Emerson Colonial Theatre

Performing arts theater · Downtown

Emerson Colonial Theatre

Performing arts theater · Downtown

1

106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

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Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null
Emerson Colonial Theatre by null

Highlights

The Emerson Colonial Theatre, a stunningly ornate historic gem in Boston, showcases captivating Broadway shows, though the seating can feel a bit cozy for taller patrons.  

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106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 Get directions

emersoncolonialtheatre.com
@emersoncolonial

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106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 Get directions

+1 888 616 0272
emersoncolonialtheatre.com
@emersoncolonial
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@EmColonial

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Jul 6, 2025

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"Moulin Rouge! hits Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre on June 27, and has already extended its run, from August 5 to August 19, giving you more chances to tearily lip-sync "Come What May" in the audience."

Where to See the Next Big Musicals Before They Hit Broadway
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Greg Lukos

Google
An absolutely amazing venue, over 100 years old, almost Versailles like. If you haven't been yet, definitely put it on your list. The show we saw was the Simon & Garfunkle Story, Wow!, truly fabulous. When they did Bridge over Troubled Water, we thought the roof would come down. An absolute emotional performance. See it if you can.

martin stehl

Google
Nice little theatre, wish the rows were. Little bit further apart as I am 6’1” and it was tight for me. Went and saw SIX and the show was amazing, the colonial is a little more intimate than the opera house which makes it a nice change for a broadway musical.

Celi Z

Google
I had an amazing time watching Shrek the Musical. The inside of the theater is very beautiful. Going through the security was a breeze. It's a little bit tiny in the hallway, but it's manageable. I found it very cool that you can have snacks and drinks ordered directly to your seat. Bathrooms were clean and there's a bunch of stalls. Also, a huge thank you to Layne because they made sure I was accommodated for my accessible seat.

sana tgp

Google
Great theater with amazing performances, but the seats are a bit too close together—could use more legroom for comfort.

Steve Find Me

Google
Tough to navigate inside as they don't have elevators, and everything is still protected by the historic society so there's no upgrades. The seats are very tight And limiting. The security at the front door, are extremely militant and are yelling the whole time. Time. That's not the right setting for the type of people that go to theater, I would think. Try say anything back to them, and they threaten to not allow you in or kick you out. This was a very common complaint of the patrons, the last three shows I've been to there.

Flora P

Google
Beautiful theater with one issue - the seats were wide but the rows so tight that my knees were hitting the back of those in front of me and I’m only 5’7”! My poor hubby who is 6’6” had to have his legs in the aisle.

Grant Hespeler

Google
Really cool, well preserved historic theater. Seating very cramped, but maybe that’s part of the charm. Lighting and audio were great and the show was a lot of fun. Not a very efficient entry/exit process

Sophie Graham

Google
Gorgeous theatre in the heart of Boston! Recommend rushing tickets if available as it can get pricey. Seats are comfortable, concessions are wildly expensive, stage is huge; there’s a reason it’s a Broadway level stage! Few people in audience likened the ceiling to the Sistine Chapel.

Vicki M.

Yelp
This is such a cozy and beautiful theater. We watched the Simon and Garfunkel story here last weekend and it was such a great show. There was a live band playing music and telling stories of the duo over the years and the screen above showed visuals in tandem. Really beautiful music - we had good seats Row P in the orchestra so pretty nice - could see and hear everything really well. In the beginning we got in just as the first song which happened to be one of my favorites - sound of silence - was just starting so we stood in the back for the song to finish before we went to our seats. In the intermission the line for the ladies room was really really long - moves quickly but I still waited till it was actually very short to get in line. Overall really great experience!

Garnet M.

Yelp
Saw Six The Musical this weekend with the Ambassador Lounge add on that allowed early access to the theater, a speakeasy-like lounge for drinks and snacks, a private restroom and place to leave our coats. Highly recommend adding that to the evening's experience . Also loved Charlie, who directed us to the lounge and to our seats. He was lovely!

Lizzie R.

Yelp
This is a beautiful theater! I saw Six and the performance was wonderful! We had seats in Orchestra row A 103 & 104 and I was surprised by the generous leg room. (The two seats to the right of us were not as lucky!) After reading other reviews, I'm glad we weren't in the balcony or dress circle due to their uncomfortable seats & lack of space. The staff were friendly and accommodating. I didn't see a coat check available which was disappointing when attending on a very cold night in December since the theatre itself was nice & toasty. Also, be sure to give yourself time to arrive & go through security. There's a bag check & metal detector to go through before you can get to the lobby. You're able to bring drinks from the bar to your seats but they're served in glasses which you need to return. It was hard to be able to reach the restroom after the performance but that's to be expected somewhat in the rush to leave the theatre.

Cheyenne M.

Yelp
Beautiful old theatre...but that comes with old seats. If you are any bigger than average sized, you may want to reconsider. Im not sure if the seat size is any different in other sections but in the balcony...I wouldn't recommend for a comfortable experience. I'm a short girl, but a bit on the larger side. I am 5' tall and my feet were crammed up against the seat in front of me and on both sides my legs were touching the people next to me. The views definitely are great no matter where you sit, and all the staff were incredible at customer service. But the seats alone would make me reconsider coming back for an event here.

Manfred S.

Yelp
Beautiful theater. The last and great pre-broadway performance of Queen of Versailles. What killed the joy? A balcony seat that does not qualify a seat. Sitting three hours contorted is an insult to human anatomy. As a 6 footer, I was cramping, but even kid's cannot sit comfortably.

Eliza N.

Yelp
For the love of G--, please give more leg room in dress circle first row. This was my second time here in a similar section. Think twice about purchasing seats here. It's a medieval torture box on knees and legs. Painful after the first 20 minutes. Seriously, I had to take a shoe off to get my foot in the space, I'm average in foot size woman's 8. -------------------- Btw the show was great. The Girl from the North Country. The theater is decorated in original 1900 style when it opened. The 2nd floor offers a wine bar and snacks. Very beautiful theater.

Patrick B.

Yelp
There to see a great movie from the 1980's. Got there early to make sure we could arrive with someone who has time to walk to their seat. Helpful staff showed us our way. Comfortable atmosphere and comfortable temperatures in the room. Felt at ease. Definitely returning!

Customer B.

Yelp
This review is posted as a warning to others before they purchase a balcony seat at this theater. The view from this seat, B9, in the theater is fine. This was the only saving grace of this balcony location. See the photo. I have never experienced a more uncomfortable seat for a performance. The seats are narrow (I am 5'11" slim, and I feel sorry for those who are wider), and there is no leg room. I could not sit with my legs straight. Thank goodness that I was able to angle in front of my wife for part of the show. But for most of it, I was incredibly cramped. My legs and knees were sore, and my feet were numb when I exited after the 2hour45min performance. I will never do this again. It really distracted from the wonderful performance of the Queen of Versailles. And by the way, getting down to the seat, and up from the seat to exit, is a steep climb. There are rails, and you will need them. There is minimal room to walk past the other patrons, who had to stand and inhale for us to reach our seats.

Kathleen R.

Yelp
This venue is great. I've sat in all areas and I'm short & the views are great. Live coming here because the shows they have are always amazing and the staff is wonderful.

Andres A.

Yelp
What a wonderfully beautiful theater this is. They have 3 different levels and the theater is ornate. Every where you look there is some piece of ornate decoration. We thoroughly enjoyed the show, it seemed like there were no bad seats in the house. The seats were very comfortable and you definitely do not feel cramped as in some older theaters. We saw the Champions of Magic and the show was tremendous. With every magic trick or illusion it got better and better. I will definitely like to see other future shows at this theater.

A. B.

Yelp
I saw Hannah Gadsby here; the theatre was absolutely stunning and the show was amazing. However, while I understand the historical nature of the space, the extremely narrow and steep balcony needs to be addressed in some way. It should at the very least be clearly communicating to people when purchasing tickets that the balcony areas have extremely narrow walkways between rows and are extremely steep. I experienced vertigo while attempting to reach my seat in the top balcony and lost my balance, falling down onto the row in front. While the fellow attendees and staff were very helpful and kind, it was still a painful experience.

Tracy S.

Yelp
This is a beautiful old theatre. But it is old. The seats are extremely cramped. If you are above 5' then you will have trouble with the leg room. We recently went to see the Queen of Versailles, which was a great show. Unfortunately my friends and I were so uncomfortable and in pain due to not being able to move our legs - at all - during the first half, we left during intermission. We just couldn't stand another minute in those seats. Very disappointing.

Donlyn C.

Yelp
While I appreciate preservation, I also appreciate comfort...and you can have both is historic theaters. We were sitting balcony (row a, seats 1 & 3) and we were SO uncomfortable we left early. My husband is 5'8" and I 5'5", both of average weight. There is no leg room at all. It's too bad as the show (Clue) & the staff were great!

Daniel C.

Yelp
No Leg Room in Dress Circle. A friend and I saw Into The Woods in March and sat in F 13 and F 15. Laughably uncomfortable seating. Narrow seats and impossible to sit without angling your knees off to the sides. Otherwise beautiful theater and the show was good. I've sat in the orchestra section in the past where there is adequate leg room.

Anna M.

Yelp
The Colonial Theatre gets five stars for the history alone! It's the first place an audience ever saw Oklahoma! before it revolutionized musical theater. (If you care about that sort of thing, do take one of their behind-the-scenes tours so you can admire the table Bob Fosse danced on, etc., etc.) The recent renovation is just beautiful-- thankfully Stephen Sondheim himself publicly objected to Emerson's ill-advised plan to turn this gem into a dining hall. That said, it's true that legroom is severely limited, especially upstairs. It's noticeable even if you're short. And it's true that the staff gets a bit scattered sometimes, sometimes opening the doors late or struggling to get people to their correct seats. But... historical treasure! Wonderful new productions! Gorgeous decor!

Judy S.

Yelp
The show was probably excellent -- however we were unable to go. The 1 star review is a warning about taking the "insurance." I was ill for weeks before the date of the show and unable to attend. I filed for a refund with accompanying medical documentation. Secure refunds (Colonial's insurance provider) insisted that I had to provide medical receipts for the DAY OF the show. This was stated nowhere in their terms and conditions. Their terms and conditions stated: "Incapacity of the Ticket Holder caused by Accident, Bodily injury or Sickness or a personal medical emergency before the Event." After going back and forth numerous times and getting nowhere -- my cousin (Harvard educated attorney) wrote a two page brief explaining why my situation fulfilled their terms and conditions. They immediately approved the request. Absolutely ridiculous that it had to come to that. Next came getting the actual refund. Secure Refunds is located in the UK and claim that they cannot issue a refund to a credit card. The refund had to be wired to a bank account -- which resulted in a $15 fee. This process took from my first refund filing on February 21 until receiving the refund on April 21. Without legal intervention it never would have happened.

Scott P.

Yelp
***Tall/Big people be aware: the seats in this theatre, though comfortable, are very close together. Attempt to purchase an aisle seat if you can*** Leg room aside, this theatre is stunningly beautiful and historically significant. From the ornate fixtures to the grand staircase, the Colonial is a gem in the Boston theatre scene.

My R.

Yelp
TIME TO RENOVATE Seats are terrible. Sound system needs to be updated. no enjoyment in going to the theater

Nya R.

Yelp
I saw Six the musical which was phenomenal, acoustics/ambience are great and I recommend everyone go see it but I am here to talk about the theatre which is beautiful, yes. I had seats in the Dress Circle which are only accessible by stairs, be mindful of what heels you wear. It gave a great view of the stage but if you are tall (I am 6'2") then your knees will be upset with you and if you're on the larger side (I am a size 22/24) then hips will be upset with you. Take this information however you need.

M N.

Yelp
Beautiful location, but the seats are wildly uncomfortable, I am short - a little more than 5 feet tall - and my legs barely fit behind the seat in front of me. My husband is over 6 feet tall, so his experience was even worse than mine. I can't imagine getting tickets to see a show here again.

Patty M.

Yelp
Beautiful historic building. Plenty of ushers to help guide the theater goers. Wonderful shows!

Jerry C.

Yelp
Legroom As Bad As United Airlines Coach Seats A beautiful and ornate theater in very good condition. The service was friendly and attentive. The wine and beer were pricey but at least available. But the seats were just horrible. Our seats were in the Dress Circle- which is code for lower balcony. I'm 5'10" and it was impossible to sit without forcing my back deep into the back of the chair and even then my knees were crushed with the ridiculous legroom. When this theater opened in 1900 the average height of men was 5'7". Even then, these seats would have been way too tight.

Annette J.

Yelp
Saw Moulin Rouge here a couple of months ago and I loved this theatre! It has recently been renovated reopened, I believe, for the first time in several years with this show. The set design matched the grandeur of the theatre perfectly. It was definitely one of the more "WOW" staging experiences I had at the theatre recently. I walked in and my jaw dropped! The seats were fairly comfy, for a theatre. My husband and I do a lot of Broadway weekends and know that legroom in a historic theatre can be scarce, but here it wasn't too bad. It wasn't spacious but it wasn't sardine levels of discomfort. We sat in the mezzanine left and the view was excellent. I know a lot of people complained about the temperature in the building but we were here in late July and didn't have any issues. And I'm a sweaty mess that always runs hot. Lobby was tight but again, no worse than some NYC broadway theatres. Sound was a-ok and the show was spectacular. Overall, a good start to a new life for the Emerson.

Bill T.

Yelp
Came here to see "Moulin Rouge" and I have to say, the theater itself felt a part of the show with its opulent design. It's really gorgeous inside. Not sure how it is for the ladies, but the men's room had plenty of capacity and even when I visited during intermission, there wasn't a huge line. Seats were a little tight, but not as bad as some theaters on Broadway in Manhattan. The only problem was there was no air circulation. It was like being in a sauna for two and a half hours. Even if they're not going to turn on the AC, at least get some fans to keep the air moving. I liked the show a lot but would have enjoyed it much better if I weren't dripping with sweat the entire time.

Michele M.

Yelp
The theatre is beautiful but very out of date. The seats are small and give no leg room if you're over 5'2. It's also not very accessible.

Guy M.

Yelp
Show we saw was amazing but the theatre had some issues. Leg room in orchestra was tough. Management and staff spent what felt like the whole show going up and down the aisles trying to find people on their phone to tell them to stop it was very distracting since they were not discreet about it. Most of the time they didn't even find anyone to talk to about it just got in my view. They asked us to go in the side entrance which was fine and efficient but then merch was back outside main entrance so had to exit and re-enter with tickets.

John O.

Yelp
I don't know how I missed writing a review of this theater. Better late than never! We went to see "The Play That Goes Wrong." The reason being was the Boston Opera House was having an extended running of "Hamilton" (is anyone surprised though tbh?) and this show was moved to here. This was a welcome change of pace though. I felt the seating was better, sharper gradient to ensure even tall people didn't obstruct the view. I felt the seats were a little bit spaced out more than the Boston Opera House. This theater is smaller, but it came with an intimate feeling. For this production I felt it was actually better for Emerson Colonial than Boston Opera House. The restrooms were clean, staff were very polite and pleasant. The bartenders worked fairly quickly. I would be interested to see more productions here.

Esther L.

Yelp
just saw Six the musical. Show was terrific! Theater beautiful to look at but not not audience friendly! the staircase going to the balcony seats are a killer. I almost had a heart attack climbing those stairs. NO ELEVATOR available in building! I do not recommend going to any show at this theater unless you can sit in the orchestra section! Theater needs to install an elevator!!

Susan K.

Yelp
The theater is beautiful. But upper balcony seats, give you no leg room. Also the poles give you a obstructed view. The seats with leg room I hear are pretty pricey.

Janet M.

Yelp
Not even sure where to begin - Donna Summer musical tickets tonight - show was great - wish I saved the money in tickets Usher was the worst No pics. No videos. Ok. I get it. No phones. Not even a text from my nephew in the Air Force letting me know he was ok despite the developments going on - I was informed there was no photography. Ok. But. No cell phones ?? I'll give them that even. But whispering to my friend I was there with about the songs or about the show itself and being "talked to" by the usher yet again ..... I really wish I saved my money. It's not worth the effort or the money I'm clearly disappointed

Shannon F.

Yelp
I have been to a number of theatres in my life for various musical productions, and I have to say that this one left a lot to be desired. Upon entering, the security process was somewhat awkward but overall easy to get through. We then proceeded to the doors to have the usher scan our tickets. The woman at the door did not have a ticket scanner, so we waited for someone else to come over. A rather unpleasant woman came and tried to scan our tickets. She was having difficulty, even though we had just picked our tickets up at will call just moments earlier, so there should have been no issue. We were then escorted to the box office where the cranky woman ultimately marked our tickets and ripped them. This is not a huge deal, but I do like to keep the tickets as I have a large ticket display, so this was disappointing. We then had to wait for quite some time to be taken to our seats (because we were late, our fault). There were many other people who were waiting to be seated on the dress circle level as well. There was only one person legitimately running around showing people to their seats. This was not an efficient process at all, as people were waiting and missing more and more of the performance. The seats themselves were, in my opinion, very disappointing and uncomfortable. I am not a tall person, I am only 5'2", and my knees were pressed up against the seat in front of me. I can only imagine how uncomfortable this was for individuals taller than me. In addition, the theatre is set up in such a way that the incline is not steep enough to allow you to clearly see over the person in front of you. I estimate that I was able to see less than 50% if the show because the (extremely fidgety) man in front of me's head was in the way. The usher standing in front of the door was also distracting. He went in and out multiple times, leaving the door open and allowing the corridor lights to shine into the theatre. He also moved around a lot during the performance. Overall I did not enjoy my experience at this theatre and will likely try to avoid it in the future.

Eric P.

Yelp
Because you can can can!!! The glitz, the glamour, the lust, the...love. Emerson Colonial Theatre had been closed for 6 years. Evil Emerson tycoons with villain mustaches had chained it on the chopping block to be ripped apart and molded into a sad Frankenstein cafeteria. The food tasting like the salty tears of crushed dreams and a dash of sunken hopes. The venue was saved in an epic fashion rivaling the dramaticism of the shows that would grace this stage. I witnessed the world premiere of Moulin Rouge here, and I would be lying if I didn't say I immediately went home and searched my old grandmothers box of things for ripped fishnets to practice the can can in. I digress, this theater was beautiful and the 'pre-broadway' show was amazing. I will be back to discover diamonds in the rough. Broadway budget scenery/talent, with homeless subway entertainment ticket prices. Don't. Miss. Out.

Frank B.

Yelp
At least once a year I go to this theater for a show. It is beautiful and well preserved, clean and well staffed. BUT, then you have to sit down. The Emerson has the most uncomfortable seating with no leg or knee room. I spend the show with my knees hard against the seat in front of me with no room to shift to relieve the agony. All the people around me are having the same issues and the groans and complaints are everywhere.

Kevin J.

Yelp
This is the worst theatre I've been to in recent years. If you are over 5 foot 8 inches you are. In for a very uncomfortable experience. As a 6 foot human this was a painful experience. In addition the show started well after the appointed start time. If you are going to make us suffer at least be on time. Thanks

Erika D.

Yelp
I will never purchase tickets from this venue again. I'm tired of businesses like this blaming the government for issues they have control over. I purchased tickets to Blippi The Musical on 11.19.21 for my son, his wife and my 3 year old grandson. At that time the COVID requirements clearly stated that unvaccinated individuals needed to show proof of a negative COVID test within 24-48 hours of the show to attend. I received an email from them on Saturday 1.22.22 reminding us of the upcoming show and apparently new COVID requirements stating that all patrons 12 and older are required to show proof at the door that they have been fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine to attend. Since I received the email on 1.22.22, I was unable to reach your box office by phone to request a refund of $183.35 for tickets purchased on 11.19.21. I sent a certified letter to the theatre on 1.26 asking for a full refund since they changed the vaccination requirement after I purchased the tickets for my son and his family on 11.19.21. They did not attend the performance of Blippi The Musical at the Emerson Colonial Theatre as a result of their recent changed vaccination requirement. I fully understand they 'had' to comply with government 'mandates' but there is absolutely NO mandate that stipulates they cannot refund my money if we could not attend. Where is their integrity? Their focus on the customer? Their sense of what is right and fair? I will NEVER purchase any tickets for future events here and suggest you do not either. I'm sure this review won't matter to them at all as I am just one small person among thousands who they work with. Nevertheless, I felt the need to post this review as companies who have policies like this should be called out.

Kate C.

Yelp
This is the worst theatre in Boston. They had one side door for everyone to enter 10-15 minutes before the show. We got through at 12:58 and the doors were locked so we are now watching the first eight minutes on a TV screen. Insanity, stupidly and disorganization. Luckily, I've seen Fiddler on the Roof but this theatre needs to get in line. It doesn't hold a candle to the Opera House. I attend 8-10 shows in Boston a year.

David S.

Yelp
I have been to numerous shows at the Colonial and always had good experiences which is why they are getting two stars but today's experience was so bad that I felt I had to review. I bought tickets to Kinky Boots the first day they went on sale, almost a year ago. When the usher took us to our seats, other people were sitting in them. She asked to see their tickets and they had hand written tickets on a piece of paper. We had printed tickets. The usher told us we would need to speak to the manager, Jen. The usher walked us up to her and explained the situation. Instead of apologizing and immediately fixing the problem, Jen told us she need to talk to the box office. I will admit, I lost my cool with Jen. She came back later and told us she needed to go down and get the other people to move before we could sit. She did move them and we got our seats about half way through the opening number. This is UNACCEPTABLE !! If I can look online at their website and see what seats are available, then how is it that the staff at the Colonial is unable to see this and give hand written tickets and seats to seats that have already been sold? There is no explanation for this that will be acceptable to me. These tickets are expensive and to miss part of the show due to their incompetence is just not okay.

Nicole G.

Yelp
Gorgeous theatre! They were wonderfully helpful in rescheduling our tickets when there was a change in showtime, and very accommodating of our accessibility needs. Beware for now if you're in the last row of the orchestra... the seats aren't bolted down yet! (As of late July 2018.) The show we saw, Moulin Rouge, was AMAZING. As a long time fan of the movie, I was delighted by the nostalgia and the new songs alike.

T C.

Yelp
My seat was in the last row of the dress circle near the exit. I could not sit straight with my knees in front of me due to the lack of space. I tried turning my knees to the side but that affected the patron next to me. It was pretty awful. I don't think I've ever been this uncomfortable in a theater. After the first act I decided to stand near the door which I did for the rest of the performance. If you have to sit in this section your best bet is an aisle seat where you can at least stretch a leg down onto the steps. They really need to remove every other row to give people some legroom. I would pay more for that. Despite all this, the show I went to was really great.

Erin B.

Yelp
Spectacular Spectacular ;) After being closed what seems like forever. This beautiful theater opened up for the World Premiere of Moulin Rouge!! MY GOD what a beautiful theater. If you go, make sure you take some time and look at the art work especially in the ceiling. It's Absolutely incredible. Not going to get into the actual show, which I really enjoyed. Everyone was super helpful and very informative. There are two bars in the lobby the one is the main area was super crowded go to the other one that's around the corner.

Allie S.

Yelp
I came here for the first time to see Moulin Rouge. The production itself was amazing and the set designs looked great in the theater. I have to agree with others that the theater itself is not great compared to others I've visited while attending musicals. Everything in this theater seems to be cramped. They were probably trying to maximize the number of seats but the rows are too close to one another and the theater was a bit hot and stuffy during the performance. In addition, the entrance hall were you wait before being seated could not hold that many people so you had to push through the crowd if headed to the restrooms. So overall, gorgeous theater but whoever designed it just only thought about the revenue and not the overall experience of the audience regardless of where your seats are located.

Chris J.

Yelp
Moulin rouge was phenomenal and the theatre was pretty decent too. The theatre was fairly minimalistic when it came to many arrangements outside of the seating. A somewhat stuffy auditorium made for a light but constant sweat. The seating was really steep with not much leg room, but the chairs were really comfortable outside of being a little packed in. There were some GREAT things about the theatre as a whole though. The staff were delightful and helpful, but maybe slightly too few of them when it came to bar service. I enjoyed my night very much and if I lived in Boston would certainly return! That all being said, I can't say enough about Moulin Rouge currently being performed there. It was fantastic.

Lin L.

Yelp
Was here a few months ago for the world premiere opening of Moulin Rouge at the Emerson. The theater was beautiful. The security line was quick and effortless if you already have tickets. But the seating in the rows were very cramped--I'm 5'3! Can't imagine what it feels like for those taller than me (which seems like everyone else)! The stage was gorgeous with the iconic windmill on one side. And an elephant on the other. However, while beautiful these didn't serve any purpose other than aesthetics and blocking the view of the unfortunate patrons whose seats were on the edge. I loved our view from the left center upper balcony -- we got to see the entire stage. There were a few table seats at orchestra level right in front of the stage that you'd feel like you're part of the show. However, since there was a performance walkway right behind these tables, I noticed the patrons there always had a partially obstructed view or they would have to turn around/side ways to see the show. The show itself was kitschy and bubblegum pop nostalgic. It was fun if you don't take your Broadway play too seriously. My favorite actor was the one who played Santiago and I felt his talents were underutilized. The lead actors who played Satine & Christian were better in the tragic second half of the play than the upbeat first half. Although most of the acting was ok. Ultimately I felt if this was on Broadway, I'd recommend a different show to watch.

Greg O.

Yelp
We attended 2/9/20 and have to say it was by far the worst experience we've ever had at a show. We are not "large" people however we couldn't sit comfortably to the point it hurt. Seats are built for a person under 5'6" @ 150 pounds or less. Every person in our section complained. Also, if it went up in flames it's a death trap. Don't waste your money. Shame on you Colonial! Will NEVER go there again.

Eugenio B.

Yelp
Not the best theater in Boston, but certainly great. Remodeling was nicely done and it's great to have it restore back to its old glory. Must go to appreciate it.

D. B.

Yelp
I'm an avid theatre-goer and see about 15-20 professional productions each year, most of them in Boston. I attended a number of shows at the Colonial years ago and was always disappointed with the quality of the seating (too close together, too small, super uncomfortable regardless of one's size). But, upon hearing that the Colonial underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, I was excited to give them another shot. As such, I recently attended the world-premiere of "Moulin Rouge" at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. And while the show was delightful (go see it!), the theatre left A LOT to be desired. Things got off to a rough start from the very beginning, with an overzealous staff person trying to make people line up on the sidewalk and letting them in in shifts. This was followed by an awkward "security" process, including making people dump out sealed water bottles at the door (a complete waste of time and resources), though there is no notice online that water bottles are not allowed at the theatre. Secondly, though the website (and pre-show emails) clearly stated that "the auditorium doors will open 30 minutes prior to each performance," I was packed into the hallway of the balcony (without air conditioning) for much longer than necessary, with hundreds of other people. The doors to the house did not open until nearly 1:45 p.m. for a 2 p.m. show, and then the show started late. Additionally, there were staff in the balcony lobby making an incredible amount of noise during the performance -- talking to one another, resetting the bar, etc. Finally, though the seats in the orchestra have apparently been replaced, I was informed that the balcony seats were simply "refurbished," which did essentially nothing for improving their comfort. Also of note: I will say that the first floor lobby and walls are quite beautiful, so the renovations are apparent in the decorative details, if not in comfort. Also, I don't typically review theatres on Yelp, but as I reached out to Colonial management with my concerns prior to leaving this review and was told, "We hope you will return to the Colonial in the future and give us another chance to provide a world-class experience." This was, of course, sent without any overtures toward correcting the terrible experience my friend and I had or even really acknowledging our concerns. I will steer clear of this venue in the future and spend my entertainment dollars in venues that get it right.

Maxwell H.

Yelp
The renovation is absolutely stunning. The seats are comfortable with great leg room. The staff was lovely with great bar service. Ambassador Theatre Group is managing now and they do a fantastic job in all avenues. For what it's worth as well the show I saw, Moulin Rouge, was amazing. I can't wait for it to come to Broadway. As it stands, though, the Colonial is a shining example of what theater in Boston can be. One of the premier houses I've been to.

Jim B.

Yelp
Just saw Fiddler On The Roof. Show was EXCELLENT. Decorwise the atmosphere is BEAUTIFUL. Now I love going to the theater, but the seating is PAINFULLY uncomfortable. Anybody over 5'6" will suffer in the seats there. Beware!

Spira P.

Yelp
Waaaaaaayyyyyyy too expensive. How are we supposed to expose others to fine arts when no one can afford it? Has performance art become only for the wealthy? So sad.