2022–2023 COMMUNITY REPORT
BANDALOOP, Wayne Armstrong
Table of Contents
Dear friends,
Thanks to you, we had an amazing 20th anniversary season at the Newman Center. The season roared to life with the amazing artists of BANDALOOP gracing the architecture of the DU campus for 2,000 community members. Since then, we presented 29 more shows by 22 artists, including sold-out performances of A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham , Sam Bush , and Lila Downs
Personally, I won’t soon forget Cyrille Aimee’s spellbinding looping and improvisation, Kenny Barron’s artistry, or the exuberant joy of Damien Sneed and his amazing lineup of gospel singers. Our cultural diplomacy program with the Korbel School of International Studies deepened our interdisciplinary connections to the campus.
Educational residencies with The Philip Glass Ensemble and Mingus Big Band created amazing professional development opportunities for students in the Lamont School of Music . And new this year, we launched a (sold-out!) music and technology summer camp for students aged 12-16 called Music Creators . Trust me when I say the future of music composition is very bright.
Please enjoy this look back at a memorable season filled with art, community, and connection. Thank you for making this season one of our best. Here’s to the next 20 years! With gratitude,
Aisha-Ahmad Post Executive DirectorMission
The Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver uplifts Denver audiences and artists by creating regional and global cultural connections.
Vision
Our vision is to be a cultural anchor for a thriving, dynamic, and diverse 21st century Denver.
EXECUTIVE AND PROGRAMMING
Jennifer Karas, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Aisha Ahmad-Post, Executive Director
Andryn Arithson, Director of Business & Operations
Marike Fitzgerald, Artistic Operations Manager
Julia Johnson, Administrative Assistant
ADVANCEMENT
Adriel Long, Assistant Director of Development and Individual Giving
TICKETING SERVICES
Richard Moraskie, Assistant Director
Max Manoles, Box Office Manager
EDUCATION
Luke Wachter, Associate Director of Educational Initiatives
EVENT SERVICES
Diane Roth, Assistant Director
Faith Wilwerding, Event Coordinator
Jennifer Reed, Manager on Duty
Robert Lynch, Manager on Duty
Connie Washington, Manager on Duty
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Justin Levy, Assistant Director
Allison Young, Marketing Assistant
PATRON SERVICES
Rachel Hargroder, Assistant Director
Amanda Bargar, House Manager
Debbie Hindin-King, House Manager
Jennifer Reed, House Manager
Connie Washington, House Manager
PRODUCTION
Garret Glass, Assistant Director
Zach Jovanovich, Coordinator
Shakeel Wahab, Coordinator
ADVISORY BOARD
Lisa Alcorn, Vice Chair
Kwon Atlas
Hannah Christian
Julio Martinez Coronado, Chair
Beverlee Henry Fullerton
Mark Heiser
Chad Hollingsworth
Lynnea Hutton
Vanecia Kerr
Alexander Pankonin
Stephanie Rance
Marcia Romero
HONORARY ADVISORY
BOARD
Margot Gilbert Frank
Celeste Grynberg
Judi and Robert Newman
Cleo Parker Robinson
Stephen Seifert
Did You Know?
Not only is the Newman Center staff and advisory board passionate about presenting the performing arts, they participate in Denver’s diverse arts community in many ways including singing in the Colorado Symphony Chorus and Cherry Creek Chorale, dancing with ArtistiCO, performing with Playground Ensemble and Lamont Orchestra, and touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra!
The Newman Center continues to strengthen its legacy as a cultural hub for the community, hosting 230 ticketed performances during the 2022-23 season. On campus, the Lamont School of Music and DU Theatre Department alone presented 92 performances. Community partners like Comedy Works Entertainment, the Sound of the Rockies, Young Voices of Colorado and dozens of other organizations, presented dancers, authors, comedians, musicians and podcasters who contribute to our inclusive and diverse programming.
38 Newman Center Presents 63 Lamont School of Music 29 DU Theatre 100 Rental
230 Total Performances
77,745 Tickets Distributed
Highlights of the Newman Center Presents season included sold-out performances by Mingus Big Band, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Lila Downs. Our partnerships with Colorado’s artistic community included performances by Flamenco Denver and the Denver Chamber Music Festival, and collaboration with Opera Colorado and Presenting Denver
It’s accessible… it’s affordable… it’s really a special, special venue that offers a lot.”
-Gregory Moore, DU Trustee
“I like to say that Newman Center Presents is my happy place. Coming to the performances in my Director’s 9 subscription renews me, uplifts me, restores my faith in the goodness in the world and in humanity.”
-Sarah L., subscriberLuke Wachter, Associate Director of Educational Initiatives Paul Taylor Dance master class Lila Downs Damien Sneed ArtistiCO
The 2022-2023 Newman Center Presents season kicked off with an “off the wall” free event for the community on September 29. Attendees enjoyed the awe-inspiring aerial dance ensemble BANDALOOP, who deepened and challenged our perspective on the art and industry of textiles with their large-scale outdoor vertical dance piece performed on the sides of two buildings. BANDALOOP was joined by performances from Presenting Denver, Playground Ensemble and DU’s Lamont School of Music.
Along with food trucks and community partners such as KGNU, Denver Public Library, Alliance for Music Education Equity, CBS Colorado, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, 2,000 attendees enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon on the DU campus, while the following morning included a master class with BANDALOOP, including participants from throughout the metro area.
BANDALOOP was generously supported by the Grynberg Family Endowment for Dance Programming.
What’s a 20th anniversary without a proper party? On January 26, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Executive Director Aisha AhmadPost welcomed over 150 guests for a celebration that included performances by Hao Yang (Lamont masters student), Los Mocochetes , ArtistiCO , and the acclaimed A.I.M by Kyle Abraham . Robert and Judi Newman were joined by many members of the Newman Center and DU community, including former Chancellor Dan Ritchie , Board of Trustee members such as Gregory Moore , and Keith Ward , Director of the Lamont School of Music . We salute the many visionaires who envisioned such a performing arts center back in the 1990’s, and to those who keep the Newman Center going strong as we head into the next 20 years.
The 2022-23 season featured a robust schedule of student matinee programs, master classes, the Musical Explorers program, professional development for teachers, and the introduction of a music technology summer camp experience for 12-16 year olds called Music Creators. These programs served 5,000 students, half of which attend Title 1 schools.
Master Classes & Conversation
Life-long learners of all ages participated in master classes and panel discussions with creatives of all sorts. Community offerings included dance classes with with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and BANDALOOP, along with a conversation with The Philip Glass Ensemble regarding the music business. Choreographer Francisco Graciano discussed the important cultural connections made over the years through modern dance between the U.S. and Mexico (part of the Sie Center’s Cultural Diplomacy Series).
Professional Development
Launched in 2021, the K-12 professional development program worked with a cohort of 35 teachers serving 200 students in Denver Public Schools, implementing arts integration and project based learning strategies. In addition, sessions on music composition were conducted with more than a dozen teachers in Aurora Public Schools.
Musical Explorers
The innovative program in partnership with Carnegie Hall, includes an extensive in-class curriculum that leads up to two interactive performances for over 1,800 second graders. This season’s performances included Stephen Brackett of the Flobots, Los Mocochetes, and Quiana Parler.
Student Matinee Series
Our matinee series brings world-renowned artists to the stage for little to no cost to dozens of schools serving K-12 students across the metro area. Performances in 2022-23 included ArtistiCO, Manual Cinema, Mingus Big Band and Orquesta Akokán. In addition to inspiring performances, classroom teachers receive lesson plans to prepare the students for these performances.
Music Creators
The Newman Center launched its first summer camp experience for students 12-16 years old who were interested in the art of creating original music. Taking place at North High School, the sold-out camp included the opportunity to write melodies and record instruments and beats, culminating in a portfolio of original digital music and tools to continue to explore their own musical journey.
Thanks to the generous support of our partners and individual donors, the Genesee Mountain Foundation, US Bank, Colorado Creative Industries, Denver Arts & Venues’ Denver Music Advancement Fund, and The Henry-Fullerton Cultural Opportunity Fund, all of these programs are made available for free or at a minimal cost. It is through the collective support of our community that allows us to bring arts educational programming to the metro area.
“My favorite moment is when students walk in and see Gates Concert Hall and a professional performance and their faces are like… WOW!”
-Amy Martinson, Manager, Arts and Physical Education, Denver Public SchoolsOrquesta Akokán at East High School Musical Explorers The Philip Glass Ensemble and students Musical Explorers Stephen Brackett of Flobots at Musical Explorers L-R: Marie Berry, Aisha Ahmad-Post, Francisco Graciano Music Creators
Leaders On and Off Campus
The Newman Center’s professional staff is dedicated to making our community better in many ways. A small sample of our team’s work:
Luke Wachter , Associate Director of Educational Initiatives, is a member of the Education Equity and Justice Cohort, a collaborative initiative between DU and the Denver Public Schools, which was created to address issues of equity and justice in Denver’s educational landscape.
Marike Fitzgerald (Artistic Operations Manager) is a co-founding member of DU’s interdepartmental committee that created Spark 2023 on campus. At the request of Chancellor Haefner, the event was created to encourage civil discourse and freedom of expression.
Our Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications (Justin Levy) co-founded a marketing consortium group of marketing professionals in the performing arts sector with such organizations as the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Swallow Hill Music and the Colorado Ballet. Together, they collaborate and raise awareness for our city’s many worthy arts organizations.
Aisha Ahmad-Post (Executive Director) was selected as cocurator for the U.S. delegation to the Festival International Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico. The largest performing arts festival in Latin America attracts over 400,000 visitors from around the world. Aisha also participated in Taiwan Arts Week, which brought curators from around the globe to Taipei.
Andryn Arithson (Director of Business & Operations) is a member of the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Liquor Advisory Group, representing the “Arts License” type as they address the modernization and harmonization of the liquor industry, per the request of Governor Jared Polis.
DU Students
In the fall of 2022, eight members of the Newman Center staff successfully completed the Supervisor Learning Cohort Program developed by DU in order to give our student employees the best employment experience possible. The Newman Center is dedicated to training the next generation of arts and nonprofit workers through paid internships and part-time employment. This past season, student employees assisted as box office, marketing, education and event support specialists.
Volunteers
It truly takes a village for the Newman Center to make the impact that it does for the community. Our dedicated volunteer team donated almost 4,400 volunteer hours, providing a value of over $87,000. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at the Newman Center, please contact rachel.hargroder@du.edu.
2022-2023 VOLUNTEER NUMBERS
90 Total Active Volunteers
195 Shifts Worked
9 Average Number of Volunteers Staffed for Each Event
4,392 Volunteer Hours Donated
$87,840 Value of Volunteer Hours Worked
“Ushering at the Newman Center in an enhancement to my life. The cultural stimulation of great programming is something I enjoy and look forward to each year.”
-Polly A., volunteer
“The University of Denver is proud of the work the Newman Center has done over the past twenty years to become a cultural touchstone, both on and off campus.”
-Jeremy Haefner, ChancellorL-R: Miranda Teske, Ethan McGraw, Tommy Dainko, Colleen McCracken, Thalia Rojas L-R: Holly Clark, Jennie Creasey, Susan Bowles L-R:Marike Fitzgerald, Adriel Long Newman Center Staff L-R: Judy Fredricks, Joan Wise
Your Support
Thank you to our donors, patrons and partners for supporting the Newman Center during the 20th anniversary 2022-23 season. The Newman Center is able to maintain its venue and nationally recognized programming because of your generosity and continued financial investment. As we reflect on the successes of the past 20 years and look forward to the future, we extend our warmest thank you for your commitment to the arts, and uplifting Denver audiences and artists through the power of creating regional and global cultural connections.
LIFETIME, $1,000,000+
Morley C. Ballantine*
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Joy S. Burns*
Ruth S. Byron*
Adolph Coors Foundation
June Swaner Gates*
Jane M. & Frederic C.* Hamilton
The Frederic C. Hamilton Family Foundation
Kresge Foundation
Robert & Judi Newman
Robert and Judi Newman Family Foundation
Virginia E. Treverrow*
Carl M. Williams*
Anonymous
LIFETIME, $500,000+
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Patrick D.* and Joan A. Bowlen
William K.* and Rita Bass* Coors
Devonshire Charitable Trust
Anonymous
Margot Gilbert Frank and M. Allan Frank*
Lewis D. and John J. Gilbert Foundation
The Grynberg Family
Ronald L* and Carol L.* Moore
Scott J. and Virginia L. Reiman
Reiman Foundation
Daniel L. Ritchie
LIFETIME, $100,000+
Colorado Creative Industries
Raphael Levy Memorial Foundation
Milton* and Jean W.* Morris
Jordon* and Essie Perlmutter
Porter Adventist Hospital
Anonymous
Richard C. and Jeanne P. Saunders
Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation
Vera M. Winchester*
Judith M. and Marvin E.* Wolf
LIFETIME, $50,000+
Fine Arts Foundation
Gareth D. Flora
LaRetta M. Flora
Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
Mary L. Hansen*
Beverlee B. Henry and Robert P.* Fullerton
L. Roger and Meredith J. Hutson
Kern Family Foundation
Mary L. Rossick and Jerome H. Kern
The Kenneth King Foundation
Antonia and Vladimer Kulaev Cultural Heritage Fund
J. K. Mullen Foundation
Anna and John J. Sie
John W.* and Marilyn Johnson* Stoddard
LIFETIME, $25,000+
Kathleen A. and Charles O. Brantigan
Ellie Caulkins
Friends of Chamber Music
Genesee Mountain Foundation
Dewey L. and Deborah C. Long
Trygve E. and Victoria H. Myhren
Sally G. Plummer
RedLine Contemporary Art Center
Hon. Harry H.* and
Florence K.* Ruston
Meyer M. and Geraldine R. Saltzman
Charles M. and Faye G. Schayer
Charitable Foundation
Thomas Steenland
Anonymous
DIRECTOR, $25,000+
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Cherry Creek Shopping Center
Courtyard by Marriott
Denver Cherry Creek
Denver Arts & Venues
Genesee Mountain Foundation
The Grynberg Family
GOLD, $10,000+
Frances S. Corsello
The National Endowment for the Arts
U.S. Bank Foundation
ENCORE, $5,000+
The Dance Archive
Margot Gilbert Frank+
Anonymous
Anonymous
The Sakura Foundation
BENEFACTOR, $2,500+
Carolyn A. Agosta +++
Belay Fund at the Denver Foundation
Dr. Nancy Gary
OVATION, $1,000+
Alicia Bell Landscape Design
Pamela Brody
Caryl and Kenneth Field
Field Family Fund at Longmont Community Foundation
HHSB Family Fund at Vanguard Charitable
Robert Hodges
Hodges Family Fund at Fidelity
Doloris G. and Gene Milstein
Anonymous
Barbara F. Moskowitz
Anonymous
Daniel K. Paulien
David C. Ross
Carolyn M. Strand
PATRON, $500+
Lisa and Matthew Alcorn
Kwon Atlas
Libby L. Bortz
Leslie Brunelli
Hannah C. Christian
Drs. Mary Sue and Kenneth M. Coleman
Donna Bryson and Fredrick Glick
Family Charitable Fund
Lee H. and Dr. Burton P. Golub
Alison C. and Mark S. Heiser
KJ Community Fund at the Denver Foundation
Jennifer and John Letheby
Mark W. and Nancy Magliery
Hensley R. and James Peterson
Adnan Reza
Kathy A. and Donald D. Rosenkrans Jr.++
Amy and Jay Sage
Sage Family Fund at The Omaha Community Foundation
Douglas G. and Mary B. Scrivner
Texas Instruments Foundation
James M. Wilkins
FRIEND, $250+
Anonymous
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Dale and Russell R. DeWitt Jr.
Andrew E. Hornbrook
Jennifer Karas and Todd Myers
Vanecia and Kevin Kerr
Justin and Cari Levy
Julio A. Martinez Coronado
Jean A. and Dr. Ronald C Meyer
Anonymous
Mary Moore Anonymous
Sandy Myers
Flora I. Ortiz
David G. Susan E. Palmer
Barbara Rivera
Norwood L. and Barbara J. Robb+
Marcia D. Romero
Cynthia Saer
Gertrude E. Schneider
Kenneth K Stuart
Serda D. Tibbs and Roy Scott Tibbs
Elizabeth G. and Richard F Young
The donor recognition list includes gifts to the Newman Center from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023. If you have questions about this donor listing or giving to the Newman Center, contact Assistant Director of Development, Adriel Long at at adriel.long@du.edu or at 303.871.6426.
“I truly appreciate the diversity of offerings one can connect with.”
-Tariana Navas-Nieves, Director of Cultural Affairs for Denver Arts and Venues
All percentages are from fiscal year 2023 actual financials. Based on overall budget of $3,194,308.90.
NEWMAN CENTER CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL SPONSORS
“Hard to believe the Newman Center for the Performing Arts has been around for 20 years now. It’s remarkable considering how crucial it has become to the city’s fine art scene. No local venue has shown half the commitment to bringing local crowds such a high level of international names in the fields of dance and classical music.”
2344 E. Iliff Ave., Denver, CO 80208 303-871-7720 | ncpa@du.edu
newmancenter.du.edu
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver PostWe acknowledge and honor the original Indigenous peoples of the land upon which University of Denver stands, including the Hinono’eiteen (Arapaho), Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Núu-agha-tuvu-pu (Ute) and Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux).