Avenue Theater
The Avenue Theater, located at 417 E. 17th Avenue in Downtown Denver, Colorado has been a producing comedies, musicals, and plays as well as improvisational comedy for years. It is home to the World Humor Organization and Chicken Lips Entertainment
History
Early years
Robert Wells founded the Avenue Theater in 1985. At that time the theater was located at East 17th & Vine, 17 blocks east of the current location. Wells ran the theater for its first seven years.Changing Hands
In 1992, John Ashton became the owner. He ran it for 9 years until, in 2001, the original Avenue Theater was closed. After its closing, Ashton spent the next two years finding a location and rebuilding the Avenue Theater. In spring of 2003, Ashton re-opened the Avenue Theater with business partner Robert Roehl.In 2005, the pair sold the theater back to original owner Robert Wells and his business partner, Dave Johnson, who turned the theater into a non-profit, 501. In 2011, they hired a new Director of Operations, Colin Elliott. Late in 2012, Johnson stepped down as executive director, and Nuri Heckler was appointed. These three, along with volunteers, interns, staff members, and artistic contributors, maintain the artistic mission of the theater.
Radio Avenue
Every month, Wells and Johnson write a comical radio show entitled Radio Avenue. It is broadcast on KGNU on the first Monday of each month at 8:00 pm and is recorded the day before during a live performance at the Avenue. Because of its improv comedy nature, Radio Avenue is recorded live to a free audience.List of Shows
2005
- Parallel Lives
- The Rocky Horror Show
- The Fourth Wall
- The Syringa Tree
- Tribal Tales Of Africa
- Murder Most Fowl
2006
- The Smell of the Kill
- Destination Dinosaurs
- Beyond Therapy
- Tales Of An Englishman '
- The A.C.E. Show '
- Miscast '
- Some Unfortunate Hour '
- Denver Improv Festival '
- BFE, The Town That Christmas Forgot '
- Murder Most Fowl
2007
- Murder Most Fowl
- Destination Dinosaurs
- The Man Himself/Conviction '
- Right On America! '
- Girls Only '
- Ben Franklin '
- Dog Sees God
- I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
- When Animals Improv
- The Bible: The Complete Word Of God (Abridged)
- Denver Improv Festival ''''
2008
- Girls Only
- Oleanna
- Almost Denver: The Songs and Failures of Jim Aurora
- Free Gas: Chicken Lips Gives It To America
2009
- That Woman Show
- Vagina Monologues
- 60 Minutes: The Musical
- Die! Mommy Die!
- Santa's Big Red Sack
- What the Dickens?!
2010
- Secrets of a Soccer Mom
- The Booty Guard
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
- The Love List
- VOX Phamalia: Triage
- Santa's Big Red Sack
2011
- The Goode Body
- The B-Team
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
- Breach
- Completely Hollywood
- VOX Phamalia: Quadrapalooza
- Rattlebrain
- Santa's Big Red Sack
2012
- Santa's Big Red Sack
- Scriptprov
- Murder Most Fowl
- Love Child
- Dave Shirley's Rattlebrain
- String of Pearls
Awards
2006 Denver Post Ovation Awards (6 Nominations, 2 Wins)
- Best Actor in a Children's Play: Chris Boeckx - WINNER
- Best Children's Play: Destination Dinosaurs
- Best Sound Design: Dave Johnson
- Best Actress in a Comic Role: Megan Van DeHay
- Best Actor in a Comic Role: Kevin Hart
- Special Achievement Video Design: Brian Freeland - '''WINNER'''
2006 Marlowe Awards (10 Wins)
- Best Production of a Play, Comedy: Beyond Therapy - WINNER
- Best Director, Comedy: Bob Wells - WINNER
- Best Actor, Comedy: Kevin Hart - WINNER
- Best Actress, Comedy: Megan Van DeHay - WINNER
- Best Supporting Actor, Comedy: Josh Hartwell - WINNER
- Best Supporting Actress, Comedy: LuAnn Buckstein - WINNER
- Best Actor, Children's Show: Chris Boeckx - WINNER
- Best Children's Show: Destination Dinosaurs - WINNER
- Best Videography: Brian Freeland - WINNER
- Best New Musical: BFE: The Town Christmas Forgot - '''WINNER'''