Twenty years ago, the Denver Center Theatre Company made history. In a co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company, TANTALUS— the largest play ever to have been attempted… maybe to this day—received its world premiere. 2,500 years in the making. 17 years to write. Six months of rehearsal. Ten plays to recount the story of the Trojan War. A lifetime in theatrical history.
Twenty years ago, the Denver Center Theatre Company made history. In a co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company, TANTALUS— the largest play ever to have been attempted… maybe to this day—received its world premiere. 2,500 hundred years in the making. 15 years to writing. Six month of rehearsal. Ten plays to recount the story of the Trojan War. A lifetime in theatrical history.
Hassan Salem is a mile-high banker who loves the great outdoors, enjoys golf, is an accomplished skier (not to mention one of the top bankers in the skiing industry), and an avid football fan who never misses a Broncos game if he can help it. He’s also engaged in the theater, predominantly behind the stage, where he is intent on keeping the arts alive and healthy – even in the middle of a global pandemic.
Last winter, playwright Tony Meneses asked our community to consider identity. More specifically, he asked our Latino community to consider its identity, its place in society and — most importantly — its responsibility in shaping the future of community.
This year has come with many challenges, including the postponement of Phamaly’s summer musical and corresponding fundraiser featuring Alice in Wonderland, leading to a significant loss of revenue for the organization.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is one of a select group of national nonprofit arts organizations participating in a three-part virtual concert series, Live from the West Side: Women of Broadway featuring two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone on October 24, Tony Award winner Laura Benanti on November 14, and critically acclaimed actress and singer Vanessa Williams on December 5.
After six months and three days of theatre closures, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts finally had an audience. It felt good.
But more than that, it felt extremely timely, relevant and important. The DCPA held a small, socially-distanced film screening of the documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble. An invited audience of nearly 50 community leaders gathered in the spacious Seawell Ballroom for the 96-minute film about the late civil rights activist and Congressional Representative.
As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Come From Away revamped its “I Am an Islander” program so that students — whether attending school in person or remotely — can use the prompts and tools to investigate current challenges facing communities including COVID-19.
A highlight of our 2019 Colorado New Play Summit was a sneak peek at the DCPA Theatre Company’s first musical commission, Rattlesnake Kate. Conceived of by former Lumineers band member and Colorado native, Neyla Pekarek, the musical was bound for a full production in our 2020/21 season.
The wild, unexpected and keep-you-on-your-toes world of improv looks like fun, but is hard work. Jessica Austgen, a DCPA Education Teaching Artist and Artistic Director of the Denver Improv Festival has a tip or five to keep you alert, in the moment and engaged in the art of “Yes, and…”