New Colony Theater
Welcome to the New Colony Theater!
Located in the historic Olde Towne section of Portsmouth, Virginia, the New
Colony Theater has a distinguished and eclectic history.
Built in 1854 as a YMCA, the New Colony Theater has served as a Vaudeville
theater, an Armed Forces hospital (at the end of World War I), a movie theater (as
the 'Colony Theater'), a boxing ring, a nightclub and a dinner theater.
With the current renovations, started in April, 2009, the New Colony Theater will
be devoted to fun, serious and fine arts music. In residence at the theater is the
award-winning Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra led by Naxos & ERM
International recording artist Robert Ian Winstin. Also in residence are the
award-winning Millennium Symphony & the ERM All-Star Jazz Quintet.
In addition to live performances, the New Colony Theater also features a
state-of-the-art recording studio and sound-stage.
A concert program series is expected to develop in the first year, beginning a
tradition of world-renowned and local artists' performances. The New Colony
Theater is available for your special event.
Located in the historic Olde Towne section of Portsmouth, Virginia, the New
Colony Theater has a distinguished and eclectic history.
Built in 1854 as a YMCA, the New Colony Theater has served as a Vaudeville
theater, an Armed Forces hospital (at the end of World War I), a movie theater (as
the 'Colony Theater'), a boxing ring, a nightclub and a dinner theater.
With the current renovations, started in April, 2009, the New Colony Theater will
be devoted to fun, serious and fine arts music. In residence at the theater is the
award-winning Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra led by Naxos & ERM
International recording artist Robert Ian Winstin. Also in residence are the
award-winning Millennium Symphony & the ERM All-Star Jazz Quintet.
In addition to live performances, the New Colony Theater also features a
state-of-the-art recording studio and sound-stage.
A concert program series is expected to develop in the first year, beginning a
tradition of world-renowned and local artists' performances. The New Colony
Theater is available for your special event.
Picture Gallery
Come back frequently to see updated pictures of our renovations in the theater
and lobby on our Picture Gallery page.
Enjoy!
Robert & Susan Winstin
Come back frequently to see updated pictures of our renovations in the theater
and lobby on our Picture Gallery page.
Enjoy!
Robert & Susan Winstin
The Building
As you enter through the main pair of doors, you start up a slight incline that
boasts an inlaid marble and granite mosaic floor which was installed somewhere
around 1901 when the YMCA building was sold to a Vaudeville theater chain. The
entrance was inclined so that the theater auditorium (formerly the 'Great Room' or
Gymansium) could have ramped seating down to the stage.
The inclined entrance - now boasting posters depicting the history of the theater
and the history of the youth orchestra - leads into the lobby proper; a flat
traditional space that has a fantastic plaster ceiling rosette that is lighted (thought
to be original to the building). The lobby now not only houses the theater lobby
but also has an awards display cabinet featuring the numerous awards won by the
Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra, a small retail area where patrons can
purchase CD's and concert memorabilia, original artwork by local artists, couches
and easy chairs.
The Grand Staircase bends down from the second floor lounges, game room,
recording studio, conference room and offices to emerge into the lobby proper.
Hand-milled railings and woodwork adorn this original staircase.
Two sets of double French doors lead into the theater auditorium with a great aisle
up the center of the raised seating area. A lower seating area houses the majority
of the seats with extra wide aisles and plenty of knee and leg room between the
aisles. There is now an ADA ramp situated stage-right that runs the length of the
theater auditorium and there is room for numerous wheel-chairs in the first several
rows of seating. (Seats were donated by a construction and shipping firm in
Raleigh, North Carolina, and are new and comfortable!)
The large stage is raised above the seating area and features two balconies on
both stage-left and stage-right, and, a half-moon plaster-lathe stage-back that was
designed by the same firm that designed the Hollywood Bowl and dates from about
1921.
The bright, multi-colored, backstage has five dressing rooms and a bathroom
spread over two levels. The walls of the backstage are now adorned with concert
posters from the many International concert tours of the Virginia Youth Symphony
Orchestra.
Going up the Grand Staircase leads to the Men's & Women's Lounges, Game
Room, Conference Room, the theater offices and the orchestra library and audio
control room which is now housed in the old projection booth.
A round plaster rosette adorns the ceiling in the lounge area and is stylistically
similar to the rosette in the lobby proper. It is estimated that this second floor
rosette was added in the early 1900's.
As you enter through the main pair of doors, you start up a slight incline that
boasts an inlaid marble and granite mosaic floor which was installed somewhere
around 1901 when the YMCA building was sold to a Vaudeville theater chain. The
entrance was inclined so that the theater auditorium (formerly the 'Great Room' or
Gymansium) could have ramped seating down to the stage.
The inclined entrance - now boasting posters depicting the history of the theater
and the history of the youth orchestra - leads into the lobby proper; a flat
traditional space that has a fantastic plaster ceiling rosette that is lighted (thought
to be original to the building). The lobby now not only houses the theater lobby
but also has an awards display cabinet featuring the numerous awards won by the
Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra, a small retail area where patrons can
purchase CD's and concert memorabilia, original artwork by local artists, couches
and easy chairs.
The Grand Staircase bends down from the second floor lounges, game room,
recording studio, conference room and offices to emerge into the lobby proper.
Hand-milled railings and woodwork adorn this original staircase.
Two sets of double French doors lead into the theater auditorium with a great aisle
up the center of the raised seating area. A lower seating area houses the majority
of the seats with extra wide aisles and plenty of knee and leg room between the
aisles. There is now an ADA ramp situated stage-right that runs the length of the
theater auditorium and there is room for numerous wheel-chairs in the first several
rows of seating. (Seats were donated by a construction and shipping firm in
Raleigh, North Carolina, and are new and comfortable!)
The large stage is raised above the seating area and features two balconies on
both stage-left and stage-right, and, a half-moon plaster-lathe stage-back that was
designed by the same firm that designed the Hollywood Bowl and dates from about
1921.
The bright, multi-colored, backstage has five dressing rooms and a bathroom
spread over two levels. The walls of the backstage are now adorned with concert
posters from the many International concert tours of the Virginia Youth Symphony
Orchestra.
Going up the Grand Staircase leads to the Men's & Women's Lounges, Game
Room, Conference Room, the theater offices and the orchestra library and audio
control room which is now housed in the old projection booth.
A round plaster rosette adorns the ceiling in the lounge area and is stylistically
similar to the rosette in the lobby proper. It is estimated that this second floor
rosette was added in the early 1900's.
New Colony Theater
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| This site, images and content (C) Copyright the New Colony Theater, 2010. All Rights Reserved. New Colony Theater 430 High Street Portsmouth, VA 23704 (757) 395-0268 Rental Inquiries: Patty Burling 757-625-1212 or patty@ermmedia.org |
| New Colony Theater 430 High Street Portsmouth, VA 23704 757-395-0268 robert@newcolonytheater.org |
| Some "Before" pictures of the New Colony Theater |
| Located in Historic 'Olde Towne' Portsmouth |
| Follow Robert Ian Winstin's "28 in Twenty-Eight" Music Blog - all recorded at the New Colony Theater! |