Wow, what a sweet intimate little theatre! We went for a cool Performance called It's my Head- a journey through music and mental health- powerful stuff! The space was intimate, the sound was stellar and the people were so friendly and welcoming- highly recommend a show here! read more

The Bug Theatre - Getting ready... - Performing Arts Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The Bug Theater has some excellent local events! If you haven't been, check their website and find an event to go to! I've been going here since moving to Denver when I searched out where the internationally held "Nerd Nite" in Denver would be. I used to go to Nerd Nite in Wisconsin and many of the major metro areas have a Nerd Nite. So, that is how I discovered The Bug Theater. It's not quite as cool as the WI chapter, but it's still a good time! It's fun to learn stuff! Another great event there was the Emerging Filmmakers. Local filmmakers present their short films and you can make a comment about it afterwards, if you'd like. Or you can just listen to other's comments! It's a great time if you're into movies! A must see are the Acrocats. Again, I've also seen the show of performing cats in WI and have been waiting for years to see them here in Denver. I couldn't believe the date range as the show ran for something like 2-3 weeks and even more shocking was that she sold out every single day!!! Fun fact is that her first performance was here in Denver at The Bug even though she started the Acrocats out of Illinois (and is in Georgia as of late). They have several other events like comedy, as well. Definitely check something out there that you're into! It's sure to be a good time! The theater is small, I don't know if it's 100-something seating. But also, nice and cozy for these fun locals on stage ;) read more

This place is small intimate but fun. There's such an awesome team of people keeping this place going! Go check out some shows going on here including the Grawlix ! Crystal and I went and had such a fun time like we always do and everything is always reasonably priced for such good quality shows and events! read more

Ryan and I went to The Bug Theatre over the weekend! The staff here is so fun but professional, and the venue is intimate and unique and fun with. This place is such a classic! We went to a Grawlix show and we're going to be moving closer to this area and we're looking forward to coming to more shows and events that The Bug has to offer. We highly recommend checking out some shows here and showing your support for The Bug Theatre! read more

The Bug Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Best independent theater in Denver. Wide variety of shows, from comedy to musicals. The folks who work there are ridiculously nice and welcoming. Highly recommend checking out a show! read more

Cute theatre. But not for the claustrophobic like me. We came here to see Acrocats, a touring troop of performing shelter cats complete with a cat rock band. The show was excellent and hilarious. Especially when the cats just bailed on the performance and ran into the crowd. But this theatre was sooooo small. They were trying to sell stuff in the lobby, which was more like an entryway closet, and it was so packed with people trying to buy stuff and others just trying to get in to the performance. There were two single stall restrooms towards the back of the venue and a small concession stand. There was a bottleneck there too. I felt ok in my seat but it was difficult moving around the theatre. And the performance wasn't even completely sold out. Good news - street parking in the neighborhood was easy. We were in and out. No sitting in a long line of cars to get out of a parking lot. read more

I love going to The Bug! From live theater to supporting the independent film scene in Denver it is a great place to go. We have been there for private parties. That is a total blast and I highly recommend if you are looking for a unique thing to do for a birthday, do a movie at The Bug. They are a small crew of dedicated folks that run everything. If you are able, check out Emerging Filmmaker's Project the third Thursday of every month. there always unique and creative films to see. They also host the 48 Hour Film Project each year. Check them out and enjoy supporting local live artists. read more

Went on a Monday for Freak Train. The MC was there for the first night and they were funny! I enjoyed the "coming" out story and realization of being non-binary. Kept us all on our toes. The rest of the staff was great! Those boots worn by the stage helper....WOW! It is a small theater with a lot of charm. The Freak Train show was a fun combination of skits, monologues and comedians. Um, $5 bucks for a night of entertainment - heck yes! I went here many years ago, but can not for the life of me remember what it was for. However, I can't wait to find something else to go see there. Highly recommend! read more

How has this diamond in the rough of a theater (pretentious Dale prefers "theatre") been around for so long, but I only started going this last year? Alex is always a gracious host, and the other folks are consistently helpful. From excellent musicals, to eclectic films, to laugh your ass off comedy, the Bug seems to offer something for everyone. I am particularly fond of the Emerging Filmmakers projects. Some of these shorts are outstanding. I may not always like each film, but I certainly enjoy the accompanying beer on these evenings. Check it out, if you have never been. Or, if you are a long time fan, it is time to revisit this wonder of a theatre. read more

First time here and it was to see my fellow Colombian comedians! I had such a great time. The place was cozy and the seats were comfortable. Definitely try to get there early if you want a good seat, I believe it's first come first serve. The bathroom situation kinda sucks but they sell beer and wine! So I'm all for it. read more

The Bug Theatre - Antonio Sanint! - Performing Arts Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Fun location to see a show or have an event. Funky vibe cool folks and psychedelic comedy

The entertainment can be a little hit-or-miss here. We saw a fantastic one-man-show called "U SHIT ME" or (U.S. History in the Middle East) that was freaking hilarious. Then, we saw something that I believe was supposed to be about levels of hell that had a random guy dressed like a tampon that we barely made it through (half our group walked out before intermission). I think this place is worth another try. The tickets are so inexpensive that even if the show is bad, at least it was cheaper than going to the movie theatre. And, they have fantastic Breckenridge Beer, not for sale, but provided for "a donation". Way to get around the Colorado liquor laws, boys ;) I will probably check out another show here, but it probably won't be on my priority list. There is a super cool bar down the street called Highlands something that has one of those garage door windows that they open in the summer so it feels like one big patio and they have ping pong. It's def a good spot to check out, whether you really enjoyed the show or walked out at intermission ;) read more

I came to Bug Theatre to check out their Night of the Living Dead show and I was totes impressed! Why? Let's talk about it! ++ They have a great variety of shows including Night of the Living Dead, Toxic Avenger, and Evil Dead - The Musical; just to name a few. ++ They encourage a bit of audience participation. For Night of the Living Dead they encouraged patrons to "zombie out." They were actually filming the production so if you got up during the show it would add to the film versus detract. Love it! ++ The actors are fantastic! You can tell they are really passionate about the shows and their trade. ++ Show prices are super reasonable! Tickets are a mere $10 for Night of the Living Dead. Wow! I know that I will continue to come to Bug Theatre for my favorite cult-classic remakes in the future! read more

I came here to see Santa vs Aliens in 2020 with my work, it was actually a pretty good play/ performance. I enjoyed the costumes and the storyline. I found the theater to be small and cute-it serves its purpose. They have a little area where you can buy snacks. I would recommend read more

I am actually writing this review on the Acrocats. This is a cat circus. This was my first experience at this venue. Who would pass up a cat circus? The venue had a theater setting. I was so compelled, and being new to this town, I heard a murmur blah blah cat circus, I invited myself, how else am I going to make friends or enemies. I thought I had almost seen it all, now I am that much closer to have seen it all. It really was wonderful. It was for a good cause and super hilarious. Who knew that there was a traveling cat circus. It was something not to be missed. I am of the adventures type. I enjoyed the heck out of myself! I highly recommend seeing anything hat you may not normally see on a Friday night! Something that may not sound awesome because you just never know! Plus all the cats are rescue's and the money goes to a good cause, I thought it was really fantastic! Thus the five stars, it saves lives of animals! read more

See all

::sits slackjawed for a moment:: ::shakes head, comes to, tries to speak:: Uh, er...whoa. I visited Bug Theatre for Freak Train after months of missed attempts. I had my own ideas about what the night might be, and all of them were wrong. It was a wild, free-for-all open mic theatre night. With free beer. GOOD free beer. My friend had forgotten her wallet, so in solidarity I passed on giving my ID to get my hand stamped. Later, I saw people in the concession line with beers already in hand. "They must sell really good popcorn!" I joked. Little did I know, those folks were in line for more free beer from Breckenridge. Dang; shoulda gotten that stamp. On to the show. The premise: arrive early to get on the list to perform in this un-juried open mic. You get 5 minutes to do your thing (think "America's Got Talent" with no censorship at all). There were good performers (including a regular musician who really impressed us), funny performers (a man and his puppets lip-syncing some hardcore), magicians, offensive stand-up, and a tall, skinny, bearded guy wearing nothing but a tube sock while running around playing a flute. That last one prompted me to apologize to my guest, who alternated between looking away in fear and laughing nervously. But at Freak Train, we learned, all are welcome. The most impressive aspect of the evening was the emcee. She was fantastic. She kept things going, was respectful to all performers and demanded the audience be the same, and had a great sense of humor about it all. She handled hecklers quite well and really made the evening work. She even maintained some composure after the tube-socked flutist. The venue is rather worn, the seats have seen better days, and I foolishly left my purse on the floor to get soaked in spilled free beer which ran down the sloped floor. But if the rest of the performances are as smooth and well-managed as Freak Train (judging by the emcee and the sound A/V guy), I'd definitely give a Bug Theatre production a try. And if you're looking for a wild mixed bag of performance (and free beer!), check out Freak Train on the last Monday of every month. Thanks to Freak Train, my visiting friend will not soon forget Denver. read more

Great small theater in Denver- Eclectic, weird, full of energy and TALENT!!! What a great find for some serious creative stuff going down, and high quality at that! We attended the annual "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD" adaptation of the original 1960's vintage film. We laughed all night, even as the blood gushed and our favorite characters met their makers. The theater is definitely a labor of love and a work in progress, and the bathroom scene was more horrifying than the bleed outs on stage... However- this is a great place for whatever they are serving up- you will be entertained and impressed! read more

The Bug Theatre - The Bug! - Performing Arts Near Me - Denver, Colorado

If I were only reviewing the physical venue itself, I'd give Bug an A-OK 3 stars. Be warned that their AC system is too noisy to run during most shows, so things can get warm in the theater during summer months. To their credit, they blast the AC before the shows and during intermission. Of course, there's more to the place than the building. The Bug is a small, old movie theater over on Navajo that frequently houses cool local theater companies like Equinox. They also offer a myriad of classes, Freak Train (a monthly showcase of local performers), and even some independent film. The seating is rows and rows of movie seats (you know, before arena seating took over movie theaters), and is on a pretty decent grade so hopefully you won't have issues seeing over the person in front of you. It's old, sure, but comfortable enough. The reason I bumped them up to four stars is also partly due to the fact that they seem to take the venue into consideration, and their ticket prices are usually lower than most other theaters around Denver. Most shows are $10 - $15, and some movies are as low as $5. Overall, the prices are right for the venue, and the shows I've seen here have been really fun. read more

I am reviewing 'Evil Dead The Musical' and as a fan of the Evil Dead Trilogy (not the crappy recent remake) this show was fantastic. It was hilarious, songs were catchy and fun, the sets were imaginative for what they had, and the cast was great. It was a must see. Ash was great giving the original Bruce Campbell vibe (sorry I don't have the actor's name I SUCK!!!!! )And you will have many of the pun lines from Army of Darkness ....."GIMMEE SOME SUGAR BABY!!!!" See this one if you can catch it! My one complaint is the seating is a little tight....I am tall and have long legs so I was a little uncomfortable, but this show made it worth the cramping. GROOVY!!!! read more

Wow--what a great small theatre! Went to see Kimberly Akimbo with my daughter and friends and it was set in the wilds of suburban New Jersey. Kimberly Akimbo is a hilarious and heartrending play about a teenager with a rare condition causing her body to age faster than it should. When she and her family flee Secaucus under dubious circumstances, Kimberly is forced to reevaluate her life while contending with a hypochondriac mother, a rarely sober father, a scam-artist aunt, her own mortality and the possibility of a first love. All the characters were very funny and well played but my favorite character was Aunt Debra, played by Kaity Talmage-Bowers. Her character was hilarious and she did a great job in portraying her. The Theatre was a good size, warm and it also had a bar (cash/check only). The seats were comfortable and staff was great. Plenty of street parking and a huge lot with plenty of free parking across the street. A great evening enjoying a great play!! read more

I'm continuously surprised by how many awesome small theaters we have in Denver. Places like the Bug continue to have affordable, well-done theater throughout the months and I'm ever so happy to see things like that in our fair city. I've been to the Bug a few times now. Most recently I went to see Ten Buddhist Tales. I love that there is never a bad seat here. I love the comfortable feel in the theater. It's more like watching all your friends perform for you. Come to think of it, if you go during Freak Train it just may be your friends that are performing. You can have beer from Breckenridge Brewery or wine for a suggested donation of $4. And those are some serious pours of wine. Check out this little Highlands theater sometime. They have a wide variety of shows so you're sure to find something that you like. read more

This cozy little community theater makes me wish I had some acting skillz to put on display! I came here last weekend for the first time with some yelpers to see Night of the Living Dead (this is seriously worth seeing if you 1. like zombies 2. like plays 3. like film - it's a juxtaposition of all three). The Bug has this comfy, worn-in feel with a small stage and little concession stand where you can grab a beer or wine during a performance. You should know The Bug is a non-profit so it can always use a little love. Check out their calendar for upcoming events - you're bound to find some little gem of a performance on the horizon. read more

I've only been here once but I'll definitely go back. I walked in and was immediately enchanted. It's so little and goes down to a tiny charming stage. Old rickety seats and $1 popcorn. I went for a film festival, but I saw the ads for plays and talent shows - can't wait to check out more. And I think it's usually pretty cheap. I saw something for $5. Yes. read more

I have been here before some improv comedy and enjoyed myself, but this time the event was a friends first time showing her moves doing burlesque! This was a great venue for such an act. What's great about the Bug is they offer all kinds of shows for a super good price. They also have a pretty sweet offering of drinks and snackies. This is definitely the place to go to if you are lacking a little fun in your life! read more

This place is awesome!! I discovered The Bug when I first moved to Denver and it quickly became home. High quality content, from Equinox Theatre, Freak Train, Emerging Filmmaker's Project, and seasonal theatre offerings and more - always something cool going on there! read more

I have been going to the Bug since I moved into Denver/LoHi in January 2009. My first experience was Freak Train and I'm so glad it was. Many of the skits put on during Freak Train are small glimpses into other performances at Bug or just an outlet for the performers. The host, GeeRee, also makes sure to plug as many local performances that she gets info for whether at Bug or not (just write it on her note pad!). I love that the lobby is always full of flyers for local visual arts. Sometimes I stop by just to see what is posted in their lobby. I have seen many shows at Bug. Freak Train is still a monthly tradition for me. I love RANDOMNESS. Profanity, unrehearsed, nudity... ? But they don't make any promises. If you want to make a night of it, I recommend Highlands Tavern, Patsy's or Chile Verde for refreshment before the performance. Highlands Tavern serves food until 11pm weekdays. If you are feeling like spending more, go to Lou's and they will make sure to make your night more expensive. read more

Was very honored to perform here for a fundraiser to help out this 100 year old venue. It has real charm, well accommodated, staff friendly... here's to another 100 years. read more

The Bug Theatre - A lot of Hullabaloo going over here! #bellydance #belladivadance #balefire #quaintencehawthorne #hullabaloo2016 - Performing Arts Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

I came here last night to watch "Cheerleader Ninjas" for a Yelp event. They have a pretty good setup here and their prices are very affordable. There's a little snack bar area, ample seating, and friendly/funny staff. While waiting for the movie to start, they had Charlie Chaplin on the screen with indie music playing in the background. I love Charlie Chaplin! My only complaint is I felt like I was falling out of my chair. I'm not sure if it's because the seating is at an incline or my chair was just dysfunctional. I kept having to adjust myself throughout the movie. All in all, I'll be back for more fun movies and hilarity! read more

A fun place to see local films, indies and out of place where-do-we-show-this-kind-of-thing things. There are wooden chairs and free drinks (with Donation) and the atmosphere is almost always happy go lucky. Cheap place to go and have some fun in the highlands and even if it doesn't work out... you can always get drinks at the Tico Tico after. read more

The Bug is a solid Denver venue and I've seen bands, theatre and films here. It is a smaller venue, but has such a friendly staff - and they have snacks and BEER! They are also committed to local acts - I've known a few friends who have screened movies and put on plays and had a great time working with The Bug. Support local business! read more

Saw The Grawlix comedy show here the other night. It's a really cool old theater--surprisingly large considering the space, and with nice, pretty wide (if slightly run-down) old school seats. I'm not sure what events they host, but if you're looking for a classy venue in a great little neighborhood, this is your place. A word to the credit-card-only folks out there, be prepared as they are a cash-only joint. As in no cards, no atm, no other options, for both the cover charge and the bar. You'll be delighted to find, though, that your cash will buy you some a-OK local beers at very reasonable prices. read more

The bug is a very cool theatre. We were here for Ten Buddhist Tales, which in itself was what I will call interesting, funny, but interesting. I'm still trying to figure a lot of it out, but then again I've never been very good at interpreting artistic inspiration. I will say I was entertained and in the end I couldn't have asked for more than that. As for the venue itself it is very cozy. I'm not sure how many it seats, but it is intimate to the point you feel you are part of the show, not just watching it. Upon further research, they have all types of shows so I'll have to keep checking back to see if anything piques my curiousity. read more

Came here recently for a showing of the Evil Dead musical. it was hilarious and a total crack up. A lot of people paid extra to sit in the "splatter zone", which is exactly what it sounds like. At several points during the production you get sprayed with copious amount of fake blood. The official zone was the first 5 rows, but we were told it could go as high as 7, so we sat further back (altho I'd be surprised if there were more than 15 rows total). They're in a great location only a couple turns off of I25, with free parking on the street and in a lot across the way. It was anarchy in that lot, with apparently a lot of people who don't know how to park, but it still worked. As others have said, there is NO AC. It gets very, very hot in here. Be warned. There is only 1 bathroom, with one toilet, so do your business ahead of time. Overall, very fun! read more

Had an absolute blast at this place - the price is right, they have booze, the shows are intimate and awesome, and the seasons schedule is pretty awesome. It's a great way for barbarians like me to get some culture. Now, from what I've seen, nobody is winning any Tonies in this place. But, it's awesome, it's the theater, and your supporting local arts programs. How can you go wrong? Try to get in during the run of Cannibal! The Musical....it was awesome! read more

I went to the Bug Theatre to see Cannibal! The Musical on Halloween weekend. It seemed like a lot of fellow theater industry people were in the audience to support which was really nice to see. It's a super low key theater but the sight lines and seating layout are good for wherever you want to sit. Seats weren't uncomfortable, show had great song and dance numbers, there was a bar if you wanted to partake(which helped a few of the audience members get a little too enthusiastic at times), and I'd definitely look into seeing another show there. It seemed geek friendly and offbeat. 8bit music was used for setchanges(annoying or endearing? You decide!) read more

I went there for the first time Monday night to see the monthly "Freak Train" performance and it was great! $5 for a show and free beer, you can't beat that! The theater was nice, sorta a hole-in-the-wall type place, but that's what you want to see sometime instead of all the glitz and glam. They will be holding fund-raising events to upgrade some parts of it (like a new HVAC -- heating and cooling) this summer, so go and support! read more

i totally dug this place, it had a great cozy ambiance and looked like it would be a good place to see a play. i however saw some burlesque which was, as always, very fun. the night of the living dead set on the stage kind of added to the show. the area is really cool as well. i need to start checking out the places up there. read more

When you roll over 4 stars it says "Yay! I'm a fan." Those are my exact sentiments. Walking in the door of the Bug I felt at ease. It is lacking all of that stuffy theatre-y BS. The people are friendly and they even laugh at jokes!! Holy moley!! I also love the fact that the Bug is open to all kinds of events. There are tales of burlesque, comedy and film festivals. I went for a play called Ten Buddhist Tales. It was freaking FUNNY! Look it up! Make an evening of it! read more

Freak Train = one of the best $5 purchases I've made in Denver. A few duds, a few very bright spots but overall, just hilarious. The host was worth the $5 alone - from start to finish, she was amazing. Keg beer is available for free (donation). I'll be back to see The Grawlix! read more

Admittedly, I did not know what I was getting myself into by coming here. The husband say I should always give things a shot before I judge. I came to watch some sort of short videos/movies created by aspiring filmmakers of Denver. While the content of some of the shows was weird, I would say overall I was semi-impressed. This place and location reminds me of Valencia St. in SF, full of creatives and hipsters. I appreciate the passion these folks had for creating such short films, but overall I can now say: I came, I went, and now I can say I have been here. read more