News
Jul 3 - 9
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
The last screening of Hunger is tonight at 7:30PM. Tomorrow night (Friday) we start a TWO week run of Goodbye Solo. It’s also First Friday Fright Night and to get ourselves in the proper kitschy state-of-mind for BlobFest, we’re showing an Ed Wood Double Feature - Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 from Outer Space! Show time is 9:45PM.
We will be CLOSED on Saturday. Happy Fourth of July to all!
Our classic film on Sunday at 2PM is 4-D Man (1959), the first of our Filmed in Phoenixville series this month. 4-D Man was directed by Shorty Yeaworth (The Blob) and we’re very lucky to have Shorty’s son, Kris, in the area. Kris will be here on Sunday with props and photos and to introduce the film.
BlobFest is next weekend (Jul 10 -12) and tickets are available for advance purchase online, but through 5PM on Thu, Jul 9 only. After that, you will need to come to the box office to buy your tickets with cash only.
Voting for the BlobFest Shorty Awards Fan Favorite will begin shortly on our website. Please keep checking back here. Our apologies for the delay.
Our Children’s Summer Series gets underway next week with a performance by the fabulous Cat’s Pajamas on Tue, Jul 7 at 10:30AM. They’ll have whisker painting and tattoos aplenty to help kick off the series. Tickets are just $5 per person.
In concert news, Nick Lowe has just been booked to play the Colonial on Sun, Oct 11! Ticket information will be available soon.
Here’s some exciting news! Miller DesignWorks is working on a short documentary about the first 10 years of ACT operating the Colonial Theatre. They are very talented folks so we look forward to a piece that will convey all the energy and enthusiasm that all of you have brought to the Colonial over the years. We are inviting you to share your stories with us — why you love participating in life at the Colonial, what the Colonial means to Phoenixville and to you, and what your hopes are for our future. If you have video footage, photographs, or a story you want to share with the filmmakers, please call or email us. We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you at the theatre!
Jun 26 - Jul 2
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
The last screening of Sin Nombre is tonight at 7:30PM. Tomorrow night (Friday) we start a one week run of Hunger directed by Steve McQueen (no, not our Steve McQ)). Our next feature film is Goodbye Solo starting on Fri, Jul 3, and we’ve just booked Food, Inc. to start on Aug 14.
Our classic film on Sunday at 2PM is The Magnificent Seven (1960) starring none other that Steve McQueen! Can you tell we’ve got BlobFest on the brain? Speaking of which, BlobFest (Jul 10 -12) tickets are available for advance purchase online! They are selling fast, so we definitely recommend that you don’t wait too long to get yours. We also need a few more volunteers for BlobFest. If you’re interested, please email Mary.
Our Children’s Summer Series gets underway in just a few weeks. Our first performance is by the fabulous Cat’s Pajamas on Tue, Jul 7 at 10:30AM. They’ll have whisker painting and tattoos aplenty to help kick off the series. Tickets are just $5 per person.
Here’s some exciting news! Miller DesignWorks is working on a short documentary about the first 10 years of ACT operating the Colonial Theatre. They are very talented folks so we look forward to a piece that will convey all the energy and enthusiasm that all of you have brought to the Colonial over the years. We are inviting you to share your stories with us — why you love participating in life at the Colonial, what the Colonial means to Phoenixville and to you, and what your hopes are for our future. If you have video footage, photographs, or a story you want to share with the filmmakers, please call or email us. We’d love to hear from you!
We’re also looking for a scenic artist who would be willing to volunteer their time to help us with some stage design for next year’s Oscar Party. If you are interested please email me.
Finally, the Trespass concert on Aug 8 has been canceled. More information is below, or click on the concerts link at left.
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you at the theatre!
Jun 19 - 25
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
The last screening of Earth is tonight at 7:30PM. Tomorrow night (Friday) we start a one week run of Sin Nombre. Please note that there will be no screening of Sin Nombre on Sunday because of the Lord of the Rings Marathon. Our next feature film is Hunger starting on Fri, Jun 26.
It’s here! The marathon our classic film committee has been looking forward to for well over a year! We’re showing all three Lord of the Rings films on 35mm starting at 10AM on Sun, Jun 21. Advance tickets are available and recommended.
Our Children’s Summer Series gets underway in just a few weeks. Our first performance is by the fabulous Cat’s Pajamas on Tue, Jul 7 at 10:30AM. They’ll have whisker painting and tattoos aplenty to help kick off the series. Tickets are just $5 per person.
BlobFest (Jul 10 -12) tickets are available for advance purchase!
One more programming note — we’re very excited to present Theatre Horizon and their performance of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr this September! We have three public shows and one school show planned. Details are here.
Finally, we’re looking for a scenic artist who would be willing to volunteer their time to help us with some stage design for next year’s Oscar Party. If you are interested please email me.
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you at the theatre!
Jun 12 - 18
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
The last screening of Star Trek is tonight at 7:30PM. Tomorrow night (Friday) we’ve got the Jake Shimabukuro concert at 8PM. Our next film is the BBC-produced and Disney-released Earth beginning on Saturday. Please note that there will be no matinee screening of Earth on Wednesday because of the Cowboy Junkies concert that evening at 7:30PM.
Tickets for Jake Shimabukuro on Friday and Cowboy Junkies on Wednesday are still available. Both promise to be amazing shows!
On Sunday at 2PM we continue our month of Movies to See with Dad with The Godfather (1972). Our thanks to P.J. Ryan’s Pub for sponsoring this screening! I’ve added all the classics booked from now through September to the classics page of our website. We’ve got some great films lined up. And soon, I’ll post our October films — classic Universal and Hammer Studios horror!
One more week until the Lord of the Rings Marathon! We’re showing all three films on 35mm starting at 10AM on Sun, Jun 21. Advance tickets are available and recommended. You can also pre-order a box lunch to eat in between the first and second films.
You can also now officially buy your advance BlobFest tickets online!
One more programming note — we’re very excited to present Theatre Horizon and their performance of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr this September! We have three public shows and one school show planned.
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you at the theatre!
Jun 5 - 11
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
The last screening of Shall We Kiss? is tonight at 7:30PM. Tomorrow night (Friday) we’ve got the Southside Johnny concert, and then on Saturday we start a week run of the new Star Trek! (Remember last year when we showed Iron Man in June? We could be starting something here…) Here’s how the rest of the summer is shaping up for film:
- Jun 13: Earth
- Jun 19: Sin Nombre
- Jun 26: Hunger
- Jul 3: Goodbye Solo
- Jul 17: Lemon Tree
- Jul 24: Sugar
- Jul 31: Summer Hours
In addition to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes performing tomorrow night, we have two other great concerts this month: Jake Shimabukuro on Friday, Jun 12 and Cowboy Junkies on Wednesday, Jun 17. Tickets are still available for all three shows.
On Sunday at 2PM we start our month of Movies to See with Dad with a Three Stooges show. We’re showing Have Rocket, Will Travel; Where’s Our Mummy? and Spook Louder. The show is being presented by Danny Atkinson — a huge Stooges AND Colonial fan!
I’m getting pretty excited about the Lord of the Rings Marathon! We’re showing all three films on 35mm starting at 10AM on Sun, Jun 21. Advance tickets are available and recommended. You can also pre-order a box lunch to eat in between the first and second films. All the details are on our website.
The website upgrade is complete (well, almost). There are a few more details we’re taking care of behind the scenes, but the hard part is over. You likely won’t notice much of a change — which is a good thing. The upgrade was more about the background architecture than the GUI. One thing that you will notice and that many of you have been asking for is that now you can click on the “Zoom” button on the event calendar (which is along the right hand side of each page) and get a full month view at a time! You can also subscribe to the calendar’s RSS feed to it will automatically update your iCal, or Google calendar or whatever tool you use. We will have instructions on how to do that coming shortly.
You can also now officially buy your advance BlobFest tickets online!
One last programming note — the Bacon Brothers are coming back! They will be here with their band on Saturday, October 10 to perform their third benefit concert for us and The French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust!
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you at the theatre!
Student & Parent Survey
Monday, May 18th, 2009
I've been working with some 7th grade volunteers from the Phoenixville Area Middle School to develop a survey about students' media use in general, and their use of the Colonial Theatre in particular. We used a survey created by Common Sense Media as the basis of this project and added our own specific questions about the Colonial. A parent survey is available as well, through Common Sense Media (the parent survey does not include questions specifically about the Colonial). Links to both are below.
I expect the survey results will provide enlightening, and surprising, information about how the media fits into students' lives, and how the Colonial does, or does not, fit into that media life. The future preservation of the Colonial depends on cultivating audiences who want to connect, participate, and contribute to the Colonial. The more we know our audiences and can meet their needs, the stronger our future will be. So, thank you in advance for helping us plan for our future!
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE STUDENT SURVEY.
This survey is intended for students in 6th - 12th grades.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE PARENT SURVEY.
Kirsten
May 15 - 21
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
Tomorrow (Friday) we start a run of Gomorrah (above), the gritty Italian mafia film that won the Grand Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Shall We Kiss?, a French romance (well, sort of!), starts on Friday, May 22.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell has its last screening tonight at 7:30PM.
We continue our month of classics to see with Mom on Sunday at 2PM with The African Queen (1951) starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart and directed by John Huston. It's a wonderful movie and is absolutely appropriate for ages 8 and up. I've only seen it once — with my Dad when I was about 10 years old, so I'm looking forward to seeing it again, this time on the big screen. We're also fortunate to have a rare restored print of the film, so do join us!
Tickets for Leon Redbone, at the Colonial on Sat, Nov 21 at 8PM, go on sale this Saturday (May 16) at 12PM online at at 4PM at the Colonial box office. Tickets are $24.50 - $34.50 and are available with cash or check at the Colonial Theatre Box Office. Credit card sales available by calling Charge-by-Phone at (866) 468-7619 or click here to go to ticketweb.com.
The Dogwood Festival Parade is happening this Saturday from approximately 1PM - 3PM on Main Street. So be prepared for street closings and traffic delays.
BlobFest Shorty Awards Update: MiND TV has come on board as a sponsor of the Shorty Awards and they are a perfect fit! MiND TV's programming consists exclusively of 5 minute videos made by their members. Membership starts at just $75 per year and includes a FREE video-making Boot Camp where you can learn, in one day, about concept development, video production, editing, and just about everything else you need to know to bring your ideas to screen! The next Boot Camp is scheduled for Sat, May 30 — just in time for the Shorty's submission deadline of Jun 15! For more info, go to www.mindtv.org.
Please note that we will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
May 8 - 14
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
The very well reviewed documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell (above), starts tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30PM. It traces the extraordinary efforts of Liberia's women (both Muslim and Christian) to end the brutal civil war between dictator Charles Taylor's government and the rural rebel forces that sought his downfall in 2003. Please note that there will be no screenings on Wednesday, May 13 due to the Dickey Betts concert. On May 15 we start a run of Gomorrah, the gritty Italian mafia film that won the Grand Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
Sunshine Cleaning has it's last screening tonight at 7:30PM.
In concert news, we're sorry to announce that due to a hand injury that has not responded to treatment, Keith Emerson has decided to cancel his upcoming tour. Refunds for the Jun 6 show at the Colonial will be refunded at the place of purchase. If you purchased your tickets at the Colonial box office, please come in after Fri, May 8 to get your refund. You must have your tickets with you. If you purchased your tickets through TicketWeb please call 866-468-7619 to confirm that your refund has been issued. We have no information on new tour dates. Thanks for your understanding.
On Sunday at 2PM, in celebration of Mother's Day, and thanks to sponsor Virtual Farm Creative, we're showing The Sound of Music (1965). It's where I'll be for Mom's Day!
New member benefit! Members of the Colonial at the Producer Level ($100) and above can call ahead for reserved seating at all Point Entertainment concerts. Once you've purchased your tickets, call us at (610) 917-1228 to let us know you're coming and we'll reserve your seats for you on the night of the show.
Traffic Note: This Saturday is the Celtic Street Fair and the opening day of the Phoenixville Farmers' Market, so be prepared for extra traffic. The 200 block of Bridge Street (in front of the Colonial) will be closed until 6pm.
It's hard to believe, but this October we celebrate ACT's 10th Anniversary as owners and stewards of the Colonial Theatre. We're working on a short film about the theatre and we would like to have your input. If you have photos, film/video footage, or stories about the Colonial that you would like to share, please let us know! You can email me or Mary, or give us a call at 610-917-1228. Spread the word!
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Keith Emerson show canceled
Friday, May 1st, 2009
Due to a hand injury that has not responded to treatment, Keith Emerson has decided to cancel his upcoming tour. Refunds for the Jun 6 show at the Colonial will be refunded at the place of purchase. We have no information on new tour dates. If you purchased your tickets at the Colonial box office, please come in after Fri, May 8 to get your refund. You must have your tickets with you to get your refund. If you purchased your tickets through TicketWeb, please call 866-468-7619 to confirm that your refund has been issued. Thanks for your understanding.
May 1 - 7
Friday, May 1st, 2009
Sunshine Cleaning starts tonight at 7:30PM. It's also First Friday Fright Night and we're showing John Carpenter's The Thing (1982, pictured above), on 35mm, at 9:45PM. The very well reviewed documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, starts on Friday, May 8.
In concert news, we've just booked the Genesis tribute band, Trespass, for Saturday, Aug 8. Advance tickets are $23 and will go on sale this Saturday at noon.
On Sunday at 2PM, in celebration of Mother's Day, we start our month of Movies to See with Mom with Stella Dallas (1937) starring the amazing Barbara Stanwyck. Please note that we are now screening this film on DVD because MGM sent us the wrong print (they sent the 1920's silent version) and we would not be able to get the right one in time. Hope you will still join us!
It's hard to believe, but this October we celebrate ACT's 10th Anniversary as owners and stewards of the Colonial Theatre. We're working on a short film about the theatre and we would like to have your input. If you have photos, film/video footage, or stories about the Colonial that you would like to share, please let us know! You can email me or Mary, or give us a call at 610-917-1228. Spread the word!
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Apr 23 - 30
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Wendy and Lucy, starring Michelle Williams, starts tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30PM. Sunshine Cleaning starts on May 1.
Tonight (Thursday) is the Enter the Haggis concert at 8PM and on Saturday night we've got the Brain Damage (Pink Floyd tribute) concert at 7:30PM. Tickets will be available for each show at the door. Also, we've booked Cowboy Junkies for Jun 17 at 7:30PM!
On Sunday at 2PM we're wrapping up our month of Ealing Studios comedies with another Alec Guinness classic, The Ladykillers (1955). This film will be screened on DVD. Next week, in celebration of Mother's Day, we start our month of Movies to See with Mom with Stella Dallas (1937) starring the amazing Barbara Stanwyck.
It's hard to believe, but this October we celebrate ACT's 10th Anniversary as owners and stewards of the Colonial Theatre. We're working on a short film about the theatre and we would like to have your input. If you have photos, film/video footage, or stories about the Colonial that you would like to share, please let us know! You can email me or Mary, or give us a call at 610-917-1228. Spread the word!
A note about film discussions: We have a group of folks who gather after the Wednesday night screening to discuss the film of the week. At this time, we do not have anyone who has the kind of film experience needed to conduct a film discussion. The group will continue to meet and if you would like be added to the email list for that group let us know. If you know anyone who could bring some perspective to a specific film or if you or someone you know would like to explore the idea of leading the film discussion group please let us know by emailing mary@thecolonialtheatre.com.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Apr 17 - 23
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
We're holding onto The Class for another week. This Palme D'Or winner from 2008 is mesmerizing. It's an earnest, unpretentious look inside the machinations of an urban school and the teachers and students who populate it. Next up we have Wendy & Lucy starting on Apr 24 and Sunshine Cleaning starting on May 1.
We have two concerts coming up next week — Enter the Haggis (pictured above) on Thu, Apr 23 and Brain Damage (a Pink Floyd tribute) on Sat, Apr 25. Tickets are still available for each show. Also, we've just booked Cowboy Junkies! They'll be back at the Colonial on Wednesday, Jun 17 at 7:30PM. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
This Saturday is the last day of our Children's Series on Saturdays season. Thanks to the nearly 4,000 of you who came to one of our films or performances this year! Join us this Saturday for our Indiana Jones double feature - The Last Crusade at 12pm and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at 2:30pm. Tickets are $6 per person and get you into both films. We're recommending these for ages 10+. Our Children's Summer Series of all live performances starts up on July 7 at 10:30am with The Cat's Pajamas. Keep an eye on our website for details.
On Sunday at 2PM we're keeping the Ealing Studios comedies rolling with The Man in the White Suit (1952). Please note that all the Ealing films this month will be screened on DVD as no 35mm prints were available.
A note about film discussions: We have a group of folks who gather after the Wednesday night screening to discuss the film of the week. At this time, we do not have anyone who has the kind of film experience needed to conduct a film discussion. The group will continue to meet and if you would like be added to the email list for that group let us know. If you know anyone who could bring some perspective to a specific film or if you or someone you know would like to explore the idea of leading the film discussion group please let us know by emailing mary@thecolonialtheatre.com.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Apr 10 - 16
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
Tonight we're showing the last film of our mini Spring Break series — School of Rock (2003) starring Jack Black. This film got terrific reviews from a range of critics, so do read some of them before you decide whether or not to come. You can read David Edelstein's review on our website. We're recommending it for ages 12+. Tomorrow, Friday, the 2009 French Best Foreign Film Oscar nominee The Class begins its run at 7:30PM. Please note that we will be closed for Easter on Sunday.
For the Children's Series on Saturday at 2PM we're showing one of my all time favorite films, Raiders of the Lost Ark, as a double feature with the second Indy film, Indiana Jones at the Temple of Doom. Raiders starts at 12PM and Temple of Doom starts at 2:15PM. Tickets are $6 per person (children and adults) and will get you in to see both films. Raiders is appropriate for ages 8+, but Temple of Doom is a bit scarier and best for 10+.
We're closed for the holiday this Sunday. But, next Sunday (Apr 19) at 2PM we're keeping the Ealing Studios comedies rolling with The Man in the White Suit (1952). Please note that all the Ealing films this month will be screened on DVD as no 35mm prints were available.
Calling all BlobFest fans: we need your help! Please click on the BlobFest link at left for information about volunteering. We've begun posting info about this year's fest on our website. Keep checking back for updates!
Repo! The Genetic Opera, our First Friday Fright Night film for this month, is finally here! Thanks to all who have called to let us know how excited you are for this film. Repo is tomorrow at 10:10PM. Please note the unusual start time. The box office will be open on Friday beginning at 7PM so you can stop by to purchase your tickets early if you'd like.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
First Details on BlobFest 2009!
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
BlobFest: Fri, Jul 10 - Sun, Jul 12
Tickets
- Friday Night Running Out & Stage Show: $5
- The Blob Screenings: $10 / $8 / $6
- Advance Purchase Tickets: $11 / $9 / $7
- Advance tickets will be available online June 1
- Please note that you must purchase a ticket to enter the theatre.
The Blob Film Screenings
- Saturday: 11:30AM, 3:15PM, and 8PM
- Doors will open at 7:30PM for the 8PM screening
- Sunday: 2PM
- Other programs and film screenings TBA
Contests
- Costume Contest (Saturday early afternoon)
- Façade/Window Contest
- Short Film Contest (Deadline for submissions is June 10)
- Screenwriting Contest
- More info on all contests will be posted soon!
The Neanderthals and Other Guests
- The Neanderthals will perform on Friday night and Saturday afternoon during the StreetFair.
- Other guests will be announced soon!
Also in July
Our Classics on Sundays series will feature movies filmed in Phoenixville! All shows are at 2PM. Tickets are $6 / $4.
- Sun, Jul 5: 4D Man (1959)
- Sun, Jul 12: The Blob (1958)
- Sun, Jul 19: Bright Victory (1951)
- Sun, Jul 26: From the Terrace (1960)
Here's a little something to whet your appetite for BlobFest from a super cool website, www.trailersfromhell.com.
We need about 65 volunteers to help with this year's BlobFest. If you are interested, please click here to download a pdf about volunteering.
See you in July!
Apr 3 - 9
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
Tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 we have our final screening of the Animated Oscar Short Films. This weekend we have two sold out concerts! Gaelic Storm on Friday night and Leo Kottke on Saturday night. Rush tickets, the remaining seats in the upper balcony, will be available for both shows and go on sale after the performance has started. Patrons are encouraged to arrive 45 minutes in advance of the performance to queue up. After the show has started and all of our ticket holders are in and seated, we will evaluate how many seats are open in the upper balcony and those seats will be made available on a first come, first served basis. Please note that leg room is limited in these seats. Rush tickets are priced the same as balcony tickets for that show, in this case $19.50 for Gaelic Storm and $29.50 for Leo Kottke. We accept cash only at the box office for rush tickets.
From Sunday, Apr 5 thru Thursday, Apr 9 we're celebrating Spring Break with a slew of cool films that celebrate high school angst, spring fever, and the thrill of sticking it to the man. You can see the Spring Break schedule on our website, in the Feature Films section. Tickets are $4 for everyone! Films include Grease, Sixteen Candles (pic above), Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone, E.T., and School of Rock. Our next first-run feature, The Class, starts on Friday, Apr 10.
For the Children's Series on Saturday at 2PM we've got a perfect Saturday matinee — Invaders from Mars (1953) preceded by an episode of the Captain Marvel serial (1941). Total show time is about 100 minutes.
This Sunday at 2PM we start our month (well, three weeks because of Easter Sunday) of Ealing Studios comedies starring Alec Guinness. First up is The Lavender Hill Mob (1951). Please note that all the Ealing films this month will be screened on DVD as no 35mm prints were available.
Finally, please note that there is NO First Friday Fright Night film tomorrow due to the Gaelic Storm concert. Our next FFFN film is Repo! The Genetic Opera on Friday, Apr 10 at 10PM.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Mar 27 - Apr 2
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
The 2009 Oscar Nominated Shorts start tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30PM and The Wrestler has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30PM. We are alternating between the animated and live action shorts each night, and we have concerts on Saturday and Sunday nights, so be sure to check the schedule below or online to confirm what's showing.
Beginning Apr 5, we're celebrating Spring Break with a slew of older films that celebrate high school angst, spring fever, and the thrill of sticking it to the man (or your parents, or teachers, or nemesis - you get the idea). You can see the Spring Break schedule on our website, in the both the Feature Films and Family Programs sections. The Class starts on Apr 10.
For the Children's Series on Saturday at 2PM we've got our last live performance of the regular season. John Hadfield returns to the Colonial with Monkeys in the House, a terrific, madcap show. Details below. In April, we're showing five terrific films (including two days of Indiana Jones double features) and then the Childrens' Series will be on hiatus until the Summer Series starts up in July.
This Sunday at 2PM we wrap our theme of Spying and Thieving classics with Diamonds are Forever at 2PM followed by the fantastic City Rhythm Orchestra playing Music to Spy By at 7PM.
Concert news: tickets to the Southside Johnny show on Fri, Jun 5 just went on sale today. You can buy your tickets with cash or check at the Colonial box office or with a credit card at ticketweb.com.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Mar 20 - 26
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
The Wrestler starts tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30PM and Frost/Nixon has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30PM. We've just booked the 2009 Oscar Nominated Shorts to start on Mar 27. After that, beginning Apr 5, we're celebrating Spring Break with a slew of older films that celebrate high school angst, spring fever, and the thrill of sticking it to the man (or your parents, or teachers, or nemesis - you get the idea).
For the Children's Series on Saturday at 2PM we're showing a selection of Looney Tunes cartoons from the Warner Brothers catalog.
This Sunday at 2PM we continue our theme of Spying and Thieving classics with The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. Next week, we've got a great Sunday planned with Diamonds are Forever at 2PM and the fantastic City Rhythm Orchestra at 7PM.
BlobFest has been nominated again for the Rondo Award - lets win this thing finally!!! Go to www.rondoaward.com to see all the categories (you don't have to vote in all categories - -there are a lot!) and vote for the Running Out Re-enactment as the Best Fan Event!
Lastly, we've finalized the show times and ticket prices for our Lord of the Rings marathon happening on Father's Day, June 21 — which just happens to be the longest day of the year. Advance purchase tickets are available. Click on the link above.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Mar 13 - 19
Thursday, March 12th, 2009
Frost/Nixon starts tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30PM and The Wrestler starts on Fri, Mar 20.
Start your St. Patrick's Day celebration early with us! Druid featuring the Three Irish Tenors will be at the Colonial tonight (Thursday) at 8PM for a musical show that traverses the music, culture and history of Ireland. We have a special offer for our email subscribers - buy one orchestra ticket, get one free! Special offer tickets are available at the Colonial box office. Make sure you mention this offer! And remember, we only take cash or check at the box office.
On Saturday at 2PM we've got more looniness happening during our Children's Series. We're screening The Mask (1994) starring Jim Carrey in a perfect Jim Carrey role. We're recommending it for ages 12 and up. Next week we're showing a selection of Looney Tunes cartoons from the WB catalog!
This Sunday at 2PM we continue our theme of Spying and Thieving classics with The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), starring Richard Burton and based on the John Le Carre novel. This film will be shown on DVD.
BlobFest has been nominated again for the Rondo Award - lets win this thing finally!!! Go to www.rondoaward.com to see all the categories (you don't have to vote in all categories - -there are a lot!) and vote for the Running Out Re-enactment as the Best Fan Event!
Lastly, we've finalized the show times and ticket prices for our Lord of the Rings marathon happening on Father's Day, June 21 — which just happens to be the longest day of the year. You can purchase your tickets in advance and get all the info here.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Vote for BlobFest as the Best Fan Event!
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
BlobFest has been nominated again for the RONDO Award - lets win this thing finally!!! Go to www.rondoaward.com to see all the categories (you don't have to vote in all categories - -there are a lot!) and vote for the Running Out Re-enactment as the Best Fan Event!
Mar 6 - 12
Thursday, March 5th, 2009
The Reader is staying with us, but the film schedule over the next week is limited due to several concerts and special events. Please check our website or call us to confirm shows and times. Tonight (Thursday) we've got the first of two Al Stewart concerts. The Banff Mountain Film Festival is here on Friday and Saturday (Mar 6 & 7). Then it's Al Stewart again on Sunday night. The Reader will be shown on Monday night, Tuesday night, and Wednesday afternoon only. Wednesday evening we have a FREE program about snowboarding presented by a local Christian ministry. Thursday night we've got the Druid concert. Frost/Nixon starts on Fri, Mar 13 and The Wrestler starts on Fri, Mar 20.
We still have tickets available for the Al Stewart concerts. You will be able to buy tickets at the door to tonight's show. Remember, though, that we only take cash at the box office.
On Saturday at 2PM we've got one of our favorite Children's Series performers, David Smith, doing his One Man Side Show. We decided to sell tickets in advance for this one since it's so popular. You can buy them online here.
This Sunday at 2PM we continue our theme of Spying and Thieving classics with North by Northwest (1959) - another great Hitchcock/Cary Grant collaboration. As Bob pointed out last week during his intro for To Catch a Thief, this the first time we've had NXNW at the Colonial.
Start your St. Patrick's Day celebration early with us! Druid (pictured above) featuring the Three Irish Tenors will be at the Colonial on Thu, Mar 12 at 8PM for a musical show that traverses the music, culture and history of Ireland. We have a special offer for our email subscibers - buy one orchestra ticket, get one free! Special offer tickets are available at www.ticketweb.com or at the Colonial box office. Make sure you mention this offer!
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Feb 27 - Mar 5
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Lucky for us we have the Best Actor and Actress Oscar winning films back to back. The Reader starts tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30PM. Milk has its last screening tonight at 7:30PM. Please note that the film schedule over the next two weeks is a little unusual due to several concerts and special events. Please check our website or call to confirm show times. The Banff Mountain Film Festival is here on Mar 6 & 7 (advance purchase tickets are available through the Philadelphia Rock Gym, not the Colonial). Frost/Nixon starts on Mar 13 and The Wrestler starts on Mar 20.
Due to some scheduling conflicts, tomorrow (Fri, Feb 27) is First Friday Fright Night for March here at the Colonial. We're showing the Italian horror classic Suspiria (1977). This film will be shown on DVD. (I promise I searched high and low for a 35mm print — there just aren't any available). Our thanks to APARTMENT 1014 FILMS for sponsoring this film. We'll unveil our new FFFN t-shirts tomorrow night — on sale for $15 a pop. Thanks to Neo-Pangea for their fantastic design!
This Saturday at 2PM we wrap up our Foreign Film Festival for kids with Casi Casi (2005), a Puerto Rican film in the spirit of Election and Mean Girls — just not quite so mean! We're recommending it for ages 10+. In Spanish with English subtitles.
This Sunday at 2PM we start our run of classics about Spying and Thieving with To Catch a Thief (1955). Spending a Sunday afternoon with Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly and the French Riveria sounds pretty good to me!
We still have tickets available for the Al Stewart concerts on Thu, Mar 5 and Sun, Mar 8. Tickets are $27.50 - $36.50.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Feb 20 - 26
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
Milk starts tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30PM. Rachel Getting Married has its last screening tonight at 7:30PM. Please note that due to the Oscar Party on Sunday night, the only screening of Milk on Sunday will be at 11:15AM. Thanks to all who RSVP'd to our Oscar Party — we'll see you Sunday night!
As I mentioned last week, we're happy to be able to show the Best Documentary Feature Oscar Winner from 1984, The Times of Harvey Milk on Wednesday, Feb 25 at 5:30PM. Couple this screening with Milk at 2PM or 7:30PM and then join us at Artisan's Gallery and Cafe at 9:30PM for a thoughtful discussion of these two wonderful films. Tickets for the 5:30 screening will be $4 for children and members and $6 for adults and seniors. If you're interested in helping lead this discussion (did you live in SF at that time? Are you interested in local politics?), please contact us!
This month we're doing a Foreign Film Festival for Young Audiences on Saturdays at 2PM. This week's film is the 2006 French beauty, Azur and Asmar. It's also playing at the Ritz in Philly this week, but you don't need to go all the way there to see it! We're recommending it for ages 8+. Update: It turns out we were sent the English dubbed version of the film, so that's what we'll show on Saturday. Click here to read Steven Rea's review in the Inquirer.
This Sunday at 2PM we're screening Splendor in the Grass (1961) as the last film in our month of Oscar-winning romances. Next month, we start a run of classics about Spying and Thieving.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Feb 13 - 19
Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Rachel Getting Married starts tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30PM. Slumdog has it's last screening tonight at 7:30PM. Milk starts on Feb 20 followed by The Reader starting on Feb 27.
In other Milk news, we're happy to be able to show the Best Documentary Feature Oscar Winner from 1984, The Times of Harvey Milk on Wednesday, Feb 25 at 5:30PM. Couple this screening with Milk at 2PM or 7:30PM and then join us at Artisan's Gallery and Cafe at 9:30PM for a thoughtful discussion of these two wonderful films. Tickets for the 5:30 screening will be $4 for children and members and $6 for adults and seniors. If you're interested in helping lead this discussion, please contact us!
This month we're doing a Foreign Film Festival for Young Audiences on Saturdays at 2PM. This week's film is the French classic The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964, French with English subtitles). We're recommending it for ages 12+.
This Sunday at 2PM we're screening Casablanca (1942) as our Valentine's Date Movie. Costumes are always encouraged!
In honor of President's Day this Monday, we're screening the Jimmy Stewart/Frank Capra classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) at 2PM. Tickets are $4 for members and kids, and $6 for adults. If you've got the day off of work and/or school, please join us!
The Colonial is on Facebook! You can see us here. Please help us keep it vibrant by becoming a friend of the theatre and posting comments. The page is relatively new, so we would love to hear your feedback on it, and all things related to the theatre.
The Oscar Party is fast approaching! Please RSVP via phone or email by Wednesday, February 18.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Special Screening: The Times of Harvey Milk
Monday, February 9th, 2009
I'm so thrilled that we're able to screen this fantastic doc about Harvey Milk during the same week we're screening Milk! It is absolutely worth seeing!
We're showing it at 5:30PM on Wed, Feb 25. Couple this screening with Milk at 2PM or 7:30PM and then join us at Artisan's Gallery and Cafe at 9:30PM for a thoughtful discussion of these two wonderful films. Tickets for this film will be $4 for children and members and $6 for adults and seniors.
"…this is an enormously absorbing film, for the light it sheds on a decade in the life of a great American city and on the lives of Milk and Moscone, who made it a better, and certainly a more interesting, place to live" (Roger Ebert)
"Winner of the Oscar for Best Feature Documentary in 1983, this film presents the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay supervisor for the city of San Francisco. Starting with Milk's humble beginnings at his camera store in the Castro district, the film focuses on his developing taste for politics and race for the supervisor's seat for his district. While Milk's homoseuality is not a problem for Mayor Moscone, it is a major concern to another supervisor, Dan White, a former police officer and born-again Christian. White assassinated both Milk and Moscone, claiming at his trial that he was not responsible for his actions, having endured a sugar high from eating too many Twinkies. (The veteran cop was given a lenient sentence). Director Epstein shows the ensuing protests and updates us to the year of filming (1983) on the status of everyone involved. The film is sensitive, yet shocking, a story about the ultimate value of the human spirit and the blatant evil of misplaced morality." (Nathan Jenson, The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide)
Click here to read Eric Henderson's review on SlantMagazine.com.
Feb 6 - 12
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire is staying with us for one more week. The screening tonight is at 7:30PM. Please note that on Saturday, the only Slumdog screening will be at 11AM due to the Two Funny Philly Guys show that night. Rachel Getting Married starts next Friday, Feb 13. Good news - we finally got a confirmation on Milk! It starts on Feb 20. After that, we've got another Best Picture nominee, The Reader, starting on Feb 27.
It's First Friday Fright Night tomorrow night and we're screening Oldboy at 10PM. I've not seen it yet, so I will be anxiously waiting for it all day tomorrow. You can read about it here.
This month we're doing a Foreign Film Festival for Young Audiences on Saturdays at 2PM. First up is a brilliant animated feature, Sita Sings the Blues, which has been garnering all kinds of accolades at festivals around the world, including The New York International Children's Film Festival. We're recommending it for ages 10+.
This Sunday at 2PM we're screening the masterful, and very long Gone with the Wind at 2PM. Come in your comfy clothes!
It's time I let you all know that the Colonial has a Facebook page. You can see it here. Please help us keep it vibrant by becoming a friend of the theatre and posting comments. The page is relatively new, so we would love to hear your feedback on it, and all things related to the theatre.
Reminder - I've started posting the introductory text from these emails to the News section of our website, so if you ever miss your weekly email, you can check it out here. And, just yesterday I figured out how to get that RSS feed to automatically post to our facebook page, so you can read it there too.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Jan 30 - Feb 5
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire is staying with us for another week. Please note that there is no film screening tonight due to The Marshall Tucker Band concert which is sold out! Slumdog will resume tomorrow night at 7:30PM.
Our next family program is the always popular Segal Puppet Theatre & Co. on Saturday at 2PM. In keeping with our western theme for the month, this year's performance is Cowboy Capers and is best for ages 2 -7. Tickets are $5 for this live show and will be available for cash only at the box office beginning at 1:30PM.
This Sunday at 2PM we're screening the first of our Oscar-winning romances in February — Wuthering Heights (1939). Upcoming classics are: Gone with the Wind, Casablanca and Splendor in the Grass. More details on our Valentine's weekend screening of Casablanca is on our Classic Films page.
A new video covering a bit of Blobfest 2008 has surfaced. It's part of a series on alien invader movies and their remakes produced by Cinemassacre and airing on Spike TV. You can see the video here. The Blob coverage starts at about 8:15 in.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Jan 23 - 29
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
We're busy prepping for tomorrow night's Whisky Tasting, a fundraiser to support the Colonial. We have a few seats remaining, so it's not too late to join us!
Our next feature is the Oscar nominated Slumdog Millionaire, starting tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30. A Christmas Tale has it's last screening tonight at 7:30. Please note that there will be no film screening on Thu, Jan 29 due to The Marshall Tucker Band concert (we have a few tickets left for this too). Speaking of the Oscar nominations, they were announced this morning. You can see a complete list of nominees here. We'll have our Annual Oscar Pool ballots available in our lobby starting on Feb 1.
Our next family program is the kid-friendly western spoof Cat Ballou (1965) starring Jane Fonda, and for which Lee Marvin won a Best Actor Oscar! The screening is at 2pm on Saturday. (Appropriate for ages 8+).
Click here to download a full color PDF of all our family programs for January through April. Our thanks to Tom Bromley of Centre Grafik for his eye-catching design! If you would like to receive a hard copy of this beautiful brochure in the mail, please call 610-917-1228 or email kirsten@thecolonialtheatre.com with your address. We do not mail this piece out to our entire mailing list, so please let us know if you would like to receive one.
We're wrapping up our Errol Flynn month on Sunday at 2:00 with The Sea Hawk (1940). Next month we're screening Oscar-winning romances — Wuthering Heights, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca and Splendor in the Grass. More details on our Valentine's weekend screening of Casablanca to come.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Jan 16 - 22
Thursday, January 15th, 2009
Tickets are going quick, but still available for the Whisky Tasting on Friday, Jan 23 at 6pm — a fundraiser to support the Colonial. Your contribution to the theatre, not to mention the whisky, will warm you from the inside out during this cold spell!
If you are not heading down to Washington for the Presidential Inauguration, but would like to watch it with others, the Colonial is working on showing it on the big screen. The only glitch is we won't know till Friday around 4pm if we can technically pull it off. So call us this Friday to find out if we can do it, and hopefully we will see you there! You can reach us at 610-917-1228. We will also send out an email to let you know we can do it, and will post it on our website. There will be no charge for this screening.
Our next feature is A Christmas Tale, a French film about a dysfunctional family holiday starring Catherine Deneuve. It's first screening is tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30. More info and showtimes are below. Let the Right One In has it's last screening tonight at 7:30. We've pushed back Rachel Getting Married to Feb 13 so we can bring you Slumdog Millionaire, starting on Jan 23.
Our next family program is the classic kid-friendly western Shane (1953) on Saturday at 2pm. The film stars Alan Ladd as the gunfighter idolized by a prairie family's young son.
Continuing our Errol Flynn theme for the month, on Sunday at 2:00 we're screening a lesser seen film on the Flynn resume - The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), also starring Bette Davis.
We've have a couple of special screenings coming up — on Monday, Jan 19, Martin Luther King Day, at 2:00 we're screening Do The Right Thing (1989), Spike Lee's brilliant take on race relations in Brooklyn. Time Magzine included DTRT in their list of the 25 most important films on race. Then, on Monday, Feb 16, President's Day, we're showing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) the Frank Capra / Jimmy Stewart classic about an idealistic senator who tries to change Washington. Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Jan 9 - 15
Thursday, January 8th, 2009
Happy New Year! Thanks to all who came out to enjoy our jam-packed slate of holiday programs. We're now back to our regular schedule of features, classics, family programs and concerts; and gearing up for our next events — the Whisky Tasting on Jan 23 and the Members' Oscar Party on Feb 22.
Tickets are still available for Livingston Taylor, performing this Saturday night at 8:00. Tickets are $32 for the first ten rows of the theatre (Gold Circle), $28 for the back ten rows of the main floor (Orchestra), and $22 for the balcony. Tickets can be purchased with cash at the box office or online.
Our next feature is Let the Right One In, a restrained and compelling redux of the vampire genre from Sweden. It's first screening is tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30. More info and showtimes are below. Synecdoche, NY has it's last screening tonight at 7:30. Upcoming features include Christmas Tale (starting on Jan 16) and Rachel Getting Married (starting on Jan 23).
Our next family program is the amazing, mind-bogglingly energetic Balloon Freak John Cassidy. The show is at 2:00 on Saturday, lasts about 45 - 60 minutes, and is appropriate for ages 4+. Advance tickets can be purchased online.
Click here to download a full color PDF of all our family programs for January through April. Our thanks to Tom Bromley of Centre Grafik for his eye-catching design!
Continuing our Errol Flynn theme for the month, on Sunday at 2:00 we're screening the perennial favorite The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). This film is appropriate for ages 6+ and the kids typically love it.
We've have a couple of special screenings coming up — on Monday, Jan 19, Martin Luther King Day, at 2:00 we're screening Do The Right Thing (1989), Spike Lee's brilliant take on race relations in Brooklyn. Then, on Monday, Feb 16, President's Day, we're showing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) the Frank Capra / Jimmy Stewart classic about an idealistic senator who tries to change Washington.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Dec 30 - Jan 8
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
I'm doing the email early again this week because of the holiday tomorrow. We'll be back to our regular schedule next week. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas will be here for two more nights. It plays tonight (Tuesday) at 7:30 and Thursday at 7:30. On Friday at 7:30 we start our next feature, Synechdoche, NY. We also have a special run this weekend of WALL-E. It will screen on Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun at 5:00 each day.
We have a mid-week family matinee on Thursday, New Year's Day. We'll be screening Clueless (1995) at 2pm. The film is a riff on Jane Austen's Emma, is smarter and funnier than you might expect, and is appropriate for ages 12+.
In our children's series slot, at 2pm this Saturday, we're kicking off a month of Westerns with High Noon (1952) starring Gary Cooper. Our classic films in January feature Errol Flynn and we're starting that series off on Sunday at 2pm with Captain Blood (1935). High Noon is appropriate for ages 10+ and Captain Blood is good for ages 8+.
This Friday is First Friday Fright Night and we're screening Brian DePalma's 1974 goth/rock musical The Phantom of the Paradise at 10pm. More info is below.
In case you missed it last week, here's our latest BlobFest news: First, we want to mention that we have these super cool, commemorative Blob Stamps for sale. Information on how to get them is on our website. Second, Entertainment Weekly has a story up on their website called Movie Monsters! 12 Big-Screen Behemoths and the monster near and dear to our hearts came in at an impressive No. 3! Click here to see it. And third, the dates for BlobFest 10 are July 10 - 12, 2009!
Finally, please note that we will be CLOSED on New Year's Eve, and OPEN on New Year's Day. Wishing you all a peaceful holiday and a brave new year - cheers!
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Dec 23 - Jan 1
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
Everyone hanging in there?! It's a busy week for all and we want to make sure you know what's going on here at the theatre, hence the early email. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is staying with us for another week. I will be at the theatre tomorrow, Christmas Eve day, from 11am until 2pm only if you would like to stop by to purchase last minute gifts like concert tickets, memberships, or gift certificates.
Tonight is Ted The Fiddler's Big Time Birthday Bash! The party gets started at 8pm, tickets are only $10 for an evening of great local music, and the event benefits the Colonial. Happy Birthday, Ted!!
Our classics and children's/family programs overlap quite a bit over the next 10 days or so. Here's a short list of what's playing when, in those categories:
Yes, WALL-E! I am so thrilled that we were able to bring this in for a short three-day run. The accolades have been piling up, and it's sure to get multiple Oscar noms, for good reason. If you hesitated to see it during it's initial release over the summer and missed it because it's a kid's film, I would encourage you to come out for one of our screenings on Jan 1 - 4. The show times will be around 4:30 or 5:00 each day. Exact times will be posted on our website soon. Arguably, it's not a kids' film at all. WALL-E has great depth and is an elegant, cautionary, and joyous parable about being human. Okay, off my soap box.
We have some BlobFest news: First, we want to mention that we have these super cool, commemorative Blob Stamps for sale and they would make a unique gift for any Blob fan on your list. More info on how to get them is below and on our website. Second, Entertainment Weekly has a story up on their website called Movie Monsters! 12 Big-Screen Behemoths and the monster near and dear to our hearts came in at an impressive No. 3! Click here to see it. And third, you may or may not be familiar with a show called Strange Pennslyvania with Dave and Dave, but you may want to check it out on Sunday, December 28th at 1pm on WHYY because this episode includes their visit to BlobFest 2008.
Finally, please note that we will be CLOSED on Christmas Eve (except for my 11am - 2pm shift, but there are no film screenings), Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. We will be OPEN on New Year's Day. Wishing you all a peaceful holiday and a brave new year - cheers!
BlobFest featured on Strange Pennsylvania
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
The next air date for Strange Pennsylvnia with Dave and Dave is Sunday, December 28th at 1pm on WHYY. This episode includes their visit to BlobFest 2008.
Last minute gifts from the Colonial
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Kirsten will be at the Colonial from 11am until 2pm on Christmas Eve (Wednesday) so that you can stop by to purchase last minute gifts. Please note that we do not accept credit cards. Here are some cool gift ideas:
- $5 - Blob Pen
- $10 - Coupon Book [Can be used for tickets or concessions]
- $10 - Colonial T-Shirt
- $10 - Colonial Theatre Print
- $25 - City Rhythm Orchestra Tickets [Mar 29 • 7pm]
- $40 - Individual Membership
- $45 - Movie Passes [A book of six adult admissions]
- $50 - Colonial Theatre Lithograph
- $100 - Whisky Tasting Tickets [Jan 23 • 6-8pm]
- $100 - Commemorative Blob Stamps
- $250 - Take a Seat Campaign [Buy a seat!]
You can also stop by to purchase tickets to upcoming Point Entertainment concerts. Ticket prices range from $22 to $39.50:
- Livingston Taylor • Jan 10 • 8pm
- The Marshall Tucker Band • Jan 29 • 8pm
- Two Funny Philly Guys: Joe Conklin and Big Daddy Graham • Feb 7 • 8pm
- Al Stewart: Then & Now Tour • Mar 5 & 8 • 8pm
- Druid featuring The Three Irish Tenors • Mar 12 • 8pm
Dec 19 - 23
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
Our next feature is the Holocaust story The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, starting tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30pm. Happy Go Lucky has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm. Upcoming features include: Synecdoche, NY; Let the Right One In; A Christmas Tale; and Rachel Getting Married. Check our website over the next few days for dates, and for our complete Christmas to New Year's schedule including A Hard Day's Night on Dec 26, Boxing Day, at 5pm.
We've got our annual holiday screenings coming up this weekend: A Christmas Story on Saturday at 2pm and It's a Wonderful Life on Sunday at 2pm. We've been getting such a big audience for Wonderful Life during the past couple of years that we decided to do an additional screening this year on Saturday at 4:30pm. Take your pick!
And don't forget another holiday tradition — Ted The Fiddler's Big Time Birthday Bash! The party gets started Tue, Dec 23 at 8pm, tickets are only $10 for an evening of great local music, and the event benefits the Colonial.
The Phoenixville Library is hosting a free holiday program here at the Colonial on Sat, Dec 20 at 10:30am. It's a holiday magic show called Speed and Thro and it looks great! Please bring a canned good to donate to PACS as your admission.
Please note that we will be CLOSED on Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day. Happy Holidays!
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Dec 12 - 18
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Our next feature is Mike Leigh's new film, Happy Go Lucky, starting tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30pm. The poster alone makes me want to see it! (Scroll down to see it.) The Secret Life of Bees has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
The link that I included in last week's email to the AARP video about Blobfest was bad - mea culpa - so let's try again. Click here to see the video.
We've added a old, but new to us, holiday film to our slate this year. On Sunday at 2pm we're screening White Christmas (1954). The film is sponsored by the Columbia Bar & Grille and you can read more about the brunch and dinner specials their offering to our patrons below.
The Children's Series continues this Saturday at 4pm with a FREE family program that's part of this Saturday's Firebird Festival! The program is called Winter Magic and it starts at 4pm (not 2pm). More info is below. Winter Magic will be followed by the Firebird Orchestra at 6pm — also free! Then at 8pm head down to the Justice Center at 347 Bridge Street for the lighting of the bird!
Finally, two bits about the Phoenixville Library. First, they are hosting a free holiday program here at the Colonial on Sat, Dec 20 at 10:30am. It's a holiday magic show called Speed and Thro and it looks great! Secondly, for those interested in the expansion of the library, there is a Planning Commission meeting tonight at 7pm at Borough Hall on Church Street (between Main and Starr) during which the results of the traffic study will be discussed. It is critical that the commission hears the opinions of the residents on the library project - both pro and con. For the record, I'm wholeheartedly in favor of the plan — it's a beautiful design that provides for the greater good of our community. If you cannot make the actual meeting, you can fax a letter to borough hall so that your opinion still makes it into the public record. You can fax it to 610-935-0480. The catch is you have to do it by 4:30 today.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
PAMS Presentation 12.5.08
Friday, December 5th, 2008
Click here to download the PDF of today's slides.
Nov 28 - Dec 4
Friday, November 28th, 2008
Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We've got a busy weekend ahead at the Colonial. Religulous, Bill Maher's documentary about faith, starts tonight at 7:00 (not 7:30). We also have The Girl Who Leapt through Time at 5:00, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail at 9:10.
On Sunday at 7pm we welcome back the fantastic City Rhythm Orchestra performing big band holiday music. Tickets are $25 ($20 for Colonial members) and we will have some tickets available at the door.
Our Classics on Sundays series continues with one of my all time favorite films, Double Indemnity (1944), a noir zinger!
The Children's Series continues this Saturday at 2pm with our final screening of The Girl Who Leapt through Time (2006, 10+).
Finally, it's annual appeal time in the non-profit world and we need your support! Our annual fund is a way for us to present high quality arts programming and keep it affordable. The goal this year is $65,000. All of our board members have given generously to this campaign already. We now need to enlist the support of all our members as well as our friends. The Colonial has not only enhanced arts programming in our communities but it has also helped to make downtown Phoenixville a destination for many people to relax and enjoy themselves. Join us in this effort to make the Colonial Theatre the center for cultural and civic activity in our region.
Please take a moment to consider a tax-deductible gift to this gem and be as generous as you can. Your contribution will ensure the sustained momentum of the Colonial and provide much needed support for our exciting programs. Click here to make your contribution safely online through Click & Pledge.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Nov 21 - 27
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Our next feature, Trouble the Water, a deeply personal documentary about Hurricane Katrina, starts tomorrow, Friday, at 7:30pm. Religulous, Bill Maher's documentary about faith starts Friday, Nov 28.
The Duchess has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm. Keira Knightley's emotionally potent performance is quite good, and perfectly offsets Ralph Fiennes' reticent Duke of Devonshire.
Our Classics on Sundays series continues with The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), one of Barbara Stanwyck's lesser known films. And don't forget, next Sunday, (Nov 30) we're screening one of my all time favorite films, Double Indemnity (1944), a noir zinger!
The Children's Series continues this Saturday at 2pm with a fantastic film from the creative team behind Wallace & Grommit, Chicken Run (2000). Recommended for ages 6 and up. After the film, if you find yourself needing another Aardman fix, put season one of their hilarious, insightful take on human (and animal) nature, Creature Comforts, on your netflix queue.
One more note about kids' films — we're very happy to host the Philadelphia area premiere of The Girl Who Leapt through Time during the week of Thanksgiving. We've got four screenings of this terrific anime film from 2006 on the schedule starting on Monday, Nov 24 at 8:30pm. It's best for ages 10 and up. More info is on our website.
Finally, it's annual appeal time in the non-profit world and we need your support! Our annual fund is a way for us to present high quality arts programming and keep it affordable. The goal this year is $65,000. All of our board members have given generously to this campaign already. We now need to enlist the support of all our members as well as our friends. The Colonial has not only enhanced arts programming in our communities but it has also helped to make downtown Phoenixville a destination for many people to relax and enjoy themselves. Join us in this effort to make the Colonial Theatre the center for cultural and civic activity in our region.
Please take a moment to consider a tax-deductible gift to this gem and be as generous as you can. Your contribution will ensure the sustained momentum of the Colonial and provide much needed support for our exciting programs. Click here to make your contribution safely online through Click & Pledge.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Nov 14 - 20
Friday, November 14th, 2008
The Duchess, an extravagant costume drama about Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire, and 18th c. ancestor of Princess Diana starts tomorrow. The film stars Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. The first screening is Friday at 7:30.
Our Classics on Sundays series featuring Barbara Stanwyck continues with Lady of Burlesque (1943), a comic mystery based on Gypsy Lee Rose's book, "The G-String Murders." This film will be screened on DVD.
The Children's Series continues this Saturday at 2pm with an 80's classic, The Dark Crystal (1982). This Jim Henson fantasy is a marvel of puppetry and storytelling. We're recommending it for ages 8 and up.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Nov 7 - 13
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
We're holding on to the Coen brothers' comedy Burn After Reading for another week. The start dates for our upcoming features have been updated on our website.
Burn After Reading has a screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
In November our Classics on Sundays series features Barbara Stanwyck and we're moving right along with The Lady Eve (1941), a masterful comedy directed by Preston Sturges and starring Stanwyck, Henry Fonda and Charles Coburn. Our thanks to Royal Bank America in Phoenixville for sponsoring this film!
This week's Children's Series program is Geist - Visual Comedian, an hilarious performer that we are very excited to welcome to the Colonial for the first time! Tickets are $5 per person and will be available at the door. Show time is 2pm on Saturday.
Tomorrow is First Friday Fright Night and we're screening the wonderfully silly Young Frankenstein at 9:45pm. Can't wait!
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Oct 31 - Nov 6
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
Next up for film is Burn After Reading, the new Coen Brothers comedy, beginning Friday, Oct 31. We're booked for film through the end of November, so please check here to see what's coming up.
Frozen River has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
In November our Classics on Sundays series features Barbara Stanwyck and we're kicking things off with Ladies They Talk About (1933), one of the first women in prison films. More info is below.
This week's Children's Series film is Howl's Moving Castle, a brilliant Hayao Miyazaki film based on an equally brilliant novel by Diana Wynne Jones. Details are below.
On Election Eve and Day we invite you to escape the current election and revisit the political climate of 32 years ago via two very different films about the Watergate scandal. We're screening Alan J. Pakula's taught drama, All the President's Men (1976) on Tuesday at 3pm; and Andrew Fleming's hilarious Watergate send-up Dick (1999) on Monday at 8:30pm and Tuesday at 5:30pm. Hope to see you there!
Lastly, mark your calendars — next week is First Friday Fright Night (Nov 7) and we're screening the wonderfully silly Young Frankenstein at 9:45pm.
Don't forget to vote!
Oct 24 - 30
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
Frozen River will be with us for one more week, but please note that there will be no screenings of the film this weekend because we have three amazing live events lined up - The Four Bitchin' Babes on Friday, The Second City on Saturday, and the Flower Power Music Festival on Sunday. Next up for film is Burn After Reading, the new Cohen Brothers comedy, beginning on Oct 31.
Frozen River has a screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
We wrap our month of early Steadicam® films this Sunday at 2pm with The Shining (1980). The film starts at 2pm but don't forget to come early to hear Garrett Brown introduce the film at 1:30pm. Garrett is the Oscar-winning inventor of the Steadicam, not to mention a terrific speaker with loads of great stories about his 30+ years in the film business.
This week's children's series film is The Witches, a 1990 adaptation of the Roald Dahl book starring Angelica Huston. Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Oct 17 - Oct 23
Friday, October 17th, 2008
Frozen River, which has earned ubiquitous praise from critics, starts tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30pm. Click here to read the accolades on metacritic.com, my new favorite review portal.
We continue our month of early Steadicam® films this Sunday at 2pm with Blow Out (1981), a film that my sister and I fondly identify as an "early cable movie." It got its fair share of broadcast time on the likes of PRISM and HBO back when those channels were just getting started and had only a few titles with which to fill 24 hours a day of programming. (I can't count the number of times we watched Stripes). Philadelphia figures prominently in the film's climax — maybe that's why PRISM showed it so frequently. Don't forget — Garrett Brown will be back to introduce The Shining at 1:30pm on Sunday, Oct 26.
Our Children's Series continues with the Annual Kiwanis Halloween Party on Saturday at 2pm. The program, October Tales, is free to everyone in the community! Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and parade across our stage after the show.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Oct 3 - 9
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Elegy starring Ben Kingsley as a professor (and lothario), and Penelope Cruz as his student starts tomorrow, Friday at 7:30pm. Tomorrow is also First Friday Fright Night here at the big C and we're screening Blade Runner - The Final Cut on 35mm. Show time is 9:45pm.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
This Sunday we begin a new theme for the Classics on Sundays series. This month, we're looking at the some of the first films that embraced the newest technology of their day, the Steadicam®. The Steadicam is a camera stabilizing system that has become pervasive in Hollywood cinema and television. The early films that utilized the Steadicam present an opportunity to see just how the technology was adopted and adapted to serve both the narrative and technical drives of cinema.
We are very fortunate to have the Steadicam's inventor, Garrett Brown (who won an Oscar for his device), in our neighborhood. We are thrilled that on Sunday night, at 7pm, Garrett will be here to introduce our first film of the month, Marathon Man (1976) directed by John Schlesinger and starring Dustin Hoffman and Sir Laurence Olivier. Garrett will also stick around for a Q&A after the film. We also want to extend a warm welcome to the participants in this year's Steadicam Workshop in Chester Springs and members of the Steadicam Operators Association who will be with us for the 7pm screening. Please note that there will also be a 2pm screening of Marathon Man, but that Garrett will only introduce the 7pm. Hope to see you there!
Our Children's Series on Saturdays continues this Saturday with another oldie, but goodie - Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) at 2pm. Next week, on Sat, Oct 11, we're screening Edward Scissorhands (1990), but we're also doing a Day Off of School Screening on Thu, Oct 9 at 2pm. The film is appropriate for ages 13 and up, so if your kids are looking for something fun to do on their day off, drop them off here for the film.
Tickets to the Bacon Brothers concert and benefit next Friday, Oct 10, are selling quickly, so don't wait too long to be a part of this great event that supports the theatre and the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. Details are on our website.
Parking update — It's First Friday tomorrow night and Bridge Street will be host to local fire trucks on display, so the 200 block of Bridge Street will be closed. After business hours, Colonial patrons are able to park in the Justice Center lot on Bridge Street west of Gay, and in the Frees Insurance lot on Gay Street. Parking in either of these lots means you avoid the traffic congestion on Bridge Street altogether. You can click here to download a pdf of a map of free municipal lots within walking distance of the theatre.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Sep 26 - Oct 2
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Woody Allen's latest film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem starts tommorrow night (Friday) at 7:30pm. Elegy starts Oct 3, Frozen River starts Oct 17, and Burn After Reading starts Oct 31 — details are on our website.
Transsiberian has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
This Sunday we wrap up our month of Pre-Code Hollywood classics with a truly unusual film by Tod Browning, Freaks. The film will be preceeded by an equally unusual silent short, The Mystery of the Leaping Fish (1916, starring Douglas Fairbanks) with live organ accompaniment by Wayne Zimmerman of the Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley. The program begins at 2pm.
Our Children's Series on Saturdays season begins this Saturday with Laurel & Hardy in Way Out West. Tickets will be $4 per person — with a money-back guarantee courtesy of film sponsor, Bill Roth! More information is below.
Tickets to the Bacon Brothers concert and benefit on Fri, Oct 10 are selling quickly, so don't wait too long to be a part of this great event that supports the theatre and the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust.
Tickets are still available for the City Rhythm Orchestra concert on Sunday night at 7pm, so you will be able to buy them at the door. They put on a terrific show - I highly recommend it and hope to see you there!
Sep 19 - 25
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Tomorrow (Friday) we start a one-week run of Transsiberian, a thriller starring Emily Mortimer, Woody Harrelson, and Ben Kingsley. We're booked for a few weeks out now - Vicky Cristina Barcelona starts Sep 26, Elegy starts Oct 3, Frozen River starts Oct 17, and Burn After Reading starts Oct 31 — details on all films are here.
Man on Wire has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
This Sunday at 2pm the Pre-Code Hollywood classics continue with She Done Him Wrong (1933) starring Mae West and a very young Cary Grant.
Our Children's Series on Saturdays season begins on Sep 27 at 2pm with Laurel & Hardy in Way Out West. We're also showing two L&H shorts — Brats and Hog Wild. And, we're starting an area tent! (That's L&H speak for fan club). Tickets will be $4 per person — with a money-back guarantee courtesy of film sponsor, Bill Roth!
We have a lot of great events coming up in the next few weeks — it will be hard to choose which to come to! City Rhythm Orchestra performs the music of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong on Sep 28, we're screening the final cut of Blade Runner (released last year) on Oct 3, Garrett Brown (inventor of the Steadicam®) introduces Marathon ManBacon Brothers benefit concert is on Oct 10, Devil Music Ensemble returns to the Colonial on Oct 11, we're screening a restored print of the silent comedy classic Safety Last! on Oct 12 with live organ accompaniment, we're hosting two great comedy shows the weekend of Oct 24 - The Four Bitchin' Babes and The Second City, and finally, we're hosting the Flower Power concert on Oct 26. That's a pretty great line-up! on Oct 5, the
Parking update — we've noticed a renewed enforcement of the one hour parking limits on Bridge Street. The hours during which the one hour limit is enforced are Monday thru Thursday 10am to 5pm and Friday 10am to 8pm. You can click here to download a pdf of a map of free municipal lots within walking distance of the theatre. After business hours, Colonial patrons are able to park in the Justice Center lot on Bridge Street west of Gay, and in the Frees Insurance lot on Gay Street.
Lastly, would you like to see your name on our marquee?! Considering sponsoring one of our fall films. More information is on our website.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Sep 12 - 18
Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Man on Wire, begins tomorrow, Fri, Sep 12. It tells the story of Phillippe Petit's tightrope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. Beginning Sep 19 we're screening Transsiberian, a thriller that takes place on, you guessed it, the Trans-Siberian train from Beijing to Moscow. It stars Emily Mortimer, Woody Harrelson, and Ben Kingsley and looks to be another twisty thriller in a similar vein as Tell No One.
Encounters at the End of the World has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
This Sunday at 2pm the pre-code Hollywood classics continue with Baby Face (1933) starring Barbara Stanwyck (the subject of our classic films this November).
Our Children's Series on Saturdays season begins on Sep 27 at 2pm with Laurel & Hardy in Way Out West. We're also showing two L&H shorts — Brats and Hog Wild. And, we're starting an area tent! (That's L&H speak for fan club). Tickets will be $4 per person — with a money-back guarantee courtesy of film sponsor, Bill Roth!
One last thing — would you like to see your name on our marquee?! Considering sponsoring one of our fall films. More information is on our here.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you at the theatre!
Sep 5 - 11
Thursday, September 4th, 2008
Wernor Herzog's documentary about Antartica, Encounters at the End of the World, begins its run tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30pm. Another critically acclaimed doc, Man on Wire, begins on Sep 12. It tells the story of Phillippe Petit's tightropre walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.
Brideshead Revisited has its last screening tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm.
This Sunday at 2pm we begin a new month of classic films with Gold Diggers of 1933 - a Busby Berkely extravaganza! The theme for September is Pre-Code Hollywood, the era of Classical Hollywood Cinema before self-imposed censorship became more mandatory than voluntary. Click here to read about Pre-Code Hollywood.
First Friday Fright Night is tomorrow and we're screening Alien. I remember the film's release in the summer of 1979 very clearly, and being so disappointed that I wasn't old enough to see it. So now, nearly 30 years later, I'll get my chance!
Our Children's Series on Saturdays season begins on Sep 27 at 2pm with Laurel & Hardy in Way Out West. We're also showing two L&H shorts — Brats and Hog Wild. And, we're starting an area tent! (That's L&H speak for fan club). Tickets will be $4 per person.
Finally, please note that our ticket prices for films are changing as of Friday. Adult tickets for feature films are now $8 (increased from $7). We've lowered our adult tickets for classic films to $6. Tickets are still $4 for everyone for family films on Saturday afternoons. The senior ticket price of $6 is unchanged.
Garrett Brown and the Steadicam® Sundays in October
Thursday, September 4th, 2008
Garrett Brown is an east-coaster who made his way by innovation: as an admen in the 60's, a filmmaker and inventor in the 70's, a clandestine radio humorist in the 80's and an industry-changing sports videographer since the 90's. When existing practices got in his way, he dreamed up simple, elemental short cuts that have opened up limitless possibilities for moving the world's cameras.
Garrett invented the Oscar-winning Steadicam® camera stabilizer and used it to shoot nearly 100 movies beginning with “Rocky”. He holds 50 patents worldwide for camera devices including the new Steadicam Merlin for camcorders; Skycam, which flies on wires over sporting events; and Mobycam, Divecam and Flycam that respectively chase swimmers, divers and athletes at the Olympics.
Garrett has recorded for MGM as a folksinger, made TV commercials, shot films for “Sesame Street," and was the other half of the ad-lib duo on the long-running Molson and American Express radio commercials. He is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, the Directors Guild, the Screen Actors Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His popular lecture on “The Moving Camera” has been seen at film schools and festivals around the world.
In October, the Colonial is featuring the Steadicam during its Classics on Sundays series. Garrett will introduce two of the films: Marathon Man on Sunday, Oct 5 at 7pm and The Shining on Sun, Oct 26 at 1:30pm. Garrett will also do a Q&A after Marathon Man on Oct 5. Click here for a complete list of the Classics on Sundays films.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Friday, August 29th, 2008
Our Classics on Sundays theme for September is Pre-Code Hollywood. Click here for films and schedule.
The early days of talking pictures just happened to coincide with the darkest days of the Great Depression, and escapism – especially at the movies - was the rule of the day. Believe it or not, until the fabled “Production Code” took force in mid-1934, the movies were a much racier, tawdrier, and more frank medium than they would be for another thirty years or more. The self-imposed Hollywood Production Code arose largely in response to the licentious ways of the likes of Mae West and the violence of the gangster and horror films of the time; in order to avoid the imminent threat of government censorship, the Code swiftly clamped down on moral issues with the grip of a Puritan vice. (One ironic indicator of the Code’s effect was that the biggest money-making female star of 1933 was Mae West, and in 1934 that honor went to Shirley Temple.) The Colonial Theatre’s classic film choices for this month are an attempt to honor the fascinating pre-code period of the early thirties, when vice sometimes won out over virtue, and daring (and sometimes bizarre) subject matter had yet to become taboo. Return with us now to the thrilling days of yesteryear when, as Cole Porter so aptly put it, “anything goes.”