Comedy Works
Encyclopedia
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.
Roseanne Barr
started her stand-up career at a Comedy Works open-mic night. Other top comedians who have worked the clubs include 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
.
Originally known as the Comedy Shoppe, owners George McKelvey (remembered as the 'godfather' of Denver's comedy community), 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.
Current owner Wende Curtis started as a cocktail waitress
at a now-defunct Fort Collins, CO Comedy Works location. She later managed a Tampa, FL Comedy Works and turned around that club in the process. Curtis returned to Denver in 1998 to run the Larimer Square location. In 2003 she bought out her partners and became one of the few female comedy club owners in the country.
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.)
Comedy Works South at The Landmark opened in September 2008. In addition to a 500 seat showroom, it includes Lucy Restaurant, Lila B. Lounge, the Curtis Ballroom, and smaller rooms for hosting business functions and private events.
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
.
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
started her stand-up career at a Comedy Works open-mic night. Other top comedians who have worked the clubs include Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
, Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, Tim Allen
Tim Allen
Tim Allen is an American comedian, actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer, known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement...
, Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
, Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
, Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle
David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
, Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
, Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
, George Lopez
George Lopez
George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture...
, and Lewis Black
Lewis Black
Lewis Niles Black is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena...
.
Originally known as the Comedy Shoppe, owners George McKelvey (remembered as the 'godfather' of Denver's comedy community), 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.
Current owner Wende Curtis started as a cocktail waitress
Cocktail waitress
A cocktail waitress is a type of server who specializes in bringing drinks to patrons of bars, casinos, comedy clubs, live music venues and other drinking establishments and often wears revealing clothing in order to get more tips...
at a now-defunct Fort Collins, CO Comedy Works location. She later managed a Tampa, FL Comedy Works and turned around that club in the process. Curtis returned to Denver in 1998 to run the Larimer Square location. In 2003 she bought out her partners and became one of the few female comedy club owners in the country.
Several high-profile comedians have recorded CDs at the Larimer Square club including Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan is an American comedian.-Early life:Kathleen Madigan grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant as one of seven children in a large Irish-American family...
("Shallow Happy Thoughts for the Soul" 2002) and Dave Attell
Dave Attell
Dave Attell is an American stand-up comedian and the host of Comedy Central's Insomniac with Dave Attell and The Gong Show with Dave Attell.-Stand-up beginning:...
("Skanks for the Memories
Skanks for the Memories
Skanks for the Memories... is a comedy album by Dave Attell released in 2003 on Comedy Central Records. It was recorded live at Comedy Works in Denver, CO.-Track listing:#"Odd Look"#"Drinking Tips" #"Fun Happens Late"#"Travel"#"Flying"...
" 2003.)
Comedy Works South at The Landmark opened in September 2008. In addition to a 500 seat showroom, it includes Lucy Restaurant, Lila B. Lounge, the Curtis Ballroom, and smaller rooms for hosting business functions and private events.
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
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
season 4 winner Josh Blue
Josh Blue
Josh Blue is an American comedian. He was voted the Last Comic Standing on NBC's reality show Last Comic Standing during its fourth season, which aired May–August 2006...
.