Originally published in 2023. Updated for the 2025/26 season.

Since the mid-1980s, the DCPA Theatre Company has offered a series of free post-show discussions called “Talkbacks.” In fact, more than 330,000 students and patrons have participated in these conversations…yet they remain relatively unknown to our audiences.

UC Denver Students attended a talkback for The Chinese Lady at the DCPA. Photo by Miguel Morris

As we work to engage our community in a variety of ways, we feel it’s time to draw Talkbacks out of the wings and into the spotlight. These efforts will also contribute to the DCPA’s recently announced goal to have 1 million engagements per year.

Each season as the Theatre Company is considering its lineup of locally produced plays and musicals, the DCPA’s Community Engagement team develops a schedule of Community Talkback discussions. While there are generally one or two scheduled regular Talkbacks for each show, there are some productions that address thought-provoking topics and themes prompting organizers to offer additional community discussions.

Talkbacks are always professionally moderated and generally include members of the cast and/or artistic team, so audiences can ask questions about their performance, the staging, costumes, plot, etc.

Those Talkbacks that are planned for plays that warrant a deeper conversation may also include area subject matter experts who can delve into topics such as race, religion, gender identification or the environment.

Discussions are just that — a two-way dialogue in which the audience poses questions and offers opinions as they engage with the Company and experts. These conversations often last 30 minutes and are an excellent opportunity to explore a play firsthand.

We invite you to join us for any of these free Talkbacks following select 2025/26 Denver Center Theatre Company productions:

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Oct 16 & 29 • Kilstrom Theatre

 The Happiest Man on Earth
Oct 21 & Nov 2 • Singleton Theatre

Cowboys and East Indians
Jan 28, Feb 12 & 24 • Singleton Theatre

Godspeed
Feb 10 & 17 • Kilstrom Theatre

Next to Normal
April 23 & 29 • Wolf Theatre

English
May 12, 20 & 28 • Singleton Theatre

Somewhere
May 21 & 27 • Kilstrom Theatre