The Colonial Theatre is the oldest continuously operating theater in Boston. Designed by Clarence Blackall in 1900, the Colonial began a 20-year theater building spurt. Lavish and luxurious, the Colonial has Italian marble walls, wraparound balconies, three spectacular chandeliers, a 40,000-piece mosaic tile vestibule, and friezes populated by male and female figures representing virtue and literary muses. Do not be fooled, however, by its size; the Colonial is a moderately scaled venue that can seat up to 1,658 patrons in a fan-shaped house. The Colonial Theatre is wheelchair accessible.