The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ history intertwines with that of the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Both were ideas that blossomed, indirectly, from an original dream shared by philanthropist, Denver Post owner and occasional-actress Helen G. Bonfils and Wall Street lawyer and Broadway producer Donald R. Seawell.

Helen G. BonfilsMiss Helen, as she was fondly known, built the Bonfils Theatre on Colfax Avenue in the early 1950s, a community theatre in which she and her friends performed. At that time, she was co-owner of The Denver Post and one of the City's leading philanthropists.

Later that decade, she and Donald Seawell formed a successful partnership to produce plays on Broadway and in London. Soon, Miss Bonfils felt that Denver deserved more than community theatre and asked Mr. Seawell to create a professional acting company to perform at the old Bonfils. 

Seawell got Tyrone Guthrie, the great director who had created Minneapolis' Guthrie Theatre, to agree to move to Denver, create the company and be its director. Plans for building another theatre alongside the old Bonfils were well underway when Guthrie suddenly died.

By this time, Miss Helen's health had deteriorated to the point where she was a permanent hospital resident. Moreover, an attempt was underway by a hostile stockholder to acquire control of The Denver Post, and Miss Helen asked Seawell to lead the legal battle for Post ownership. The plan for a professional theatre was postponed. Miss Helen never dreamed it would develop into a full-scale performing arts center.

By the time the battle for ownership of The Post was won in 1972, Miss Helen had died and Seawell was Chairman and Publisher of the paper. He had also created the Bonfils Foundation primarily as a depository for all of The Denver Post stock.

Don Seawell and former Denver Mayor Bill McNichols review a model of the proposed Denver Performing Arts Complex. 1972
Seawell found himself at 14th & Curtis streets looking at the 1908 Denver Municipal Auditorium and the all-but abandoned surrounding blocks. He thought, "What a wonderful place to build a performing arts center as a tribute to Miss Helen and to revive downtown Denver." He sat down on the curb, took an envelope from his pocket, and sketched what would become the largest performing arts facility in the world under one roof. Before the day was over, he had changed the charter of the old Bonfils Theatre into The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, reached an agreement with the City and hired the great architect Kevin Roche as the overall architect to put the plan into reality. He also made the Bonfils Foundation a subsidiary of The Denver Center and it continues to provide funding to the organization today. It was to become the largest center in the world under one roof, second only to Lincoln Center in number of seats and the largest in the world in the number and variety of activities. 

 Quote from Newsweek - Denver's Crown Jewel.

(l-r) Former Colorado Lt. Governor George Brown, former Denver Mayor Bill McNichols and Don Seawell break ground on the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex.

1978
The first pieces of the puzzle were put in place in 1978 with the opening of the 2,700-seat Boettcher Concert Hall and an eight-story, 1,700-space parking garage.

 

Quote from Gerald Clarke of Time - ...Patrons come into a great glass tent, held up by concrete and steel girders. THe effect is both dramatic and exhilarating.

1979 
By 1979, the Denver Municipal Auditorium had been renovated, two cabaret spaces had been added and the Helen G. Bonfils Theatre Complex opened with its four theatres:

Quote from actor Vincent Price - I have seen them all, and these theatres are the most imaginative, the most flexible and the best ever built.
 

James Lawless and Tyne Daly in the Denver Center Theatre Company debut production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Photo by Pierce

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Denver Center Theatre Company found a home in the Bonfils Complex and opened under the artistic leadership of Edward Payson Call on New Year’s Eve with three concurrent productions — The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Moby Dick Rehearsed and The Learned Ladies. 

Also in this year, The Denver Center paired with local Broadway presenter Robert Garner to form Denver Center Attractions. The combination of locally produced theatrical productions with Broadway’s best touring shows made The Denver Center for the Performing Arts the epicenter for theatre in the West.

1980s

In its first several years, both the physical structure and the theatrical entity bore the name of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts. In the 1980s, the physical area and facilities were renamed the Denver Performing Arts Complex under an agreement providing that the City would manage much of the site. This left The Denver Center for the Performing Arts as the theatrical tenant, managing its administrative offices and the spaces in which its Theatre Company performed.

1982

The Denver Center Theatre Company presented the world premiere of Quilters, which was nominated for a Tony Award and became the most widely-produced play among resident theatres in the next several seasons.


(l-r) Sam Van Wetter as Joe Crowell and National Theatre Conservatory 2006 graduate Rob Karma Robinson in the National Theatre Conservatory Rep production of Our Town. Photo by eric laurits 1984
Realizing that skilled actors are essential to the theatre, The Denver Center and the American National Theatre and Academy, of which Mr. Seawell was Chairman and CEO, established the National Theatre Conservatory, a three-year Master of Fine Arts acting school and the only one of its kind chartered by Congress. In a unique master/apprentice relationship, students work alongside the professional Denver Center Theatre Company actors. The students graduate not only with MFA degrees, but also as members of Actors Equity.

When Donovan Marley became Artistic Director of the Denver Center Theatre Company, new play development became an important aspect of the Center's work. New plays growing out of the program were produced not only in Denver but on and off Broadway, throughout America and in London—also winning first prize awards at the Edinburgh Festival and in Ireland.


Interior of The Buell Theatre. Photo by Sherri Stewart O Hara

1991
The City transformed the old Auditorium sports arena into the 2,830-seat Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre creating a major, state-of-the-art Broadway roadhouse. Predicted by critics to host The Phantom of the Opera once and then sit empty, Denver Center Attractions has consistently filled The Buell, contributing to its ranking as the nation’s highest-grossing theatre under 3,000 seats. 

 

(l-r) Gina Schuh-Turner, Jordan Leigh, Shannan Steele and Mark Devine in Denver Center Attractions record-breaking production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Photo by Terry Shapiro1992
To expand on its theatrical repertoire, Denver Center Attractions began using the intimate 210-seat Garner Galleria Theatre to feature long-running cabaret hits such as the four-year engagement of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. This addition captured quick popularity — typically offering eight shows per week and setting a new national standard for cabaret-style shows. 

 Students perform during the Denver Center Theatre Academy Musical Mayhem class. Photo by Brian Folkins

Expanding upon its graduate acting curriculum, the Denver Center Theatre Academy was established offering acting instruction to the community. Over the years, its programs have expanded into schools with a touring production and residencies.   


The Denver Center Theatre Company is awarded the 1998 Tony Award ® for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Photo by Souders Studios.1998
In recognition of its body of work and growing reputation, the Denver Center Theatre Company was honored to receive the 1998 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.

With an exploding social scene, The Denver Center added a premier special event venue atop the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Named in honor of The Denver Center’s founder, the 10,000-square-foot Seawell Grand Ballroom quickly became a venue of choice for meetings, luncheons, weddings and galas.


Robert Petkoff as Achilles in the Denver Center Theatre Company/Royal Shakespeare Company world premiere of TANTALUS. Photo by p. switzer2000
The new millennium started with an ambitious international undertaking — the ten-hour epic cycle of the Trojan War, Tantalus. This co-production of the Denver Center Theatre Company and London’s Royal Shakespeare Company had its world premiere in Denver before touring the UK. Named by Time magazine as one of the year's top ten plays, it drew audiences from 38 states and seven foreign countries.  


The Lion King National Tour. Photo by Joan Marcus2002
Hard on the heels of this tremendous achievement, the Mile High City was once again thrust into the national spotlight when Disney Theatricals chose Denver to host the touring premiere of The Lion King. Breaking box office records, more than 1,800 fans stood in line when tickets went on sale contributing to a sell-out crowd of 220,000 for the 10-week run and generating $58 million into Denver’s economy.

2004

Kent Thompson succeeded Donovan Marley as only the third Artistic Director of the Denver Center Theatre Company in its 25-year history. He recommitted the Company to the discovery of new plays by establishing the annual Colorado New Play Summit. Under Kent's direction, this new play program continues to grow with plays like Lydia being performed nationwide and a new version of Broadway-bound The Unsinkable Molly Brown being part of the 2009 New Play Summit.


The City of Denver opens The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Photo by Steve Crecelius2005
The City reopened the renovated Denver Municipal Auditorium with its new Ellie Caulkins Opera House, home to the Colorado Ballet and Opera Colorado. Denver Center Attractions occasionally presents Broadway tours in the restored venue.  


2007
With the advent of 2007, came the end of an era. Founder Donald Seawell handed the reigns to Daniel L. Ritchie who said: “Donald Seawell has created a cultural legacy in the Rocky Mountain West that is both undisputed and unrivaled. It is my great honor to succeed him and take The Denver Center to the next level that will emphasize new play development and collaboration both locally and nationally.” 


Sierra Boggess as Ariel in The Little Mermaid presented by Disney Theatrical Productions. Photo by Joan MarcusLater in July, The Denver Center was chosen to host the pre-Broadway engagement of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. This seven-week, sold-out run was the most successful out-of-town tryout Disney Theatrical Productions has had to date and one of the best-attended productions in Denver Center history.



2008
The third annual Colorado New Play Summit ramped up The Denver Center’s commitment to new play development. The three-day weekend welcomed 200 theatre professionals from around the country who were treated to three fully-produced world premieres, four new play readings, a panel discussion and the ever-popular “slam” reading of new works in development. Of the premieres, Lydia has been selected for production by four theatre companies nationwide.

With new works being commissioned and developed under Denver Center Theatre Company Artistic Director Kent Thompson, musical collaborations being orchestrated by Denver Center Attractions Executive Director and Denver Center President Randy Weeks, and new ideas being envisioned by Chairman Daniel L. Ritchie, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is ready to engage, excite, provoke and inspire future generations of theatre lovers.

 

Photo captions:

1) Helen G. Bonfils

2) Don Seawell and former Denver Mayor Bill McNichols review a model of the proposed Denver Performing Arts Complex.

3) "Denver's Crown Jewel," proclaimed Newsweek.

4) (l-r) Former Colorado Lt. Governor George Brown, former Denver Mayor Bill McNichols and Don Seawell break ground on the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex.

5) "...patrons come into a great glass tent, held up by concrete and steel girders. The effect is both dramatic and exhilarating." - Gerald Clarke, Time

6) "I have seen them all, and these theatres are the most imaginative, the most flexible and the best ever built." Vincent Price, actor

7) James Lawless and Tyne Daly in the Denver Center Theatre Company debut production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Photo by Pierce

8) (l-r) Sam Van Wetter as Joe Crowell and National Theatre Conservatory 2006 graduate Rob Karma Robinson in the National Theatre Conservatory Rep production of Our Town. Photo by eric laurits

9) Students perform during the Denver Center Theatre Academy Musical Mayhem class. Photo by Brian Folkins

10) Interior of The Buell Theatre. Photo by Sherri Stewart O Hara

11) (l-r) Gina Schuh-Turner, Jordan Leigh, Shannan Steele and Mark Devine in Denver Center Attractions record-breaking production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Photo by Terry Shapiro

12) The Denver Center Theatre Company is awarded the 1998 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Photo by Souders Studios

13) Robert Petkoff as Achilles in the Denver Center Theatre Company/Royal Shakespeare Company world premiere of TANTALUS. Photo by p. switzer

14) The Lion King National Tour. Photo by Joan Marcus

15) The City of Denver opens The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Photo by Steve Crecelius

16) Sierra Boggess as Ariel in The Little Mermaid presented by Disney Theatrical Productions. Photo by Joan Marcus