NORWICH – Local movie goers need worry no more about the fate of their favorite theater. The Colonia Theater at 35 South Broad St. in Norwich will reopen tonight.

The unexpected message that the business would be closed for two weeks first appeared on the theater’s marquee the first week in October. The Oct. 17 reopening date was a then pushed back to today, causing even greater concern in the community.

Owner Michael Morse and his staff are gearing up for the re-opening. Slated to appear on the historic theater’s big screens are “High School Musical 3” and “The Express.”

Morse, who has owned the theater for 14 years, said his decision to get involved with the business was prompted by walks he and his wife use to take each night.

“One night I noticed that the marquee was falling off the building,” said Morse, who also runs his own contracting business, M J Morse Building. He and his then-business partner James Cushman purchased the theater two weeks later from the previous owner, Pete Groshell.

Morse shored up the marquee, and did much of the required renovations to the building himself. He never expected to take on the responsibilities of the business’ daily operations, he said, and he certainly didn’t expect to still be doing it 14 years later.

“It was fun,” said Morse. “It was something different.”