Helen Bonfils inherited The Denver Post in 1943. She spent her life as a philanthropist, sometime…read moreactress, and theatrical producer. She brought in Donald Seawell, a fellow businessman, actor's representative, and producer to help her run The Post in 1966.
Helen wanted to bring professional theater to Denver. Plans to expand her existing Bonfils Memorial Theater (now The Tattered Cover) across from East High School and to create an acting company fell through when the new director, Sir Tyrone Guthrie, died unexpectedly. A battle for control of The Post occupied most of management's time after this and Helen then became ill, dying in 1972.
Seawell kept control of a weakened Post after Helen's death (it sold in 1980 for $95 million). He wanted to fulfill Helen's wish for professional performing arts, but was unsure how to proceed. One day he walked by the 1908 Denver Municipal Auditorium at 14th and Curtis, an area that was mostly abandoned, and envisioned a performing arts complex. Not one to waste time, he sketched some ideas on the back of an envelope and made a deal with the City that day.
Boettcher Concert Hall (2,700 seats) and a 1,700 space parking garage opened in 1978. The Municipal Auditorium was renovated in 1979, the Garner Galleria Theatre (213 seats) was added, and the Helen G. Bonfils Theatre Complex opened with what is now the Wolf Theatre (640 seats), the Kilstrom Theatre (380 seats), the Singleton Theatre (233 seats), and the Jones Theatre (196 seats).
Seawell donated the complex to The City of Denver. Denver took over management of the facilities with Seawell's Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) managing the Bonfils Theatre Complex and the theatrical programming.
The Auditorium Sports Arena was converted to the Buell Theatre (2,830 seats) in 1989 as a proper space for touring Broadway shows. The 10,000 square foot Donald Seawell Ballroom was added on top of the theater complex in 1996. The Municipal Auditorium was converted to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House (2,225 seats) in 2005. A major renovation of the DCPA theaters was finished in 2021 to complete the current complex.
This is now the largest performing arts center under one roof (the 80-foot-tall glass loggia) in the U.S., spanning 12 acres and four city blocks. It contains an opera house, Broadway theater, concert hall, large thrust stage, theater-in-the-round, proscenium venue, black box stage, cabaret, ballroom, three restaurants, and various other event spaces plus a gallery run by the University of Colorado and a huge parking garage.
This is an almost unbelievable gift to the City of Denver and is a massive success. Helen Bonfils would be stunned and thrilled as this greatly exceeds her wildest dreams.
The number of arts events happening here is dizzying. The complex offers something for everyone from the Colorado Ballet to the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, and the DCPA with Broadway shows, cabaret, and world-class theater productions.
Any visitor to or resident of the metro area should spent some time here. It is one of the finest amenities Denver has to offer. Note that Boettcher Concert Hall will be temporarily closing for about 15 months starting June 2028 for a $120 million renovation, reopening Fall 2029.