Daniel L. Ritchie was unanimously approved by a 21-member board of trustees today to succeed founder Donald R. Seawell as chairman and chief executive officer of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
“I’m feeling like we are going to have some fun,” said Ritchie, 74, who will assume his new responsibilities on Jan. 1. Seawell, 94, will remain as chairman emeritus.
“I feel wonderful,” said Seawell, who handpicked Ritchie as his replacement. “It’s everything I could have hoped for. Imagine getting a man like this. It’s incredible, and he’s going to build on the foundation that we have and we expect incredible things out of him, just as he has done in the past.”
In 16 years as University of Denver chancellor, Ritchie led a $274 million fundraising campaign and a $430 million program for new buildings and donated his own personal $50 million gift. His efforts led to new student residences, new business, science, law and music education buildings, a new performing arts center, an athletic center and increased scholarship funds. He joined the DCPA as a board member in March.
“I think having Don to be next door is going to be so helpful, because there is a tremendous amount of history and experience that he’s had that no one else has had in the whole world. Otherwise I would be pretty nervous,” Ritchie said.
Seawell, a former Denver Post editor and publisher, envisioned the DCPA in 1972 and built it into the world’s largest performing arts complex under one roof.
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
