Colonial Theatre's Federal Grant Arrives As Blobfest Launches

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Phoenxiville's Colonial Theatre has finally received a federal grant it applied for in April to offset pandemic-related setbacks, amd just as Blobfest begins virtually.

The venue's famed Blobfest 2021: House of Harris begins Friday, also under the lingering shadow of COVID-19. The event had to be planned as virtual, explained Colonial Theatre Executive Director Ken Metzner, because no one knew when things were going to open again.

Metzner said the Colonial applied for the federal Shuddered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) the very first day applications were accepted. This week, months later, the Colonial's SVOG funds were in the bank, he said.

The Colonial's application was one of more than 14,000 vying for a share of the $21 billion appropriated to help them after they had to close down for months, and then reopened at limited capacity for many months. The Shuddered Venue Operators Grant fund is administered by the federal SBA, and Metzner said it is understandable that they have been swamped. He said the SBA's portal crashed shortly after it opened for applications.

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the National Association of Theatre Operators (NATO) together had urged Congress to help venues like the Colonial Theatre, as they struggled to make payrolls and stay afloat.

The Colonial Theatre completely closed for four months in 2020, then opened with capacity limited to 10 percent, then 26 percent, then 50 percent. "We weren't at 100 percent capacity until very recently," Metzner said.

During those long months, the Colonial "tried everything" to keep operating under pandemic limitations, Metzner said.

"You name it we tried it. We went virtual. We just barely kept afloat" he said. He acknowledged the generosity of the community in doing everything possible through the crunch. "The whole process has been very stressful for the venues," he added.

As Blogfest begins virtually this weekend, Metzner is looking forward to the in-person return of shows in August.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-6th) stopped by the Colonial just after Metzner got news of the grant funds coming through.

Houlahan said, "Six months ago, Congress established a grant program to help our small venues like The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, and our office gets a call from a local small venue — their application still hadn't been processed. Turns out they weren't the only one."

"This afternoon, we heard that thanks to our efforts The Colonial Theatre received notice of their grant approval just a few hours ago. Thankful for Mayor Peter Urscheler, Ken Metzner of Colonial Theatre, and Donald Fox, President, and CEO of Fox Berkshire, who joined us to celebrate this effort," Houlahan said.

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