How Chaos bloomed

Chaos Bloom Theatre Photo: Cat Evans

Story and Photos By Cat Evans

South Broadway is an ever-evolving deeply rooted historical street – essential to the spirit of Denver. Along its length, you will find almost anything you can imagine: a vast array of vintage stores, coffee shops, plant havens, restaurants, and bars — both new and old — where the public can enjoy late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. 

Among the many emerging businesses calling Broadway their home, there’s one, in particular, you don’t want to miss – Chaos Bloom Theatre. 

The off-center, quirky Chaos Bloom Theatre, located at 70 S. Broadway, is a creative space where people perform comedic improvisation and can take courses to prepare them for virtually any stage. Chaos opened its doors in mid-2021 and has been firing on all cylinders ever since. This is no ordinary theater, however. Each room at Chaos Bloom, down to its turf- covered bathroom, is done with intention. A customized mural of the Denver skyline rests between the stage and the teaching rooms located at the further end of the building, reminding each passerby of the city in which they are experiencing. This unusual design, detail by detail, was pioneered by one of the four current owners of Chaos Bloom, Amey Goerlich, who within the past year, took creative control. 

The performing arts deal with major gender disparity within leadership positions, and it is dramatically skewed toward men. The opportunities for a woman to step in, call the shots, and be the face of creative establishments are far and few in between. According to womenarts.org, women “face enormous employment discrimination in the arts and media.” Time will tell how this will shift, but for now, Chaos has handed the reins to a woman with a vision. 

Goerlich began her theatrical career in 2001 at Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. She performed with them until 2016, when she moved to LA to teach at Westside Comedy. She did that for three years until COVID came and everything shut down in Los Angeles. 

“I knew I wouldn’t survive off just teaching online,” said Goerlich, explaining why she and her husband were on the hunt for a new opportunity. Serendipitously, Justin Francin, a co-owner at Chaos Bloom, reached out to Goerlich and asked her to come to Denver to be the director of training. 

The classes Goerlich now offers vary by level/intensity – beginner and onward. A sketch comedy 101 hybrid class costs $125 for six weeks. In the class, sketch comedy basics, include content, editing, script structure, and page to performance transformation. Chaos Bloom also offers various types of training. According to Goerlich, “It’s a different type of training than you can get anywhere else. I built my own curriculum and asked myself questions like how can I make this the most entertaining.” All classes range from $100-$200 and last about six weeks. A full array of their educational offerings can be found on their website, chaosbloom.com. 

“Given the opportunity to create an entirely new curriculum that was inclusive was a huge opportunity. I don’t think a lot of women in improv get that opportunity.” 

From the ground up, Goerlich assisted in developing the space that so many would soon call home. For months, Goerlich worked for free, along with all other willing bodies that tirelessly pieced everything together until Chaos Bloom opened as the unique space it is today. “The more time I spent here, the more Justin started to see how I could change things on every level,” said Goerlich. 

With nothing but time, amidst a pandemic standstill, Goerlich began organizing finances while shows began happening outside throughout the summer as a sort of preamble to the official opening of the building itself. Improv shows were a roaring success, initially being held in an alley down the block, each night filled with eager observers fresh off the heels of the first COVID lockdown. 

As a result of her hard work, Goerlich became a co-owner. Two more owners were also included to collaborate and build something new. “We put our very specific skillsets together in order to build what it has become. It’s like a low- grade Meow Wolf in here,” said Goerlich. 

Speaking on the impact of COVID and the success of the theater, Goerlich expressed gratitude toward the time that the pandemic provided. “I used the time to organize everything, and we’ve got to a place where it’s a really oiled, maintained machine, and we keep it up.” She is also grateful for the vaccine mandates, as it they have helped to relieve health concerns about a smaller space filled with unfamiliar bodies. “Now I know that when people walk in here, they’re vaccinated. Now I know that everyone will be safe.” 

Additionally, the ongoing pandemic has necessitated a need for this sort of entertainment. “I think we have stifled ourselves from laughing because of all these issues going on,” said Goerlich, “We need that release. For me, I have to have that outlet. We all need that outlet.” 

Most people discover Chaos Bloom Theatre by word of mouth. “We have people in the neighborhood coming in all the time. You rarely see an improviser in the audience, it’s always just random people. Then people become regulars, and they keep coming back and bringing friends.” 

Every week there are different shows and classes. “Relationsh*t” is a flagship show where the Chaos Bloom players interview someone from the audience about a weird or awkward date that they’ve been on.
“Last night we had to turn people away because we were so packed,” said Goerlich. “Every show the audience is engaged with the performers, the space is intimate and immediate and welcoming to all. It’s nice to see people come back out again.” 

The theater is constantly working toward inclusivity, diversity, and bringing new people in. As Goerlich explained, “We are in schools, we are outside. We are trying to get people on stage where people can be watching and say, ‘Oh, that person is like me.’ There is much emphasis on what voices you can and cannot use as a performer, fine lines as to what is appropriate and what is not. and those expectations do not waver. We’ve got to show people we can do this, and then do it better.”

The performers and teachers are nationally trained, ranging from New York to LA, to Chicago – each hub represented. “The improv, the comedy, the sketch – it’s all high level. My curriculum provides the tools for someone to step up and play at high levels,” said Goerlich. 

This up-and-coming theater has only just begun. The vibe of the room when sitting amongst peers engaging in laughter and relatability is unmatched. For more information on the theater, showtimes, class scheduling, and pricing, visit chaosbloom.com.

Editor’s note: You may also read this article in the January 2022 printed issue of the VOICE.