Matt Peters
map006@marietta.edu
With the plethora of historical sites Marietta boasts, one building in particular promises to be an exciting entertainment draw for the Mid-Ohio Valley. The Peoples’ Bank Theatre – formerly known as the Colony Theatre – opened its doors on Friday Jan. 8, with a performance of “Cirque-tacular.”
Due to high upkeep costs, previous owners were forced to close the theater in 1985. However, with the support of the Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre Association, the theater has been completely restored to its early 1900s glory. Details about the building’s history can be found on the Peoples Bank Theatre website, along with pictures documenting the renovation process.
“It took us a decade to raise the different funding sources,” said volunteer stage technician, Bill Haas.
Originally named the Hippodrome, the 105-year-old Peoples’ Bank Theatre has a seating capacity of 1000 people, and is scheduled to host a variety of acts in the coming months. The 2016 Spotlight Series includes: Complete History of Comedy (Abridged), Saturday Night Fever, Paula Poundstone, Kathy Mattea, The Johnny Clegg Band, Rhythm in the Night Irish Dance Spectacular, The McCartney Years, Ballet Folklorico, Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Cashore Marionettes. The theater will also be putting on a community production of the show, ‘Oklahoma.’
Additionally, the Marietta College Symphonic band is scheduled to perform at the Peoples Bank Theatre on April 18.
Sophomore band member, Zebulon Suzelis is impressed with the theater.
“It’s absolutely stunning,” he said. “I just loved all of the little detail work that they ensured helped the Peoples Bank Theatre stay true to its roots as the colony theater.”
Suzelis was particularly impressed by the interior of the theater, which band members toured on Jan. 18.
“All of the little tiles in the lobby — all of those were hand-placed and they were perfectly set up as replicas of what used to be right there,” he said. “And that’s what I liked most about it, just how true it stayed to its antiquity.”
The Theatre’s spacious and ornate auditorium will be a welcome change for band members accustomed to playing in the College’s Fenton Court.
The Peoples Bank Theatre is located at 222 Putnam Street, just across from campus.
