Wende Curtis, owner of Comedy Works in LoDo and south in the Landmark development, is peddling a six-minute “sizzle reel” for a reality TV series about her crazy Comedy Works world.
“The working title is called ‘Comedy Works’,” said Curtis, who wouldn’t divulge where or to whom she’s pitching the pilot project. “The principal characters are me, Lucy (her four-legged child), Jeff, our GM of the south club and an assistant who is a sexy little 20-something who wants to break into comedy.
“There are a few more (characters) slated to be introduced early on, but there’s only so much to get across in six minutes! We’ve gotten some strong feedback from the business, now let’s see if we can sell it.”
Curtis said her motivation for exploring the reality TV possibilities was primarily financial.
“Money inspired me … to get out from underneath my debt faster!” she said.
Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis and her French bulldog Lucy are featured in a reality series pilot she is pitching to an unnamed television network. (Blacktie-Colorado photo)
Speaking of Comedy Works South …
My former Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post colleague Sam Adams hosted a gang of VIP supporters during a book-signing Wednesday at Comedy Works South.
Adams, who penned his first book “If You Don’t Believe Me … Lessons Learned From Listening to the Greats,” thanked gathered guests for guiding him through his journey as an insurance company employee to a freelance high-school sports writer for The Denver Post to a full-time position as a sportswriter to columnist to stand-up comedian and now author.
In the book, published by Books to Believe in (www.bookstobelievein.com), Adams recalls close encounters of the celebrity kind including John Elway, Bill Cosby, Sugar Ray Leonard, John “Buck” O’Neil of the Negro Leagues, Floyd Little, Magic Johnson, Quincy Jones, James Caan and on and on … Adams admits to being a notorious name-dropper around friends.
It’s an interesting memory walk down the lane of a life well lived ($20, www.amazon.com).
Former Rocky Mountain News columnist Sam Adams has penned his first book, "If You Don't Believe Me ... Lessons Learned From Listening to the Greats." Adams has reinvented himself as a comedian, author and speaker after the Rocky folded in 2009.
Makes sense
When the creative team behind the musical interpretation of Jane Austen’s classic novel “Sense & Sensibility” first presented their idea to Tony-nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge, she thought they were kidding.
How could Austen’s iconic 1811 work of romantic fiction possibly translate into a piece for musical theater?
But the team convinced Milgrom Dodge, who fell in love with the formidable project. The result made its world premiere April 5 in the Stage Theatre.
The result is a whimsical romp through the lives and loves of the Dashwood sisters who go from riches to rags after the death of their father.
The sisters and their mother move to Barton Cottage in Devonshire, near the home of her cousin, Sir John Middleton. It’s at Barton where a series of tangled romances finally straighten themselves out.
The exciting production values include sets that slide on and off stage or emerge from below or descend into trap doors.
“Sense & Sensibility the Musical” runs through May 26. Tickets: 303-893-4100 or www.denvercenter.org.
Juana Bordas, left, and Happy Haynes attended the pre-show event for “Sense & Sensibility the Musical,” which is playing at the Stage Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts complex in downtown Denver. (Photo by Brian Imhof/Denver Center)
DIA’s design delights
“USA Today” recently included Denver International Airport in its list of the “world’s most beautiful airports.
Here’s what the story said:
“Denver International Airport’s iconic peaked fiberglass roof is meant to resemble the Rocky Mountains. Interior details throughout the airport have sparked numerous conspiracy theories – everything from supposed Templar markings in the floors to the theory that the airport serves as the secret headquarters for the Illuminati.”
For more of the story, plus recommended Denver sights worth seeing, go to http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2013/04/07/worlds-most-beautiful-airports/2056899/.
Presidential project
Want to show former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter what you would do if you had a hammer? Would you hammer in the morning’? Hammer in the evening? All over this land?
A few lucky folks will be chosen to work alongside the Carters during the 2013 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver from Oct. 6 through 11.
This is the 30th anniversary of the presidential Habitat for Humanity event, and Denver is one of three cities in the U.S. getting the special project.
Volunteers will build 11 new townhomes and repair up to 15 existing homes in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood.
For more information, visit http://www.habitatmetrodenver.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=166&Itemid=1.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and President Jimmy Carter will be coming to Denver in October to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity. (Photo by Habitat for Humanity)
Pizza, please
Patxi’s Pizza in Englewood and Cherry Creek North is giving tax payers a reason to celebrate this Tax Day by offering a special $10.99 lunch deal on Sunday.
The lunch special includes a slice of Chicago-style stuffed pizza or hand-pulled thin crust pie, a choice of salad and a glass of beer or wine.
To receive the special $10.99 offer, just mention to the deal to your server of “check in” on Foursquare or Yelp to redeem.
The Cherry Creek store is at 185 Steele St. and the Englewood eatery is at 3455 S. University Blvd. Unit B. More information: www.patxispizza.com.
Steak escape
The Travel Channel recently aired an episode of the series “Food Paradise” with a third “Steak Paradise” edition, which included a stop at Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St.
Personally, when I think Denver steak house, Vesta doesn’t come to top of mind, but the “Food Paradise” peeps “steaked” a claim to Vesta.
In the piece, diners rave about Vesta’s beef steak dishes – including the signature surf and turf, which is a flatiron steak with Manila clams – as well as waxing poetic about Vesta’s venison filet.
Former executive chef Matt Selby (who now runs the kitchen at Corner House), talks about the veracity of venison for the camera.
The segment likely will air again on the Travel Channel, but until then, you can check it out at http://www.travelchannel.com/video/a-steak-by-any-other-name.
Eavesdropping on a man to a small group of people at Sam Adams’ book-signing party: “This must be the media, isn’t this free?”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
Comments are closed.
Leave a comment