Kent Thompson Resigns as Artistic Director of DCPA Theatre Company

Denver Center for the Performing Arts' (DCPA) President & CEO Janice Sinden and DCPA Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director Kent Thompson jointly announced his resignation to Trustees, staff and subscribers earlier today. Kent will remain head of the Theatre Company through March 3, 2017 and will direct the upcoming production of The Christians (January 27 - February 26).

"Kent has been an exceptional artistic leader of the Theatre Company for the past 12 years," said Sinden. "His accomplishments as Producing Artistic Director include the creation of the nationally-acclaimed Colorado New Play Summit, the establishment of the Women's Voices Fund to support the work of women in theatre, the development of innovative and immersive programming through Off-Center, and a robust commissioning program. As a director, Kent has led more than 20 productions at the Theatre Company, most notably Kent Haruf's Plainsong trilogy, Sweeney Todd, and numerous world premieres and Shakespearean productions during his tenure. We will miss his commitment to artistic excellence and wish him the very best in his future endeavors."

"With the support of so many at the DCPA and in the Denver community," said Thompson, "serving as Producing Artistic Director for the last 12 seasons has been a fulfilling and rewarding period of growth and achievement. The Theatre Company's efforts have brought national acclaim and foundation support to the DCPA, Denver and Colorado. We also have worked to diversify our programming, company and staff to create a theatre that better reflects the communities we serve.

"After 12 seasons, I believe it's now time to move onto other opportunities in professional theatre. In the immediate future, I am writing a book on professional directing for a major publisher of drama and theatre books in the US and the UK. After that is done, I look forward to pursuing opportunities elsewhere in the American theatre. I wish the DCPA, the Theatre Company and the entire theatre community of Colorado much success in the future."

In the coming weeks, DCPA Executive Staff and Theatre Company leaders will create a transition team, which will develop an interim plan as we embark on a national search for a new Artistic Director. Thompson will remain in an advisory capacity through the end of the current 2016/17 season.

As the nation's largest non-profit theatre organization, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to creating unforgettable shared experiences through beloved Broadway musicals, world-class plays, educational programs and inspired events. As one of the DCPA's six lines of programming, the Tony Award-winning DCPA Theatre Company has offered 420 productions in its 38 seasons, of which 140 were new works for the American theatre.

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