Last year was rough for a lot of people. And let’s face it, if January was as good as it’s going to get in 2017, we’re going to need to find ways to laugh and unwind—and drinks would be nice, too. That’s why we’re prescribing a visit to any of these comedy acts hitting the Mile High City this month.

Comedy Works

Sarah Silverman; Feb. 12–13, 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Silverman, a two-time Emmy Award winner, has been busy as of late. She was one of the louder voices in the 2016 political race, and recently performed her first-ever HBO stand-up special, “We Are Miracles.” Now on tour, Silverman brings her outrageous humor and biting social and political commentary to Comedy Works’ downtown location.

Heather McDonald; Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 17–18, 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Head to the venue’s southern location to catch one of the sharpest minds in comedy. McDonald’s written two New York Times bestsellers and works full-time on Chelsea Lately. A lot of her material draws from experiences as a wife and mother, but the appeal of her comedy stretches to a wider audience, as well.

Ben Roy; Feb. 19, 7 p.m.

A staple of the Denver stand-up scene, Roy is back for another performance downtown at Comedy Works. Though he’ll be sans his Grawlix partners—fellow Denverites Adam Cayton-Holland and Andrew Orvedahl—Roy’s ranting and passionate style should be more than enough to entertain the crowd.

Voodoo Comedy Playhouse

Makeshift Shakespeare; Feb. 10, 17, 24, 8–9 p.m.

The folks over at Voodoo are going back nearly half a millennium for inspiration from the Bard himself. Every Friday, catch improv shows done in the theme of William Shakespeare—costume, language, and all.

The Duel: An Improv Cagematch; Feb. 11, 18, 25, 10–11 p.m.

Let the best team win. Voodoo will become a battleground as two improv comedy teams compete for your laughs—and a $500 prize. The nature of improv means no one really knows what to expect for these competitions, but that’s what makes this show worth seeing.

Bovine Metropolis Theater

Armando: A Show For Lovers; Feb. 10, 7 p.m.; Feb. 11, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Feb. 14, 8 p.m.

Go share some laughs with your loved one at Bovine as Valentine’s Day approaches. The Armando shows will feature two real, different couples each night. As the couple retells stories from their own relationships, the Bovine cast will act it out in an improvisational style.

Secret Society; Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Don’t leave your sense of adventure at home if you come out for this show. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit a secret from their own life into the confession box. Bovine’s comedians will then improvise scenes based off audience submissions.

Heirs of Hogwarts; Feb. 17, 24, 8 p.m.

The Harry Potter universe has arrived on Denver’s doorstep. Set at a rebuilt Hogwarts after Harry destroyed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the team at Bovine performs completely improvised storylines that pay homage to the endearing world J.K. Rowling created.

Denver Improv Theater

Gina Brillon; Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 17–18, 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.

New York City’s Gina Brillon was the first woman and Latina to ever win NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity Showcase. Her down-to-earth humor makes for some hilarious commentary on relationships, cat people versus dog people, and “embracing your own crazy.”

Corey Holcomb; Feb. 24–25, 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.

Relationships are the main focus with Chicago-native Corey Holcomb—specifically, relationships gone wrong. His raunchy humor is perhaps not for the thin-skinned, but those who enjoy more rough-edged comedians should get a kick out of his performance.