>> BUILT IN 1903, PITTSFIELD'S COLONIAL THEATRE IS LINKED TO A
BYGONE ERA.
THE STAGE HAS BEEN GRACED BY THE LIKES OF THE JOHN BARRYMORE AND
GEORGE M. COHAN.
IT CLOSED IN 1981 AND BECAME AN ARTS SUPPLY SHOP FOR MANY YEARS.
TODAY IT'S AGAIN A THRIVING 21st CENTURY CENTER FOR THE
ARTS.
PRODUCER TONY DUNNE AND VIDEOGRAPHER MARK LANGEVIN PULL
BACK THE CURTAIN ON THE COLONIAL'S STORIED PAST.
>> IT WAS BUILT IN 1903 AND WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE
VAUDEVILLE ERA.
>> IT SERVED THE COMMUNITY AS THEATRE AND THEN A MOVIEHOUSE
FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEN IT CLOSED DOWN.
>> AND WHAT WAS MOST MIRACULOUS WAS THAT THE MILLER FAMILY
PURCHASED THE THEATRE.
AND THEY BUILT AN ART STORE WITHIN THE THEATRE ITSELF.
>> SO WHEN YOU WALKED THROUGH THE PAINT AND ART STORE FOR
YEARS, YOU COULD SEE COLUMNS FROM THE ORIGINAL THEATRE.
THE BACK OF THE THEATRE WAS SAVED AND PROTECTED.
THE MILLER FAMILY DID THIS COMMUNITY A WONDERFUL SERVICE TO
PRESERVE THE THEATRE FOR LATER.
>> IT SAT HERE FOR MANY YEARS.
AND THEN PITTSFIELD BEGAN TO GO THROUGH A REVITALIZATION.
AND OF COURSE WHEN ANY TOWN OR COMMUNITY GOES THROUGH A
REVITALIZATION THERE'S A RECOGNITION THAT THE ARTS CAN
REALLY BRING STRONG VITALITY AND INVIGORATE A COMMUNITY.
>> SO IN THE '90S HILLARY CLINTON CAME HERE AND BROUGHT A
LOT OF ATTENTION FOR THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT THE COLONIAL
THEATRE.
THAT REALLY HELPED GALVANIZE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO ULTIMATELY
RENOVATE THE THEATRE.
>> AND THE THEATRE WAS OPENED ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO, NEXT YEAR
WE CELEBRATE OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY.
>> THE THEATRE WAS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL BRILLIANCE.
IF YOU GO INTO THE BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC LOBBY YOU CAN SEE THE
GOLDWORK AND THE ANGELS EVERYWHERE AND THE COLORS.
THE WHOLE THING WAS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE.
PART OF WHAT'S SO SPECIAL IS THAT THERE IS AN INTIMACY.
SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE'S OVER 700 SEATS THE WAY THE
THEATRE ITSELF IS DESIGNED IS THAT YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON, ON STAGE.
YOU DON'T FEEL YOUR SO FAR AWAY FROM THE PERFORMANCE ON STAGE.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT'S RATHER MIRACULOUS IS TO WALK
INSIDE THIS THEATRE AND JUST LOOK AROUND AND RECOGNIZE THAT
YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THEATRES IN THE
COUNTRY.
SO YOU'RE SITTING IN THIS GORGEOUS SPACE AND THEN WATCHING
SOME OF THE MOST REMARKABLE TALENT IN THE WORLD.
>> JAMES TAYLOR RECORDING ON THE STAGE WAS PHENOMENAL.
ARLO GUTHRIE RECORDING ON THE STAGE, PHENOMENAL.
MICHELLE OBAMA TALKING TO THIS COMMUNITY WAS VERY, VERY MOVING.
>> IT IS AS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THOSE PERFORMERS WHO ARE ICONIC
IN OUR COUNTRY.
BUT IT'S AS WITH YOU FEEL TO HAVE THE KIDS FROM OUR OWN
COMMUNITY ON THE STAGE.
>> THERE ARE 13,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN ENGAGED WITH OUR
EDUCATION PROGRAMS, NOT TO MENTION THE HUNDREDS ON STAGE
FOR THE COMMUNITY PRODUCTIONS.
>> AS WE ARE MEETING RIGHT NOW "MARY POPPINS" IS PERFORMING ON
THIS STAGE WITH 130 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE PRODUCTION IS EXTRAORDINARY.
>> MANY THINGS FLY, SET PIECES, PEOPLE, VERY INTENSE TAP
DANCING.
IT'S AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, IF TOWN PUT TOGETHER AND WORK ON.
>> WHEN WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER BERKSHIRE COUNTY COME
AND BE TOGETHER ON THIS STAGE, IT'S A REAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO HAVE THAT
SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY CALL HOME.
>> WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS DURING THE YEAR AND
WORK WITH LOTS OF AT-RISK KIDS.
WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL MENTOR PROGRAMS AND WE'RE IN DIFFERENT
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
I THINK WORKING WITH THEM IS REALLY REWARDING.
SEEING SOME OF THEM COME AND DO THE SHOW OR HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS
HERE AND JUST GROW.
SO MUCH OF THIS IS ABOUT GROWING.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THIS THEATRE WAS BUILT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, SO YES.
>> . THERE ARE PERFORMERS HERE OF
WORLD-RENOWNED FAME.
BUT IT IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OWNING THIS BUILDING.
>> TO WATCH A CHILD'S FACE WATCH A PERFORMANCE MAKES IT ALL
WORTHWHILE.