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Comedy Works

3.5 star rating
based on 31 reviews

Categories: Comedy Clubs, Performing Arts

Neighborhoods: Lodo, Northwest
1226 15th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 595-3637
Hours:

Mon-Fri. 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Sat. 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sun. 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Music:
Juke Box
Best Nights:
Tue, Fri, Sat
Happy Hour:
No
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Coat Check:
No

31 reviews for Comedy Works

Review Highlights   

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"Tickle me Elmo star two is for featuring local comedians." (in 4 reviews)
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"I love how well Comedy Works treats our local comics because they (esp." (in 8 reviews)
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"It's set up nicely and brings in top-notch talent." (in 7 reviews)
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Photo of Allie V.

 

18

35

Allie V.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
11/20/2009

My friend and I went here last Saturday night to catch Ben Roy and Greg Baumhauer's (my two local favs) 10:30 show. I'd never been here before but as soon as we walked in we were shown where to go to pick up our tickets and down the stairs to where the shows were held.

Once down the stairs, we were promptly escorted to our seats, given menus, and had our order taken within 5 minutes of walking into the place. So the service is definitely amazing.

I can't talk about how tight it is in the general seating because we were seated right on the stage. I mean literally. It was pretty funny. Kind of uncomfortable, but my friend and I can say we had the best view in the house. We had an armrest with 2 cupholders for our drinks so that was pretty nice. We didn't realize there was a two drink minimum but don't have a problem with that because we're out to have fun and support places that support local talent.

I love how well Comedy Works treats our local comics because they (esp. Ben and Greg) definitely deserve it. They were hilarious and got the room going. Troy, the MC, was pretty funny and great at his job. It's a nice place, kind of small and intimate, but that's really how I would prefer seeing any kind of show. Everyone was extremely nice and hospitable and I would definitely come back to watch other comics perform here.

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Photo of Cassandra F.

Elite '09

9

101

Cassandra F.

Aurora, CO

4 star rating
11/1/2009

Went to see a show here and really enjoyed it. It's a small venue and feels very intimate. The food is so-so, but there are plenty of good restaurants around to hit before the show. The drinks are great though. The orange and strawberry ice cream drinks are fantastic! Very easy to hit your two item minimum.

The local comedians that opened the show I saw were really good, very funny. I enjoyed myself a lot, as did the rest of the group I was with. Definitely will be back.

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Photo of mollie m.

 

0

6

mollie m.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
11/16/2009

Comedy Works is the bees knees!! I've been going there regularly for about a year and a half now, and i can't complain! the tickets are a bit pricey, but if you sign up for their club online they usually send you enough tickets to get in for a year.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays are my favorite nights to go there. It's less crowded, they have a great happy hour at the bar upstairs (which is tended by the sweetest girls with heavy pours), and the ticket prices are cheaper. Tuesdays are new talent night, the tickets are only $10 and you're guaranteed to see some fresh faces and new jokes.
The two item minimum has never been an issue for me, but then again, I go out to have a good time and get a little sauced; how else are they supposed to pay for talent like Jon Reep, Charlie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, Wanda Sykes, ect? Being the devout regular that I am, I've seen a lot of weird stuff go down: people that make such a fuss about the two item minimum that they disturb the show cussing at their waitress, people that get way too drunk and rowdy and heckle the comedians (would you go down to Brenda in accounting and heckle her while she's trying to work?), and people that talk amongst themselves at such a volume you'd think they were on the DIA runway. The staff has to put up with a lot of crap, and they always handle it in a professional manner, I've rarely seen anyone ejected from the show and they always seem to find a way to diffuse the situation before it gets to that point. My five stars are for the amazing staff: stiff drinks, smiling waitresses, witty and polite door staff, and the wonderful local comedians. Comedy works at Comedy Works!

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Photo of Annie B.

Elite '09

34

157

Annie B.

Aurora, CO

3 star rating
10/4/2009

I really like The Comedy Works.  Most of the acts I've seen here have been hilarious!  I've been coming to The Comedy Works since I turned 21, in 2001.  The acts are great and the atmosphere is awesome, but they pack you in very tight and the chairs are extremely uncomfortable.  There are no arm rests, just a narrow wedge with holes in it for you to stick your drink.  I have to tightly cross my arms to not be smashed up against the person next to me.  Luckily, on my last trip here, I had my father on one side and my boyfriend on the other side so it wasn't so bad.  But I've been here when I've had to sit next to strangers and it's very uncomfortable.

If The Comedy Works would put in wider seats with more padding (I'd even suggest movie theater seats with cup holders) it would be much more enjoyable and I'd actually make a point to come here more often!  They also need to drop the bullshit 2 drink minimum they have.  The tickets are pricey enough!

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Photo of jeff T.

 

0

26

jeff T.

Colorado Springs, CO

3 star rating
9/30/2009

Its fun to step out of your everyday box sometimes. Yea the venue was small and packed, just like every other comedy club I've been to. the two drink min reminded me of cheesy strip club and when I got downstairs and saw how small and cramped it was I was glad it wasn't one.that started me out with a little laugh.
They have a great line up of big names coming and going. laughter is good for the soul, but bad for a big fat guy my stomach and sides hurt in the AM. I guess that a sign too start doing my push-up and sit-ups again, stupid sit-ups. Its was a great time lots of laughs, lots of over priced drinks. I love how laughter is contagious. I look forward to going back, life's to short get out and live.

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Photo of Bonnie G.

 

10

96

Bonnie G.

Littleton, CO

1 star rating
8/23/2009

Boo to Comedy Works!  I was so looking forward to this place!

First of all, there is nothing on their website about their two drink minimum.  There is ONE small sign by the bar upstairs that says, "Items purchased here do not go towards your two item minimum purchase in the showroom".  So, if we did not stop there for a drink, we would've never known about the food/beverage minimum.  
No one tells you anything.  Our server reminded us of the two item minimum at the end of the show, but told us she would let it slide.  I'm sure they let it slide for so many people because how would anyone know?!

The comedians were just meh.  Someone needs to tell the MC that you don't need to scream when you have a microphone unless you want your hard of hearing grandmother in Florida to hear you.  Really, we can all hear you loud and clear.  The second comedian was just awful.  The funniest part of his show was when he left the stage.  The next comedian had some funny moments, as did the headliner, but all in all, we weren't really entertained.

The seating is cramped.  It would be so much better if they got rid of the seats and made it all cocktail table style seating.

The only redeeming thing about the night was the fact that we were able to get discount tickets.  My friend won some kind of reserve special ticket pricing.  We paid 10 dollars for each ticket.  Still not worth it, in my opinion.

We won't be returning.

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Photo of Callie B.

 

4

29

Callie B.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
9/11/2009

I've been a patron of Comedy Works a few times. I've thought very carefully about this rating. Yes, I love live comedy. Who doesn't like a good laugh? Yes, I appreciate the history of the Comedy Works and its ability to draw big names as opposed to bars with local comedy nights. However, this isn't about the talent but the venue.

First on my list, like many others, is the 2 item minimum. If they are going to force you to buy over-priced drinks, at least make em strong. But, no, most of the mixed drinks taste like what a suburban girl would drink on her 21st birthday... fruity, sweet, or watered down. If they are going to force you to buy over-priced food, at least make the food above cafeteria quality. Seriously, liquid pump cheese on nachos and a turkey panini = pressed pre-packaged deli meat on wonder bread brushed with fake butter and put on a George Foreman. College students "cook" better than that.

Second on my list is the whole "enter to win" bull that they pull here. If you fill out the card, they will call you no matter what to tell you that you've won a group discount package. Sure, they cut the ticket price down to $5 a piece but you can't go to any headliner shows and usually have to go on a weeknight. All 5 people I went with got a call. You're not special, don't get fooled into thinking you are.

Third, a little small. The seats are pretty close together and the ventilation isn't top notch. Also, there are definitely "bad seats" like with pillars in your way (as opposed to the Improv where every seat is a good seat.)

All that being said, comedy is comedy and I love to laugh. I go there for the acts. Amateur night here is better than anywhere else in Denver. The price definitely prevents frequent visits, but I'm supporting the people who add some laughter to the world, and I'm okay with that.

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Photo of Brett G.

Elite '09

39

316

Brett G.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
4/3/2009

The waitstaff at this place were incredibly rude and condescending.  We were patronized for not drinking enough.  When I didn't want to order another beer (since i had about one sip of my first), the waitress was like, you know there is a drink minimum, and I've already let others in your group slide.  Well too bad.  I'm not buying more drinks that I'm not going to enjoy.  Pushing drinks on you is just irresponsible.

There were four acts, the first and last comedians were good, but the other two were not at all.  The second guy was quite vulgar, and the third guy was painfully bad.  Both of them were hard to watch.  I felt kind of butchered by the time the main act started.

Then I was taking a call out in the lobby, and the people who worked there were so loud and catty themselves, it made it impossible to hear my conversation.  They told me to move back (towards them) so I didn't disturb anyone else in the audience.  Actually they were the ones making more noise than I.

The night started off well enough there, but it went downhill quickly.  It was bad enough that half of the comedians were bad, but the people who worked there were pretty awful and unaccommodating.

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Photo of Dorian H.

Elite '09

25

67

Dorian H.

Arvada, CO

4 star rating
9/6/2009

I have never seen live comedy acts and I would say this was a successful first! Definitely going under my "most memorable nights in Denver" list.
First of all, Chris Hardwick was amazing. He really connected with the crowd and got people laughing their asses off. I highly recommend catching him if you get a chance.
Now, for the venue. I do like the fact that the show area is downstairs and the seating is very close to the stage. Really, it makes it difficult to get a bad seat.
Talking about seating though, it is super tight in there. Luckily, any accidental and unavoidable groping happened with my good friend on one side and my husband on the other. Otherwise, it could have made for an awkward evening.
We ordered an appetizer that was pretty good, but nothing special. The drinks were good. I was the DD for the night and was very happy to find a menu page full of non-alcoholic choices. Thank you!!
Our waitress was very attentive and stopped by to check on us at just the right times. She was fairly nice, but you could tell she had a "don't mess with me" attitude. Some people might find her rude, but I appreciated her abruptness. I'd rather not have a show like that interrupted by a loud and chatty waitress.
I'm looking forward to seeing some more acts there!

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Photo of Kent T.

Elite '09

6

74

Kent T.

Littleton, CO

2 star rating
3/3/2009

Hope you really want to see the performer at Comedy Works...because the venue isn't all that great.

Packed in like cattle, you filter into the lobby, hoping you can get to the box office. Once there, you're filtered into the basement, where you're forced into tiny seats and ordered to spend at least 10 bucks on drinks. You had better hope the random 15 people in your immediate vicinity don't have gas and have all showered recently, because you will know about it. Wait...this HAS to be a joke, right?! I'm at a comedy club and they're just messin' with me, right?! Ha, I get it! Good one, Comedy Works!

But once the show begins, you can see the place is fairly intimate. It has to be, considering the confined space. The brochures of Comedy Works include quotes from various performers, saying how much they love the place. I'm sure it's great joint for comedians, but not so much for the audience.

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Photo of Jessica J.

Elite '09

8

66

Jessica J.

Aurora, CO

3 star rating
9/13/2009

This is a review for the downtown Comedy Works only - I will post a separate one for the South location.  My husband and I love to do a night of comedy every couple of months or so and have frequented Comedy Works over the past year and half.  As far as the quality of comedians they get at the clubs - that is 5 stars!  Even if we don't recognize the name we generally have a great time and laugh our a$$es off :)  The venue however is something else....They are obviously trying to pack in as many people as they can and downtown you have these old uncomfy chairs with these like cup holders and that is it.  Generally have to hold your drink and forget eating there!  It would be a balancing act.  Then there is the 2 item minimum.  To me they should up the ticket prices and skip the minimums.  The drinks are expensive and it isn't a pleasant experience to eat or drink in the place!  Laughs = 5 stars, Venue = 1 star, so an overall 3 star rating.

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Photo of Randi M.

 

8

11

Randi M.

Golden, CO

4 star rating
2/2/2009

I love this Comedy Club in downtown Denver. They bring in great comedians and the stage is not too large and the entire space is quite cozy and fun if you don't mind sitting close to your neighbor. They have a full bar so you can get anything you want really and they snack food is pretty decent. There is a mandatory 2 item requirement for the show which actually works out ok because you usually want a drink or fries or coffee, there's always something. The prices are comparable to other bars in the Lodo area. The wait staff is extremely efficient and friendly.
If you want to keep coming back sign up for their Comedy club/mailing list because they give you great discounts on tickets and keep you a head of the game on acts coming soon.

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Photo of Eric L.

 

7

56

Eric L.

Colorado Springs, CO

3 star rating
8/5/2009

2 drink minimum policy made my show cost alot more than i originally planned for.  luckily my car gets 30 miles a gallon to get here from springs

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Photo of Kelly T.

Elite '09

96

114

Kelly T.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
6/25/2008

I have never seen a big act here. The days I go are for local talent nights. And if you have not been, I suggest you go, because Denver has some very funny people.

Comedy Works has a nice setup with their elevated seating so that no matter where you are, you can generally see the stage. However, the seats are incredibly close and maneuvering through them is only slightly less awkward than trying to get out of an airplane seat when the seats in front of you are fully reclined. Someone's either getting boobs or butt in their face.

The waitstaff is courteous and polite and timely, but never, ever order food here. It is overpriced and horrible. Jalapeno poppers are magma hot on the outside and frozen solid on the inside. Don't ask me the science involved in getting that to happen, but it does.

Overall, I always have a good time at Comedy Works, but never because of the seating or food. Always because of the talent.

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Photo of Mitch J.

Elite '09

10

68

Mitch J.

Denver, CO

1 star rating
6/13/2009

This place sucks!!!  I haven't been to this joint in a year, and now I remember why.  The show was late, they made everyone wait for 45 mins in a crammed basement corner...this was after the cluster fuk of a box office line that went every which way!  At least the first comedy was funny...but the headliner was a flop! Save some cash and patience and do something else.

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Photo of Kevin B.

Elite '09

52

43

Kevin B.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
7/13/2008

Comedy Works really knows how to put on a show. Go to see your favorite comedian or one you might think is good, and you probably won't be disappointed. I saw Joe Rogan and he was hilarious. We got there right as the show was about to start, and the big line outside went quickly after they had cleaned up from his earlier show. We were a party of three, and they had saved three seats together for us, even though we were some of the last people to get there. Our waitress was both kind and unobtrusive.

Yes, the seats were a little packed together at this show, or maybe it was just where we were sitting. I remember I went to see a local comedy competition here a few years back, and we had our own little cocktail table. So maybe that time we got there in time for good seats, or maybe that show didn't have as much draw as this one, I don't know. I did feel a little cramped, and it got a little warm in there, but... I just felt very close to the comedians and the rest of the crowd, in a good way. We were all laughing and sweating and having a good time.

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Photo of Brian R.

Elite '09

73

85

Brian R.

Burbank, CA

5 star rating
4/2/2008

I have been to hundreds of comedy clubs, as that is part of my job. Most of these clubs are faceless, heartless rooms owned by corporations that dont care about comedy, just the money that fills their pockets.

The owner of this club is one of the few I have ever met that "gets it".

She invests time into helping local comics, and she is one of the most honest people I have met. The staff is respected, and do not fear the owner as most clubs I have witnessed.  She is a fan of comedy, not just a money hungry  club owner.

The room is tight, but thats good. You get to feel raw comedy at its best. Comics love this room, its setup is perfect. If you come to a sold out show you will feel the energy in the room.

They have great food also, so dont be scared to have dinner here.

Its very rare to come across a club thats a perfect comedy club,  and this is one of only a handful that exists.  Support this club if you are a fan of comedy, its a place that comics love, and for good reason.

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Photo of Valerie V.

Elite '09

8

85

Valerie V.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
4/22/2009

4-stars because, yay I'm a fan, but it's definitely not "as good as it gets".  We've gone there multiple times to see new talent as well as some familiar comics (Jo Koy and Brian Regan come to mind, though I know I've seen others there too).
First of all, it is not a Comedy Works, it is a Comedy Grotto. It is a small cave in the basement of Larimer Square.  Somehow, they manage to squeeze what seems like 200 people into this space.  This is mostly achieved through tiny chairs, and plenty of leg room if you are 5'4". And for whatever reason, the drink holder/armrest is always sticky.  Can you say eww?  
Then onto the food.  They have a two item minimum.  I usually don't have any trouble making the two item minimum...and I just consider it part of the price of the ticket. So if you get free tickets, they're really going to be around $20, after you figure in tip.  I usually try to get an alcoholic drink, or the fried things...since everything is around $7, I want to get my money's worth.  Buying a bottled water for $7 is just a little weird to me, (what, am I in a strip club in Vegas?)  Probably one of the better deals is the bucket of beers....I think it's around $20...and that's four items right there. Oh, and another tip...if you really want to get your money's worth...call ahead, sometimes they do a pre-show happy hour with some better bargains.
The service is good considering the waitresses are meandering through the comedy grotto serving 200 guests.  Though I have had a few mix ups and forgotten orders without even a "sorry about that".  Generally they are pretty good at what they do.
The comics are usually pretty good.  Even the new talent night you're bound to find some diamonds in the rough.  I even saw Josh Blue about a year before he was on Last Comic Standing. I'd just avoid going to the new talent night more than every 3 months...it seems like that's about the amount of time they need to come up with some new material.
All in all, I say we're lucky to have a place in Denver that attracts top name comedians, and grooms the next big star.

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Photo of Alexandra F.

 

340

316

Alexandra F.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
6/1/2007 1 photo

JO KOY was absolutely hilarious that I might have peed in my hot sauce panties... Don't get grossed out... Girls know what I mean, just a little dribble... Nothing that won't dry up fast... Especially here in Colorado... It is dry by the time you change your crossed legs to the other side.

My boyfriend took me out for a night on the town... Oh boy, first stop, Illegal Petes... Where my entertainment was watching a DU student try to eat two burritos before he puked.  

At 7:25pm, we made our way over to Comedy Works for $12.50 tickets and had no problem getting tickets and great seats... Right to the side of the stage and above the people sitting on the floor.  A good location for a party of two or three... but no more, because the people behind us literally could not see... They sat behind us at an angel and could only see by leaning forward and peering between people's head.  I would not be happy with those seats, but the gent's didn't seem to mind.

The two drink minimum is not a good policy and I really didn't want to order anything, but we ended up paying $30 for drinks, so really the tickets and night ended up costing my boyfriend about $60 with tip.  I would rather they charged more for people who don't want to drink, say $20/ticket... And if they later decided to drink, then it would be their decision to pay more.

The local comedians were a great addition to the show, even if it was hit or miss with every other joke.  I think it is important to highlight local jokesters and I give CW credit for sticking with it.

The theater is no frills, but makes you feel comfortable space wise with little drink holders and movable aisles so you can run to the bathroom and pray to God that the comedian does not pick on you... Or slap your ass, as JO KOY did.

Stratgey: Bring a coat or be miserably cold through the entire 2  hour show.

* Star one is for offering a comedy club in general... Not enough people laugh these days
** Tickle me Elmo star two is for featuring local comedians... Even if their act is less than entertaining
*** Come on down star three... He is here for CW's trendy and comfortable theater that easily sits 200 people... so great for groups!
**** Our final and last star is for bringing in great comedians that deliver and deliver good...

Our last star was stripped from CW's for the two drink minimum requirement and a freezing room.

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Photo of Yoi K.

 

6

51

Yoi K.

Littleton, CO

3 star rating
6/28/2008

I went to see Russell Peters here the other night and my thoughts:

Pros:
-very funny comedians
-elevated seats
-decent food and drinks, a little over priced, but you've got to expect that
-waiters

Cons:
-tiny seats crammed into small dungeon - definitely not meant for big people or those who are claustrophobic.
-seats are on a first come first seated basis
-seat assignments are done on the spot with someone holding the seating chart, trying to figure out which seats are still available to give you. I am sure there is a method behind where they place people (some in this row, some in that row, some in the middle, some in the far corner, etc) but it just seems unorganized.  Why not just fill an entire row at a time; especially if it's on a first come first seated basis?

Note: I don't recommend going in groups unless you get there early to get seats together or mind being separated. And for the love of sushi, please control your alcohol consumption at this small venue - no one wants to see or hear drunken idiots fighting in the bathroom. Super annoying!

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14

53

mark k.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
9/5/2007

I love the big name acts comedy works brings in.  DL Hugley was amazing and I can't remember who the opener was, but he was halarious.  I love that it's smoke free now, which used to be my only complaint.  
The waitresses are very efficient, I for one do not know how they manage to remember where the drinks are going, but they do and quickly!

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Photo of Vince D.

 

6

273

Vince D.

Boulder, CO

3 star rating
5/4/2007

There's a good reason that so many big-time comics cite Comedy Works as one of their favorite places to play. It's set up nicely and brings in top-notch talent. I've got no complaints about that.

My complaint? They have an antiquated "drink minimum" that they enforce by requiring you to show proof of the drinks before they'll let you leave. That's usually not a problem, but one night I stopped in to check out my friend's (literally) 2-minute set. I paid to get in, then had to get back to work (and therefore wasn't drinking) and they tried to hassle me about leaving. I was cool about it, and they were ultimately cool about it. I think they realized that, when it comes down to it, try and stop me from leaving the building. Don't think so.

But in terms of quality of talent and enjoyment, Comedy Works is a great destination.

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Photo of Cass S.

 

26

363

Cass S.

Parker, CO

2 star rating
3/17/2009

This place was packed when I went. I really didn't enjoy my experience sitting on the lap of the person next to me. When I went, they still allowed smoking inside which they probably don't anymore but anyways with that close of quarters you'll be miserable if the person next to you put on a little too much cologne. They don't appear to have that many big names coming through, which kind of surprised me. The tickets are way overpriced unless you go on a night when they have no-name local acts. You do have to buy two things, it's not optional, and they are very expensive considering you've already paid so much to get in and play Santa with your neighbor. I don't know what the other location is like, but I definitely won't be back to this one.

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Photo of Singh A.

 

52

62

Singh A.

Toronto, ON

Canada

5 star rating
4/29/2007 1 photo

Hilarious! Absolutely hilarioius is all I can say about Chelsea Handler who flew out from L.A. to put up her gig here in Denver this past Saturday. My jaw and every facial muscle that allows me to laugh and smile was aching after I saw her. OMG! Everything was up for laughs....so if you're all about being PC....beware! The avenue, like Megan H. mentions is small and intimate with waitresses dedicated to making sure your drink is filled and your tummy satisfied. Mind you, as witnessed this past weekend, if you do drink and get out of hand and a bit too interactive with the comedians they'll haul your a@s outta there as it deserves to be.

Coming to Denver in the coming weeks will be Josh Blue (Paramount Theatre on July 17th) and Kathy Griffin (Temple Buell Theatre on June 15).

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42

106

Megan H.

CO

5 star rating
1/24/2007

Comedy Works makes me happy because it's an intimate space that always reminds me of Wayne and Garth's basement.

You have to walk down a set of stairs and into the space where there's probably 200 seats though it just doesn't feel that big.  It reminds me of of Wayne's World because it's casual, dark space.  It just feels like you're in someone's basement for a few laughs, and there are cocktail waitresses running around with trays filled with booze, soft pretzels, and nachos.

** If you add 'Comedy Works' as your friend on MySpace, they'll give away free tix thru bulletins and announce secret shows so I'd definitely recommend it.  And if you don't have a MySpace account, get over it and get on it.  It's not for 12 year olds like we all originally thought.  http://www.myspace.com...

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Photo of Ross M.

 

3

13

Ross M.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
8/3/2008

I'm going to do to Comedy Works what my boss does to me when he needs to be critical.  He gives me a criticism cheeseburger.  That's a negative made of meat and cheese surrounded by two buns of kudos.  

Top Bun:  The talent is always great.  Denver has a great comedy scene that always offers up opening talent that frequently out-does the head liners.  Not because the headliners suck, but because Denver has funny people.  

The Meat:  What is up with the upstairs waiting area?  I've seen seven shows at this venue and noone EVER knows what they're waiting for up there.  You get there early and you feel like you have to cut in front of people to get to will call.  Then you get distracted by the bar right by the front door.  Then when you think you're safely in line, people start cutting in front of you by another front entrance at the head of the line!

The Bottom Bun:  The service is outstanding.  Although they can sometimes be a little intrusive and interrupt the show, you're never left thirsty.

Top three comics i've seen at the Works.
1.  Dave Chappelle
2.  Bill Burr
3.  Josh Blue

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6

Dmitri D.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
7/25/2008

I love it because they actually treat the up and coming comics like people.  It's not a "corporate" club.  When you compare it to another club in Denver, it's like comparing a family owned Italian restaurant to the Olive Garden...family owned is always going to be better...if the family doesn't suck that is.  You wouldn't want someone digging in their ass and handling your cannoli.  They don't dig in their asses at Comedy Works. At least I've never seen them do it. I'm pretty sure they don't.

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Jim K.

Hayward, CA

4 star rating
11/8/2007

Last year while visitng Denver on vacation (we're from the San Francisco area), the wife and I strolled by this place one night after a seafood dinner at Larimer Square. A show was starting in 5 minutes so we'd figure what the hec, let's check it out.

It was almost full for a mid week show and they have like stadium seating which was real nice. The 2 drink minimum doesn't bother us like some of you. That's common even in San Fran. We also had some dessert and fries which were pretty good.

We didn't recognize any of the comedians and it was some local showdown with a ton of comics competeing for prize money. They were put together in 3 groups of 3 comedians and each given a subject to do material on. Interesting premise and it went off pretty well. Some were funny, some were okay, and some stunk. All in all, a fun night, but we were so sick from a big dinner before and drinks and food at the club..belchhh.

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5

32

Blythe K.

Aurora, CO

2 star rating
4/26/2008

Came here to see Lizz Winstead, who we hadn't heard of before but was apparently co-creator and head writer for The Daily Show.  My husband and I thought she was hilarious, but the crowd was definitely wrong and a lot of people ended up leaving early.  I don't know if this is typical, but it signals that a lot of the audience may come to this place without checking who's playing first.  There were four opening acts that did the normal mix of black jokes, women jokes, hispanic jokes, Jewish jokes, etc.  They were all pretty funny, but I guess I'm used to the lineup getting progressively funnier as the night goes on and they got it a little backwards.  All in all, the show itself was pretty decent.

The venue itself, though, is pretty terrible.  We arrived 45 minutes early, thinking that we'd either get decent seats or a nice spot at a bar.  Instead, there was a gaggle of people in line upstairs who didn't really seem to know what they were in line for (will-call, seats, bar?)  The staff, who could have easily cleared this up, was nowhere to be found.  My husband and I finally snuck into the elevator and went downstairs (which I think you're not supposed to do, but since no one was around to tell us otherwise, we took advantage).  The line there was more organized, so we got drinks and waited.

When they finally let us in, I was competely underimpressed by the staff.  They kept handing us over to a different person to get us seated. Since apparently you're not allowed to choose your own seats here (despite the tickets being general admission), we ended up sitting behind a pillar that completely blocked any view of the stage, so we got up and moved to the back.  At this point, an usher practically yelled at us and made us move again.  For a pair of people coming to Comedy Works for the first time, this was not enjoyable.  Groups, on the other hand, get star treatment.  Don't expect to ask questions or get helped unless you're in a group.  However, even groups suffer.  The guy behind us in line was separated from his party, and they wouldn't let him join them.  5 minutes after the show was supposed to start, they were STILL seating people.  I guess it just comes down to the fact that the ushers were pretty incompetent.

Another thing to note: even though you've paid for a slightly overpriced ticket, each person in the club has to buy two items (drink or food).  You're not told this before you purchase your ticket.  My husband and I had just eaten dinner, so were pretty full.  Fortunately, the waitress serving our hidden little spot (extreme back left corner of the venue, couldn't have been any further from the stage) let us get away with just ordering 3 overpriced drinks between the two of us.  The food served looked pretty greasy and standard.

Overall, this place gets 4 stars for the comedy and two taken away for the terrible service, organization, and scam-like pricing of the venue.  I would only go back if one of my absolute favorite comics was playing there.

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Christy L.

Mount Pleasant, SC

4 star rating
8/2/2008

Went there last night to see Bill Burr and had a great time!  I was super impressed with the waitstaff but agree with some of the other reviews of the food.  (You're right in Larimer Square so there are plenty of options around you to get some good eats before or after).  Stick with drinks and you're good to go.  I actually thought the local comedians, including the MC, were even more funnier (is that correct grammer?  probably not but who cares?) than Bill Burr.  Everyone was very professional and I would definitely go back. Check it out!

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Alex P.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
1/30/2008

I saw Dave Chapelle here for the first time. It is like the usual comedy club where the waitress will come by and you will have to order two items off the menu(drinks or food).  The food was good though.  It has a very comfortable feel and you feel connected with the comedian.

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