| Ellie Caulkins Opera House |
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Background of Caulkins family support The Caulkins family, widely known for their philanthropic contributions to the arts and to educational institutions, pledged $7 million towards the enhancement of the lyric opera house and adjacent public spaces which were constructed inside of the Newton Auditorium. Eleanor Newman Caulkins, known as ''Ellie'' to family and friends, is a steadfast supporter of the cultural enrichment of the city, state and nation. Her dedication to local and national performing arts organizations, particularly her significant work as a booster of opera in America, is passionate and tireless. She has been a leader on the board of Opera Colorado since its inception over 20 years ago and she served several terms as Chair of Opera Colorado’s board of directors; also, she has occasionally performed on stage as a member of the Opera Colorado chorus. In addition to supporting opera in Colorado, Ellie Caulkins also has a long association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She is a member of the board of the Metropolitan Opera Association and she has served as president and vice president of the Metropolitan Opera National Council, which encourages and supports opera singers across America through its annual nationwide audition programs. The Caulkins family’s gift was made to the City through a charitable foundation to be formed for the purpose of raising private funds to assist in the building of the studio theatre and backstage areas of the Newton Auditorium. The Division of Theatres & Arenas, (the City of Denver government agency in charge of the operation), worked with the new foundation and raised an additional $10 million from the community during 2004/05 to complete the funding. History of the theatre prior to it being the ''Ellie Caulkins'' The Municipal Auditorium, the largest in America except for Madison Square Garden in New York, was completed in time to host the Democratic National Convention in 1908. Mayor Speer and the Chamber of Commerce raised $100,000 to celebrate the July 7 grand opening of the Auditorium with Denver's first and only national political convention, when William Jennings Bryan was nominated the third time for President. Originally, the building was a multi-purpose structure: it accommodated concerts, operas, theatrical shows, conventions, basketball, auto shows and even circuses, with flags flying from its domes and light bulbs outlining its pediments, cornice, and corners. The proscenium of the original building was designed to be portable so as to create different-sized spaces for different events. When the proscenium was in place, the building was a 3,326 seat theatre with an extraordinarily large back stage area. When the proscenium was raised, increasing the Seating Capacity to 12,000, the stage and backstage area became large enough to hold circuses and rodeos. In the 1920s and 30s, Music Week was an annual event in Denver for several years. Various communities of the state presented musical programs and most of the performances were in the Auditorium. An opera or operetta was commonly included in the offerings. In 1921, a company of Denver musicians performed Flotow 's Martha in May; of special historical significance was the fact that the two performances were broadcast by radio station 9ZAF, the first time ever that a full-length opera was broadcast. The Auditorium became the ''de facto'' opera house for Denver, and the most enduring. For more than 75 years, until the 1980s and 90s when other halls opened in an adjoining complex, the Auditorium hosted almost all visiting opera companies and opera concerts, as well as local opera productions. By the 1940s, Denver was outgrowing its Municipal Auditorium and, while some wanted to tear it down and build a new one, the city remodeled it. In 1955 the Auditorium was closed and renovation was begun to make the grand old house a modern, plush intimate theatre. In September 1956, the project was completed and the Seating Capacity was decreased to 2,240. In the 1980s other theaters were constructed next to the Auditorium, including the Boettcher Concert Hall, Bonfils Theatre Complex and the Seawell Ballroom (which now make up the Denver Center For The Performing Arts , DCPA). The Auditorium arena received another makeover in the early 1990s when the Temple Hoyne Buell Theater was built into it. This theater was a 2,834-seat reincarnation of the Municipal Auditorium's old theater and basketball and wrestling arena. In 1992, after the construction of the Buell Theatre, the facade of the Municipal Auditorium was renovated and the Seating Capacity became 2,065. The Auditorium was renamed Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium in 2002. Renovations which became the ''Ellie Caulkins Opera House'' In need of major work, the Newton Auditorium underwent a renovation funded primarily through seat tax revenues collected at city-owned facilities and the proceeds of a bond issue approved by Denver voters in 2002. In all, the city spent $75 million, while private donors provided $17 million more. The gift from the Caulkins family was used to fund additional enhancements to the lyric opera house and adjacent public spaces inside the Newton Auditorium. The historic shell of the old Auditorium Theatre was rebuilt and named the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, honoring 'Denver's First Lady of Opera'. Inspired by the world's greatest opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala , architect Peter Lucking created a visually striking and acoustically sound performance space. As described by Chris Shull in ''Opera Now'', "three tiers of balconies curve like lyres; uninterupted sight lines from every seat focus viewers onto a deep, wide stage.... Sleek staircases and flying bridges pull patrons into the hall. "They say it was like building a Ship In A Bottle " said Ellie Caulkins. The Opera House was designed with natural acoustics and clean sight lines to the stage. All building elements, from lobby space, concessions and restroom areas to leg room in the seating areas, dressing rooms for performers, and the fly tower for sets and equipment, were designed to provide the best possible audience and artist experiences. The House is the largest performance space inside the Newton Auditorium. Also, a 300-seat studio theatre and a founder’s room which can accommodate a small stage was housed in the Auditorium. The studio theatre serves as a home for community groups and performers, fostering the growth of grassroots performing arts organizations. The founder’s room is the building’s preferred social area, featuring a stage for small performances or presentations, and a full bar with service kitchen; it also provides space for pre- or post-performance receptions and fundraisers. The “Ellie” opened as Opera Colorado 's new home on 10th September 2005 with a gala benefit for the Colorado Opera Foundation and featured some major singers from the world of opera. Opera Colorado's first season in the new opera house opened on November 3, 2005 with a production of Carmen starring international superstar Denyce Graves in the title role. EXTERNAL LINKS AND SOURCES
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