Embassy movie theater transforms into performing arts center offering movies and more

By CHRISTIAN MAITRE
Waltham Times Contributing Writer

The longstanding Embassy movie theater has had a new lease on life, under the direction of its current owner who has transformed it into a performing arts center.

The new proprietor, Smaranda Albeck, had purchased the former Landmark movie theater on Pine Street to serve as the new location for Boston Rhythmic, her rhythmic gymnastics business.

She has since turned the building into something more.

Four of the theater’s former film screening rooms are now multiuse gymnasiums. Boston Rhythmics coaches use these renovated gyms as a practice space for their competitive travel team, which has competed in state, regional and national tournaments across the country.

The previously sloped floors of the movie theaters are now flat and carpeted, free of movie theater seats. The once dark brown walls now pop with pink and purple paneling,  and tall floor mirrors provide visual aids for gymnasts and their instructors to work on their form.

Colorful ropes are draped across one of the gym’s ceilings for the Boston Rhythmic aerial class that teaches acrobatics.

To Colin Maher, the theater manager, the new location is a breath of fresh air for Boston Rhythmic.

“Every coach has their own space,” said Maher, who also teaches a class on tricking, a form of martial arts involving flips and twists.

Maher worked at the business’ prior location in Watertown where every class was taught in one room.

On one recent Thursday night the performing arts center was pulsating with activity.

Parents and students filtered in and out of the lobby surrounded by Christmas decorations.

The gymnasts tumbled and flipped in the gyms, as the bass from the postapocalyptic thriller “Homestead” rumbled in the nearby movie theater.

Movies remain core to the Embassy

Movies have remained an integral part of the business, according to Albeck, as the special permit the center received from the city requires it to continue operating two movie screens.

The Embassy has occasionally held special features and events, too. 

For example, in October it hosted a discussion panel with women’s health and wellness professionals after the screening of a documentary called “The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause.” 

And in February director David Abel held a Q&A session after the showing of his documentary “In the Whale.”

The Embassy has been hosting a variety of other programs, such as a chess club and free exercise classes for seniors.

“We converted the Embassy into a community hub,” said Albeck.

Challenges to building a new community

Albeck said the opening and renovation have not been without challenges.

The building needed repairs, she said, explaining that a faulty roof led to water damage throughout the building. She also needed to create higher ceilings for the aerial arts classes, so she had to have contractors dig into the floor; the digging process itself took six months. 

But the problems didn’t stop there.

When it rained, water would seep into the floor, due to Pine Street sloping downward toward the theater. Contractors had to put a waterproof membrane under the building’s foundation before pouring in new concrete floors.

Albeck said she is hoping business will pick up and create a thriving arts center.

“My vision is that this place is going to buzz from like 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day,” she said.

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