20 years in the past, the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home opened its doorways, and through these 20 years, the corridor has witnessed unforgettable performances, magical moments, and numerous faces come and go. The Ellie has cemented itself as a creative landmark of Denver and Colorado, welcoming patrons of the Arts Complicated with its lovely facade—however extra importantly, the recollections made inside. To honor 20 years of our magnificent dwelling, we requested 20 completely different individuals related to Opera Colorado in numerous methods about their favourite reminiscence of The Ellie.
Dr. Larry Berliner, donor and subscriber
We’ve been Opera Colorado subscribers for a few years, ever since shifting right here 24 years in the past, and donors since 2021. Our fondest reminiscence was the 2024 Household Day at The Ellie the place the Artists in Residence offered Cinderella.
Previous to happening stage with our two granddaughters to look at the present, there was music and crafts within the foyer. Our 5-year-old granddaughter, Verity, whose profession plans on the time had been to be a princess, was dancing along with her father, wearing a princess costume that enchanted everybody. To our shock, their dancing was videotaped by Opera Colorado and later used of their promoting and efficiency applications for at the least a yr. What a memorable present for our household to be a part of this!
Joe Beumer, Lighting Designer
Designing for Opera Colorado within the Ellie is at all times a unbelievable expertise, and one huge a part of that’s the superior staff of electricians I get the possibility to work with.
Two of my favourite issues are their love of all issues Halloween (together with group images of the entire lighting/electrics staff in Wigs) and the way in which they embellish the designer-submitted drawings with their very own personalities.
Once I design, I submit boring black and white drawings, however the electrics crew finds methods so as to add themselves into the drawings—actually taking possession of the method. This instance is from 2024’s Daughter of the Regiment and encompasses a mixture of those two issues: the electrics crew added themselves into the drawings, together with lots of their Halloween costumes that they had worn earlier that week.
Claudia Bieschke, volunteer
Of all my recollections on the Ellie, nothing beats my first backstage tour. It had been years since I’d seen the internal workings of a theater—not since my childhood on the Sydney Opera Home, the very place my love for the artwork type started—and it was a shocking reminder of the artistry occurring off-stage. Witnessing the dedication in the whole lot from costume design to rehearsals actually highlighted the collaborative spirit it takes to mount a world-class manufacturing.
Mark J. Gabriel DeBell, Denver Theatrical Providers Manufacturing Supervisor, Denver Performing Arts Complicated
Through the years, I’ve had the chance to work with Opera Colorado as a common Stagehand, their Grasp Electrician and as a Lighting Designer for 2 Mainstage productions in addition to their Younger Artists Program, now often called the Artists in Residence. My final 13 years, I’ve superior their productions for The Ellie as a Venue Manufacturing Supervisor. My all-time favourite expertise was having the ability to mild La bohème in 2010, the collaboration with the Creative Employees to assist create such a stupendous manufacturing was exhilarating.
Michele DiNuovo, Opera Colorado Refrain Present & Founding Member
As a founding refrain member with Opera Colorado, I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many well-known singers and conductors over the previous 43 years. Every contributing identify recognition, great talent and experience, and imaginative interpretations that mesmerized not solely the viewers, however everybody —refrain, supers, dressers, stage administration, and stage palms… it didn’t matter who you had been, Opera Colorado was at all times an expertise that modified your life.
The transfer into the brand new Ellie Caulkins Opera Home in 2005 was a game-changer for the corporate. I don’t suppose we understand how great a venue it’s and what number of unbelievable recollections have been generated from the expertise up to now 20 years. From the notorious rubber hen that props would ever so discretely place behind the surroundings of every present, leaving all of us looking for it every night time to the behind-the-scenes enjoyable such because the pre-show battle rehearsal of La fanciulla del West that instantly devolved right into a obscure rendition of a hip-hop rap replete with beat boxing.
Personally, I used to be grateful to have portrayed an atypical character that added an additional comical aspect. My favourite reminiscence from the numerous reveals on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home is once I performed the function of “Hop-Sing” in David Gately’s cowboy western interpretation of Don Pasquale. Hop-Sing was the bodyguard and valet of the titular function. Again in these days, sensitivities to stereotypes weren’t as prevalent as they’re as we speak. The character was, certainly, a stereotype from the previous TV present Bonanza. As such, David sought me out for the half as a result of of these sensitivities and the truth that I’m half Asian (Japanese). David requested me to do some karate strikes, however I didn’t know the very first thing about karate, so I sought out a karate grasp to show me some fundamental routines; it appeared to have been convincing and was comedian sufficient to have obtained quite a lot of laughs and applause.
Angie Dombrowski, Orchestra Supervisor
On April 27, 2021, at 11:45 a.m., I stepped on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home stage for the primary time since March 1, 2020, when the corporate offered its remaining efficiency of Pagliacci. As I stepped on the stage for the primary time in virtually 14 months, I noticed the ghost mild shining brightly, entrance and heart, and I felt an immense wave of gratitude for the chance to be again and dreaming of what is likely to be attainable within the performing arts neighborhood. To be a part of the staff that labored to deliver again the performing arts to our Denver neighborhood in a protected manner in the course of the pandemic was an extremely highly effective reminiscence.
Kendra Inexperienced, Manufacturing Stage Supervisor
My favourite recollections at The Ellie are instances when our entire staff got here collectively to unravel an issue, like when certainly one of our singers needed to name out sick final minute from Rigoletto and we needed to placed on our assistant director in his function. Whereas moments like which are tense, they activate our unbelievable manufacturing staff with a “the-show-must-go-on” power. All departments—costuming, course, lighting, and many others.—come collectively below strain to nonetheless deliver the magic to our audiences.
Barbara Lynne Jamison, Ellie Caulkins Normal Director & CEO
The Ellie is a crucial, vibrant house; it’s the fireside of our dwelling metropolis. It’s the place we are able to collect to share house with our neighbors, to have a good time the enjoyment of being human by story, music, and spectacle. I’m proud to be a part of a neighborhood that values gathering, generosity, magnificence, and the facility of the human spirit—and The Ellie is an impressive manifestation of those values.
Richard Koseff, Opera Colorado Board Chair
Probably the most magical current second at The Ellie for me was on the closing of the opening night time efficiency of Puccini’s Turandot. At that second, the emotion of the story, singing, orchestra, costumes, and staging mixed with the viewers leaping to their toes actually underscored the unbeatable worth of stay efficiency—how the emotions of hundreds of individuals turned a tangible a part of the expertise. Then, when the lights got here up, our Denver viewers appeared so elegant and joyful. The magic of what Opera Colorado did actually shine that night time!
Jessica & Marc Levy, subscribers
Our first expertise at The Ellie was in 2014 once we had the enjoyment of seeing an expensive buddy, John Hancock, carry out Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. Round that very same time, our daughter went off to varsity the place she fell in love with opera. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and along with her encouragement and perception we discovered ourselves on the lookout for extra alternatives to benefit from the leisure and escape that opera gives. I’m joyful that we lastly took the leap this yr to changing into subscribers–and might’t wait to see Butterfly once more!
Will Liverman, baritone
The Ellie has been such a significant place for me. Pagliacci is certainly one of my favourite operas and attending to do it with Opera Colorado at The Ellie and being a part of such an amazing forged made the expertise much more particular. Add to that how a lot I’ve grown to like the town of Denver, and it’s been a time I’ll at all times worth.
What makes The Ellie so particular, although, is the those that work there. Your complete staff treats everybody with actual care and respect, and you’re feeling that from day one. It’s a really particular firm and I really like the deep care that they’ve for the humanities. There’s a lot great and wealthy historical past and it was an honor to make my debut in Pagliacci.
Carolyn Miller, Wardrobe Supervisor
When the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home opened its doorways with Carmen in Could of 2005, I used to be newly out of school and unsure of my future plans. On the time, I used to be the client for the costume store, so it was fairly surprising when the one biggest wardrobe alternative got here to me. To make use of a sports activities adage, I used to be fairly actually referred to as as much as the massive leagues—to decorate Denyce Graves within the function of Carmen. Cemented then and eternally as one of many world’s preeminent performers of the function, it was to be my first ever job as a dresser.
Then Costume Supervisor, Ann Piano, took an opportunity on me; a dresser who didn’t and nonetheless doesn’t sew was a stunning alternative for a rent, however Ms. Graves and I match collectively like a glove. I used to be keenly conscious of her superstardom at that second; phrase of her Carmen was frequent information at the moment and rightly so. Her efficiency was riveting—powerfully sung and brilliantly portrayed. I’ll at all times bear in mind watching her bend all the way in which ahead whereas her palms had been tied behind her to a chair and utilizing her tooth to tug her skirt as much as reveal her legs within the seduction of Zuniga. Nonetheless to this present day stays one of the good character decisions I’ve ever seen.
Having cherished Carmen since finding out it in highschool French, working the marathon that’s that present along with her was an educational and private dream come true. That singer, in that present, at that second in time was beautiful. At one level, mid-change in her dressing room, she stopped, rotated and hugged me. I might see myself within the mirror whereas it was occurring and thought “is that this actual life?” Sooner or later within the run, Ms. Graves’ then 18-month-old had touched the frosted glass close to the door to her mom’s dressing room, leaving a teeny tiny however distinctive handprint. For a lot of reveals that adopted, that handprint remained because it was, solely seen when the solar from the Champa St. home windows hit the glass simply so. It was a small reminder of the massive moments that may occur at The Ellie. As a result of The Ellie is a spot the place the largest singer, in maybe her biggest function, in your favourite opera, will cease the world to be sure to get a thanks…earlier than she heads again onstage for her character to die, in fact.
Emily Morgan & Patrick McKinney, Inside OC members
Whereas Emily has cherished opera for many years, Patrick needed to be persuaded. She already had tickets for Carmen once they met, and Patrick requested to affix. So, their third date was at The Ellie, and the remainder was historical past! They stated “I do” within the Studio Loft and had a unbelievable reception within the Chambers Grant salon final August.
Sahar Nouri, Refrain Grasp
I cherished conducting the scholar matinee performances for a number of Opera Colorado productions: La fille du régiment, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Carmen, Barbiere di Siviglia. Working with the Opera Colorado Orchestra is at all times an enormous pleasure, and I like our whole staff on stage and backstage. Carmen was notably memorable for me as my entire household and lots of expensive buddies travelled to be there within the viewers and that was very particular.
Ari Pelto, Music Director & Conductor
A second I’ll always remember at The Ellie was the ultimate minutes of opening night time of Die tote Stadt. In these moments the great tenor, Jon Burton (as Paul), sang the fantastic, poignant remaining phrases of the opera whereas our orchestra performed superbly to a rapt viewers. It marked for the corporate a pinnacle of accomplishment. Producing a piece that has solely been tried by a small handful of American opera homes and succeeding in bringing that masterpiece to our stage… that can stick with me for the remainder of my life.
Oliver Poveda Zavala, bass-baritone, Artist in Residence 2024-25 & 2025-26
In Turandot (2023) when Kara Shay got here on stage as Princess Turandot, there was a second, a breath of silence that made the whole corridor really feel prefer it stood nonetheless in time. The lights had been dim, and the jewel crown that Ms. Shay was carrying was reflecting the little mild that there was, like lengthy streaks of silver straight into the home making a wondrous impact. To that profit, when she began to sing her first few notes, it was so highly effective, it was a type of uncommon moments the place the air felt uncooked with awe and magic.
S, U.S. Navy Veteran
Thanks to Opera Colorado for caring about veterans and supporting us by Vet Tix. The sweetness your organization of gifted individuals brings to our neighborhood is inspiring. We cherished the opera each the solo and ensemble performances had been attractive. The set was good utilizing colours and lighting to deepen the expertise of every scene. Thanks for the chance to see La traviata. It was an exquisite night for all of us. I’m eternally grateful to your kindness and assist.
Betsy Schwarm, Longtime Pre-Present Lecturer
Having offered the nice majority of Opera Colorado’s pre-performance talks since The Ellie opened, there are numerous recollections I might supply. Nevertheless, on the prime of the record is our 2012 manufacturing of Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas. How pleasant to return to know an opera that was new to me, particularly one with such luscious music! Even the butterfly connection within the opera’s plot appeared important. Provided that our personal beloved Ellie Caulkins (the particular person!) has a particular fascination for butterflies, that visible aspect within the manufacturing appeared good for the opera home, and certainly, for Ellie herself!
Chris Wineman, Key determine within the design and renovation of The Ellie
It’s a collection of moments. The venture started shortly after my daughter was born, and she or he accompanied me on excursions of the development when she was little. In 2014, she carried out onstage at The Ellie as a part of the Arts Colleges Community convention. And in 2018, she graduated from highschool at The Ellie. She and The Ellie have actually grown up collectively.
Zephyr, Age 8
I really like Household Day at The Ellie Caulkins Opera Home as a result of I can do crafts, take heed to the nice music, and take footage with the performers. It’s enjoyable to be so near the performers on stage, and I like asking questions on the finish of the performances. I can’t wait to go to Household Day on the Opera once more!
