The Ellie Caulkins Opera House (2005) was created by completely gutting the old Municipal Auditorium (1908) and constructing a new building inside the original walls of the old structure. This left a large, unfinished attic space which sat unused for five years until the City scrounged the money to open it as The Studio Loft in May 2011.
The space was originally designed as a 300- to 500-seat black box theater. The plan was to provide a flexible rehearsal and community space that could offer a venue for smaller music, dance, and theater groups.
The 8,000 square feet have evolved into an event center with a 3,000 square foot wooden dance floor, cathedral ceilings, exposed brick, and an elegant bar area.
I have been here for meetings, formal events, and performances of various sorts. The space is dramatic, with high ceilings and a large open area that can be divided by curtains. It has good acoustics for performances, but does get very noisy when a large number of people are mingling for an event.
It's a neat space and a great addition to the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Access is via a separate entrance facing 14th Street. Look for the awning toward the back side of the building that says, "THE STUDIO LOFT." read more