Milton Theatre’s impact continues to grow

If you’ve had a chance to visit downtown Milton in recent years, you know there’s a lot going on. There are signs of growth and transformation everywhere you look. And there is transformation you cannot see. On June 16, a very visible new improvement will start to take form when Milton Theatre breaks ground on a new education wing that will completely change the way the building functions. When the project is complete, Milton Theatre patrons will immediately notice the new box office, concession area and restrooms. People using the theater’s coveted balcony seats will find an additional stairway for access and convenient new restrooms upstairs.  

But the real heart of the project will be two desperately needed rehearsal spaces that will support Milton Theatre’s year-round education programs. While the general public may be aware of Milton Theatre’s tribute band shows, in-house productions and other adult-directed offerings, from the very start of the theater’s current incarnation, youth education has been at the heart of what we do. It’s not something we do in addition to our regular musical and theatrical offerings. It’s not something we do on the side to make use of our space between shows. Youth theater education is central to who we are, and it was the first thing we did when the theater reopened in 2014.  

When Fred Munzert, Milton Theatre’s artistic director, first came to Milton in 2014, after giving the place a good top-to-bottom scrub and tearing out row after row of mildewed seats, Job 1 was to kick off a summer theater camp program for local children. As a self-described theater kid and a parent, Fred knows the transformational power of theater education. He knows how it affects transformations that take place at the individual level as children gain confidence, establish supportive friendships, learn to work collaboratively, develop habits of curiosity and exploration, and to literally find their voices.

In 2014, as the youth program got established, Fred started scheduling a broad mix of events to test local tastes and interests of Milton’s adults. He showed documentary films, produced Broadway cabarets, hosted bluegrass performers, you name it. As the community responded, he and his team saw what resonated with folks, and they offered more of what the community liked. And more. And that transformed the theater.

Today, Milton Theatre’s offerings range from tribute bands to cabarets to standup comedy. The theater’s in-house main-stage productions have become so well regarded they regularly receive hundreds of audition tapes from performers from across the country, resulting in Broadway-caliber performances that regularly sell out. In 2024, the theater’s 354 performances attracted 68,005 patrons. And the summer camp has grown into a year-round theater education program that enrolls 352 students each year. 

All of that is at the program level. There has also been a lot of transformation over the years to change the physical aspects of the theater. Mounting a capital campaign several years ago, Milton Theatre installed new seats, new sound system, new lighting and a balcony to increase the theater’s capacity. The theater breathed new life into the adjacent vacant lot, adding a mobile stage and seating, which enliven summer evenings with outdoor band concerts. And now we are adding a game-changing education wing.

All this activity has transformed downtown Milton. The increased foot traffic the theater has brought to downtown Milton has had a catalyzing impact on downtown businesses. Theater patrons need places to eat, so several new restaurants have opened, and long-term favorite, Irish Eyes, purchased an adjacent building and added an outdoor patio area to increase its capacity. New shops have opened, and new businesses are being planned. According to Americans for the Arts, Milton Theatre added an estimated $2.1 million to the local economy in 2024.

So, as Milton Theatre kicks off this exciting new project, we want to thank everyone who has made it possible. Thank you to the donors who have made gifts to make these changes happen. Thank you to the thousands of theater patrons who have joined us over the years. Thank you to the artists who have performed here. Thank you, theater kids, for inspiring us. And thank you, Milton Theatre, for helping to make downtown Milton shine even brighter. We can’t wait to see what you do next!