Denver's Ellie Caulkins Opera House retires in-seat captioning

Denver's downtown opera house will receive new seats for the first time in 20 years. Denver Arts & Venues will install new seating at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House this summer while the theatre is in its offseason, as part of the theater's long-term and ongoing maintenance plan.

Denver Arts & Venues said as part of the seat replacement project, the seatback closed-captioning/titling system — with individual screens on the back of each seat — will be retired, as it is no longer being supported by the manufacturer.

Denver Arts & Venues said it will switch to a standard subtitling system, with captioning on a screen above the stage, that is used in opera houses around the world.

Denver Arts & Venues said the number of seats at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House will remain the same, however more accessible seating will be installed. The new seats will also be less squeaky, Denver Arts & Venues said.

The seat replacement project will take place through Sept. 19.

Home to Opera Colorado and Colorado Ballet performances, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House officially opened in 2005 after a renovation project of the former Auditorium Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.