When strolling down the gentrified street of Navajo, you may notice an eye-catching burst of red paint above worn brick walls plastered with posters for a variety of spectacles.
A look inside this building reveals a cramped lobby and box office, as well as an open invitation to Denver’s creative underground theater scene. The Bug Performance and Media Art Center, better known as the Bug Theatre, will celebrate its 30th anniversary on October 19, after decades of hosting shows and performances.
The Bug’s history begins in 1912 when it was built as the Ideal Theater, a nickelodeon movie house. Over the years, the building was known by many different names, such as The World Theatre, the Avalon and even Faith Temple Church. Finally, it was repurposed into a warehouse in the 1960s and remained so for decades, until 1994, when it was purchased by local artists and married couple Reed Weimer and Chandler Romeo.
“They came in one day after not knowing what it was, and found out it was an empty theater, ” said Alex Weimer, Reed Weimer’s brother and executive artistic director of the Bug Theatre. “They fixed it up and opened it in 1994, and I helped start a theater company here in 1998.”
Situated on the corner of Navajo Street and West 37th Avenue, the unassuming building hides a local treasure inside. “[The Bug is] an affordable place to rent or see a show, so that people can do a show or see a show,” Weimer said.
Why exactly is it called the Bug? The name was chosen in honor of the nickname given to the building by neighborhood children: the “Bug House.” While not the grandest theater, with worn red seats, moody lighting and posters lining the wall by the concessions stand floor to ceiling, The Bug Theatre more than makes up for it with its personality and charm.Â
“It’s totally unpolished,” said Bug Theatre board member and longtime volunteer, Michael Henderson. “And I love it.”
The Bug hosts many events and performances, from film shows to burlesque to stand-up comedy to trivia nights, so you never know what you are going to see onstage. As the Bug’s executive artistic director, Weimer has his hands full organizing the theater’s lively schedule. His approach to choosing which shows are featured is simple.
“As long as they’re not Nazis or going to throw glitter all over hell’s creation, they are welcome here,” Weimer said. This (mostly) open-door policy allows for the Bug’s schedule to be bursting with a variety of entertainment months upon months in advance.
“There’s something for most everyone, and it’s just kind of quirky,” Henderson said. “I call it the other side of art. It’s a little underground, a little bizarre art, and it’s just so much fun.”
The Bug does it all at an affordable and accessible price point to the local community. Despite the rising prices of the surrounding city, the Bug has staunchly maintained low admission costs over the years, supported by a loyal patron base and grants from creative organizations. Keeping the arts attainable is one of the goals of the Bug Theatre.
“Our mission is to keep it affordable,” Henderson said. “Our ticket prices for our in-house shows [are] all under $5.”
The Bug Theatre’s dedication to low prices reflects a deeper sentiment. “Life is getting more and more expensive, and we try to find different ways to weather that changing cost without passing it along to people,” said Eileen Agosta, the Bug’s marketing manager. “Access to the arts is more important than ever, and it’s getting harder and harder in some ways.”
For the Bug staff, the experiences it facilities are meant to be shared. “Camaraderie” is the word Weimer used to describe his feelings on the matter.
“That camaraderie, where you’re all experiencing something differently, but you’re all experiencing the same thing,” Weimer said. “I don’t think that can be beaten as far as how we can learn about ourselves and how we learn about each other. The arts are an expression, a celebration, of humanity and of community that anyone and everyone should have an opportunity to partake in.”
At the same time, the Bug’s open doors benefit another group—the performers themselves. “Even for the artist, having a place to perform your art, to hone your craft, in front of an audience is very important,” Agosta said. Weimer agreed and emphasized the accessible nature of the Bug’s stage.
“It’s not exclusionary,” Weimer said. “It’s not unattainable. […] We get all types in here, pros and amateurs.”
One of the theater’s longest-running shows, Freak Train, is a perfect example of this mentality: the first twelve people to sign up, regardless of talent, profession or prestige, are given five minutes to do whatever they want up on the Bug’s iconic stage—with respect to the aforementioned caveat regarding Nazis and glitter! A resounding success, Freak Train has been running since 2000.
Over the years, the Bug Theatre has offered creatives a chance to spread their wings and has provided the community the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the arts. Decades after Reed Weimer and Chandler Romeo reopened the venue, the Bug is ready to celebrate its 30th anniversary on October 19 with “Saved By The Bug,” a variety show hosted by Alex Weimer featuring performances by artists who have showcased their work at the Bug throughout the years.
From comedy to films, and with showings from some of The Bug’s longest-running shows such as Freak Train, The Grawlix, The Amazing Acro-Cats and more, “Saved By The Bug” is bound to be fun. “It’s going to be an amazing night,” Henderson said. “A sampler platter of what the Bug can do.”Â
Weimer put it more bluntly, with phrasing befitting the Bug’s character. “Come to the Bug Theatre,” Weimer said. “We’ll eventually have something you want to see.”
