Western History and Genealogy

The Art Of Henry: 25 Years Of Scenery And Costume Design

Designs Of Henry Lowenstein, Patriarch Of Denver Theater

January 21 – March 29, 2009
The Central Library, Gates Reading Room - Level 5

These expressive and well executed scenic and costume designs demonstrate Lowenstein’s remarkable creative output. Most of these renderings are gouache and ink of set and costume designs for Bonfils Theatre Main Stage Theatre and Children’s Theatre productions from 1956 to 1975, as well as designs for regional opera, ballet and special events. These pieces represent many aspects of theater design. These working drawings allowed for quick and accurate set construction. They reflect the considerable artistic talents of Henry Lowenstein in the pre-computer era and provide insight into creating the magic of good theater.

Henry Lowenstein played a major role in Denver’s long march from cow town to emerging sophisticated city. His story is a classic American immigrant saga, of a boy forced to leave his family to escape Nazi Germany’s Berlin in 1939 to England, and ultimately to the U.S. in 1947 with no money and no education. He worked as a gravedigger and manual laborer in his early years in the United States. But Henry rose to become a major force in transforming Denver’s theater and cultural scene.

After serving in the Air Force he was admitted, in 1953, to Yale’s famous Drama School on the basis of one of his designs for a Kurt Weill production, without ever graduating from college. After Yale he was recruited by Helen Bonfils for the prestigious Bonfils Theatre on East Colfax Avenue. From 1956 to 1975 Lowenstein designed hundreds of plays, operas, and ballets. In 1967 he became general manager of the Bonfils Theater until retiring in 1986, and then created the Denver Civic Theatre where he designed and produced more than 90 shows of all types until again retiring in1995.

Henry Lowenstein led the way by presenting quality and innovative arts from the emerging Native American, African, and Latino cultures. He delighted in presenting diverse programming ranging from Albee to Sondheim, Lerner and Loew to Puccini, Lorraine Hansberry to Neil Simon, and hosting performances by John Houseman’s City Center Acting Company, the Teatro Campesino, the Guthrie Theatre, and Black Arts West, as well as our homegrown Cleo Parker Robinson Dancers, the Covillo Parker Ballet Company (which evolved into the Colorado Ballet), and the National Chicano Dance Theatre. Henry was involved in more than 800 productions over his entire career.