High Plains Comedy Festival


High Plains Comedy Festival is a comedy festival held each August in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2013, it is organized by Denver comedian/writer Adam Cayton-Holland and comedian/producer Andy Juett and features a mix of local and national comics in venues throughout the Baker neighborhood. In 2015 Karen Wachtel was brought on board and changed the game.

2013

High Plains was established in 2013 as Denver's first all stand-up comedy festival and ran August 23–24, 2013. Conceived, directed, and produced by Cayton-Holland and Juett, the festival was sponsored by Denver-based burrito restaurant Illegal Pete's. The lineup included Kyle Kinane, Sean Patton, Andrew Orvedahl, Adam Cayton-Holland, Ben Roy, Kurt Braunohler, Jake Weisman, Ian Douglas Terry, Andy Wood, Kate Berlant and Amber Tozer. Headliner Reggie Watts joined dozens of local Denver comedians, live podcast recordings, and open mic shows to round out the festival. Venues included South Broadway bars, restaurants and clubs including the Hi-Dive, the Hornet, 3 Kings Tavern and Mutiny Information Cafe along with the Gothic Theatre in neighboring Englewood, Colorado.

2014

High Plains will return for its second year August 22–23, 2014, once again organized by Cayton-Holland and Juett and sponsored by Illegal Pete's. In addition to the 2013 smaller venues, the "finale" will take place in the historic McNichols Building in Civic Center Park. The 2014 lineup is set to include Pete Holmes, T.J. Miller, Jared Logan, Kate Berlant, Kumail Nanjiani, Ben Kronberg, Cameron Esposito, and Beth Stelling along with 25 other comedians.