Theatre
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”
The theatre is a sacred place. The word theatre is from the Greek meaning "seeing place." It is not only a place to watch a performance, but a place to see more deeply into the human story. Theatres were elaborately constructed to form the imagination of those under the rule of the Roman Empire. It is likely the Apostle Paul spoke to audiences in Roman theatres about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Theater is an ancient art form of storytelling. Theatre invites the audience into the complexity of both characters and culture. The tone, expressions, and emotions of live actors on the stage embody the complexity of humanity. Theatre requires patience as the narrative and characters unfold. In a cultural moment where we are often quick to judge on first impressions, the theatre invites us to consider perspectives deeper and different than the one with which we entered.
The theatre is one of the rare remaining places where attention is focused toward live communication. The performance is not provided to an isolated individual or able to be paused. In theatre, the audience not only listens, but is a participant, as the energy of the audience influences the performance. Theatre is a counter cultural experience in a moment marked by individualism and divisiveness. Actor Caitlyn Kraemer explained the importance of the theatre by saying, “This thing that is happening in real time and real space, these humans on stage telling this real human story, this matters to me.” That experience of real time and space, real people telling real stories, is shared by every person in the audience every night at the theatre.
The history of theatres in Denver has its own complex human story. Curtis Street in downtown Denver was once known as “The Great White Way,” lined with theatres, bright lights, and signs illuminating the street. Thomas Edison once called Curtis Street, “The brightest street in America.” The theatre was so popular in Denver that in 1914, it was reported 100,000 people attended a theatre show of some variety every day, at the time the population was less than 250,000. Not a single theatre remains on Curtis Street from that era.
Theatre was reborn in Denver with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The DCPA owes its existence to Helen Bonfils, a devout Catholic, millionaire, and owner The Denver Post from 1933 until her death in 1972. Her greatest love was theatre. She acted and produced plays in Denver, London, and New York where she met Broadway producer Donald Sewell. The DCPA Arts Complex was the vision of Donald Seawell. It was built in 1978 and became the home to multiple theatres including the Buell Theatre, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex.
The theatre is where the human story is told through an ancient art form of actors and audience. It is where we share our attention and form our imagination. The theatre is a sacred place.
Thank you to Jaimie Morgan and Caitlyn Kraemer for their conversations and contributions to this article.
