Video by David Lenk and John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

Denver native Barton Cowperthwaite, a featured ensemble member in the national touring production of An American in Paris, visited his Denver School of the Arts alma mater on March 8.

Cowperthwaite, son of Curious Theatre co-founder Laura Cowperthwaite, conducted a master class for dance and musical-theatre majors at the school, where he is a member of the Class of 2010. “It’s cool to impart on them the wisdom that I wish I could have told myself when I was that age,” he told DCPA Senior Arts Journalist John Moore.

Interviews also include DSA Director of Dance Alicia Karczewski and Director of Theatre Shawn Hann. Cowperthwaite, already a member of several major dance companies and Denver’s Black Actors Guild, is making his musical-theatre debut in An American in Paris, playing several roles and understudying the lead role of Jerry Mulligan.

“As a dancer, it’s exciting that there is a show that gets to employ really well-trained dancers in this musical format,” Cowperthwaite said.

Photo gallery: Barton Cowperthwaite at Denver School of the Arts

To see more photos, click the forward arrow on the image above. Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

An American in Paris: Ticket information
An American in Paris brings the magic and romance of Paris into harmony with unforgettable works from George and Ira Gershwin. This new hit musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war, earned more awards than any other musical in the 2014-15 Broadway season.
Through March 19
Buell Theatre
ASL, audio-described and open-captioned performance 2 p.m. March 19
303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE

Previous NewsCenter coverage of An American in Paris
An American Paris dances from beginning to end
Meet Sara Esty, who plays Lise
Meet Garen Scribner, who plays Jerry

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter