DENVER'S IMPROV COMEDY THEATER · LODO SINCE 2011
Denver's only full-time improv comedy bar and theater — shows, classes, events, and a full bar in the heart of LoDo.
ABOUT RISE COMEDY
Welcome to RISE Comedy (formerly the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse), Denver's only full-time improv comedy bar and theater! We offer fun and unpredictable entertainment experiences in the heart of LoDo.
RISE Comedy is the place to enjoy a wide variety of intriguing, original improv comedy, sketch comedy, improv classes, karaoke, and more — plus a well-stocked bar and a unique, affordable night out you and your friends won't soon forget.
We have been performing in Denver since 2008, with The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show® and Hit and Run: Musical Improv®. After years of performing across the city, founder Stephen Wilder opened the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse on October 26th, 2011 — which became RISE Comedy in 2020.
OUR STORY
Over its history, RISE Comedy has helped raise the profile of improvisation and comedy, both in Colorado and beyond. In 2011, the opening of the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse prompted the explosive growth of Denver's improv community, bringing the city in line with larger improv and comedy destinations.
In the next several years, the Voodoo hosted many nationally known improv and comedy acts, such as Kevin McDonald of Kids In The Hall, Frank Conniff & Trace Beaulieu of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Paul Brittain from Saturday Night Live, and Brian Babylon of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, among many others.
In 2015, the Voodoo created its own improv comedy curriculum and graduated its very first improv students, setting the standard for years to come.
In 2016, the Voodoo facilitated and hosted the first meetings of the Diversity in Colorado Improvisation group, which spearheaded positive changes for inclusion & diversity in the Colorado comedy scene that continue to this day. The Voodoo also instituted its first mission statement.
By 2018, the Voodoo set a new record by donating $30,000+ in shows and improv classes to nonprofit groups and disadvantaged communities over the life of the theater.
In 2019, the Voodoo was pleased to add Nick Armstrong and Josh Nicols to the management team as new partners and co-owners.
In 2020 and 2021, the Voodoo weathered the pandemic and returned to live shows after 16 months of being shuttered. During this period, the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse became RISE Comedy.
In 2022 and beyond, we are all excited to help usher in the next evolution of Denver improv and Denver comedy!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE LAUGHS
Co-Owner & Artistic Director
Nick Armstrong is an Actor, Improvisor, Director, and Writer. On TV, Nick has appeared on Emmy-Award winning shows The Office and Grey's Anatomy, as well as Jimmy Kimmel Live, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Parks and Recreation, and more.
While in Los Angeles, Nick trained at the World-famous Groundlings Theater where he was a member of the prestigious Sunday Company, whose alumni include Will Ferrell, Heidi Gardner, and Phil Hartman. He also studied at iO where he learned and taught Long Form Improvisation, and served as the former Artistic Director of M.I's Westside Comedy Theater.
Nick has taught workshops all over the world and has performed and headlined in over 60 festivals throughout the world. Currently, Nick is the Co-Owner and Artistic Director of RISE Comedy in Denver, Colorado, and Founder and Executive Director of Improv Utopia, a non-profit improv camp for adults that gives back to the improv community and other arts-related charities.
Co-Owner & Education Director
Josh Nicols is the Education Director and co-owner of RISE Comedy. Josh has been a professional improv teacher, producer, and performer for 20 years, studying under instructors from iO West & Chicago, The Annoyance Theater, Groundlings, UCB, and Second City.
Josh has performed and taught all around the country and abroad. He served as the Training Center Director at the Westside Comedy Theater, and before that was the Artistic Director/Co-Owner of Spectacles Improv Engine in Fullerton, CA. He created and directed 7 years of The Orange County Improv Festival and is a founder and former director of The Improv Cup.
Josh is a member of the teams Community Theater 3000, Tapestry, Laugh Track, and A Bad Play Done Terribly. He has also directed full-length improvised plays, including The Awkward Party, which received the accolade "Best Play of the Year" from the OC Weekly.
Founder & CTO
Stephen Wilder is the sole founder and original owner of RISE Comedy (formerly the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse), operating since October 26th, 2011. He has been teaching, improvising, and performing for 30 years.
An alumnus of iO West and Second City Hollywood, Stephen has performed with and studied under improv luminaries such as Michael Pollock, Shulie Cowen, David Razowsky, Armando Diaz, Kevin McDonald, Craig Cackowski, and many others.
On the scripted theater side, Stephen studied at the Asolo Repertory Theater and has performed across the country and on both coasts, including Off-Broadway as part of the United Solo Theatre Festival.
Stephen operates as CTO and corporate/private workshops & events manager for RISE Comedy. He has personally deployed workshops for companies such as Apple, Adobe, Comcast Xfinity, Chipotle, DaVita, Ernst & Young, Google, Microsoft, and Vail Resorts.
Stephen is also co-executive producer for The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show® and founder and director of Hit and Run: Musical Improv™, Colorado's longest-running improv comedy show.
COME SEE US
Shows every weekend. Classes for all levels. Karaoke, a full bar, and a community you'll want to be part of.
1330 ½ 14th St, Denver, CO 80202 · 303-578-0079
