Love on DCPA Stages in 2025

Zan Berube, Burke Swanson, Caden Brauch, and Company in Back to the Future: The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

With February comes a month of love. Or at least one specific day for it: February 14.

At the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, we love to uplift all kinds of stories. While Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, we want to highlight the different kinds of love that can be seen on our stages – before and after February 14.

Unrequited Love

In Gutenberg! The Musical!, buddies Doug and Bud pitch a hilariously ill-advised project to Broadway investors: the history of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. The only problem is…their pitch is based entirely on a quick Google search, so don’t trust the history you hear. That includes a character named Helvetica, who has fallen in love with her mentor, Gutenberg – though he’s blind to her affections.

Familial Love

In the world premiere production of The Reservoir, Josh has returned to his hometown in a crisis. Amid his struggle, he fortifies his relationships with his four grandparents, finding them to be surprising and loveable allies on his journey to recovery.

Romantic Love

Back to the Future: The Musical hinges on one couple falling (back) in love. Marty McFly travels back in time and mistakenly alters his parents’ romantic future. Spoiler alert: they share a passionate first kiss while their teenage son looks on. It’s not weird at all.

Self-Love

While Mean Girls might not be the epitome of romance, it’s an ode to self-love and self-respect (if you watch until the end). After Cady, the new girl in high school, falls prey to the pressures of popularity, she finds being true to herself is what makes her happiest.

Friendship, or Platonic Love

Affectionately dubbed the New Wing order, couple Cordell and Dwayne whip up the best hot wings around with their two best friends in The Hot Wing King. Sexuality, fatherhood, masculinity, and Black identity are explored as their friendship is put to the test, threatening to change their bonds forever.

New Love

& Juliet asks: what would have happened if Juliet hadn’t ended it all over Romeo? In this new musical, Juliet is whisked away on a new beginning and a second chance at love – her way. Of course, she’s accompanied by killer chorography and some iconic pop anthems like “Baby One More Time” and “Roar.”