‘The Bonfils Girl’ digs into the story of Helen Bonfils, philanthropist/publisher

Walk into any of the smaller theatres at the Denver Center like the Wolf, Kilstrom or Singleton and you might notice a sign indicating they’re part of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Like many buildings named after people long dead, the “why” behind their legacy is a mystery to most.

But Helen Bonfils wasn’t some obscure government functionary or donor; she was an extraordinary figure in Denver’s history who served as the first female publisher of a major newspaper — the Denver Post — who dedicated most of her fortune to supporting the performing arts. Although she died in 1972, the money with which she endowed the Denver Center for the Performing Arts resulted in the sprawling entertainment complex we know today.

That’s the story playwright Mike Broemmel wanted to tell with The Bonfils Girl, which debuts July 11 at the DCPA’s Studio Loft. The one-hander is directed by Selena Naumoff and stars Karilyn Starks as Bonfils recounting the events of her life.

“It’s got a lot of history that people don’t necessarily know, including the turmoil with her sister,” Naumoff says. “A lot of it has to do with her years at the Denver Post as the first female publisher of a major daily.”

She notes that while the Washington Post’s storied publisher Katharine Graham is often cited as the first, Bonfils was doing it 30 years earlier.

The Bonfils story also gets into the details of her marriages — particularly her second one to her chauffeur “Tiger Mike” Davis, who was 40 years younger than her.

“He made sure in his obituary to note that he was married to the first cougar,” Naumoff says.

Karilyn Starks as Helen Bonfils | Photo courtesy Selena Naumoff

The show

Staged with a minimal set and just one actor, The Bonfils Girl is a retrospective that covers all areas of Helen’s life.

“She’s pretty much telling you who she is and how she became who she is,” Naumoff says. “She was in her father’s shadow much of her life, so it’s a story about that as well as how he encouraged her to be a philanthropist at an early age.”

Starks, a Coloradan who’s been active in film in the last few years, is returning to the stage to portray Bonfils.

“We’re excited to bring her back on stage, and she and I have been working very closely together on this show,” Naumoff says. “It’s really been a delight, and we’re also excited that the show will also be staged at the Historic Elitch Theatre Aug. 17.”

That show will represent the first production at the Elitch in over 30 years, with added significance because Bonfils herself had once performed there.

The Bonfils Girl is being produced by Act One Productions and Theatrix USA. Tickets to the Studio Loft performances can be found here and for the Historic Elitch show, go here.