72 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best New Play Cheyanne Cipriano Ortega/Control Group Productions controlgroupproductions.org Cipriano Ortega’s debut play, Cheyanne, thoughtfully confronted the collision between artistic dreams, family obligations and social expectations. Presented by Control Group Productions, the play followed painter Chey- anne, poignantly portrayed by Iliana Lucero Barron, as she balanced her creative integrity against familial demands and personal rela- tionships strained by societal pressures. With a minimal yet evocative set and intimate direc- tion by Phil Luna, the play skillfully explored themes of art, race, gender and authenticity, showcasing richly layered performances by Ortega, Angel Mendez and Magally Luna. In a landscape hungry for genuine voices, Chey- anne offered an unfl inching glimpse into the messy yet hopeful lives of creators determined to forge their paths, no matter the cost. Best Costume Design and Musical Number About Shit Eyes Up, Mouth Agape Buntport Theater/Square Product Theatre 717 Lipan Street 720-946-1388 buntport.com Denver’s delightfully irreverent Buntport Theater joined forces with Emily K. Har- rison and Square Product Theatre to hi- lariously commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the infamous Dave Matthews Band bus sewage incident in Eyes Up, Mouth Agape. While the production playfully tack- led this bizarre chapter of pop-culture his- tory through comedic documentary-style interviews, the standout achievements were undeniably its brilliantly inventive costume design and an unforgettable musical number dedicated entirely to, yes, shit. The costumes — anthropomorphic versions of the bridge, boat and bus — combined whimsical absur- dity with clever craftsmanship, making each inanimate object instantly memorable. But the pinnacle was the troupe’s over-the-top musical tribute to “Poopgate,” which was a riotous, gleefully vulgar spectacle. Through these creative fl ourishes, Buntport turned a shitty situation into a hilarious triumph of costuming and musical comedy. Best New Comedy Festival Denver Sketch Festival RISE Comedy 1260 22nd Street 303-578-0079 risecomedy.com Thanks to local comedy producers Katie Congrove and Connor Schuck, sketch com- edy in Denver now has a festival of its very own. The fi rst-ever Denver Sketch Festival, held at RISE Comedy in October, provided three days of boundary-breaking hilarity, with everything from outrageous clowns and quirky solo shows to workshops designed to nurture sketch comedians. Congrove and Schuck aimed beyond familiar formulas to show that sketch comedy isn’t just Saturday Night Live knock-offs. Drawing performers from across North America, the new festival promises to keep the city’s comedy scene on the national map — one sketch at a time. Best Comedy Album Residual Income Sammy Anzer and Ed Bell burnthisrecords.com Denver comics Sammy Anzer and Ed Bell joked for years about recording a comedy album together for the “residual income.” Their vision became reality in Residual In- come, recorded at Hotel Boulderado’s Comic Cents Comedy Club and released by Burn This Records on March 1, 2024. Highlight- ing Anzer’s New York charm and Bell’s sharp Midwestern wit, the album is a testament to the innovative spirit of Denver’s collabora- tive comedy scene. Refl ecting their years of local friendship and creative partnership, the set is fresh, funny and full of Denver’s distinct comedic voice. A milestone for local comedy, Residual Income briefl y hit number one on the iTunes comedy charts — proving that Denver comics can compete anywhere. Best YouTube Special Interrogation: True Crime Stories Korey David youtube.com/watch?v=Kc5Tzn70AXs Denver comedian Korey David nearly can- celed his taping of Interrogation: True Crime Stories in Houston when sewage backups and mysterious siren sounds threatened the production. Turns out the ominous drone came from a siren mistakenly activated in David’s prop bag. Crisis averted, the taping delivered laughs and true-crime storytell- ing from a stellar comedic lineup, including Jesse James, Lisa Curry and Colton Dowl- ing. The special, which debuted on YouTube in March 2024, has since garnered thou- sands of views, cementing David’s unique approach to comedy: blending humor with stories of criminal misadventures. David is one of Denver’s funniest additions to the scene, demonstrating that crime does pay (at least in laughs). Best Longtime Hosts GerRee Hinshaw and Alex Weimer 3654 Navajo Street 303-477-5977 bugtheatre.org/freak-train Denver comedy’s wildest monthly tradi- tion, Freak Train at the Bug Theatre, has thrived for nearly 25 years thanks largely to the infectious energy and commitment of host GerRee Hinshaw and her stalwart “guy in the booth,” Alex Weimer. Every last Monday, a dozen brave performers each get fi ve uncensored minutes to share anything — and we mean anything — they choose, from slam poetry to insect lectures to eccentric monologues. GerRee keeps the evening moving with warmth and wit, while Alex expertly wrangles the tech- nical chaos behind the scenes. Together, they’ve created a welcoming stage where spontaneity and creative courage reign supreme, and everyone (minus glitter us- ers) is invited. Arts & Entertainment continued from page 70 continued on page 76
