Boston's Colonial Theatre to Host World Premiere of 'Moulin Rouge'

The Colonial Theatre, which nearly closed in 2015, will reopen next June with the world premiere of the musical version of "Moulin Rouge."

The announcement was made in the theater's lobby this morning with representatives from the London-based Ambassador Theatre Group, who has formed a working relationship with the theater's owner, Emerson College.

The 117-year old theater nearly faced extinction two years ago when the college announced it was going to be repurposed for other uses including a dining hall.

The Ambassador Group, which produces theater in 46 venues throughout the world and operates two New York theaters, the Lyric and the Hudson, signed a 40-year deal with Emerson. According to the Boston Globe, "both parties will make substantial capital improvements to the 117-year-old Colonial, and the Ambassador group will explore making the venue available to local performing arts groups."

"It's a game-changer," said Lee Pelton, Emerson's president. "Bringing ATG to Boston as a partner with Emerson is the theater's version of bringing GE to our city."

"Boston has been legendary for being the pre-Broadway city," said Mark Cornell, chief executive for the Ambassador group. "It's fair to say that it's lost a bit of that shine over the years, and that's something we at ATG would love to bring back."

The Colonial opened in 1900 with a production of "Ben-Hur." Over the years it has hosted pre-Broadway productions of "Anything Goes," "Porgy and Bess," "Oklahoma!," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Follies," "La Cage aux Folles" and "Grand Hotel."

The New York Times reports the stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's Oscar-nominated 2001 film "is being directed by Alex Timbers, a two-time Tony nominee (for the book of 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' and for direction of 'Peter and the Starcatcher'). The show has just begun a developmental lab in New York, with Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo in the starring roles; the cast for the Boston production has not been announced.

"John Logan, who won a Tony for writing the play 'Red,' is writing the musical's book. The score, an anachronistic mix of songs from the last 50 years, will include music featured in the film along with songs released more recently."

The date of the engagement is yet to be announced, nor has a New York booking been announced.