A Farewell Message
from ACT's Founding Executive Director
Dear Friends,

These past 22 years, spent first as a volunteer helping to save the Colonial Theatre then as it's founding Executive Director, have been such a wonderful professional and personal journey. The group of people who believed that saving the Colonial could also save our downtown district were confident that a town like Phoenixville was up for the challenge. Not only did our community invest in the town’s resurgence - so did other like-minded folks throughout the county. Those dividends are evident today. As the success of the Colonial continued, out on Bridge Street the rewards also grew.

With the recent completion of our expansion project and the opening of our new wing, it feels like the right time for me to move on to new pursuits. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the ACT board and staff to reopen this historic theatre and watch it and the community both thrive in so many ways. Together we:

  • Relit the classic Colonial Marquee
  • Reopened the balcony
  • Saw new businesses open and developer invest in historic real estate in the Borough of Phoenixville
  • Shared many memorable movie moments from Run Lola Run (the first film screened after reopening in 1999) to our annual sell-out screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to the creation of our popular Classic Films, Young Audiences, Fright Night and Cult Cinema programs
  • Achieved the fastest selling live concert (this spring’s Psychedelic Furs show)
  • Birthed and saw the continued growth of Blobfest
  • Completed construction and opening of the Bank Building expansion – and witnessed the evolution of our first-run film programming, live concerts and special events.

Personally, this amazing opportunity helped me establish my Phoenixville roots and led to many new and long-standing friendships, including with two very special people who I have learned much from: Ken Mumma, who led the board as President for 12 years, and current President Marian Moskowitz. Marian's private sector and non-profit experience will be a vital asset to the Colonial’s continued success. Knowing the leadership on the board is strong and the staff are in place, enthusiastic and wildly creative, the time is right for me to pursue new challenges.

As many of you have heard, the board, with help and guidance from the search committee, has chosen Ken Metzner to take the helm from here. Ken’s experience as the Executive Director of Philadelphia’s acclaimed Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers and his positive energy made it a joy to work with him during the transition. I’m excited to see where Ken takes the theatre in this next phase. Ken is thrilled to become a part of the community. I know you'll welcome him with the same enthusiasm and support you afforded me these past years. I'm also confident that ACT’s vision will continue to have a lasting impact on the quality of life in our community.

After 22 years and all of the evidence compiled by other theatres and resources – and the state of our own thriving, bustling Phoenixville community - it’s quite clear that by working to save historic theatres and the communities that support them, we safeguard our links to the past, cultivate a lively present and point the way to a prosperous future.

My best to you, to Ken Metzner, the board, staff, and volunteers - and to that prosperous future!

See you around the ‘ville.
Mary Foote, Founding Executive Director
Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT)
ASSOCIATION FOR THE COLONIAL THEATRE 
227 BRIDGE STREET PHOENIXVILLE, PA 19460
www.thecolonialtheatre.com |  info@thecolonialtheatre.com | (610) 917-1228

BOX OFFICE HOURS: 
12:30 PM – 15 minutes past last show time of the day

BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS:
9-6:30 PM: Mondays - Fridays


The official registration and financial information of Association for the Colonial Theatre may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.