The OnStage Colorado calendar has the answers! With the most comprehensive theatre calendar in the state, the odds are good you can find something near you. Just click on the region and you’ll land on our calendar specifically for that area.
Denver Metro: Includes the city and its suburbs like Arvada, Aurora, Littleton, Lakewood and more.
Boulder & Surrounding: Includes Boulder’s nearby communities like Lafayette, Longmont, Golden and others.
Colorado Springs & Surrounding: Along with the theatres in the Springs, this group also includes nearby towns like Cripple Creek, Manitou Springs and Palmer Lake.
Mountains: From Breckenridge to Telluride, Aspen to Silverthorne, there’s plenty of live theatre in Colorado’s mountain towns. Be sure to check in summertime as well, when many repertory seasons kick in.
Northern Colorado: Fort Collins is the big player here, but there are also shows going on in Greeley, Johnstown, Loveland and more.
Southern Colorado: Durango, Pueblo, Trinidad, Westcliffe, Pagosa Springs and others all have theatre programs to check out.
Western Slope: There’s surprisingly little live theatre activity on Colorado’s Western slope outside of Grand Junction — but what there is you’ll find here.
Black box, proscenium, thrust – what’s the difference?
Theatre stages come in several distinct configurations, each creating a different relationship between performers and audience. Understanding these types can help you choose the best seats and know what to expect. Here are the main types you’ll encounter at Colorado theatres.
Proscenium Stage (from the Greek proskēnion, meaning “in front of the scene”) is the most traditional configuration, featuring a “picture frame” opening that separates the audience from the stage. The audience sits in rows facing the stage directly. Most large theatres use this setup, including the Denver Center’s Buell Theatre. This configuration works well for elaborate scenery and Broadway-style productions.
Other examples: Denver Curious Theatre, Breckenridge Backstage, Boulder Dairy Center Gordon Gamm Theatre
Thrust Stage extends into the audience area, with seating on three sides of the stage. This creates a more intimate connection between performers and audience. Actors can make entrances from the sides or back, and audience members get varied perspectives depending on where they sit.
Examples: Denver Center’s Wolf Theatre, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center in Golden, Thunder River Theatre Company in Carbondale
Theatre-in-the-Round: (also called arena staging) places the stage in the center with audience seating completely surrounding it on all sides. This is the most intimate configuration, creating a unique, immersive experience with typically no bad seats — though it can present challenges for scenery since sightlines must work from every angle.
Example: Denver Center Kilstrom Theatre
Black Box Theatre is a simple, flexible space with black walls and movable seating that can be arranged in various configurations. The stage can be set up as proscenium, thrust, in-the-round, or other creative arrangements depending on the production’s needs. These spaces are popular for experimental work and smaller productions.
Examples: Denver’s Buntport, Aurora Fox Studio Theatre, Arvada Center Black Box Theatre
Traverse Stage (less common) has audience seating on two opposite sides with the stage running between them, like a fashion runway. This creates interesting staging opportunities but is rarely used.
Example: Theatre Artibus has used this configuration in the flexible space of the Denver Savoy.
Dinner Theatre Configuration features table seating arranged cabaret-style or banquet-style throughout the audience area, rather than traditional theatre rows. The stage is typically proscenium or thrust, but the key difference is that patrons sit at tables where they’re served a meal before or during the performance.
This setup creates a more casual, social atmosphere compared to traditional theatre seating. The tables remain throughout the show, so sightlines can vary significantly depending on your table location — tables closer to the stage and more centered generally offer better views.
Examples: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in Johnstown, Jester’s Dinner Theatre in Lafayette
Flexible Space is just what it sounds like — a space where the configuration can be changed to suit the show. Typically, this means a theatre without fixed seating, so chairs can be arranged in different ways. Often, a black box theatre is also a flex space.
Example: Silverthorne’s Theatre SilCo CVA Flex Theatre
The rake
Anyone who’s ever sat behind a person taller than themselves knows that how seats are arranged can make a big difference. How much the floor is sloped is known as the theatre’s “rake,” and it can vary dramatically between theatres.
On one end of the spectrum is a flat floor with no rake and, often, challenging sightlines. The other end is stadium style seating, where your seat is 12-15 inches above the one in front of you — almost guaranteeing you won’t be looking at the back of someone’s head. Perhaps the most generous rake in Colorado theatre is at the Dairy Center’s Gordon Gamm theatre.
While it may seem intuitive to have a steep enough rake to ensure those sightlines, other considerations like cost and safety come into play. Broadway.com has an extensive article on how to choose the best seats in a Broadway theatre, and many of the tips would apply to others as well. When purchasing tickets, ask about the theatre’s rake if you have concerns about sightlines, especially in smaller venues with flat floors.
In a word, it’s a hassle. The Denver Center is home to a variety of different theatre spaces, ranging from the small Garner Galleria to the enormous Buell. If it’s a Friday night and there are multiple shows going on in the theatre complex along with anything happening at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House or the Boettcher Concert Hall, parking can be nothing short of a nightmare.
Here are the options:
Denver Center parking garage
This is by far the closest place to park, but it comes at a price that seems to go up every year. As of this writing in October, 2025, the event price is $17 (hourly rates apply outside showtimes). Compared to parking rates in the area, it’s not too bad — but when you add it to the cost of your ticket, drinks, dinner, etc., it’s yet another add-on to a night at the theatre.
If you do choose to park there, here’s a few things to consider:
- When parking, try to back in. When the show’s over and everyone’s trying to leave at the same time, this makes it easier to nose into the queue.
- Try to arrive at least 45 minutes before showtime or, better yet, get there even earlier and have dinner in the area. That will boost your chances of parking on one of the lower levels of the parking structure which, in turn, means you’ll get out faster when the show’s over.
- If you didn’t get in early enough and it’s a busy night, consider grabbing a drink at one of the many local spots. Delaying departure by 30 minutes will save you the unpleasant experience of circling down the parking structure’s spiral of death.
Convention Center parking structure
This is another horrific, concrete death spiral of a parking garage, but it’s sometimes less busy than the one at the Denver Center. Parking is usually a couple of bucks cheaper as well, and it’s only a few steps to the theatre complex.
On-street parking
This is a pretty big gamble if you’re trying to find a place somewhat close to the theatre while trying to make curtain. On the other hand, if you don’t mind a bit of a walk, you can likely find a spot on the other side of Speer or Colfax in one of the neighborhoods. If you’re a regular theatregoer determined to avoid the DCPA parking situation, consider arriving early some night to scope out an area that you might use on a regular basis. Some of these neighborhoods may be less well-lit at night or have more transient populations, so consider your comfort level.
Parking apps
Apps like Park Whiz or Parkwell offer covered parking near the theatre complex. It may not save you much, but a guaranteed spot likely without a big line in or out isn’t a bad thing to have.
Nearby restaurants and hotels
These are typically valet parking offers for people staying or dining at one of these establishments. You will likely pay more, but it can get you out of the parking melee around the DCPA. A good place to check is on the DCPA website, which has a list of restaurant partners that offer ticket-holders deals on meals and parking.
Uber, Lyft etc.
There’s always this option, which can save you money if you’re relatively close by.
While many theatres in Colorado have kid- and family-friendly shows mixed into their seasons, here are a few organizations that regularly create well-produced shows the whole family can enjoy.
*Note: Many theatres also do “Junior” versions of popular shows, often performed by students in their acting workshops. While these are typically attended by friends and family, they can be pretty strong productions depending on the organization.
You can start by checking out the childrens-family section of our calendar. And below is a list of arts organizations that regularly present such shows.
Theatres: Let us know if we missed something!
Front Range
Denver Center Theatre for Young Audiences — Located just across Arapahoe St. from the main theatre complex is the Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre. While they don’t always have shows going on, when they do, they’re professional productions that are a great intro for young audiences attending their first live theatre performance. This year, the TYA is bringing back a favorite from 2019: Goodnight Moon, running into January, 2026. Read our review.
You’ll also find touring, fam-friendly Broadway shows come through the Denver Center Buell Theatre — like The Lion King, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and others. These will be on the higher end price-wise, but it’s tough to beat the wow factor on these big-budget productions. And don’t forget the annual production of A Christmas Carol — a holiday staple suitable for kids 10+.
Miners Alley Theatre for Young Audiences — There’s always something for the kids on stage at Golden’s Miners Alley Performing Arts Center. Popular seasonal shows include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Story of the Nutcracker and more.
Lone Tree Arts Center — Lone Tree’s “Seedlings” program is aimed to introduce kiddos to arts, culture and science. Oftentimes, these are touring productions aimed at the toddlers through kindergarten set, and admission is only $5.
Arts in the Open — this summer-fall series in Boulder combines theatre with a mile hike starting from the Chautauqua park. Shows vary year to year but there’s usually one that’s appropriate for kids.
Platte Valley Theatre Arts — this theatre company performs mostly in Brighton’s Armory Performing Arts Center. They typically do several family-friendly shows each year.
Arvada Center — Colorado’s second-largest theatre program has a solid reputation for its productions, particularly big musicals. They’ll often do a popular show for kids like Frozen or Cinderella in their season lineup, offering families a great opportunity to see a professional production at a reasonable price.
Town Hall Arts Center — Located right in downtown Littleton, THAC always has some family-friendly shows in their season like Annie or Alice in Wonderland.
Colorado Springs & Surrounding
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College — The FAC often has a family-friendly show on tap several times a year.
Millibo Art Theatre — There’s always something fun going on at the MAT in Colorado Springs. Their Kid’s First series offers a regular lineup of puppetry, theatre, storytelling and circus arts for the fam at reasonable prices.
Fort Collins, Northern Colorado
Debut Theatre Company — A nonprofit theatre school, Debut puts on shows with actors K-12. They often do shows in Fort Collins’ Lincoln Center.
Lincoln Center — Fort Collins’ major hub for the arts hosts local and touring productions for kids.
Mountains
Breckenridge Backstage Theatre — The Backstage has a robust education program for kids, most of which culminate in a performance. They also host family-friendly events like The Hunting of Breck Theater for Halloween each year.
Theatre SilCo – In Silverthorne, Theatre SilCo runs a lively education program and typically has a family-friendly show or two in their season lineup.
OnStage Colorado maintains an ongoing list of special offers and deals that we hear about.
If you’re an avid theatre fan, another great way to know about any deals or discounts is to subscribe to the newsletter of the theatres you’re interested in — and follow their socials.
Many people think big venues like the Denver Center theatres are out of reach, but they do a fair number of deals as well. Sometimes for super-popular shows like The Book of Mormon, they’ll do ticket lotteries where you can get good seats for under $50. And if you don’t mind a little nose-bleed action, you can also find affordable seats up in the balcony.
It depends! The Denver Center has a number of venues, for starters. The largest auditorium for theatre is the Buell, which is almost exclusively used for touring Broadway productions. These will be your highest-priced tickets and, depending on how popular the show is, seats can run anywhere from $35 up in the balcony or mezzanine to $150-$200 in the “Golden Circle” area close to the stage in the orchestra section. The box office will occasionally offer deals and even a ticket lottery for very popular shows, so sign up for the newsletter and follow their socials to see what might come up.
The Denver Center is also home to the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, which is primarily used by the Denver Center Theatre Company. These include the Kilstrom, Singleton and Wolf theatres, and prices for DCPA Theatre Company shows typically range from $47 up to $102 — depending on the show.
Also part of the Bonfils complex is the Garner Galleria. This is a cabaret-style theatre — an intimate space with tables (or drink rails) and a full-service bar with table service. Shows here are mostly musical comedies of one kind or another, with tickets in the $60 range.
If you’re curious about the Denver Center in general, the cheapest ticket is for their Behind the Scenes tours. You can book a tour for just $15, with times at 10 a.m. Mondays and Saturdays. Plan ahead — these sell out regularly!
Colorado theatre dress codes are generally casual to business casual. Although it must be said that people are showing up with garb that might have gotten them thrown out in the past: ripped tees, pajamas, sweats. So while you can generally wear whatever you want, theatre audiences still do dress up a tad more than those at, say, concerts or sporting events.
Most venues welcome:
Appropriate attire: Nice jeans or slacks with a collared shirt, dressy casual, or business attire. Many patrons dress up for opening nights or special occasions. In the summer, especially in theatres that run hot (i.e., most of them) no one will look askance at you if you’re in shorts.
What to avoid: Athletic wear, shorts, flip-flops, or overly casual attire.
Special events: Opening nights and galas may call for cocktail attire or formal wear. If you’re going to a touring Broadway show at the Denver Center, or the opera or ballet, you definitely want to step up your game. For those touring shows aimed at kids, lots of them will show up in little suits or dresses. And for thematic shows like, say, Beetlejuice the Musical, you can feel free to indulge in a little cosplay.
When in doubt, business casual is always appropriate. Denver audiences tend toward the casual end compared to Broadway or major metropolitan theatres.
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