Teri Fotheringham/Courtesy photo
Just steps from the ski slopes in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, the Vilar Performing Arts Center’s ideal location makes attending a show easy and stress-free from start to finish. It’s also one of the most unusual, sophisticated structures in Colorado, with its underground location beneath the Beaver Creek ice rink. Yet the experience feels anything but cold.
The Vilar experience starts well before guests arrive at the theater. Personalized service is paramount, and it begins when a patron calls to purchase tickets, which don’t carry hefty processing and promoter fees, often making them much more affordable.
The drive to Beaver Creek from the valley is spectacular and direct, no matter the season, and Village Transportation is available for guests staying in Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead. Parking for Vilar shows is available in the adjacent underground parking garage and parking is validated, erasing the expense.
Upon entering the Vilar, guests receive a warm personal welcome from Executive Director Cameron Morgan. When the lights dim, longtime volunteers encourage guests to take their seats, providing assistance and direction. The Vilar’s volunteer core is 200-strong with many returning year after year. All volunteers go through a pointed interview process and receive extensive training, so guests encounter informed, helpful, friendly faces at every entry point.
At the Vilar, expect the opposite of a festival environment. The 530-seat theater provides an intimate listening experience without ever feeling crowded. Dance your heart out in the 80-person orchestra space (available on a show-by-show basis) or opt for a comfortable, roomy seat to take in a full sensory adventure.
Support Local Journalism
Every theater seat boasts an unobstructed view of the stage thanks to the room’s European-modeled horseshoe shape. Already known for exceptional sound quality, the theater recently raised the bar with a $500,000 audio system upgrade. Designed by Technical Director Cheyenne Mendoza and Director of Special Projects & Infrastructure Erik Brown, in partnership with L-Acoustics, the upgrade equates to a true sensory experience from every single seat. Each seat is acoustically built to absorb sound like a human body, even when there’s no one occupying that seat. With only 22 rows of seats, attendees are never more than 80 feet from the star on stage. Often, guests are seated close enough to see a performer’s facial expressions.
New acoustic banners installed this fall deepen the dynamic sound of each show and add to the theater’s clean, contemporary look.
During the upcoming winter holidays, the interior halls will be decked, and the lobby will feature an 18-foot decorated tree, sourced from within Colorado. The Vilar’s resident decorator drapes festive lights and trim among the branches, and throughout the lobby, transforming the beautiful space into a holiday delight. Patrons can enjoy the holiday décor starting Nov. 30 and into the New Year. It’s the perfect complement to the special holiday shows slated for mid-December through the New Year, including “The Nutcracker Ballet” presented by Vail Friends of Dance Dec. 15-17, Nu Deco Ensemble Dec. 21, Livingston Taylor Dec. 28, and Michael Carbonaro: Lies On Stage Dec. 30.
The Vilar has earned a reputation as one of the premier performing arts venues in the Mountain West, but it’s the organization’s unwavering commitment to both patrons of the arts from near and far and members of the surrounding mountain community that keeps artists and fans returning. The Vilar is a destination for everyone. This warm, welcoming space embraces all, from children experiencing performance through the annual Support The Arts Reaching Students (STARS) program, which curates free matinee experiences for local students, to a true commitment to accessibility for seniors and ability-challenged patrons, with programming appealing to varied audiences in between.
With the opening of the Vilar in February 1998, Beaver Creek became the first mountain resort community in the world with its own luxury performing arts facility presenting diverse cultural events. It still remains the only true theater experience in the Vail Valley, and the organization is devoted to preserving its accessibility as a community venue while creating a memorable experience for all who visit.