Before 2008, Alan and Carol Meny attended the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) when a performance caught their eye. They were not subscribers, nor were they donors. Instead, they had a casual — ordinary, if you will — relationship with the DCPA.

But that all changed in 2008 when longtime patrons Keith and Kathie Finger invited them to attend the non-profit’s annual Saturday Night Alive gala.

“As Greeley residents, we had attended occasional DCPA performances until our friends Keith and Kathie Finger invited us to Saturday Night Alive,” the Menys explained. “That piqued our interest in the educational side of the DCPA.”

So much so, that then-CEO Daniel L. Ritchie invited the couple to lunch and they quickly transitioned from casual theatre goer into deeply engaged patrons. They not only joined the Directors Society, a premium membership group that supports the DCPA’s locally produced plays at the highest level, but also made the decision to name the DCPA in their estate plans.

As members of Directors Society, the pair enjoys pre-show dinners with new friends and members of the artistic team before seven Denver Center Theatre Company plays each season. Among their favorite productions have been The Legend of Georgia McBride, The 39 Steps, The Constant Wife, English, Plainsong, and A Christmas Carol, which they haven’t missed since 2007. Plus, they appreciate the personalized, concierge-like perk of buying and exchanging tickets.

While they themselves enjoy the thrill of a live performance, they also want to ensure that new generations have that same opportunity.

“We enjoy sponsoring Theatre for Young Audiences to expose young children to live theatre through great stories and lively performances, such as Good Night Moon, Corduroy, and Little Red,” they explained. “The Randy Weeks Theatre is a great venue for children since its size is not intimidating. All you need is to watch the faces of the children in the theatre to be drawn in and want to be a part of it.”

Fostering a love of theatre from a young age reaps bountiful rewards. Not only does it boost academic scores and demonstrate viable careers in the arts, it also leads to highly engaged patrons who give their time and resources to ensure this artform thrives in the future.

“Some shows we thought we might not like turned out to be favorites. We were glad we attended to expand our experiences.” Much like expanding their impact on future generations of theatregoers through the DCPA’s Encore Society.

To explore how you can join the Encore Society and name the DCPA in your estate plans, contact Julia Dunn, Development Manager, Donor Engagement & Legacy Giving, at 303.893.6057.