Officials at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts will rename the 39-year old Ricketson Theatre for former Denver Post publisher and owner William Dean Singleton, following a “generous gift” from Singleton as part of the organization’s “A Grander Opening” capital campaign.
That campaign, which includes a renovation of the newly named Singleton Theatre starting in March 2020, begins with an upgrade of the 778-seat Stage Theatre — currently hosting new artistic director Chris Coleman’s mostly-black-cast production of .
The more modest Ricketson, with 250 seats, was originally named after DCPA board member, banker and movie-house owner Frank Ricketson, and opened as a movie theater in 1979, according to the DCPA.
Officials declined to name a dollar amount for Singleton’s contribution, although the board at large has already pledged $8 million for the campaign. Singleton has been a board member and contributor to the DCPA since 2001.
DCPA officials said their nonprofit company owes its overall existence to past owners of The Denver Post. After Post co-founder Frederick Bonfils’ daughter Helen died in 1972, proceeds from the sale of the newspaper went on to finance the creation of the DCPA.
The Ricketson Theatre is expected to reopen after its renovation as the Singleton Theatre in the spring of 2021, according to the DCPA. The Stage Theatre will close in spring 2019, with a projected reopening for winter 2020.
