VEN UE RE P ORT Beyond Hollywood
The Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction has a similar tale. Built in 1923, the entertainment venue had a storied run for many years. The City of Grand Junction took over the crumbling structure in 1996 and implemented a major renovation in 2014. The theater has 1,096 seats and is available for private events, along with the facility’s meeting space and rooftop terrace. In Denver, Paramount Theatre opened in 1930. The interior remains an excellent example of zigzag art deco design that became popular during the Jazz Age. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 21,000-square-foot theater seats up to 1,865. Host a sit-down dinner on the stage, a keynote in the theater, a cocktail reception in the mezzanine lobby, or a small private event in the VIP Lounge. Boulder-based Z2 Entertainment oversees Boulder Theater and Fox Theatre in Boulder and Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins. Boulder Theater, built in 1906, is especially suitable for events, whether a conference, concert, or movie screening for up to 1,000.
AEG Presents Rocky Mountains, the live entertainment division of Los Angelesbased AEG, manages three Denver theaters that are now concert and special event venues. Bluebird Theater, the oldest, opened in 1913 and first served as a vaudeville theater; it is now an intimate concert hall for up to 500. The circa-1921 Gothic Theatre has an even higher capacity with 1,050 seats. Built in 1918, Ogden Theatre is the largest of the trio—accommodating up to 1,600—and has hosted performers ranging from Harry Houdini to Jackson Browne to The Smashing Pumpkins. “These theaters all feature a great stage as well as world-class sound and lighting systems offered as a part of the rental,” says Jennifer Robinson, director of special events at Denver venues for AEG Presents Rocky Mountains. “This saves significant budget allocation for production and really takes the event to the next level.” Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary in Denver hosted a Mutts & Models fundraiser at Ogden Theatre, which easily accommodated
a runway fashion show and silent and live auctions. Several sponsors of the ETHDenver 2024 cryptocurrency convention held daytime educational panels and an evening reception at Bluebird Theater. “People associate theater venues with enjoyable outings and recall some of the best shows they have seen when they come into the space,” Robinson says. “The uniqueness makes the event very memorable, rather than a basic ballroom that could be in any city.” aegpresents.com artscomplex.com avalontheatregj.com bluebirdtheater.net crestedbuttearts.org denvercenter.org gothictheatre.com lonetreeartscenter.org ogdentheatre.com paramountdenver.com parkerarts.org rialtotheatercenter.org visitloveland.com z2ent.com
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) Nolan Blunck, AEG Presents Rocky Mountains
Bluebird Theater in Denver; Left: Steddy Theater at Center for the Arts Crested Butte
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