BOSTON (CBS) – One of the city’s oldest theaters, dark since this past July, will be re-opening again next year.

The Citi Performing Arts Center will lease the Colonial Theatre from Emerson College.

A three-year lease will begin next July. It will mean Broadway shows will be on stage at the Colonial again.

“It will be exciting and just a terrific addition to the palette of theater available to Bostonians and New England,” says Emerson College President Lee Pelton.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Rod Fritz reports

Pelton says the announcement comes on a special anniversary at the Colonial. It was September 30th, 1935 that the original Porgy and Bess had its pre-Broadway opening.