The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, AKA "The Ellie" opened in 1908 & seats 2200 people. We were there to see the Italian Opera- La Traviata. The night we went it was a full house. It looked like you had a good view of the stage from any seat. Speaking of seats, our seats were small, very uncomfortable & jammed in. Very little room...anytime someone needed to get to the aisle you had to get up out of your seat. I did however appreciate that there was English translation scrolling way above the stage & in the seat-backs in front of everyone's seat. The opera house itself was very pretty with interesting architecture lines. The opera was really good. Beautiful singing voices, great acting, interesting props & scenery and gorgeous costumes. Last but not least were the wonderful musicians in the orchestra. Most patrons dressed up, some were very dressy & wore tuxes & cocktail dresses. The staff were super friendly & helpful as well. It was a fun evening! read more

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I've gone a few times here mostly for field trips as a teacher but the place is beautiful inside and out! The staff is also very knowledgeable and patient with kids and the shows here have been very memorable. read more

Modern ballet theater in Denver. Security system at the entrance for auto scan to limit people who needs to go through bag check for efficiency. Bar and gift shop at the first (entrance) floor. Seat numbers are at the seats arm bar on the left side of the seats (when you are standing & facing the seat). College pass for student discount is a great opportunity (The Solo Pass is $80 and the Pas de Deux Pass is $150) read more

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I have been remiss and I forgot to review, "Casanova" from the Colorado Ballet. The principal dancer on that night was Christopher Moulton. I have never been so moved by a dancers true grit and determination. His performance was outstanding. The music played by the orchestra brought me to tears. The opera house was as always beautiful and classy. It's a terrific venue. There are bars on each level and one can buy drinks ahead for the intermission. There is always a small souvenir area in the lobby. Parking is located at the DPAC parking garage. Parking is pricey at $17. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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This is just a lovely venue. Where we met was nice a mix of modern and traditional setting. We came here for a dinner meeting and presentation from our Kiwanis International Leadership. This is an annual event that takes place at our International Convention. An easy walk from our hotel, right next door to the Convention Center. This year we had our dinner at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House - lower level. Dinner was catered and they did a lovely job on food and service. Great venue and we all enjoyed all the costumes that were displayed around the walls. The sound system and lighting was great on the stage and the room was very "group friendly." Overall, it was a great evening for so many people KUDOs to the team at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House read more

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Great theater! Very clean and well maintained. The seats were also comfortable and the shows acoustics and visibility were great throughout. Highly recommend seeing a show here. read more

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It's a beautiful theater! Check out downstairs, too. There's another bar and super small restaurant area. Each end also has two more bars on the main floor. The seats seem to be pretty good inside in the couple of times I've been there. This place popped my opera cherry! I saw Carmen, a great "starter" opera if anyone is wondering. Several songs I've heard before, too -- wasn't expecting that! I've also been for a TEDx talk. My seats for each event were completely different. Even being up high I saw pretty well and did scooch to the middle more after the first intermission assuming no one else was going to show up that late. Glad no one was weird about it since the seats were empty. For TEDx I sat on mid-lower levels and even switched later to the bottom floor. All seats were pretty good views. read more

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The Nutcracker was wonderful! I'd give 5 stars but I bought orchestra seats and for the price I expected better. My 4 year old daughter had a hard time seeing even with a booster seat because the floor for these seats does not slope like for the other seats. Next time I'll get seats in the balcony so she can see and save some $$. read more

From the minute we walked into the Ellie Caulkins Opera House the Holiday Spirit captured us. We stopped and got a beverage and purchased in advance our intermission beverage. As we were walked to our seats we were taken aback by how awesome the seating is. In front of our seats was a screen that during the ballet displayed a text message and explanation of what was happening on the stage. The Colorado Ballet Dancers are simply amazing. From the Principals to the Corps De Ballet all hit their marks and executed perfectly. The Colorado Ballet Orchestra played magnificently, perfectly highlighting the dancers on stage. The staging itself was unbelievable. It's as if you were sitting in the magical land with the performers. All in all the Nutcracker is a once in a lifetime experience that you need to see. The message it presents is a very special and positive one. read more

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What a lovely place this is. It's a mix of modern and traditional opera house building. We went to watch Dracula in Ballet and was not disappointed at all. We had great seats for an affordable price. I would definitely love to go back to this house and the other houses that are located next to each other. read more

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A gorgeous opera housing in downtown Denver! We saw the nutcracker ballet and it was the most beautiful night in Denver. The parking garage is a huge plus. The drinks were great too!! read more

Had our Christmas party at ECOH this past Friday, and it was FANTASTIC! Our contact there, Keith Truitt, the Dir. Of Catering & Events, was the best. He provided a level of service that I haven't experienced since my days working for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in the 80's & 90's. Keith anticipated all our needs, had great ideas to make our event spectacular, and was always willing to go above and beyond for us. His staff was also very helpful too; Joseph, Ben, and everyone really made our group feel special. And the cuisine that Kevin Taylor's culinary team provided... sooo good. They provided creative appetizers that I have never seen before and the entree selections, prepared perfectly. I got so many compliments from the attendees on everything; food, service, venue, etc. If you are a meeting or party planner, and want to look like a hero to your group, call the Opera House. You will impressed. read more

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Seats were awful. Why do you even sell these seats to people? Loge Box 303 seats 305-307. My mother two seats from me has a big pole in her view (and the seats weren't labeled as obstructed view). And once people sat in front of us, all we could see were their heads. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Loge box 303 seats 305-307 - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Ah, The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. It's by far the best-looking house compared to all of the other houses in The Denver Performing Arts Center. As always, doors open an hour before the show and the house opens thirty minutes before the show. I always suggest arriving early because you never know what the lines are going to look like and you don't want to miss the show. Like any opera or theater show, you may not be admitted into the house once the show starts and will have to wait until intermission to be let in. Getting in is quick and painless, especially with the new security system they have in place. All the staff are nice and helpful, just note that food and glassware aren't allowed inside the house, only bottled water. The lobby areas are spacious and you can't miss the stunning Chihuly glass art piece right as you walk in. What a beautiful sight to behold. The house is stunning. There are four levels of seating and honestly the view from the highest level isn't that bad, but make sure you're okay with heights because it is up there. They also have opera translators in front of each seat, called figaros and you can turn them on or off depending on your preference. Make sure to ask an usher about your particular seat if you are confused by the seat numbers. Trust me, you don't want a seating issue moments before the show goes up. Left elbow on your seat number, that's the trick. A ballet or opera at the Ellie should definitely be on your bucket list. If you've never seen one, how do you know if you like them or not? It's truly a magical experience! read more

This is an amazing venue to see a ballet. I haven't been to the ballet in several years, this is hands-down one of the best venues to see a ballet. The building has an amazing decor, the seats are very comfortable, the acoustics are amazing and the staff are exceptional. I was very pleased with the show, orchestra and sets. This is the best ballet I've seen so far, and I've seen ballets at numerous venues around the country. I highly recommend this venue. read more

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I walked over from dinner at Rioja in Larimer Square. Lots of people downtown!! I came to see Colorado Ballet's production of Swan Lake. Check-in was effortless, Colorado Ballet does not print tickets for free or send emails. Instead you access your online account and show the QR code to gain entry. There was a minimal security screening and then I proceeded to my seat in the Parterre section. I chose a seat in the middle of the row. So I was dead center to the stage. This is a long performance with 4 acts and 2 intermissions. I chose not to leave my seat during the intermissions. The principal artists Jennifer Grace and Mario Labrador were truly in excellent physical condition and performed flawlessly. This production involved every member of the Colorado Ballet including Soloists, Demi-Soloists, and Corps de Ballet. Choreography was excellent. So many chances to get tangled up. The seatback 'Figaro' displays provide short explanations of scenes during each act. I was at Ellie Calkins Opera House a few weeks ago for Cleo Parker Robinson dance performance. read more

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I've always enjoyed going to shows here. The staff is friendly and helpful, the seats are comfortable, and intermission snacks and drinks are easy to get to. Another note: Jekyll & Hyde was one of the most amazing ballets I've seen! read more

Not a bad seat in the house.I really enjoyed the ballet, the dancers, the choreography, the sets and the costumes. The whole show (Giselle) was well done! read more

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I adore this theater. It's beautiful and there really aren't any bad seats there. I've sat in just about every section there for different shows, and it's always wonderful. The seats are comfortable and each one has a screen in front of it to display details if it's needed for any reason. There are bars on multiple levels (though make note food/drinks are usually not allowed within the theater) and lots of restrooms available throughout the building. Parking is directly across from the theater in the Performing Arts Complex and there are restaurants nearby so that it's very easy to make a great night out. read more

Very nice opera house! I really enjoyed seeing Tosca here. Beautiful venue, it seems like there's probably not a bad seat in the house. Sound was great. They probably need a bigger women's restroom to accommodate people. Go earlier intermission if you need to use it! read more

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Had a lovely experience here! First time going to the opera since moving to Colorado, and will certainly not be my last. Venue was beautiful, staff were kind and helpful, and refreshment options were tasty. Location was also excellent! read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've been here four times. It's pretty easy to appreciate anything that's presented here. They make it easy for you. For me anytime parking sucks I refrain from making it my fave. One thing that stands out is the fact to start with; you can reserve your Parking days before your chosen event. $10 to park after 4pm. There's at least 6 floors of parking spaces in the garage. They get pretty full and best to go around four if your event is at 7:30 or so. Which is most of the event are. Print your tix or use your iPhone app to self check in and park. There's an attendant there to help you just in case. Now the Ellie Caulkins venue itself? It's great. Seats are comfortable. Orchestra is the best if you can spare a few well earned moolah. The rest of the seating? If you can't spare some pretty change any location will do. They're arranged so that anybody can see well. You doubt this? You have the right because you're right. The orchestra offers a closer look. But solve this issue with a binocular or a monocular. In the end the music sounds the same whatever area you're in. The bar before and after the performance serves the population well. Fast and attentive staff. Will call is right next to the entrance. More convenience for the public. The area is surrounded by restaurants and bars. One of them The Office is right down the steps. So make it a night and enjoy one of the only three opera houses in the US and one of nine worldwide. With seatback tilting at every seat in the house! read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Came here for my brother's wedding. It is located downtown with easy access to parking. The venue is spacious and grand. The crew tasked with assisting the wedding party was great, they quickly assisted with every need. There are endless opportunities for the perfect picture at every turn. The decor and ambience make for a decadent environment. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 for one reason. The city of Denver has priority over this venue. So the actual opera auditorium that my brother booked as one of the spaces for his wedding was rescinded because they city booked a show for that evening. So it is a bit of a gamble if all that spaces you book here will stick. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Classy & Cool Upscale & Posh Reasonably priced & Fun Plays, shows & a wide variety of events Large in size, comfortable stadium seating, wide isles Light rail access (and lot parking) Located right in the heart of Downtown Denver This theater can host quite the crowd! The girls and I viewed the last screening at the Denver Film Festival here, and found it to be all of the above! I love the Center for the Performing Arts district in Denver and so will YOU! read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Red carpet at the Film Festival - just outside the Opera House! - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Awesome venue! We visited this evening for a show. This place is large enough yet comfortable. What my other half and I enjoyed was that the seating was very comfortable . My guy was able to get seating accommodation for his handicap and it really helped him enjoy his visit. The layout was nice , it's brightly lit inside and the ushers were pleasant. While I only had a soft drink, they have some snacks. I didn't see anything that caught my eye to munch on. So far we've seen three show in three auditoriums here, this is the best. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Back drop for Book.of Mormon. - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Wow it's so hot, we're all cooking here. Opera might be ok but through the sweat it's hard to say. Turn in the ac!!!!!

Such a memorable experience seeing Dracula for a Halloween show. Balcony seats agave a nice view, steps are steep. The refreshments are nice as well. read more

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I've been to the Ellie Caulkins a few times now and all have been good experiences. I've even taken a backstage tour through the Doors Open Denver weekend which gave a really cool perspective of the venue. I sat in the top level for the ballet on my most recent visit. We were in a curve portion in the second row. Definitely not my fav spot to sit since I had to sit up in my seat for the majority of the show. We also had 2 very young kiddos that talked throughout the entire ballet. So that really put a damper on the performance since the parents did nothing but shh them the entire time. The ballet, Peter Pan, was wonderful though! read more

Denver boasts one of the largest performing arts complexes in the country and my husband and I come as often as we can afford to. Our latest was to see the Wizard of Oz ballet. The Ellie is now doing a security check; be prepared to have yourself and your bag scanned so arrive a little earlier than you would think you'd need to be there by. As we had arrived early, we were able to grab a pre-show drink. They are served in little compostable (thankfully) cups with lids so it feels a bit off to have a sippy cup of alcohol but you can take it with you into the theater. The space itself is really beautiful and the ushers have all been really friendly. This isn't the theaters fault but the only issue we have had is getting our chairs kicked which is so frustrating when you are at an upscale event. read more

This week the Colorado ballet is doing a brand new ballet of the Wizard of Oz. All new music- but a variety of fun dance tunes in many styles, with bluegrass, hoedown, Coplandesque moments and some rock and roll. The tornado is quite impressi The costumes are what would happen if all of the crazy socks in your sock drawer interbred- neon stripes, spots and asymmetry rule the scene. There is a considerable use of black light which makes the colors pop. The assymetrical cuts of the costumes emphasize the spinning of the dancers. Young ballet dancers fill the role of grasshoppers and those costumes are so fun! Toto is a real treat and the puppet dog is a huge treat. This takes a full professional ballet troupe with full orchestra and if you don't see if here at the Ellie between now and February 11, you won't see it! It could be destined to become a ballet classic like the Nutcracker. Opening night update: walking from my car I saw that the whole building is lit up Emerald City Green. Kudos to the person who had the idea and got it implemented!! And read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Nutcracker dragon - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've never been disappointed seeing a performance here, and they really work hard to maintain the magic of the theater. The theater is always fun to go to. The formality of the staff is what makes it such a top-notch experience. You would think that you had been transported back decades with the way the staff treats the patrons, and I feel like this is what keeps that spark going and makes going to the theater such a wonderful experience. I hope this never changes. I have always been impressed with DPAC's hiring because they have never resorted to hiring high schoolers to save a buck, and maintain and train their staff thoroughly. Most recently my husband and I attended Book of Mormon, and this is really where my appreciation grew. Every time I have attended a play I have typically had decent seats, but for this one and it was literally a take-what-I-can-get situation, and we ended up in the second to last row. I was amazed that the quality of the theater setup made for a fantastic performance despite our nosebleed seats, though! You could see perfectly and the sound didn't suffer in the least. My only complaint about Ellie Caulkins is that I wish there was more bar availability. We couldn't get a drink before the show but I chalked this up to our error, should have gotten there earlier. Right when intermission hit we ran straight to the bar and waited so long that we barely got a drink (literally sat back in our seats as the music started playing), and we were actually closer to the beginning of the line than the end, so that means a lot of people went without a drink or had to be seated late. Even this doesn't take away from the fantastic evening we had though, and I just want to thank the staff and DPAC for maintaining that feeling and keeping the magic alive! A truly special and appreciated experience. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Just us post-show and happy! - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The Ellie is hands down my favorite theater in the Performing Arts Complex. No offense Buell - I love you too, but the Ellie just swims in simple elegance! Maybe my love for this place is enhanced by the fact that I remember well the old Auditorium Theater. Ugh. Talk about a complete turn around! Old and dank have been replaced with light and bright. Tiny, horrible seats that make you wonder was everyone miniature at the turn of the last century? Have been replaced with cushy seats with a head rest bar and built in closed captioning in the seat in front of you (you know for those of us who don't actually understand Italian opera). All in all it's always wonderful! I saw the Nutcracker here a couple years back and sat near the front in the orchestra section - wonderful! Last night I sat in the Mezz to see Conan and was happy that the view was just as good. It is small enough you don't get a bad seat no matter where you end up. Both experiences with this place have been great and it always makes me want to come back - and wouldn't that be nice if that was true of all venues? The Ellie is 5 stars all the way! read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - View from inside the Ellie - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This opera house is beautiful, but the seats aren't the most comfortable and there's nowhere to put your coat or bag. To be fair, this is a problem at basically every theater I've ever been to though. I've been here twice, once for the Denver Digital Summit and once for an actual opera (La Boheme). Our seats for the opera were left mezzanine, and they were pretty good. I had a full view of the stage and although details were fuzzy, it wasn't like I was watching ants perform. I don't really like the subtitles being on the backs of the chairs. It's a little bit difficult to keep transferring your gaze from the seat back to the stage. At the LA opera, the subtitles are actually supertitles projected above the stage, and I found that method easier to follow. It's a minor complaint though, and I was able to follow the story well enough. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - View from the mezzanine left - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We purchased 5 tickets to see Dracula back on September 3. Had not received any tickets as of a couple days ago and started the phone calls. We had been assured that all was ok, we would get our digital tickets in time for the show. About 1 hour before the show started tonight our tickets were, somehow cancelled. We tried to purchase more tickets and worry about the refund later but found out all shows were sold out. I really hope this is not the way you do business as a norm. This was a very special gift to a 16yo. We all were REALLY looking forward to the ballet. So VERY disappointed!! read more

The "Ellie" has recently been renovated so it has a historic outside and a seriously swanky interior. The seats could be a little wider, but on the whole they are pretty comfy. It is one of only three opera houses in the United States, one of nine world-wide, with seatback titling at every seat in the house. You can then see what is being said in the opera in either English or Spanish or turn your unit off. The acoustics are of course incredible and the line to the women's bathroom actually moves pretty fast. While you are there feeling good about yourself because you are so cultured remember to look at all the artwork including a chandelier by Chihuly. read more

Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The Ellie is simply stunning. I've visited the Ellie to see La Boheme, Cinderella, Swan Lake, The Marriage of Figaro, Florencia, Il Trovatore, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, The Book of Mormon (twice), Romeo and Juliet... and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few. I've also seen several of the speakers who come through here - each presentation was fantastic. The Ellie is smaller than Buell, seating a little over 2,000 people. Seating is comfortable, and every seat includes a digital display in front of it to either (1) translate the lyrics to shows in a language other than English, or (2) give you little hints about what's going on in the production. The former is always helpful, and the latter comes in handy to explain the relevance of certain scenes or characters. Tip: If you're new to opera, there is almost always a pre-opera talk (they call it a "lecture," but don't let that freak you out). The talks cover the opera itself, and the political / cultural relevance now and during the time it was originally written or staged. These can offer fascinating insight into the production you're about to see, especially for those of us who are not yet well versed in the world of opera. Plus, it's FREE. You'll just need to show up earlier than you normally would, as the talks are usually at 6:30 for a show that begins at 7:30. They're funny, informative, and very cool. Highly recommended! read more

We went to see Dixie Longate performing bottle rockets and cherry bombs. She is a very talented entertainer. I have seen her a few times at The Galleria at the Buell complex and enjoyed her very much. The new venue + her over the top accent made it very difficult to understand from the mezzanine. I know it's part of her schtick but I could understand very little of her dialog until she toned down the accent about 2/3 of the way through. There was one section of the audience that was able to read text of her routine, but I was not in that part of the theater. Hopefully, when she returns to Denver, she'll be back at the Galleria. I will definitely go to any of her future shows hope for a better result. read more

This place is gorgeous. Very intimate feel! The seats are more spacious than Tempel Buell and plenty of snacks, wines, and sodas to purchase before hand! read more

We got seats at the parterre section and it was a decent view of the stage. I did not think they had enough bathrooms for the venue. What I did not appreciate at all when we saw the Nutcracker last night - they kept seating people even 10 minutes into the show and they were already dancing into the second scene. It was just ridiculous and unfair to the rest of the audience as well as the dancers. They recommend you get there an hour before and that's what we did. The staff should've honestly made them wait until intermission. read more

Went for a private event, the staff here was phenomenal, they were extremely professional and friendly, and the service was immediate. Thank you guys! read more