Denver Performing Arts Complex
Encyclopedia
The Denver Performing Arts Complex (sometimes referred to locally as "The Plex," "The DCPA" or simply, "Denver Center") located in Denver, Colorado
, is the second largest performing arts center
in the world after New York City
's Lincoln Center. The DPAC is a four-block, 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) site containing ten performance spaces with over 10,000 seats connected by an 80 ft (24.4 m) tall glass roof. It is home to a Tony Award
-winning theatre company, Broadway touring productions, contemporary dance and ballet, magnificent chorales, a major symphony orchestra, internationally acclaimed opera and more.
The City and County of Denver’s Theatres and Arenas Division owns and operates the three largest theatres in DPAC, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
, the Buell Theatre and Boettcher Concert Hall
. These and the other facilities of the Complex are managed and booked by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
(DCPA).
Performing arts organizations which regularly appear in one or other of the performance spaces include the Colorado Ballet
, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
, Opera Colorado
and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ theatrical divisions — Denver Center Attractions, Denver Center Theatre Company and the National Theatre Conservatory.
The Stage, Space, Ricketson, Jones, Garner Galleria and Tramway Theatres, as well as the Seawell Grand Ballroom are managed by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, is the second largest performing arts center
Performing arts center
Performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is used to refer to* A multi-use performance space that is intended for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre....
in the world after New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Lincoln Center. The DPAC is a four-block, 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) site containing ten performance spaces with over 10,000 seats connected by an 80 ft (24.4 m) tall glass roof. It is home to a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning theatre company, Broadway touring productions, contemporary dance and ballet, magnificent chorales, a major symphony orchestra, internationally acclaimed opera and more.
The City and County of Denver’s Theatres and Arenas Division owns and operates the three largest theatres in DPAC, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, which opened on September 10, 2005, is located in Denver, Colorado as part of the large Denver Performing Arts Complex. It seats 2,225...
, the Buell Theatre and Boettcher Concert Hall
Boettcher Concert Hall
Boettcher Concert Hall, located in Denver, Colorado, was the first symphony hall in the round in the United States. Built in 1978, as a home for the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the hall is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the second largest performing arts complex in the United States...
. These and the other facilities of the Complex are managed and booked by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts ' is an organization in Denver, Colorado which provides a showcase for live theatre, a nurturing ground for new plays, a preferred stop on the Broadway touring circuit, a graduate-level training school for actors, acting classes for the community and rental...
(DCPA).
Performing arts organizations which regularly appear in one or other of the performance spaces include the Colorado Ballet
Colorado Ballet
Colorado Ballet is a classical ballet company based in Denver, Colorado. Comprising two academies as well as a company, Colorado Ballet serves more than 110,000 patrons each year. The main performance venue is Ellie Caukins Opera House in downtown Denver....
, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Colorado’s only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a diverse array of symphonic performances throughout the year...
, Opera Colorado
Opera Colorado
Opera Colorado is an opera company located in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1981, it presents an annual season of three to four fully staged productions...
and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ theatrical divisions — Denver Center Attractions, Denver Center Theatre Company and the National Theatre Conservatory.
Performance and other facilities
The Denver Performing Arts Complex houses the following performance spaces:- The Ellie Caulkins Opera HouseEllie Caulkins Opera HouseThe Ellie Caulkins Opera House, which opened on September 10, 2005, is located in Denver, Colorado as part of the large Denver Performing Arts Complex. It seats 2,225...
, colloquially known as “the Ellie,” is the premier venue inside of the historic Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium. The Ellie, a world-class acoustical hall designed in the lyric style. The Ellie is one of only three opera houses in the United States, one of nine worldwide, with seatback titling at every seat in the house. Its seating capacitySeating capacitySeating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is 2,225.
- The Buell Theatre is designed to provide the audience with a first-rate theatrical experience featuring incredible acoustical enhancements. The Buell is the Denver venue of choice for high-profile, traveling Broadway shows and provides an ideal setting for amplified musicals, dramatic plays and comedy acts. The Buell Theatre consistently ranks as a top-grossing theatre for its size nationally. Its seating capacitySeating capacitySeating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is 2,884.
- Boettcher Concert HallBoettcher Concert HallBoettcher Concert Hall, located in Denver, Colorado, was the first symphony hall in the round in the United States. Built in 1978, as a home for the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the hall is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the second largest performing arts complex in the United States...
is the nation’s first symphony hall in the round designed to place the audience close to the stage in a unique environment – 80% of the seats are within 65 feet (19.8 m) of the stage. The seats in Boettcher are custom-designed, made from steam-bent plywood with their backs varying in height from 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) to 48 inches (1,219.2 mm). Its seating capacitySeating capacitySeating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is 2,679.
The Stage, Space, Ricketson, Jones, Garner Galleria and Tramway Theatres, as well as the Seawell Grand Ballroom are managed by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts ' is an organization in Denver, Colorado which provides a showcase for live theatre, a nurturing ground for new plays, a preferred stop on the Broadway touring circuit, a graduate-level training school for actors, acting classes for the community and rental...
.
- The Stage Theatre features 778 seats and a thrust stage.
- The Space Theatre has 450 seats in-the-round.
- The Ricketson Theatre has 250 seats in a proscenium theatre.
- The Jones Theatre features 200 seats and a thrust stage.
- The Garner Galleria Theatre has 210-seats and features cabaret shows by Denver Center Attractions, which presented Denver’s longest-running show — I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
- The Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom is a pentagonal shaped room with panoramic views of the mountains. This 10000 square feet (929 m²) facility holds a maximum capacity of 1,029 people. It can accommodate a variety of functions and performances, featuring its own catering kitchen, freight elevator, tables, chairs, portable dance floor, moveable platform staging and a state-of-the-art lighting, audio, video and projection systems.
- The Tramway Theatre is a state-of-the-art, 183-seat proscenium theatre located in the Historic Tramway building and home to the National Theatre ConservatoryNational Theatre ConservatoryThe National Theatre Conservatory is a three-year graduate acting school that operates in the 10-theatre Denver Performing Arts Complex. Its 24 students perform alongside the Tony Award-winning Denver Center Theatre Company in a 10-play season...
.