12 MARCH 14-20, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Andrew Orvedahl, kicked off in Denver. Because they had yet to earn regular stage time at Comedy Works, the ambitious group started doing its own shows. “Alt-comedy in the 2000s is a well-docu- mented phenomenon, and I was cognizant of it and wanted to emulate things I had seen or heard about in NYC — Luna Lounge [and] Invite Them Up are two shows that come to mind — so we started doing a show called Los Comicos Super Hilariosos at the Old Curtis Street Bar (now Wide Right) and quickly moved on from there to an art gallery/ware- house space called Orange Cat Studios, which is now the bar Matchbox,” Cayton-Holland re- calls. “That’s when things really started to pop. We had an insanely sold-out monthly show, national headliners would pop in — it became a sort of hub for indie, intelligent, outside-of- the-mainstream comedy in Denver. “It wasn’t just standup, though that was the crux of it, but we would do sketches as well, live and video. We would do a news segment, we would have bands and musi- cians on the show — lots of left-of-center stuff,” he continues. “That led to the Grawlix, which led to our TV show, Those Who Can’t. ... I helped kick-start an alternative comedy scene in Denver, outside of the clubs — while always playing the clubs, as well. Of that, I’m quite proud. Denver now has one of the more ro- bust indie comedy scenes in the country, with showcase shows all over the city every night of the week, as well as many other alternative comedy clubs, in ad- dition to Comedy Works. Com- edy Works paved the way for everything by making Denver this comedy-savvy city and be- ing one of the best comedy clubs in the country, so the appetite for comedy was there.” Rather than directly compete with the plethora of alternative performances and open mics across the city, the Denver Im- prov’s Roast Battles provide an outlet for local talents to try their hand on its stage. “There are three to five open mics and local shows that happen every night throughout Denver,” Gottlieb notes. “It’s an incredibly enriched community, and I don’t see a need to cannibalize that business es- sentially by outright competing. I very much believe that, coming out of the pandemic, competition in business and in general has changed. I don’t think it’s all about snuffi ng out your competition; I would rather collaborate. All these open mics are happening, and they’re all different quality levels. They’re not all fantastic, but by and large, these guys are doing a great job, so I don’t feel the need to push them out. I’d rather help cultivate that.” Cayton-Holland’s High Plains Comedy Festival mirrors Denver’s evolution into a comedy hub. In- spired by Portland’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Cayton-Holland sought to showcase Denver’s co- medic talent on a national stage. Over the past ten years, the festival has grown from a local gathering to a national destination for agents and managers seeking a spot for their clients, emphasizing Denver’s signifi - cance in the comedy world. Adding to Denver’s comedy mosaic is the Flea Market, a testament to the scene’s diversity and innovation. Hosted since 2021 by Rach Angard and Jared McBain, the monthly variety show blends standup, theater and per- formance art, challenging traditional comedy boundaries and refl ecting the city’s eclectic spirit. That spirit is inclusive, as demonstrated by Vatos Locos, the city’s fi rst bilingual com- edy festival, which Ricky Ramos organized last September to celebrate Mexican-Amer- ican culture and heritage. Denver’s unique position in the comedy landscape has attracted a constellation of comedy stars, too, making the city a regular stop on national tours and a favored location for recording specials. In the last year, comic Jim Gaffi gan had a sold-out six-night run at the Paramount and will be back for more in Colorado in September; Chelsea Handler was at Red Rocks; Lewis Black spent three days in Colorado as part of his fi nal tour; Jerry Seinfeld played the Bellco Theatre; Taylor Tom- linson, the new late-night host of After Midnight, performed here; Michelle Wolf stopped by Comedy Works; Denver native Troy Walker, who now writes for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, swung by Comedy Works South; Nikki Glaser, who attended the University of Colorado Boulder for a year and recorded her 2022 special at the Paramount Theatre, returned for a series of New Year’s Eve shows; rising star Hannah Ber- ner sold out her fi rst appearance at the Paramount; Denver native Tim Allen returned to the Bellco; veteran performer Paul Reiser taped his show at the Newman Center; and Iliza Shlesinger, who recorded her 2015 Netfl ix special at the Gothic Theatre, was the fi rst woman come- dian to headline Ball Arena. “Denver is one of those cities where I always had great experiences,” Shlesinger says. “I started at Comedy Works and kept coming back to do multiple sold-out shows. I did the Bellco Theatre, and now we’re play- ing the Ball Arena. I have a long- standing comedic history with Denver, just from their audiences treating me like a local and always showing up. I chose the area to fi lm Freezing Hot because, at the time, it was one of the cities that I felt most comfortable in, and I still do, because the crowds there are just smart, excited and love to party. Usually, loving to party and being smart don’t go hand in hand, but in Denver’s case, they do.” Known for their enthusiasm, Denver crowds encompass a wide range of tastes and are willing to experiment with the city’s array of open mics as well as new venues, such as Chaos Bloom Theater. And rather than passive consum- ers of comedy, audience members are active participants, creating an energetic atmosphere that fuels performers. “Denver is the perfect comedy city,” says Pat Barker, a comedian who serves as commis- sioner of the Roast Battle League. “I’ve had the pleasure of performing out there a few times, and it has sort of that Middle American blue- collar sensibility that I love, but it’s an intellec- tual city on top of that. Nobody’s too sensitive about anything, but they’re smart enough to get all the jokes; it’s the perfect middle ground for a Venn diagram of America.” “I feel like they’ve gotten smarter and smarter,” Curtis agrees. “We’ve always had great, smart audiences, but I feel like they’ve continued to get more comedy-savvy. Denver is a very hot market. The number of people in this state, and specifi cally in this metropolitan area, that go out to live events is higher than a lot of the averages across the entire country. That, combined with what we’ve done in com- edy, makes Denver’s entertainment industry very lucrative. It’s probably one of the hottest markets in the country. L.A. and New York will always be what they are, and then there’s Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and Boston, but they don’t have the same club presence that Denver does. ... Denver is in a comedy boom, and we’re not slowing down anytime soon.” Email the author at [email protected]. Culture continued from page 10 Wende Curtis started as a Comedy Works bartender. COMEDY WORKS TAKE TEN Whether you’re a comedy fi rst-timer or a seasoned fan, Denver has a venue for you! Here are the city’s best, in alphabetical order: Chaos Bloom Theater 70 South Broadway Opened in the Baker neighborhood in July 2020, Chaos Bloom is Denver’s newest hot spot for improv and sketch comedy, and also a place where aspiring comedians can sharpen their skills at a full training center. Thursday through Sunday, you can catch a show with comedians from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and, yes, Denver (Cayton-Holland will be there on March 14). “Every show is different since it is mainly improv,” says director Amey Goerlich. “Even if you come every Saturday at 8 p.m. to our MainStage Players shows, you’ll see differ- ent cast members and a totally different show each time. But Fridays are where we really mix it up, from modern clowning to an old-timey radio show to a straight-up character show or sketch show.” With a background in the NYC and L.A. comedy scenes, Goerlich is thrilled with what she’s seen happening in the Denver scene. “What excites me the most is seeing the high-quality performances we are getting out of this community,” she says. “We aren’t your typical small-market improv theater; we have some of the best of the best doing all our shows for only $5, for the most part, so I’m excited to keep that consistency here in Denver.” Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th Street, and South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village Both Comedy Works locations rate high with national names. Comedy Works Downtown opened on September 1, 1981; it was followed by Comedy Works South in October 2008, and together they’ve been rated one of the top fi ve comedy clubs in the country by USA Today. The legends who have graced these stages read like a who’s who of comedy royalty, including Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle, Lewis Black and Joan Rivers. But Comedy Works doesn’t just showcase established talent; it’s also a nurturing spot for emerging comedians, with many local acts going on to make their mark on the national comedy scene. “An evening at either Comedy Works location promises a memorable experience fi lled with laughter, amazing talent and a great atmosphere for comedy enthusiasts. Comedy Works is a popu- lar spot for both locals and tourists looking for a night of live entertainment in the Mile High City,” notes publicist Mel Gibson. “The future of comedy in Denver is promising due to its rich history, diverse comedy styles, thriving comedy clubs and the supportive comedy community. As the comedy scene continues to evolve and adapt to changing times, Denver will continue to stand out as a dynamic and exciting place for comedy enthusiasts and performers alike.” Denver Comedy Lounge 3559 Larimer Street The Denver Comedy RISE Comedy fi lls an improv niche. RISE COMEDY continued on page 14