Inside the Arvada Center

News and Updates

Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories and in-depth exploration into the Center's productions and programs.

Indoor theatre returns to the Aurora Fox. Did it feel safe?

John Moore essay: The Aurora Fox has become the first metro theatre company to re-open for live theatre in a major way with the musical revue 'Tomfoolery.' Did it feel safe?

September 19: Colorado theatre news of the week

'Miscast' will pivot to 'CAST 2020.' Radio plays are all the rage, led by Monday's upcoming release of the Arvada Center's 'Trifles.' The Colorado Theatre Guild has a new president and much more.

Take a stroll through Sculpture Field

During these constricted COVID times, a refreshing stroll is waiting to be … strolled … at the Arvada Center's outdoor sculpture field. It’s free and open to the public during daylight hours.

How COVID is impacting individual artists

Among the many consequences of the coronavirus shutdown could be a massive talent drain from the creative industry.

Denver Film Festival to be longer, smaller and all digital

On the one hand, the 43rd Denver Film Festival won’t take place in-person. On the other hand, the Denver Film Festival will take place. In 2020, you have to look at the bright side. And this year, few local arts organizations have pivoted quite as nimbly as Denver Film.

'Amplify' comes to powerful conclusion

The second season of the Arvada Center's acclaimed video series concludes with five more Black women from the Colorado theatre community: Jada Suzanne Dixon, Kristina Fountaine, Ilasiea Gray, Mary Louise Lee and Adrienne Martin-Fullwood.

Arvada Center pivoting to radio plays this fall

How to deliver professionally produced stories for culturally starved audiences – without putting their lives at risk? This fall, the Arvada Center will roll out a series of short, homemade audio plays that will be available to listeners on multiple platforms.

Pivoting With ... The Black Actors Guild

"Pivoting With ..." is our new, ongoing series talking with members of the Colorado theatre community about how they are adapting to changes in their creative, professional and personal lives as the COVID pandemic continues.

'Amplify' amplifies five more Black women

The new season of the Arvada Center's video season continues with five more voices from the Colorado theatre community whose voices have not been heard loudly enough.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Emily Grace King

Growing up home-schooled in upstate New York, Galleries Exhibition Manager Emily Grace King could not have known the world that would open up for her when she moved to Colorado. Then along came “Hair.” Let the sunshine in.

Deeper Dive, Part 4: 'They're Playing Our Song'

Coming in 2021: Carole Bayer Sager’s calamitous relationship with one of the world’s most famous composers is the basis of this long-running hit musical, which ran for three years on Broadway.

Theatre news: Live streaming panel coming Monday on a big new 'IDEA'

Also: Local actor generating Oscar buzz. Denver Actors Fund announces not 'Miscast' but 'CAST.' DEAR Fund wraps up. That and much more, including a new list of all all current live theatregoing and streaming opportunities.

Beth Malone bringing her 'joy bomb' to Arvada Center on September 4

Broadway star and Colorado native Beth Malone is coming back to the Arvada Center on September 4 with a heaping serving of soul food.

Deeper Dive, Part 3: 'Million Dollar Quartet'

Coming in 2021: This love letter to rock ’n roll tells the true story of a 1956 legendary jam session at Sun Studios between four great musicians with troubled lives and complicated careers: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

'Amplify' turns the mic over to local Black women

The Arvada Center has launched a new season of 'Amplify,' this time giving voice to local Black women whose voices have not been heard loudly enough.

Arvada Center going 'Out of the Box' with Cleo Parker Robinson

The Denver dance legend will revisit two seminal works she staged at the Arvada Center in the 1980s as part of a major streaming event that drops at 8 p.m. August 22 and will remain available for online viewing through August 28.

Front Porch Series Begins With Pierce Murphy Trio

As masked patrons entered the shady front plaza of the Arvada Center outdoor amphitheatre for the first night of our new “Front Porch Series” this past Saturday, one was heard to say “I needed this.”

Deeper Dive, Part 2: 'Private Lives'

Coming in 2021: Noël Coward's screamingly funny comedy traps two former spouses are together in the same hotel, and they can’t stop arguing. "I think anyone who has been locked down with a partner these past few months can relate,' says Director Lynne Collins.

Pink Progression: Collaborations: Sangeeta Reddy and Jodie Roth Cooper

In the fourth of our four-part series, we're spotlighting collaborating artist teams who have contributed to the Arvada Center's celebration of the 19th Amendment and the women's right to vote.

Deeper Dive, Part 1: 'Small Mouth Sounds'

Coming in 2021: This popular new play takes place entirely at a silent yoga retreat where six runaways from city life strive for self-acceptance. That's right: Silent.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Gabriel Morales

How 'Mean Girls' uplifted a Mexican immigrant on his way to a life in the arts – and the Arvada Center. This is actor and Patron Services Representative Gabriel Morales' human story.

Colorado Springs reaches the Mountaintop at 2020 Henry Awards

In a near sweep, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center took home 10 awards in 24 competitive categories, including both the year’s Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Play. The Arvada Center had nine nominations but won no awards.

'Amplify' to return featuring Black women's voices

The Arvada Center has launched Episode 3 of announced that 'Amplify,' and announced the series will resume in mid-August with a second season featuring all Black women.

Pink Progression: Collaborations: Julia Rymer and Drew Austin

In the third of our four-part series, we're spotlighting collaborating artist teams who have contributed to the Arvada Center's celebration of the 19th Amendment and the women's right to vote.

Theatre news: Governor’s mask mandate does not include Candlelight actors

Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ newly issued mandatory statewide mask order in public indoor spaces includes an exception for “giving a speech to an audience.”

Pink Progression: Collaborations: Jina Brenneman and Margaret Kasahara

In the second of our four-part series, we're spotlighting four collaborating artist teams who have contributed to the Arvada Center's celebration of the 19th Amendment and the women's right to vote.

Pink Progression: Collaborations: Grow Love and Moe Gram

In the first of our four-part series, we're spotlighting four collaborating artist teams who have contributed to the Arvada Center's celebration of the 19th Amendment and the women's right to vote.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Abygail Rosales

When the situation calls for calm, say their colleagues, that's when this Patron Services Representative becomes the star of the show.

Here's who the DEAR Fund has helped

Here's a rundown of the nearly $100,000 The Denver Actors Fund has made available to about 300 Colorado theatre artists who have lost work during the COVID19 shutdown. About $8,000 has gone to Arvada Center artists.

It’s virtually impossible to not have fun in Summer Camp

The Center transitioned most of our summer camps over to virtual camps using the online Zoom platform, and we have been excited to see that children and parents alike are enjoying this alternative that entertains and educates while offering a social opportunity right there in their own home.

Arvada Center announces 2021 theatre titles

The Arvada Center has announced its scaled-back, 2020-21 slate of plays and musicals, and it reflects the conundrum every theatre company is wrestling with, including the newly renamed Voodoo Comedy Theatre.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Jon Olson

Lighting Director Jon Olson has always had a clear vision of what he wanted from life. And, for the most part, he’s made it happen. But through some very hard life experience, he has also learned that life changes in the ordinary instant. Here's how theatre helped him find light in the dark.

June in Colorado theatre: 'The Reckoning' has begun

Suddenly, theatre companies are being held accountable like never before, not only for their programming choices and hiring practices but also their own complicity in creating power imbalances throughout the field. And dominoes are starting to fall.

What are the 5 most-screwed job titles in COVID-era theatre?

You think you have it bad during the ongoing COVID19 shutdown? The show is likely to go on without at least these five theatre jobs being filled.

Arvada Center to launch 'Amplify' series to raise black male voices

'The time for action is now,' says CEO and President Philip Sneed. The three-part, biweekly series, curated by Betty Hart, "is a great opportunity to hear from black male artists about whatever they want to say right now," she says.

Historic Supreme Court ruling hits home at Arvada Center

Director of Education knows first-hand what it’s like to be fired for being gay. Now she knows that will never legally happen to anyone else.

Humans of the Arvada Center

In many ways, Arvada Center Production Manager Adam Stolte was living the idyllic Arvada life ever since childhood. Until life – and death – intervened.

Humans of the Arvada Center

There is a reason the Children's Theatre House Manager has been given so much responsibility at the age of only 20. He's earned it.

Arvada Center to offer students world’s first Zoom musical

The Arvada Center will offer the world’s first musical specifically designed for distance participation, “The Big One-Oh! Online Edition,” for ages 9-13.

2019-20 Henry Award nominations are announced

Leading the was is the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College with 21 nominations, followed by the DCPA Theatre Company with 16. The Arvada Center earned nine, including six for 'Bright Star.'

Photo by Matthew Gale.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Jessie Page

Arvada Center Wardrobe Supervisor Jessie Page is legally a blonde, but she's nothing if not pretty in pink.

City to install Arvada Center Sculpture in Hoskinson Park

If you visited the Arvada Center last fall, it was hard to miss Jodie Roth Cooper's magnificent sculpture that sat at the top of the stairway as part of the Colorado Abstract +10 exhibitions.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Ashi K. Smythe

The longtime educator with the Arvada Center Dance Academy was an original cast member in Broadway’s “The Lion King” from 1997-2001.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Steven Cogswell

Read about the Arvada Center's House Manager, a former performer and director whose job is akin to a hotel concierge.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Christine Moore

Read about Arvada Center Stage Manager Christine Moore, who has been certain of her career path since age 12.

Podcast: 'B+' with Arvada Center favorites Geoffrey Kent and Jessica Austgen

The Black Box Theatre Company actors talk with Arts Journalist John Moore about what they've lost during the COVID19 shutdown and how they are maintaining their optimism.

LISTEN NOW

'Bright Star' cast releases video as message of hope

The cast of the acclaimed Arvada Center bluegrass musical has recorded "Sun's Gonna Shine" as a message of hope during the COVID19 shutdown. Watch the video and read more about it here.

WATCH NOW

Humans of the Arvada Center: Christina Noel Adcock

Read about longtime Arvada Center Dance Coordinator Christina Noel Adcock, who turned an injury into a revolutionary new way of teaching dance.

Humans of the Arvada Center: Collin Parson

As we look to reopen our doors and reignite the arts, one thing becomes clear: The key to our creativity is our people. In our new series, meet the heartbeat of the Arvada Center: The people who make up our family. First up: Director of Galleries Collin Parson, who says: "I did not find the arts as a child. The arts found me."

Arvada Center Maskmaking

Read about how Arvada Center volunteers, costume designers and corporate partners are giving back to the community by sewing face masks!

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