Bug Theatre

The Bug Theatre, formally the Bug Performance and Media Art Center, is a nonprofit arts venue at 3654 Navajo Street in Denver, Colorado. It was founded in 1994 by local artists Reed Weimer and Chandler Romeo, who purchased the building and incorporated it as a federal 501(c)(3) organization. The name is a tribute to the nickname neighborhood children once used for the space, the "Bug House." The building itself dates to 1912, when it opened as the Ideal Theater, a nickelodeon movie house. Over the following century it also operated as The World Theatre, The Navajo, and The Avalon, and served for a time as a Faith Temple Church before closing in the 1960s and being converted into an appliance storage warehouse. Since its founding, The Bug has become a hub for Denver's independent and emerging artists. It produces live theatrical performances, forums, classes, and monthly showcases for local independent film, music, and performing artists. It also hosts national and international works through film festivals and traveling artists, and functions as a multi-purpose community venue for meetings, workshops, benefits, and other artistic events. A resident theatre company was introduced in 1998, followed by a small staff in 1999; together they helped transform the venue into the viable artistic entity it is today. The Bug's programming includes long-running shows such as Freak Train, described as Denver's longest-running open-stage variety show, and The Grawlix, an alternative comedy showcase featuring Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl, and Ben Roy. It also hosts touring productions like SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw. The venue is all-ages unless otherwise noted, with valid ID required for alcohol purchase. It remains dedicated to its original mission of providing an accessible space for artists and performers who might otherwise be unable to access a venue of its kind.

The Bug Theatre occupies a building with a long cultural history in Denver's Navajo Street arts district. It was originally built in 1912 as a nickelodeon movie house called the Ideal Theater. Over the decades the venue changed names and uses, operating as The World Theatre, The Navajo, and The Avalon, and at one point serving as a Faith Temple Church. It closed in the 1960s and was subsequently converted into an appliance storage warehouse. In 1994, local artists Reed Weimer and Chandler Romeo purchased the building and incorporated it as a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the name Bug Performance and Media Art Center. They named it The Bug Theatre as a tribute to the nickname neighborhood kids had for the space, the "Bug House." The venue was designed from the start as an accessible space for local, independent artists, particularly emerging artists who might otherwise be unable to access a venue of that kind. A resident theatre company was introduced in 1998, followed by a small staff in 1999. The combined efforts of the award-winning Bug Theatre Company and the administrative staff transformed the venue into a viable artistic entity. Since then, The Bug has produced live theatrical performance, forums, classes, and acclaimed monthly showcases featuring local independent film, music, and performing artists. It has also brought national and international artworks to local audiences through film festivals and traveling artists, and has served as a multi-functional venue for community meetings, workshops, benefits, and other artistic events. The Bug continues to work toward its original mission of making the arts accessible to the community.

• 1999

  A small staff is introduced.

• 1998

  A resident theatre company is introduced.

• 1994

  Purchased by Reed Weimer and Chandler Romeo; incorporated as Bug Performance and Media Art Center and named The Bug Theatre.

• 1912

  Building opens as the Ideal Theater, a nickelodeon movie house.

An accessible, nonprofit arts venue for emerging and independent artists in Denver.

• Freak Train

  Denver's longest-running open-stage variety show.

• The Grawlix

  Denver's premiere alternative comedy show featuring Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy.

• SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw

  A touring parody musical that returned to Downtown Denver by popular demand.

1. 1The Bug Theatre | 3654 Navajo Street, Denver, CO, USAbugtheatre.org
2. 2ABOUT | The Bug Theatrebugtheatre.org
3. 3Bug Theatrewikidata.org