Celebrating 20 Years at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House

What once began as the Denver Municipal Auditorium in 1908 has now become one of Colorado’s most beloved performing arts theatres at the Denver Performing Arts Complex—the Ellie Caulkins Opera House is home to the Colorado Ballet, Opera Colorado and several other touring and local arts and culture shows. 

In the early 2000s, a major renovation project began to transform the Ellie Caulkins Opera House into a world-class theatre. Twenty years later, Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) celebrates the rebirth of the opera house and a new feature that makes the venue even more accessible and state-of-the-art for our partners. A project years in the making, we’re thrilled to announce we have a brand-new stage—and while it might not look any different to our audiences, its impact will be profound for our partners.  

The old stage was quickly approaching the end of its life, so the team at the Arts Complex knew they needed to start thinking about a new stage years in advance to find something that would work for both resident companies and future programming. 

Meet the new Harlequin Liberty Switch Stage—an award-winning stage floor system that transforms between a solid stage floor and a sprung dance floor in seconds. Designed to meet the needs of both dance and production environments, it seamlessly transitions at the touch of a button. 

“One of the objectives of the Arts Complex is to provide opportunities for organizations to come in and perform,” said Mark Heiser, former Director of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, who was an essential driver in getting the stage to Denver. “The floor we had before was a standard stage, meant for heavy scenery. So when the ballet would come in, we’d have to lay a sprung floor on top. Now, the new floor can switch from a rigid floor to a spring floor with the push of a button. This new stage will allow us to do changeovers more quickly, ensuring we give organizations the maximum amount of time in a space and ultimately allowing us to welcome more performances into the venue.”

Innovating our venues and ensuring they remain world-class is a core part of DAV’s mission. In fact, the revenue generated at the Arts Complex, from things as simple as buying a glass of wine before a Colorado Symphony performance, helps us fund projects like this that enable our resident companies and cultural partners to have the resources they need to be successful.  

We’re proud that this innovative new stage is the first of its kind in the U.S. Now, our resident partners, the Colorado Ballet and Opera Colorado, will be able to transition from rehearsal to show and back more easily. The dancers at the Colorado Ballet will have the sprung floor they need at all times, but loading in heavy sets and backdrops that require the solid floor will be easier than ever.  

“The Harlequin stage switch floor has forever changed performing on a sprung floor,” said Gil Boggs, Artistic Director of the Colorado Ballet. “Our dancers are amazed by how it feels to dance on, and our production crew is thankful for the hours saved not having to lay a sprung floor.” 

"I’ve never experienced such an incredible difference between a sprung and unsprung floor until feeling it firsthand on the new stage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House—it feels amazing, and truly is a game-changer for our company and theatre," said Alexandra Gilliom, Colorado Ballet Corps de Ballet Dancer. 

Another core of DAV’s mission is to create opportunities for cultural organizations at our venues. A long-standing DAV partnership is with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, a nonprofit that serves as a cultural ambassador, infusing vitality, innovation and education into every community it touches. 

For years, Cleo Parker Robinson dancers have performed at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. In September, they launched their 55th season with “Bolero”—a classical and vibrant work choreographed by Christopher Huggins, set to Maurice Ravel’s iconic score. 

With the costs associated with switching the floor between solid and sprung, Cleo Parker Robinson had never had access to the sprung floor at the Ellie Caulkins before. But this year, that changed.  

"Twenty years ago, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance was proud to be part of the foundation that brought the Ellie Caulkins Opera House to life,” said Cleo Parker Robinson, Founder and Artistic Director of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. “Access to this stage has been transformative and essential for our organization. From the integrity of the sprung floors to the scale for each professional dancer and the elegant structure of the theatre itself, the Ellie has allowed us to fully demonstrate the depth, power and legacy of the work our ensemble has cultivated for over 55 years. Performing on a stage of this size has given us the opportunity to welcome extraordinary guest artists from across the nation and around the world, expanding what is possible for our dancers and our audiences. More space allows for more bodies, more stories and more inspiration to be shared with the city. This past September, we were honored to present some of the world’s most renowned choreographers during “Bolero”, a moment made possible in partnership with Denver Arts & Venues.”

The Ellie Caulkins holds a special place in the Denver community, and we’re glad this new stage has found such a worthy home. Our resident partners join us in celebrating the venue’s anniversary. 

“For twenty years, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House has been more than a venue for Opera Colorado—it has been our artistic home, a place where music, storytelling and community come together to create unforgettable experiences,” said Barbara Lynne Jamison, Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO of Opera Colorado. “The Ellie has shaped countless memories for our audiences, artists and staff, and it continues to inspire us every day. We’re deeply honored to celebrate this remarkable 20-year milestone with our community at our Grand Gala on February 27.” 

We can’t wait to see what the next 20 years bring for performances at the Ellie Caulkins—and through our commitment to our venues, DAV will ensure it's a space that matches the caliber of future performances. 

To learn more about DAV’s mission, “Good Times, For Good,” click here.