In Denver, where the spirit of the Gold Rush once surged, a different kind of gold now gleams: the city’s thriving performing arts scene. Long before Edison marveled at the electrifying luminance of Curtis Street—during his visit, the father of the lightbulb called the heart of Denver’s theater district, so dubbed the “Great White Way of the West,” the best-lighted street in America—this burgeoning town already demonstrated a penchant for drama, music, and dance. Remember, this is a place where, at one time, theaters outnumbered schools and downtown street lamps were considered frivolous because theater marquees did all the illuminating.
Transition from vaudevillian heydays to the present, and this once frontier town now proudly curates a cultural symphony, a blend of tradition and avant-garde. If Manhattan boasts its Lincoln Center, then Denver counters with the Denver Performing Arts Complex—second in size and grandeur but certainly not in spirit. The Colorado Symphony now serenades with cinematic epics, while Denver University and University of Colorado stages dazzle with audacious theater experiments and Parker draws audiences to the suburbs down south. And as the seasons change, the stage is set to reveal a bevy of artists who’ve been, quite literally, waiting in the wings. From the passionate strains of Broadway musicals to the precision and grace of the Colorado Ballet, our city remains a magnet for virtuoso talents.
With a history rich in culture and a future as promising as a fresh marquee bulb, Denver continues to set the stage for artistic endeavors. Consider this your personalized playbill to the best of Denver’s 2023–24 performing arts season. Curtains up, Denver. Let’s enjoy the show.
COLORADO BALLET
Grace in Motion
Dancing on the edge of tradition and audacity—that’s how Colorado Ballet does it. Their 63rd season, “In the Balance,” is more than just an homage to the classics. It’s a nod to the future.
“It’s all about getting the details down,” says artistic director Gil Boggs. Expect the Ellie Caulkins Opera House to resonate with both the haunting strains of Swan Lake and the pulse-quickening beats of modern choreography, with 35 professional dancers donning over 300 handmade costumes during the season’s opening production.
But it’s not all tutus and tiaras; as Boggs
