Phoenixville's Colonial Theatre Announces New Leader

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The Colonial Theatre's search for a new leader has come to a close. The organization announced the hiring of lawyer and experienced corporate and nonprofit leader Ken Metzner as the new executive director on Wednesday.

In a statement, Metzner said he was thrilled and humbled to be chosen to lead the Colonial.

"The Colonial is a storied community asset with roots firmly planted in the past and an ethos that embraces the now and welcomes the future," he said.

Metzner has worked as a lawyer in New York City, general counsel for Saks Fifth Avenue, the fashion retailer, and most recently as founding executive director at another arts-oriented nonprofit, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers in Philadelphia.

Marian Moskowitz, the president of the Board of Directors for the Association of the Colonial Theatre, said that the search to replace founding director Mary Foote was "exhaustive." But when they found Metzner, who is an ordained interfaith minister, speaks Spanish, and holds degrees from Georgetown, the London School of Economics, and the University of Virginia, they knew they'd found the right person.

Metzner also serves as the president of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Culture Fund, and is a also a Board Member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.

Foote will step down on July 21 after 20 years at the helm.

Image via Colonial Theatre