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Denver's Loretto Heights Midcentury May Bonfils Stanton Theater to be Revived

Interior of the mid-century May Bonfils Stanton Theater prior to renovation
March 20, 2023
Pfeiffer will be renovating the mid-century May Bonfils Stanton Theater, located in Denver's Loretto Heights, as the centerpiece of the city’s new cultural hub. The scope of the project will eventually include the reuse of the existing library building and the construction of a new parking structure. With a sizable seat count, the renovated theater will meet the increasing demand for mid-size performing arts facilities in the metro area for smaller performing arts groups and national touring productions of non-musical plays. The mid-century exterior will be preserved while the interior will be completely transformed and upgraded. The multi-phased project is being funded by a voter-approved 30 million bond—part of the city RISE bond package—that represents the largest city investment ever in southwest Denver. Named for Denver heiress and philanthropist, May Bonfils Stanton, the theater is located at what was originally Loretto Heights College, established as an educational institution for women in 1888. Designed by G. Meredith Musick, the 1,000-seat theater was added in 1963—at the time Denver’s second largest indoor theater, next to the Denver Auditorium Theater. Loretto Heights College closed in 1989, and became Teikyo Loretto Heights University, then Colorado Heights University before closing in 2016.