The Colonial Theatre

What The Colonial Theatre does

The Colonial Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts institution operating under the legal name Association for the Colonial Theatre (EIN# 23-2846336) from 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The organization runs a 31,000-square-foot, three-venue complex in two historic buildings: the 658-seat 1902 Theatre (35mm and 2K digital projection), the 174-seat White Rabbit Theatre (retractable-seat flexible configuration, 2K digital), and the 65-seat Berry Theatre luxury screening room (2K digital). It also operates the Bank Lobby, Garden Suite & Rooftop Terrace, and a 3/24 Wurlitzer Pipe Organ used for live silent-film accompaniment. Programming spans new-release and art-house film, classic and cult cinema (including the annual Blobfest and Splatterfest XIV franchises), live music, theatrical performances, author presentations, and educational workshops, with ticketing through the on-site box office plus Tixr, AgileTicketing, and Eventbrite. The venue serves Phoenixville and the surrounding region; it is open Wednesday through Sunday and runs with a lean staff of approximately 14 employees.

The business model is a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue typical of a community non-profit performing-arts venue. Earned streams include ticket sales, concessions (Colonial Concessions, including beer and wine), venue rentals (1902 Theatre minimum $4,000/4 hrs, White Rabbit from $2,000, Berry from $1,500, Garden Suite from $1,500, marquee at $250/hr), and tiered corporate sponsorships and screen advertising ($90–$1,140 commitments). Contributed revenue comes from an annual campaign, the Checkerboard Club monthly recurring giving program, planned giving, seat-naming opportunities, and corporate matching gifts from employers including PECO, Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and Comcast. Memberships (individual, gift, Continuity Club, business) provide pre-sale access and discounts.

Programming is delivered both directly (in-house curation) and through a network of channel and programming partners: Rising Sun Presents (concert promoter), Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley (organ and silent-film programming), Reads & Company bookstore (author events), Phoenix Chamber (classical music), Orion Communities (Music For Everyone series), Coolidge Corner Theatre / Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (Science on Screen grant), and approved caterers (Valley Forge Catering, Robert Ryan Catering, Bause Catering). The organization earned Candid (GuideStar) Gold Transparency 2024 recognition and reports no parent, subsidiary, venture, or private-equity ownership; it is governed as an independent non-profit.

Name

The Colonial Theatre

Legal name

Association for the Colonial Theatre

Website

https://thecolonialtheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Colonial Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts institution in Phoenixville, PA, operating three historic cinemas (658, 174, and 65 seats) plus rooftop and lobby event spaces. It programs film, live music, theatre, author events, and educational workshops for the greater Phoenixville region and earns revenue through tickets, rentals, concessions, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Cinema Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Independent film screenings
• Arts education programs
• Historic theatre venue
• Live music concerts

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenixville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission tickets for film screenings, live music concerts, theatrical performances, and special events across three theatres.
2. Membership Programs: Recurring membership revenue including individual memberships, gift memberships, Continuity Club, and business member benefits. The Checkerboard Club offers monthly recurring donations.
3. Event/Private Rentals: Rental revenue from private film screenings, corporate events, weddings, parties, and venue usage. Spaces include the 1902 Theatre, White Rabbit Theatre, Berry Theatre, Bank Lobby, Garden Suite & Rooftop Terrace, and marquee rental.
4. Concessions: Food and beverage sales including Colonial Concessions with menu items, beer and wine service, and catering from approved vendors.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Film sponsorship (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum tiers), screen advertising, and event sponsorship partnerships with local businesses.
6. Individual Giving and Donations: Annual campaign donations, building improvement fund contributions, planned giving, and corporate matching gifts. Seat naming opportunities also available.
7. Screen Advertising: Slide advertising run during film screenings with various commitment periods from 1 month to 1 year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Colonial Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts institution that presents independent and classic film screenings, live music concerts, and theatrical stage performances across three venues (the 1902 Theatre, the White Rabbit Theatre, and the Berry Theatre) in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It also offers educational programs, venue rentals, concessions, and corporate sponsorships, supported by ticket sales, memberships, and charitable donations.

Product overview

The Colonial Theatre is a historic 501c3 non-profit arts institution in Phoenixville, PA, operating three cinemas: the 1902 Theatre (473 seats + 185 balcony, 35mm and 2K digital projection), the White Rabbit Theatre (174 seats, 2K digital), and the Berry Theatre (65 seats, 2K digital). The venue offers a diverse programming mix including film screenings across multiple genres (new releases, art house, classic films, silent films with live organ accompaniment, cult classics), live music concerts, theatrical performances, author readings, educational programs (screenwriting classes, Writers Room workshops), and special events like the annual Blobfest and Splatterfest horror marathon. The theatre also provides venue rental options for private screenings, corporate events, and celebrations, along with membership programs offering benefits and priority access. The venue is complemented by concessions services and partnered catering options for events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Checkerboard Club: Monthly giving program at The Colonial Theatre, named after a supper club that occupied the Bank Building in the 1940s and 50s.

Products and services

• Film Screenings (1902 Theatre) Curated independent, classic, and sponsored film series screened in the historic 1902 Theatre for local arts patrons and the greater Phoenixville community.
• Live Music Concerts Live music performances presented in collaboration with partner concert producers, available to ticketed audiences at the Colonial Theatre.
• Theatrical Stage Performances Live theatrical and stage productions staged at the Colonial Theatre for general audiences, families, and arts patrons.
• Venue Rentals (1902, White Rabbit, Berry Theatres) Rental of the 1902 Theatre, White Rabbit Theatre, and Berry Theatre to event organizers, corporate clients, and community groups for private screenings, performances, and functions.
• Screenwriting Class Fee-based educational class teaching screenwriting fundamentals to community members and aspiring writers.
• Writers Room Recurring writers' workshop and creative development program for community participants working on scripts and other creative writing projects.
• Splatterfest Themed, immersive film-event programming built around cult and horror film screenings for enthusiast audiences.
• Film Series Sponsorship Program (e.g., Reads & Company) Multi-tier corporate sponsorship program in which local and regional businesses underwrite named film series (e.g., Reads & Company) for brand exposure and community association.
• Theatre Tours Guided tours of the historic theatre for visitors, school groups, and community organizations, offered as an educational and visitor experience.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program offering supporters benefits such as ticket discounts and priority access in exchange for recurring contributions to the non-profit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bring essential economic impact to the Phoenixville area
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PECOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer matching gift program partner. PECO employees can double their charitable donations to The Colonial Theatre through corporate matching.
• Merck & Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate matching gift program partner allowing employees to match donations to The Colonial Theatre.
• Johnson & JohnsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate matching gift program partner enabling employees to multiply their charitable contributions to the theatre.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate matching gift program partner supporting employee charitable giving to The Colonial Theatre.
• ComcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate matching gift program partner for employee donations to the nonprofit arts institution.
• Reads & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Phoenixville bookstore partnership for author events and book launches. Co-presenting events where ticket includes signed book copy. Joint marketing and event promotion between the bookstore and theatre.
• Twelve78 Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm sponsorship for Stand By Me (1986). Brewery provides concession offerings and promotional support for classic film screenings.
• Rising Sun PresentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter and producer presenting touring acts at the Colonial Theatre. Rising Sun brings national touring artists including AJ Croce, The Garcia Project, Mamma Mania, Judy Collins, Ana Gasteyer, and many others to the venue.
• Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley (TOSDV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents silent films, concerts, and events featuring the 3/24 Wurlitzer Pipe Organ in the 1903 theatre. Ongoing programming partnership for organ performances and silent film accompaniment.
• Coolidge Corner Theatre / Alfred P. Sloan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience on Screen grant-funded program pairing films with presentations from notable scientists. Initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
• Approved Caterers (Valley Forge Catering, Robert Ryan Catering, Bause Catering)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved catering vendors for private events at the theatre. Renters must use one of these licensed catering companies for food service.
• Phoenix ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber music organization hosting inaugural concert and ongoing classical music programming at the Colonial Theatre. Partnership for classical and chamber music performances.
• Orion CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Music For Everyone series featuring artist Vanessa Collier. Community organization partnership for cultural programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coolidge Corner Theatre: Nonprofit arthouse cinema and performing arts venue in Brookline, MA — directly comparable nonprofit model mixing film exhibition with live events, and is explicitly a content partner (Science on Screen) of The Colonial Theatre.
• The Senator Theatre: Historic single-screen movie palace in Baltimore, MD with live events, film festivals, and concessions — directly comparable specialty cinema operation in a heritage building.
• The Byrd Theatre: Historic nonprofit cinema in Richmond, VA operating a single grand theater with 1928 architecture and a similar mix of new releases, classics, and special-event programming under a charitable mission.
• The Capitol Theatre: Historic venue in Port Chester, NY offering live concerts, classic films, and private events; comparable mixed-format programming and historic single-building operation.
• The Regent Theatre: Nonprofit performing arts and film venue in Arlington, MA presenting independent cinema, live music, theater, and community events — closely aligned multi-format nonprofit programming model.
• The Music Hall Center: Historic nonprofit theater in Detroit, MI hosting film festivals, live music, and stage performances, with venue rentals and donor-driven operations similar to The Colonial.

Regional players

• The Strand Theatre: Nonprofit historic theater in Lakewood, NJ offering films, concerts, and rentals under a similar community-arts nonprofit mission; different regional geography.
• The Lafayette Theatre: Historic nonprofit theater in Suffern, NY presenting film, live music, and community programming; comparable suburban-Northeast nonprofit arts venue, but in a different metro.

Others

• Eventbrite: Ticketing and event-discovery platform used by The Colonial for distribution; included as an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, since the theatre both lists events on and competes for audience attention with Eventbrite's broader marketplace.

Broad incumbents

• The Palace Theatre: Multiple historic Palace Theatre venues (e.g., Manchester NH, Stamford CT, Marion OH) are larger regional nonprofit performing arts centers with broader programming scope and headcount than The Colonial.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/colonialtheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thecolonialtheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecolonialtheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecolonialtheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-for-the-colonial-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Colonial Theatre