Miners Alley announces first Comfort and Comedy Festival in Golden

Two-week event features Josh Blue, Broadway performers and Colorado favorites.

Golden’s Miners Alley Performing Arts Center will present its first annual Comfort and Comedy Festival Feb. 23-March 8, featuring more than 20 performances and workshops across multiple downtown venues.

The festival lineup includes nationally touring comedian Josh Blue, improv troupe Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, music-comedy duo Buckets N’ Boards, Broadway performers The Chalks and magician Peter Juris. Colorado favorites including SCRIPTprov, Clocktower Cabaret Burlesque and the King Penny Radio Show will also perform.

“Comedy brings people together in a way few things can,” said Len Matheo, producing artistic director of Miners Alley Performing Arts Center. “The Comfort and Comedy Festival is designed as a shared experience for our community. It invites people to gather during the winter months and laugh and connect through stories that feel both entertaining and deeply human.”

Matheo said the organization hopes the festival will grow into an annual event that supports downtown Golden during a quieter tourism season. The festival is sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority.

National and Broadway performers

The festival opens Feb. 23 with Broadway’s Next Hit Musical at Miners Alley, 1100 Miners Alley. The improvised musical comedy invites audience participation as performers transform song titles and ideas into spontaneous scenes with original music and choreography created in real time.

The Chalks bring their Hot Takes and Hard Truths World Tour to Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Ave., on Feb. 25. The trio has been featured on Comedy Central and NPR, delivering musical comedy with original songs and harmonies.

Buckets N’ Boards, a New York-based percussion and tap dancing duo, performs March 2 at Buffalo Rose with a family-friendly show combining musical precision with physical comedy.

Comedian Josh Blue, winner of Last Comic Standing and finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, performs March 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Gnarly’s, 1224 Washington Ave., Suite 200.

Magician Peter Juris presents multiple performances during the festival, including close-up magic at outdoor locations and the Golden Mill on March 3, a family-friendly show at 6 p.m. March 4 at Miners Alley and a comedy hypnotist show at 8:30 p.m. March 4 at Miners Alley.

Colorado favorites

The festival showcases Colorado performers including award-winning improvisation show SCRIPTprov on Feb. 24 at Miners Alley. The show blends scripted theatre with live improvisation as actors begin scenes from established plays, only to have improvisers interrupt and reshape the performance.

Illusionist Charly Wonder presents an adult-oriented magic show Feb. 26 at Gnarly’s and a family-friendly performance Feb. 28 at Gnarly’s.

Other Colorado performances include interactive comedy competition Joke Box on Feb. 27, The Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience with live shadow cast on Feb. 28, Clocktower Cabaret Burlesque on March 3, King Penny Radio Show on March 5, Golden Standard Comedy Showcase featuring Ron Ferguson, Al Jackson, Christie Buchele, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald and Mo Vida on March 6, and drag and burlesque murder mystery Sashes and Secrets: Pop Goes the Queen on March 7.

Workshops

The festival offers hands-on workshops including juggling, clowning, stage combat and improv games. Sessions are led by Miners Alley’s clown-in-residence and fight choreographer Amy Arpan and are open to participants of all experience levels.

Mainstage productions

Three Miners Alley mainstage productions run during the festival period and are included in festival discount packages: The Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon (Feb. 5-March 8), Paul Bunyan Tales by Miners Alley Theatre for Young Audiences (Feb. 14-March 28) and regional premiere of My Mother and the Michigan/Ohio War by Paul Stroili (Feb. 18-March 29).

Tickets

Tickets range from $5 to $55. A 20% discount is available when purchasing tickets to three or more festival events. Full festival details and tickets are available at minersalley.com/comfort-and-comedy-festival.

Comfort and Comedy Festival 2026 – Events by Date

Sunday, February 23

Opening Night Festivities featuring Broadway’s Next Hit Musical | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

Monday, February 24

SCRIPTprov, 7:30 p.m. | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, February 25

The Chalks | Buffalo Rose

Wednesday, February 26

Wicked Wonders with Charly Wonder, 7:30 p.m. | Gnarly’s

Thursday, February 27

Joke Box, 8 p.m. | Gnarly’s

Friday, February 28

Wonders and Wow! with Charly Wonder, 2 p.m. | Gnarly’s
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience, 10 p.m. | Gnarly’s

Sunday, March 1

Juggling Workshop, 1 p.m. | Gnarly’s
Clowning Workshop, 4 p.m. | Gnarly’s

Sunday, March 2

Buckets N Boards | Buffalo Rose

Monday, March 3

Peter Juris: Close-Up Magic, 3-5 p.m. | Washington Ave. & 12th St. (outdoor)
Peter Juris: Close-Up Magic, 6-8 p.m. | The Golden Mill
Josh Blue, 7:30 p.m. | Gnarly’s
Clocktower Cabaret Burlesque, 7:30 p.m. | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

Wednesday, March 4

Peter Juris: Magical Mayhem (family show), 6 p.m. | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Peter Juris: Comedy Hypnotist, 8:30 p.m. | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

Thursday, March 5