Colony Theatre starts interior work and seat removal

    The Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre (HCHTA) is pleased to announce that the bid for plaster removal and asbestos abatement has been awarded to Lepi Enterprises, Inc. of Zanesville, Ohio. Work is expected to begin in late July. Hunt Brawley, Development Director of the HCHTA said, “We are really excited to start on some interior work at the theatre.” The interior of the Colony Theatre will be fully scaffolded and the unstable plaster will be removed. There are trace amounts of asbestos in the old plaster requiring the project to conform to EPA standards on asbestos abatement. To protect the historic integrity of the facility, as much of the existing plaster as possible will be stabilized and encapsulated. All original molding and trim work will be preserved. Additionally, a ceiling slot will be cut to allow for a theatrical lighting array. The array can be manned from a catwalk between the ceiling and the roof for easy changing and positioning.

    As part of the plaster removal process, all of the old theatre seats will have to be removed. These will be made available to the public at a future Colony Theatre “Yard Sale.” The lower level “cinema sliders” will be free and the upstairs art deco seats will start at $35.00 apiece, and discounted for multiple seats.