Entries by Madison Stout

Every Student has a Story Worth Telling

Free Playwriting Workshops Take Place October-November through DCPA’s Middle & High School Playwriting Program Not every student sees themselves as a writer. But every student has something to say. Storytelling is often associated with aspiring authors, creative kids, or students who love English class, but everyone has a perspective. The ability to tell a story […]

Gaining the Confidence to be Heard

Some stories are difficult to tell. Others can feel impossible. For Women’s Bean Project participants, sharing their stories can carry an even heavier weight. Whether interviewing for a job, advocating for policy change, sharing a personal story, or appearing on national television, vulnerability is often part of the equation. That’s why the Women’s Bean Project […]

Myth-busting: Acting Classes aren’t only for Aspiring Actors

When people hear of acting classes, they often picture aspiring actors rehearsing monologues, preparing for auditions, and dreaming of their Broadway debut.  While some students attending the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Education classes certainly fit that description, many others sign up for entirely different reasons. Some are experienced artists looking to sharpen […]

Unleash Your Inner Playwright

Imagine two characters meeting on the street. One sincerely believes they know each other, while the other insists they have never met. How would their interaction go? If this prompt got your creative engine running, consider taking a playwriting class from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Education Department. EXPLORE DCPA EDUCATION CLASSES: […]

More than Acting: Discovering Careers Behind the Curtain

Careers in Theatre: More Than Acting and Performing From helping students unpack novels through improvisation to using theatre techniques to explore science, social studies, and history, Dramatic Learning is the umbrella that guides the Denver Center for Performing Arts (DCPA) Education department’s partnerships with schools and teachers. Learn more about DCPA Education: Visit the DCPA’s […]

Public Speaking Coaching: How One Professional Found Her Voice Through Theatre-Based Training

The Power of the Pause The best public speakers aren’t born. Confidence at the podium is built through preparation, practice, and purposeful coaching. When Delanie Baumgartner enrolled in one-on-one public speaking coaching through the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), her goal was clear: become more confident speaking in front of groups. As a […]

Phamaly’s 504: The Musical

The moment a community stops asking to belong and claims it   Phamaly Theatre Company has been “cripping” the theatrical canon for nearly four decades, reimagining what theatre looks like and who it’s built for. About Phamaly From its inaugural show, Guys and Dolls in 1990, to last year’s Pippin in partnership with the Denver Center […]

From stage to boardroom: 5 theatre-inspired tips for confident speaking

Speaking outdoors or to a large group can be challenging, and not just because of the nerves. Without meaning to, speakers often push their voices to be heard, leading to strain, fatigue, and disconnection from the audience. According to Allison Watrous, Executive Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Denver Center for the Performing […]

5 Tips to Bring Improv-inspired Mindfulness into Your Daily Life

Mindfulness can feel intimidating. But what if presence didn’t require stillness? What if you could use improvisation to return to yourself? For Denver Center for the Performing Arts teaching artist Heather Curran, improv and mindfulness are inseparable. “Improv is the practice of presence through play,” she says. “Mindfulness and meditation can be really daunting, but […]