Denver Performing Arts Complex facts for kids
The Denver Performing Arts Complex (often called the "Arts Complex") is a huge place in Denver, Colorado. It's one of the biggest performing arts centers in the United States! Imagine a space as big as 12 football fields, all filled with theaters and stages.
This amazing complex covers four city blocks. It has ten different places to watch shows, with over 10,000 seats in total. A super tall 80-foot glass roof connects many of the buildings. Here, you can see all sorts of performances. These include exciting Broadway musicals, beautiful contemporary dance and ballet, and amazing concerts. You might even see a symphony orchestra, opera, or famous pop stars!
The City and County of Denver helps run the three biggest theaters. These are the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the Buell Theatre, and the Boettcher Concert Hall. Another part, the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, is managed by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Many different groups perform here regularly. These include the Colorado Ballet, the Colorado Symphony, and Opera Colorado. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts also has its own theater groups.
Contents
What Kinds of Performance Spaces Are There?
The Denver Performing Arts Complex has many different stages. Each one is special for certain types of shows.
The Main Theaters: Big Stages for Big Shows
- The Ellie Caulkins Opera House is a grand theater. It's inside the Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium. This beautiful opera house can seat 2,225 people.
- The Buell Theater is perfect for loud musicals, exciting plays, and funny comedy shows. It has seats for 2,884 people.
- The Boettcher Concert Hall is very unique. It was the first symphony hall in the country built "in the round." This means the audience sits all around the stage. It helps everyone feel close to the music. It can hold 2,679 people.
Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex: A Hub for Plays
The Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex has four different theaters. They are great for many kinds of plays.
- The Wolf Theater is the biggest theater in this complex. It used to be called the Stage Theater. It has 601 seats. This theater has special walls that make the sound even better. It also has a "thrust stage," which means the stage sticks out into the audience. It was updated recently in 2020-2021.
- The Kilstrom Theater was updated in 2017. It's now easier for people using wheelchairs to get around. It used to be called the Space Theater.
- The Singleton Theater was once known as the Ricketson Theater. It was recently updated with easier elevator access. It has 250 seats and a "proscenium theater" style stage. This means the audience looks at the stage through a big arch, like a picture frame. It was originally a movie theater.
- The Jones Theater has 200 seats and a thrust stage. It has its own entrance from outside the building. This theater often hosts more experimental and unique shows.
Other Cool Spaces at the Arts Complex
- The Garner Galleria Theater is a smaller, cozy space. It has seats for 210 people.
- The Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom is a huge room. It's shaped like a five-sided star and has amazing views of the mountains. This 10,000 square foot space can hold over 1,000 people! It's used for many events and performances. It even has its own kitchen and special equipment for shows.
Sculpture Park: Dancing Art Outside
Right outside the complex, you'll find Sculpture Park. It's a fun place to see some outdoor art!
- The most famous sculptures here are called Dancers. They were created by an artist named Jonathan Borofsky. These two huge silver dancers are 60 feet tall! Many local people call them "the dancing aliens" because they are so big and unique.
See Also
- List of concert halls
