62 APRIL 4-10, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best LGBTQ+ Comedy Event and Podcast Dyketopia dyketopia.com Lee Robinson and Kate McLachlan are proof that true creative comedians can make people laugh without punching down or hurting feelings. The duo’s queer variety show, Dyketopia, has grown from its backyard beginnings to selling out the Oriental Theater, receiving a grant from Eventbrite and even hosting a festival on a farm that included friend speed dating and a petting zoo; it also expanded into a weekly podcast of the same name. Dyke- topia involves game-show-esque features, improv, standup and more, and has been a huge success: Robinson and McLachlan have plans to take it to L.A. and New York later this year. We’re fi ne with that, as long as they come back to the Mile High! Best Comedy Club for Local and National Talent Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th Street 303-595-3637 South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village 720-274-6800 comedyworks.com Comedy Works has been a testament to Denver’s love of the comedy scene since it opened downtown in 1981, and there was just more to love when it added the Com- edy Works South location in 2008. Comedy Works was named one of the top fi ve com- edy clubs in the country by USA Today and is a favorite of such comedy legends as Dave Chapelle, Jerry Seinfeld and Chelsea Han- dler, but the venue also serves as a beacon for emerging talent, hosting events such as New Talent Night, New Faces Contest and Funny Final Four throughout the year. Under Wende Curtis’s leadership, Comedy Works is the ultimate destination for com- edy fans looking for the perfect balance of legendary performers and local talent. Best Comedy Club Owned by a Comic Denver Comedy Lounge 3559 Larimer Street (at Colorado Sake Co.) 720-449-6963 denvercomedylounge.com The Denver Comedy Lounge is RiNo’s pre- mier destination for high-quality comedy entertainment, thanks to the vision of its founder, standup comedian Ben Kronberg. With an impressive career highlighted by a standout performance at the 2007 HBO As- pen Comedy Festival and appearances on national platforms including Jimmy Kim- mel Live and Comedy Central, Kronberg brings a wealth of experience, a keen eye for talent and a commitment to diversity to his club. Comedians, musicians and artists take the stage every weekend at 8 p.m. Best Intimate Improv Club Chaos Bloom Theater 70 South Broadway 720-432-3581 chaosbloom.com Since it opened in the Baker neighborhood in July 2020, Chaos Bloom has quickly be- come the city’s top venue for small-scale improv comedy. Beyond providing nightly laughs with a diverse lineup of both local and national talent, Chaos Bloom has es- tablished itself as a breeding ground for comedic excellence through its compre- hensive training center. Under director Amey Goerlich, a veteran of the NYC and L.A. comedy scenes, Chaos thrives on un- predictability; each improv show promises a unique experience, especially the eclectic Friday night performances that range from modern clowning to sketch comedy. And you can’t beat the price of $5 for most shows. Best Historic Comedy Club The Bug Theatre 3654 Navajo Street 303-477-5977 bugtheatre.org With a rich history dating back to its found- ing in 1912 as the Ideal Theater, the Bug Theatre has transformed through the de- cades into a premier mid-sized comedy venue. Purchased by artist landlords forty years ago and renamed for its affectionate nickname of “the Bug House,” the Bug now thrives as a home for the arts, thanks to its commitment to accessibility, community engagement and affordable rental rates and ticket prices. Best Affordable, High- Quality Comedy Club Denver Comedy Underground Althea Center, 1400 Williams Street 303-578-9213 denvercomedyunderground.com Denver Comedy Underground’s welcome deal of pizza, a drink, easy parking and fantastic comedy for just $20 provides the perfect mix for a hilarious night out. Launched by Ben Bryant in 2019 and moved to Capitol Hill in September 2021, today the venue offers performances from Thursday through Saturday with an im- pressive lineup of emerging voices as well as nationally recognized comedians from such platforms as Netflix and Comedy Central. Bryant’s commitment to deliver- ing high-quality entertainment at an acces- sible price point, paired with Denver’s rich comedic talent and Arts and Entertainment continued from page 60 continued on page 64 GETT Y IMAGES/ IRINA KOMARITSKAIA
