Denver Comedy Scene | Denver Comedians and Comedy Clubs

Mile High Laughs With the Country's Top Comedians

Denver's comedy clubs regularly attract the biggest and brightest stars in stand-up from around the country, and there are plenty of local comics, with national followings, who perform regularly, like Andrew Orvedahl, Josh Blue and John "Hippieman" Novosad. And that's not even mentioning the numerous cutting-edge improv troupes and indie sketch comedy groups that call the Mile High City home. Here's a quick primer on Denver's comedy world. To find out what's happening now, take a look at the Denver 365 comedy events page.

Denver Comedy Clubs

Denver has some serious comedy clubs that draw top comedians from everywhere.

Comedy Works

Comedy Works in Larimer Square should serve as the starting point to any exploration of the Denver comedy scene. Named one of the top five comedy clubs in the country by USA Today, and owned by Denver comedy veteran Wende Curtis, the original downtown location is a longstanding Mile High City institution, where local comics hone their craft and where the most famous stand-ups in the world go out of their way to perform at. Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Dennis Miller — they've all brought down the house at Comedy Works. Head to the club every Tuesday night for New Talent Night, where tomorrow's stars try out their latest and greatest material — you might even be inspired to start writing jokes yourself! Comedy Works also has a location at the Landmark in Greenwood Village.

RISE Comedy

Experience improv, stand-up and sketch comedy in its finest form at RISE Comedy in Lower Downtown (LoDo). One of their signature acts is improvised Broadway musicals. Every show is original, never to be repeated. RISE Comedy has received numerous accolades from Westword, CBS Local, Yelp and many others. Have a drink at the full bar or tap into your inner comedian by taking a comedy class.

Denver Comedy Underground

Not only does this club bring in some of the best comics around, but it also provides some of the most affordable entertainment in town. The club offers great seats for everyone, free pizza and no two-drink minimums.

The Denver Comedy Lounge

Every Friday and Saturday night, Colorado Sake Co. showcases local and touring stand-up comics in the back of their taproom. The Denver Comedy Lounge is a special space dedicated to laughs. Colorado Sake Company is Colorado's first local sake brewery and tasting room and is located in the hip River North Art District (RiNo).

More Places to Find Comedy Acts in Denver

The Oriental Theater in the Highland neighborhood of Denver frequently brings local comedians to its stage. Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, located in the Daniels & Fisher Tower on the 16th Street pedestrian promenade downtown, hosts comedians, novelty music acts and burlesque performers. Located in Northfield, Improv Denver brings in top acts from all over. And the Bug Theatre, located in the Highland neighborhood, hosts the amazing Grawlix comedy super troupe once a month. The troupe is comprised of comedy veterans Adam Cayton-Holland, Ben Roy and Andrew Orvedahl.

Louis Johnson

Denver Comedians

Denver has a bevy of great stand-up comedians, many of whom started out locally and became national stars. Discover your favorite new jokester.

Andrew Orvedahl

Andrew Orvedahl is a comedian and full-fledged person presently based in Denver. If you were a comedy sommelier, you might say his comedy is somewhat cerebral, with a dry finish and floral notes of sarcasm. He prefers mixing real-life stories with creative (and often improvised) observations within those stories. In addition to performing all over the country, he also co-created and starred in the sitcom "Those Who Can't." Orvedahl is one-third of the Denver comedy troupe The Grawlix.

Josh Blue

Denver's favorite hometown comedian was the winner of Season 4 of NBC's hit show "Last Comic Standing," and he has emerged as one of the hottest comedians in the country, performing to sold-out audiences across the nation. Blue is a diverse and triumphant individual — hilarious stand-up comedian, talented artist and stellar player on the U.S. Paralympic Soccer team, at all times refusing to bow to any of the challenges that come from living with cerebral palsy. He uses his incredible sense of humor to defy stereotypes and encourage others to overcome their preconceived notions about people who are considered "disabled."

Adam Cayton-Holland

Despite being born into a white, upper-middle-class family, Adam Cayton-Holland has been able to overcome the numerous non-existent hurdles that have faced him to become by far the funniest comedian on his block. Named one of "25 comics to watch" by Esquire magazine, Cayton-Holland is a headliner who plays clubs and colleges all over the country. Cayton-Holland and fellow Denver comedians Ben Roy and Andrew Orvedahl (who collectively perform as The Grawlix) collaborated on the sitcom, "Those Who Can't." He also has a podcast called “My Dining Room Table,” available on iTunes.

Ben Roy

Taking comedy audiences by storm since 2004, Ben Roy brings unparalleled energy and a unique voice to the stage. Often compared to Lewis Black or Bill Hicks because of his passionate, ranting approach, Roy has a style that is definitively his own. Roy cut his comedic teeth in Denver at Comedy Works. Since then, he has been selected to perform at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and all the other major laugh fests. He's also been featured on HBO's "Funny as Hell" series; in John Wenzel's book, "Mock Stars: Indie Comedy and Dangerously Funny" (alongside comedy greats like Patton Oswalt and Fred Armisen); and on the Comedy Central show "Adam DeVine's House Party." In 2023, his first streaming stand-up special, "Hyena," was released, and NPR named it one of its top specials of the year. Building on that success, "Hyena" was licensed by Hulu and Disney+ and began streaming on those platforms. Roy is also a member of the Denver-based Grawlix troupe.

Brent Gill

Brent Gill has devoted his life to comedy. This enables him to report back to audiences on the terrible decisions and ridiculous insights that make up his daily existence. Described as "a boisterous paragon of Denver comedy" by Westword, Gill produces/hosts one of Colorado's top weekly comedy shows, the Boulder Comedy Show. While regularly touring the U.S. and Canada since 2006, Gill made his television debut on Viceland’s "Flophouse" documentary series, followed by appearances on "Hidden America with Jonah Ray" and "Jimmy Carr and the Science of Laughter" on the BBC. His first one-hour comedy special, "Live from Gilladelphia" was released with Helium Comedy Studios.

John Novosad

John Novosad, also known as "Hippieman," is a seasoned veteran of both stand-up and sketch comedy. A favorite at Denver's Comedy Works, audiences love his unique perspectives on topics ranging from corporate America to his original recipe for baked goods. Hippieman has toured extensively over the years and continues to do so. He has shared the stage with some of the biggest national acts working today, such as Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, Kevin Nealon and Craig Ferguson.

Korey David

This fearless comedian and actor draws on his unconventional upbringing as the black sheep in a conservative household and weaves in some of his other favorite themes: counterculture, personal rebellion and self-discovery. He's best known as the creator and host of Interrogation: True Crime Stories, an innovative live storytelling show that blends humor with true crime narratives, featuring comedians recounting crimes they've experienced while audiences play detective.

Joshua Emerson

Joshua Emerson is a Navajo comedian, writer, and actor. He is a founding member of the award-winning comedy troupe and production company, DeadRoom Comedy. He performs stand-up for audiences all around the country, including the Four Corners Comedy Festival, the Savage Henry Comedy Festival and the Black Hills Comedy Festival. He tackles emotionally charged subjects like race, mental health and love. Emerson has made it a life pursuit to let as many non-natives know how humor plays a large part in Indigenous culture.

Justine Marino

Hailing from Denver, Justine Marino attended St. Mary's Academy High School before quickly deciding she wanted to tell jokes until the end of time. Now living in Los Angeles, Marino has been seen on NBC's "Last Call With Carson Daly," Jenny McCarthy's "Dirty Sexy Funny," MTV, and E!, and was selected in 2014 as a "New Face" at Montreal's prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. She's still just a Colorado girl at heart, though, as she can most regularly be seen binge eating at Voodoo Doughnuts after shows.

Kevin Fitzgerald

With a background that ranges from being a bouncer for The Rolling Stones and The Who, working in veterinary medicine for 25 years, and performing for more than 20 years as a professional stand-up comedian, Kevin Fitzgerald is a true renaissance man. Perhaps best known for his 10 seasons on Animal Planet's "Emergency Vets," Fitzgerald's passion for making people laugh is surpassed only by his unwavering dedication to all creatures great and small. Fitzgerald has appeared on "The NBC Nightly News," "The Today Show," Discovery Channel's "Home Matters" and CBS's "The Late Late Show."

Katie McDonald

A rising star on the Colorado comedy scene, Katie McDonald is known for her sharp political angles. She's been featured on the "Punch Up" podcast and appears at the Denver Comedy Lounge.

Louis Johnson

Denver comedian Louis Johnson has been seen on Showtime, Comedy Central, A&E and B.E.T. He's also done more than 20 USO comedy tours for military troops. He's presently headlining comedy clubs, major cruise lines, colleges and corporate events. Johnson is also a founding member of the critically acclaimed Sellout Comedy Tour and recently headlined at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He's also a founding member of the critically acclaimed The S.E.L.L.O.U.T. Comedy Tour.

Adam Cayton-Holland

Justine Marino

Phil Palisoul

Phil Palisoul has made his living as a comedian for more than 20 years. He's been all over the world, performing in such far-flung places as Hong Kong, China and Alaska. Palisoul toured Afghanistan to perform for the troops with Comics on Duty. He's worked with and won the respect of some of the biggest names in comedy, like Jerry Seinfeld, Drew Carey and George Lopez. His list of corporate clients is long and illustrious.

Sam Adams

Smooth. Clever. Colorful. Hilarious. These words are often used to describe Sam Adams as a comedian, public speaker and master of ceremonies. In 2001, he stepped in front of a microphone to perform stand-up comedy for the first time — at age 41. Eight years later, the former award-winning sports journalist was inspired to start a full-time career in entertainment after winning at the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival.

Steve McGrew

Comedian Steve "Mudflap" McGrew (the hell-bent southern gent) has been featured on Comedy Central in his own half-hour special. He can be heard on 24/7 Comedy and on Sirius XM radio. Mudflap has released several comedy CDs; his latest, "One Sick Puppy," is available on iTunes. Mudflap is a regular at comedy clubs in Las Vegas. He is in high demand for comedy clubs and casino shows all around the country. Mudflap also performs regularly in London and elsewhere around the United Kingdom.

Troy Walker

If you haven't heard yet, the Denver comedy scene is blowing up and Troy Walker is one of the most talented local rising stars. Walker has quickly become one of Denver's most sought-after comedians, a designation he'd dismiss with a modest scoff, despite its accuracy. A regular at Comedy Works, Walker has won the Comedy Works "New Faces" contest twice. He is currently a writer for "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and wrote for both the 95th and 96th Academy Awards.

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