Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre

The Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre (or Buell Theatre for short), is a 2,839 capacity venue specifically designed with acoustic enhancement and state-of-the-art lighting and effects, making it the premier choice for touring Broadway productions, amplified musicals, dramatic plays and comedy acts.

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, which is managed by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre organization, Buell Theatre will host several world-class productions such as Mamma Mia, Frozen, Hamilton, The King and I and Aladdin this year alone. Creating atmospheric, immersive stage shows and magical family-friendly performances through the use of top-notch equipment, Buell Theater has something for everyone, with quality at the center of every event.

Even the most technically complex of requirements can be met at the Buell, making it stand out from the crowd, and ensuring high-grossing runs year after year. It’s no wonder it’s Denver’s top spot for exceptional entertainment!

buell theatre

The Buell

Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, better known as simply “The Buell,” is a premier entertainment venue located in Denver, otherwise known as the “Mile-High City.” Playing host to all the must-see Broadway musical spectacles, The Buell is the top choice for high-profile performances and traveling tours, direct from New York.

Hosting the very best that Broadway has to offer, this live venue pulls in crowds from across Colorado and beyond. The Buell is not only the home of the Colorado Ballet and DCPA’s Best of Broadway touring presentations but has also played host to five-time Grammy award winning artist Michael Bublé (2006), Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show comedian Jimmy Fallon (2013), and the “SCREAMINGLY GOOD” (Variety) Beetlejuice production run from the 5 to 17th September 2023 – just to name a few!!

As soon as you step foot in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, you’re greeted with high ceilings, glass curtain walls and Colorado quartzite, providing the ideal environment for amplified performances. The Buell is situated in the heart of the Galleria, between the Ellie and Boettcher Concert Hall. One of the main attractions is the Actor’s Alley, a backstage hallway that displays paintings of original show posters from nearly all of the national tours that have performed at the theater, each signed by notorious cast members. With a generous 2,839 seating capacity, The Buell is the highest-grossing theater of its size in the country!

buell theate inside

History

The Buell is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex that has a rich history which stretches back to 1908. On July 5, the Denver Municipal Auditorium officially opened and hosted the Democratic National Convention. A year later, it was officially opened as the municipal theater of the city. Over time, the Arts Complex went through a series of remodels.

In 1989, supported by City bonds and a naming-rights contribution from the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, the auditorium underwent a thorough renovation which saw the original walls (made up of more than eight thousand pieces of sandstone from a quarry in Lyons) preserved. This marked the beginning of the construction of The Buell.

Temple Hoyne Buell, an American architect, real estate developer, and entrepreneur, is the namesake of the Buell Theatre. He played an important role in designing and constructing several famous buildings in the state, such as Lincoln, Kennedy, Regis, and Mann schools, as well as various structures on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. Buell also left his mark on Denver with the design of the new Customs House downtown and the Paramount Theater, which was a showcase of Art Deco architecture.

The Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre celebrated its grand opening on the 1st November 1991 with the performance of The Phantom of the Opera. The Buell’s famous high ceiling was designed to accommodate the iconic chandelier featured in the production. The show, which sold out for an incredible ten weeks, drew audiences from all corners of the country, pumping around $40 million into Denver’s economy.