Following 20 years of restoration and preservation, on Saturday, August 17th, the Historic Elitch Theatre celebrated the grand return of live performances with the Elitch Encore series. Thirty-three years after Denver’s oldest cultural venue presented its last full live production, the stage lights glowed again.
The last full production on the historic stage was in 1991 for the 100th anniversary of the theatre. At the time, Elitch Gardens was still located in Northwest Denver, and it was home to nearly a century of Denver’s greatest entertainment. The summer of 1987 would be the last full season of theater at the park, but four years later, for the building’s 100th anniversary, the theatre re-opened for a production of The Robber Bridegroom starring actor Patrick Cassidy.
1994 was the final year for the Gardens at Tennyson and 38th Avenue, opening downtown in 1995, so the historic theatre was boarded up and essentially abandoned. However, the City of Denver gave it historic landmark status and it was saved from destruction. In 2002 the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre Foundation was founded (now doing business as Historic Elitch Theatre,) and that kicked off what would be two decades of restoration and preservation.
Our Big Milestone
Several years ago — with the addition of restrooms — the third phase of restoration was completed, and the theatre received its certificate of permanent occupancy. With that milestone achieved, the organization could begin programming inside the theatre.
As an all-volunteer group, Historic Elitch Theatre (HET) has relied on the dedication, commitment, and endless hours of volunteer support, so the journey to live productions has been slow. “Many supporters, including our board and volunteers, have been frustrated by the pace of our progress, but as an all-volunteer organization, we continuously balance progress with longevity” said Greg Rowley, President of the Board of Directors. “We would love to take off running and have a huge summer of programming, but that is a recipe for volunteer burn-out. We work hard to be realistic and not over-extend our resources — financial and volunteer — so we look to achieve incremental success each year as we grow and expand.”
Elitch Encore
The revival of live theatre at the Historic Elitch Theatre was a program called Elitch Encore. The series kicked off with a most-fitting production of The Bonfils Girl — the story of Helen Bonfils — who was affiliated with the Elitch Theatre for over a quarter of a century as an actor, producer, and benefactor. The second production will be The Secret Garden — the story of a magical garden — which offers a wonderful parallel for the debut of a magical theater.
The Bonfils Girl — Saturday, August 17th
Helen Bonfils made her first appearance at Elitch Theatre in 1934, and 90-years later she was the subject of the first full live production on the historic stage in 33 years.
The Bonfils Girl is a fascinating drama that delves into the life of Helen Bonfils, a pioneering figure in the world of theatre and a Denver icon. Known for her indomitable spirit and significant contributions to the arts, Helen Bonfils’ story is one of passion, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements. Mike Broemmel’s compelling narrative and masterful storytelling offered a poignant reflection on the life of a woman who transformed the cultural landscape of Denver and beyond.
“In the legacy of the Historic Elitch Theatre, Mary Elitch is certainly the primary figure, but Helen Bonfils is the second” said Rowley. “While John and Mary Elitch founded the gardens together, just one year into their big venture, John passed away and Mary was left a widow with a zoo, botanic gardens, and a theatre to manage. While Mary is our muse, and we reflect on her work in everything we do, we cannot overstate the impact of Helen Bonfils and we’re excited to celebrate her with the return of live productions!”
