Ellie Caulkins Opera House is a modern, state-of-the-art performing arts venue in Denver, known for its excellent acoustics, elegant architecture, and comfortable seating. It hosts opera, ballet, concerts, and major cultural events, offering audiences a refined and immersive artistic experience.

The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, often called “The Ellie,” is one of the premier performing arts venues in the United States and a central jewel of the Denver Performing Arts Complex in Colorado. Originally built in 1908 as the historic Denver Municipal Auditorium, the building underwent a multi-year, $90-million transformation and reopened in 2005 as a world-class opera house designed for modern performance standards while preserving elements of its historic charm.

The theatre is celebrated for its exceptional acoustics, engineered to support the demanding needs of opera, symphonic works, and ballet. Its horseshoe-shaped auditorium, inspired by traditional European opera houses, creates an intimate atmosphere despite its capacity of more than 2,000 seats. Audiences benefit from excellent sightlines, spacious seating, and advanced sound and lighting systems that enhance every performance.

Behind the scenes, “The Ellie” features state-of-the-art production facilities, including a large stage, a deep orchestra pit, advanced fly systems, and modern rehearsal spaces, allowing it to host large-scale productions from opera companies, ballet companies, touring shows, and international artists. The venue is home to Opera Colorado and regularly stages performances by major touring ballet companies, orchestras, and national productions.

Architecturally, the building blends historic exterior elements with a sleek, contemporary interior, combining marble, warm wood, and modern design details. Public spaces such as the Chambers Grant Salon, the lobby, and the grand staircases create an elegant and inviting environment for visitors.

Today, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House stands as one of Denver’s cultural landmarks — a place where world-class opera, ballet, music, and theater come together in a setting designed to offer audiences a rich, immersive, and unforgettable performing arts experience.