14 MARCH 14-20, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Lounge just adds to RiNo’s reputation as the city’s hot entertainment district. It was founded by standup comedian Ben Kron- berg, whose star-studded résumé includes a breakout performance at the 2007 HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, along with appear- ances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, Last Call With Carson Daly, Late Night With Seth Meyers and his own Comedy Central half-hour special. Every weekend night at 8 p.m., the stage comes alive with comedians, musicians and artists, and Kronberg’s commitment to showcasing a range of comedic voices makes the Denver Comedy Lounge a must-visit destination for comedy enthusiasts seeking top-tier performances. Denver Comedy Underground Althea Center at 1400 Williams Street “Our tagline says it all! Free Pizza, Free Drink, Great Com- edy!” says founder Ben Bryant. “On a typical weekend, audi- ence members are treated to some of the best comedians in the nation, and they get free pizza and free drinks with their ticket. It’s the most fun you can have on Colfax for $20.” In 2019, Bryant launched Denver Comedy Underground in the back room of the Irish Snug; following COVID and the Snug’s closure, he moved it to Capitol Hill, where it offi cially opened in September 2021. From emerging voices to nationally acclaimed comedians hailing from Netfl ix, Comedy Central, theaters, comedy clubs, TV and more, Denver Comedy Underground delivers top- notch talent at an affordable price Thursday through Saturday. “Denver’s comedy talent is unmatched, and our audiences are great, too,” Bryant proclaims. “People here in Denver can see great shows all the time — at Denver Comedy Underground, of course!” Denver’s Dangerous Theatre 2620 West Second Avenue, #1 After opening Performance Space Orlando over two decades ago, Winnie Wenglewick moved from Florida to Denver, began renting venues for play productions, and fi nally took over a private social club that became Dan- gerous Theatre in August 2007. Throughout its existence, Dangerous Theatre has been a champion of new, original and daring works, often focusing on productions that might not fi nd a stage elsewhere — from the uncen- sored and boundary-pushing Limit Breaker open-mic variety show every Sunday, which celebrates the uniqueness of individuals living on society’s fringes, to the engaging and inclusive Improv Shenanigans weekly Tuesday workshops designed for performers and aspiring improvisers of all experience levels. Live dangerously! Denver Improv 8246 Northfi eld Boulevard, Unit 1400 The Improv, a national chain, has been pro- ducing comedy in cities across the coun- try for over forty years; Denver Improv joined the lineup as an early landmark in Central Park. True to its parent’s reputa- tion, the inviting club offers a full-service experience, seamlessly connecting food and standup. With a menu that categorizes items as “opening acts” (appetizers) and “headliners” (entrees), the Denver Improv provides a culinary complement to its come- dic entertainment. “We’ve got a lot of things coming down the pipeline — a lot of cool collaborations that are coming up and a lot of fun projects,” says general manager Chris Gottlieb. “Guest experience is our number- one priority; we want to bring people back by making sure that they have a great time.” Lion’s Lair 2022 East Colfax Avenue Step into the heart of Denver’s homegrown scene at the Lion’s Lair, the city’s oldest continually operating independent music venue. Its storied history dates back to the 1930s, when it fi rst opened as the Playboy Club, transforming into the Aladdin Lounge in 1936. In 1967, it was reborn as the Lion’s Lair under the ownership of Jim Lyons; the name has endured even as the ownership has evolved. While the Lair is known for its live- music offerings, it also embraces comedy, burlesque and variety, hosting events like Open Mic Comedy Night, led by Anthony Crawford every Monday at 10 p.m., and The Gong Show, Tuesdays at 9:30. RISE Comedy 1260 22nd Street Voodoo Comedy Playhouse was founded in 2011 by Stephen Wilder, who joined with new partners and co-owners Nick Arm- strong and Josh Nicols in 2019; during the pandemic, the venue evolved into RISE Comedy. “A typical evening at RISE Comedy is fi lled with comedy variety. Anything from improv, standup, sketch comedy, variety shows, drag comedy, clown and comedy festivals. We have the most diverse offerings in comedy in the city. You can relax in our full-service bar, too, that champions local beer, wine and cocktails,” says Armstrong. “I love what we are building here in Denver, and especially at RISE Comedy: an inclusive place for all performers to fi nd their voices. I’m excited to see the world know more about Denver comedy and how great it is. The talent is amazing out here, and Denver will be a comedy force to be reckoned with.” The Bug Theatre 3654 Navajo Street Back in 1912, the Bug opened as the Ideal Theater, a nickelodeon movie house; after that, it went through various names, includ- ing the World Theatre, the Navajo and the Avalon, transforming into a church and then an appliance storage warehouse. In 1994 the space found new life when local artists Reed Weimer and Chandler Romeo acquired the building, created a 501(c)(3) titled Bug Performance and Media Art Cen- ter and promptly rebranded the place as the Bug Theatre, in homage to the nickname neighborhood kids had given it: “the Bug House.” The Bug’s mission remains rooted in making the arts accessible to all, with affordable rental rates and ticket prices. Executive director Alex Agosta-Weimer re- calls that when the Grawlix approached the Bug to host its monthly show a dozen or so years ago, “standup comedy really started to thrive at our nonprofi t theater.” And around town. “Live comedy is one of my absolute favorite things,” Agosta-Weimer adds. “From our medium-sized place at the Bug to the nationally, if not world-famous, amazing Comedy Works to the huge traveling shows that happen at the Paramount, and all of the local brewery shows and RISE and Denver Comedy Under- ground, and the High Plains Comedy Festival that Adam [Cayton-Holland] started, of course, Denver is home to doz- ens of brilliant comics. There is always a show somewhere, and I like that. It’s exciting that it is such a strong scene — very supportive, very collaborative. I wouldn’t work any other way.” Wide Right 2100 Curtis Street Named in homage to the Buffalo Bills’ Scott Norwood’s infamous missed Super Bowl fi eld goal kick in 1991, Wide Right opened just as COVID shut down bars across Colo- rado. But it survived by offering afford- able drinks, a vibrant event calendar and delectable bar fare, especially if you have a penchant for Buffalo classics. Beyond its sports affi liation, Wide Right celebrates artists with a punk-rock edge, frequently hosting open-mic nights, comedy shows and karaoke sessions. On Wednesdays the bar comes alive with a bustling comedy open mic, Thursdays are free-themed shows at which producers can try out new ideas, and Fridays continue the comedic tradition with ticketed showcases. — TRESCA Culture continued from page 12 The Bug attracts comedy fans; Wide Right’s building has a long comedic lineage. 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