The Historical Setting of Godspeed
POST- CIVIL WAR In 1865 Texas, chaos prevailed. The Civil War ended on April 9 of that year, but the news spread sporadically and in much of the state, enslaved Black people didn’t learn they were free until June 19, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed it upon landing in Galveston. Although Black people were […]
Set Design: Putting a Western in Motion
To create the 1865 Texas of Terence Anthony’s Godspeed, the design team had several challenges to confront. The first was how to create the journey at the heart of the play when the theatre was in the round. “It was actually quite a big challenge in terms of the conceptual shift that everybody had to make, since the […]
Playwright Terence Anthony discusses Godspeed
Playwright Terence Anthony spoke with the DCPA when his play, Godspeed, was featured in the 2024 Colorado New Play Summit. Now, it comes to the stage in a fully produced world premiere running January 30-February 22, 2026 in the Kilstrom Theatre. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. View the original interview on […]
Puppetry: An Ancient Form of Storytelling
Puppetry is an ancient form of storytelling where a person, called a puppeteer, manipulates a figure resembling a human, animal, creature, or inanimate object. In Water for Elephants, playing Denver’s Buell Theatre Feb 11-22, 2026, puppets and puppeteers are used to enhance the storytelling. Take, for example, Silver Star, the prized horse and equestrian act […]
Activity: Vanishing Toothpick
The Broadway touring musical, Water for Elephants, brings the circus to life on stage, complete with animal acts, high flying trapeze, and slight of hand tricks sure to mesmerize audiences. Try the Vanishing Toothpick trick at home before or after the show. Materials: Toothpick Clear tape Mirror or camera (for practice) PREPARATION To begin, tear […]
Winners Announced for DCPA’s 2026 Student Playwriting Competition
Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Education and Community Engagement is happy to announce the winners of the 14th annual Middle School and High School Playwriting Competition. The Playwriting Competition is grounded in workshops hosted by DCPA Education Teaching Artists. These in-school workshops introduce students to the fundamentals of playwriting, bolster creative writing skills, and […]
Faded Like a Dream: The Coincidental History of Theatre in Denver and The Phantom of the Opera
Two incredible theatrical events took place in 1861. In Paris, France, construction started on the Palais Garnier, destined to become perhaps the most famous and elegant opera house in the world and the magical setting for Gaston Leroux’s Gothic horror novel, The Phantom of the Opera. Meanwhile, 7,850 kilometers away on the high plains of […]
The Risks and Rewards of New Play Development
By Chris Coleman, Denver Center Theatre Company Artistic Director Whether it’s Hamilton or Hamlet, every play started as a new work. Someone was excited by a story and brought together a group of collaborators to carve out a path toward opening night. It’s always a risky venture. Ask anyone in our industry and you’ll find that […]
Discussion Guide: Mark Twain Tonight!
In Mark Twain Tonight!, we hear an oft-quoted section from Twain’s autobiography: “In my schoolboy days I had no aversion to slavery. I was not aware that there was anything wrong about it…local papers said nothing against it; the local pulpit taught us that God approved it, that it was a holy thing, […]