5 Ways to Ask “What Did You Do Today?” and Actually Get an Answer
It’s not trickery, it’s getting to know your family and friends better. Everyone has faced a stark silence at the dinner table, and the one-word answers from your kids when you ask what they did that day. “Nothing,” appears to be a favorite one, and possibly the most infuriating. But don’t blame the young […]
Bringing Shakespeare to the Community
For the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, community connection is central to its mission. That commitment is vividly realized through Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, a program designed to bring free, high‑quality theatre directly into neighborhoods across the metro area. Performed outdoors in everyday public spaces, these lively productions make Shakespeare accessible, informal, and […]
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 […]
5 Tips to Further At-Home Learning Using Theatre Games
Polish your acting chops with theatre-based games you can do outside of the classroom. Acting classes might have ended, but there’s no reason you can’t continue the excitement and education at home. In fact, theatre games entertain the whole family and/or friend group, even if the others aren’t training to be a performer. Try […]
The Best Ways to Relax Before an Audition or Interview
From deep breaths and nutrient-dense food to arriving on time, these five tips can make that next audition or interview go smoothly. It’s completely normal to be nervous before an audition or interview, but you don’t have to let that control the situation. In fact, calming the nerves before the big event helps tremendously, […]
Adult Education Students: Making their Mark in Video Games
This article was originally publihed in 2022 and updated in 2026. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Education program offers a wide range of classes from introduction to acting, scene study, stage combat, and more. A unique part of the program is that teaching artists largely continue to work within the theatre community, […]
The Art of the Audition: Learn how to nail that callback and what directors want
This article was originally published on November 17, 2022 All the books, lessons and performances in the world won’t guarantee an actor a leading role, but mastering the art of the audition just might. That’s why for the past five years Grady Soapes, the DCPA Theatre Company’s Director of Casting, has long taught classes on […]
Q&A with 2026 Student Playwrighting Winners, Finalists
Six winners have been announced for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ 14th annual Middle School & High School Playwriting Competition, three in each age group. This year, the DCPA’s Education & Community Engagement team received 288 submissions from students across Colorado. The top three plays by each age group will be included in […]
Winners Announced for DCPA’s 2026 Student Playwriting Competition
Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Education and Community Engagement is happy to announce the winners of the 14th annual Middle School and High School Playwriting Competition. The Playwriting Competition is grounded in workshops hosted by DCPA Education Teaching Artists. These in-school workshops introduce students to the fundamentals of playwriting, bolster creative writing skills, and […]