Denver said goodbye to the all-women Pussy Bros. troupe last month as one of its members (Rachel Weeks) prepared to leave for Los Angeles. But the cycle of coming up in the Mile High City’s crowded, competitive stand-up scene and eventually finding it too small for one’s career ambitions continues with dozens of open-mics, showcases and club dates around town.
In addition to that, we’ve got some can’t-miss headliners and a fast-growing mountain festival this month. Here’s the best of the best in Colorado comedy in February.
Jackie Kashian and Natasha Leggero
Wende Curtis has never been one to book comics on anything other than talent, polish and audience appeal, but it just so happens that her Comedy Works clubs are hosting an unusually large number of female comics this month (by male-dominated industry standards, anyway). Among the five, Jackie Kashian and Natasha Leggero stand out as particular contrasts. While both are national touring headliners and TV veterans, Kashian — a buddy of (and frequent opener for) Maria Bamford — plays on her regular-gal looks and Midwestern heritage for her persona, while Leggero affects an air of haughty glamour. Both are hilarious and worth seeing live.
Jackie Kashian plays various shows Feb. 6-9 at Comedy Works South, while Natasha Leggero plays Feb. 7-9 at Comedy Works at Larimer Square. Tickets: $16-$30. comedyworks.com
Aziz Ansari
While rightly disillusioned comedy fans continue to sort through #MeToo-driven sexual misconduct revelations over the past year, still-uncertain is the future of Aziz Ansari. Despite being accused of inappropriate behavior in an anonymous (and seemingly credible) online essay last year, his performing and touring career hasn’t suffered nearly as much as, say, Chris Hardwick, the Nerdist co-founder and “Talking Dead” host who shared the stage with Ansari during the Oddball Comedy Tour (at Red Rocks in 2014). In fact, Ansari’s initial show announcement in Denver proved so popular that promoters quickly added two more. What exactly he will talk about remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if he goes after the social justice crusaders who staggered him last year.
7:30 p.m. (sold out) and 10:30 p.m. Feb. 16; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 (sold out). Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Curtis St. Tickets: $68. axs.com
The People’s Building
While bars, galleries, music venues and comic-book shops have already jumped into the stand-up game, Colorado’s civic spaces have only recently been appreciating the audience-draw of live comedy. That’s true of Aurora’s recently renovated People’s Building, which has been hosting live performances in the hopes of making residents rethink their prejudices about the formerly gritty East Colfax Avenue. On Feb. 20, the building hosts its first-ever comedy show, with Katie Bowmanleading a night of Colorado stand-ups including Brad Galli, Andres Becerril, Allison Rose, Zeke Herrera and headliner ShaNae Ross (8:30 p.m.). The next night, Denver’s Black Actors Guild returns to Aurora for stand-up and improv (7 p.m.) as part of “Colfax Comedy with the Guild.” Both offer affordable and approachable ways to jump into the local stand-up and improv scenes.
$5 suggested cover. Ages 18 and up encouraged. 9995 E. Colfax Ave. thepeoplesbuilding.com
Aspen Laugh Festival
“After eight years, the Aspen Laugh Festival appears to be hitting its stride,” Aspen Times A&E editor Andrew Travers wrote last year. If that was true then, the event is positively sprinting into 2019. Building on its impressive booking, this year’s Aspen Laugh Festival, Feb. 19-23 at the historic Wheeler Opera House (formerly one of the main venues for HBO’s huge U.S. Comedy Arts Festival), will feature Tig Notaro, Kathleen Madigan, Jo Koy, Nate Bargatze, Rachel Feinstein, Gary Gulman, Moshe Kasher, Julian McCullough, Becky Robinson, Consensual Improv, Alex Edelman and more. With the High Plains Comedy Festival humming along in Denver, and the upstart Southwest Chief Comedy and Bicycle Festival in Trinidad later this year, we’ve got a funny feeling about the state’s comedy-fest future. (Funny ha-ha, that is.)
Various shows Feb. 19-23 at the Wheeler, Silver City Saloon and Limelight Lounge. Tickets: $30-$75. wheeleroperahouse.com/laugh-fest
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