Comedy Works

Comedy Works is a stand-up comedy club with two locations in the Denver, CO area. The downtown club is located in historic Larimer Square at 1226 15th Street. The south club is part of The Landmark development in Greenwood Village at 5345 Landmark Place.

History

Originally known as the Comedy Shoppe, owners George McKelvey (remembered as the 'godfather' of Denver's comedy community[1]), Doug Olson, and Edd Nichols renamed the venue Comedy Works in 1981 and moved it to a basement space in the Granite/Graham-Clayton building.[2] In September of that year, Comedy Works was the first nightclub in Denver to have professional comedy on a full-time basis. In the next 30 years, Comedy Works grew into the nationally recognized club that it is today featuring names like Roseanne Barr, who started her stand-up career at a Comedy Works open-mic night, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers, Tim Allen, Ellen DeGeneres, Dennis Miller, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Jamie Foxx, Craig Ferguson, George Lopez, and Lewis Black.

Wende Curtis, current owner started as a cocktail waitress at a now-defunct Fort Collins, CO Comedy Works location.[3] After graduating from CSU, Curtis became a manager for the Fort Collins location. She later managed a Tampa, FL Comedy Works and turned around that club in the process. Her skills in revamping clubs lead to her return to Denver in 1998 to run the Larimer Square location. In 2001 the parent company faced financial difficulties and Curtis and two partners bought the business. By 2003 she bought out her partners and became one of the few female comedy club owners in the country.

Larimer Square Location

Comedy Work currently has two locations. Comedy Works Downtown is located just off the corner of 15th and Larimer Streets at Larimer Square - the crossroad where 1858 gold miners established a settlement that would become the Mile High City. Since 1981, the club has operated downstairs in the basement of the Granite Building. The box office is located in the upstairs lobby. If you arrive early you can enjoy a pre-show drink at our lobby bar which opens 1 hour and 15 minutes before show time. Several high-profile comedians have recorded CDs at the Larimer Square club including Kathleen Madigan ("Shallow Happy Thoughts for the Soul" 2002) and Dave Attell ("Skanks for the Memories" 2003.)[4]

Every Tuesday night we host a New Talent Night, which has launched the careers of comedy superstars such as Roseanne and Josh Blue. To secure time, you must call our New Talent Hotline at (303) 477-7844.

The Landmark

Owner Wende Curtis made the decision to expand in 2005, and 3 tiresome years later the new Landmark location became a reality. Comedy Works South at The Landmark opened in September 2008, located just off I-25 between Belleview and Orchard, this state-of-the-art venue carries on Comedy Works’ legendary reputation for providing world class comedy, but with an upscale twist. In addition to a 425 seat showroom, it includes Lucy Restaurant, Lila B. Lounge, the Curtis Ballroom, and smaller rooms for hosting business functions and private events.

Other

Comedy Works Entertainment is the booking arm of the business. Under the leadership of Mike Raftery, the company produces comedy concerts in larger venues around Denver and the state of Colorado. It also serves in a management capacity, guiding the careers of several local and national comedians including Last Comic Standing season 4 winner Josh Blue.

References

  1. ↑ "George McKelvey | PASSINGS / George McKelvey - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  2. ↑ Bill HustedThe Denver Post (2010-12-17). "Husted: Famed fashion designers dressing up fundraiser". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Hicks, L. Wayne; Attaché, Cultural (2010-09-13). "Your laughs at Comedy Works could wind up on a CD".

External links