Denver Center for the Performing Arts
The basics
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, known locally as the DCPA, features eight different theaters rolled into one connected complex that's impossible to miss on any walking tour of downtown Denver. Touring Broadway musicals make their Denver debut at the mighty Buell Theatre, while the elegant Ellie Caulkins Opera House is home to the Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, and Opera Colorado. Stage dramas by local and international playwrights are presented at smaller venues like the Kilstrom and Wolf Theatres, while the Garner Galleria Theatre is a casual cabaret-type setting for improv and other lighter fare.
Things to know before you go
- Tickets for popular performances—especially musicals—often sell out months in advance, so reserve tickets well ahead of time.
- Ticket presales and the best seats are usually offered to season subscribers.
- Unless specified, the dress code for all performances is casual, although many theatergoers opt to glam up for more formal shows.
- Remember to silence your cell phone before any performance begins; video and audio recordings generally are not permitted.
How to get there
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is located in downtown Denver between Speer Boulevard and 14th Street and Arapahoe and Champa Streets. The designated patron pickup and drop-off point is on 14th and Curtis Street. Parking is available in the Arts Complex Parking Garage at 13th and Arapahoe Streets, as well as other paid parking lots nearby. If taking public transit, the RTD Light Rail lines D, F, and H and many city buses also stop at the center.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain time to allow for parking, coat check, and finding your seats. The box office opens one hour before each performance if you need to exchange seats or resolve any ticketing issues.
Denver Theater District Dining
If you're planning a preshow dinner or drinks, options abound in downtown Denver’s Theater District. The EDGE Restaurant and Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel offers steaks and other American dishes in an upscale setting. If you're short on time, share small plates at Prelude + Post, located right across from the Buell Theatre, or grab to-go sandwiches or a quick drink at the Bonfils Bar & Café.
- Larimer Square
- Denver 16th Street Mall
- Hard Rock Cafe Denver
- Denver Firefighters Museum
- Denver Mint
- Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo)
- Denver Civic Center Park
- Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park
- Denver Art Museum (DAM)
- Colorado State Capitol Building
- Downtown Aquarium
- Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
- Molly Brown House Museum
- Denver City Park
- Denver Botanic Gardens