Ellie Caulkins Opera House Seating chart

Ellie Caulkins Opera House
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House opened for operation on September 10, 2005. It is located in Denver, Colorado, and is part of the large Denver Performing Arts Complex, which can seat 2,225 people.The Caulkins family were well-known for their philanthropic contributions in the field of arts and to educational institutions. They gave $7 million towards improving the lyric opera house and adjacent public spaces.

Eleanor Newman Caulkins, who is known as Ellie to her family and friends, remains a steadfast supporter of cultural enrichment. Eleanor Caulkins has led the board of Opera Colorado since it was established. She served as Chair of Opera Colorado?s board of directors for several terms, and has also performed on stage.Except for Madison Square Garden in New York, The Municipal Auditorium is the largest in America. It was completed just in time to hold the Democratic National Convention [1908].

The Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Speer managed to raise $100,000 for celebrating the grand opening of the Auditorium on July 7. The Ellie Caulkins Opera House was originally a multi-purpose structure that could host conventions, basketball, auto shows and even circuses, concerts, operas, theatrical shows, etc.

The proscenium of the original building was supposed to be portable. This was intended to create different-sized spaces for different events hosted. With the proscenium, the building had a 3,326 seat theatre along with an extraordinary large back stage area. If the proscenium was raised, it expanded the seating capacity to 12,000, and the stage and backstage area could hold circuses and rodeos.

During the 1920s and 30s, Music Week was a well-known annual event in Denver. Communities from all over the state took part in musical programs. Most of these performances took place in the Auditorium.

The Auditorium later turned into the de facto opera house for Denver. It was the most enduring one, which lasted more than 75 years. This was until the other halls opened in an adjoining complex. The Newton Auditorium required major renovation that was funded mainly through seat tax revenues that were collected at city-owned facilities. The city spent $75 million, and $17 million more came through private donors. The Caulkins? family gift was made use of for funding additional enhancements to the lyric opera house. The funds were used for enhancing the adjacent public spaces inside the Newton Auditorium.

The Ellie Caulkins Opera House that was called the ?Ellie? opened as Opera Colorado's new home [10th September 2005]. It was inaugurated with a gala benefit for the Colorado Opera Foundation. It also had well known singers from the opera world.The old Auditorium Theatre?s historic shell was reconstructed and called the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, which was in honor of "Denver's First Lady of Opera".