scared for what is happening to Boston theater schools, and why they aren’t able to keep up with the seemingly booming theater business.
Like Sasha M, right up until visiting Carnegie Mellon, Emerson was my dream school. It was everything I wanted, from the program to the location to the people...to the theatres. I still remember the first time I was inside The Colonial. It was my first time visiting Emerson after deciding I was interested in stage management, and the whole thing was a totally electrifying experience. A whole program of people interested in the same things as me? Amazing. It was a rainy afternoon, and when we finally got across the street to The Colonial, we were a little more concerned with getting out of the wet than looking around. So we darted in and dealt with our umbrellas and shook ourselves off...and then I looked around and took a sharp breath in. This was a college theatre? It was absolutely beautiful. One of the most gorgeous theatres I'd seen in my life, and it was here, at this dream school of mine. I was totally blown away and thought over and over again, "What must it be like to walk through these doors for tech rehearsal? Or to walk in knowing I'm about to call an amazing show for a stunning house?" It was like a dream. Of course I ended up going down a different path with my college career, but I still have a deep love for Emerson. So when I heard last week that this incredible, historic, amazing place to learn was being turned into a fucking DINING HALL, I was beyond disappointed. I was disgusted. Honestly, what are the Boston schools doing right now? These are theatres that I love, where people I love are supposed to be learning. How can they be tossed aside the way they are? The most frustrating part is definitely the lack of commitment to any sort of plan or reason for the changes. I just am so disappointed in the way these things are being handled, and once again cannot stop thinking of the students who dreamed of working in those theatres who will now be denied the opportunity.
What is happening is Boston? It seems almost unreal that two schools with very good theater programs are both closing their historical theaters. It's shocking. Don't the schools recognize the standing of their programs? Do they not see the potential impact on their students of closing a main stage theater? Do they not appreciate the history and culture ingrained in the very walls of these spaces? It is terrifying that this is something that could happen to such high ranked theater programs. When it was just BU selling the Huntington it wasn't that scary. But now with Emerson converting the colonial into a dining hall, its much more threatening. I can't imagine the financial situation of both BU and Emerson are so bad that they can no longer support their theater programs.
Another question, what are the current students going to do? BU is also selling their design studios. Where will class be held? I can't even imagine what we would do here if Purnell was sold (knock on wood). If it can happen to BU and Emerson than it could happen to us (I really hope it doesn't). Anyways, this is terrifying. Something else is happening and no one is talking about it. I really hope it doesn't end up hurting us.
Turning a theater, especially such a well known and historically valuable theater into a dining hall just sounds ridiculous to me. I particularly agree with the statement that "If Emerson isn't up to the challenge of owning a cultural landmark..., then they should step aside and let someone else do it." When I visited Emerson, I visited The Colonial Theatre and it was beautiful. Emerson was one of my top choices, and I am so relieved that I didn't go. I think this reflects the lack of fundamental respect Emerson has for theatre, and they obviously don't view theatre seriously - in their eyes, the Colonial Theatre is worth less than a dining hall. What are the theatre students going to do? This isn't what Emerson was like when they chose Emerson, and it's just unfair. It's really sad how even their own school doesn't value what they do, which I think its the worst part out of all this.
Emerson's plans make as much sense to me as BU's plans did. Why are schools with such widely respected theatre programs just throwing out their historical theaters? When I visited Emerson, I didn't like it, and now I'm even more glad that I didn't consider it more seriously. BU, however, was my third choice, and it's very concerning how easily these schools can and will turn their theaters into other things. I understand why Emerson wants a university center, as their lack of a real campus was one of the main reasons I wasn't interested in them, but they shouldn't have to get rid of one of their most important landmarks in order to get it.
Emerson's plans make as much sense to me as BU's plans did. Why are schools with such widely respected theatre programs just throwing out their historical theaters? When I visited Emerson, I didn't like it, and now I'm even more glad that I didn't consider it more seriously. BU, however, was my third choice, and it's very concerning how easily these schools can and will turn their theaters into other things. I understand why Emerson wants a university center, as their lack of a real campus was one of the main reasons I wasn't interested in them, but they shouldn't have to get rid of one of their most important landmarks in order to get it.
I'm astounded at this. when I visited Emerson, I was blown away by their access, and proximity to such a grand and beautiful theater. do they not see what a privilege that is? I am trying to understand the actions of both Boston University and Emerson and I simply cannot grasp why they are tarnishing their own programs? especially if they don't pay Property taxes on the buildings they own. then there is no reason to fret about money.
The reason I liked Emerson is because it wasn't a regular college. I found the artsy aspect charming, and the constant frenetic blitz of art and theater students bustling around welcoming. so the idea of turning a theater into a college dining hall doesn't even fit the environment of the place and I'm sure many students will agree. why don't they spend the money in sure they've allowed for renovations on purchasing a run down place in nearby Chinatown to turn into a dining hall insteadv
This sounds so insane to me. How mad do you have to be to to want to turn such a historical and beautiful theater into a cafeteria??? That just boggles my mind. Is this where we are going? BU, Emerson... I'm scared for other programs that claim to be advocates for the advancement of theatre but end up limiting the resources available. This is definitely going to
affect their number of applicants and prospective students and this decision of taking down the theater and making it a dining hall will change the minds of student currently enrolled no doubt. I am actually glad that I decided not to apply to Emerson, something told me not to. And now I know what it was, the idea that a school I trust in my education in theatre can just take away such an important part of the program and leave me without a space to perform a main stage in.
Having participated in the Emerson Pre-College Summer Program, I hold a special place in my heart for the theatre department there, the professors, and of course, the most wonderful city in the world, BOSTON!
After having read this article I am sad to here that this theatre may be turned into a cafeteria. The historical value this theatre holds is undefinable, however, money speaks louder. This reality is a shame.
So many losses of theaters in Boston college theatre programs in one month. I love the idea that Emerson would gift the theater to the Boston University, though I do not know how that would be fiscally possible. Not to mention if Boston University is selling their property attached to the Huntington in order to be closer to the rest of the College of Fine Arts on Commonwealth, then the gifting them this theatre would push the theatre students even further away from "home".
Losing the Colonial is not only a loss to the city of Boston, but to the students of Emerson, who may have possibly made a decision of where to go to college based on Emerson's access to so many fantastic performance spaces. I understand that things change, and that some things, such as this theater situation is out of most people's control, but I still feel bad.
I am confident that in giving up this landmark, Emerson will rally and continue the commitment made to their students to gift them a strong higher education in theatre arts.
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