The Clocktower of 16th Street has loomed over the city of Denver since 1911, and roused onlookers with awe to behold not just the tallest building in the area, but at the time, the tallest in the West (more accurately between the Mississippi River and the state of California, that is). What many don’t know is that deep beneath its floors, through two elegant doors and down a steep staircase that ascends into the abyss, one can find an unexpected magical oasis. Its walls are coated in red paint, and dozens of mirrors framed in ornate gold adorn the walls. Scarves hang from chandeliers and warm light pours from lamps with tassels and frills; this is where the Clocktower Cabaret resides. 

The Clocktower is no stranger to housing artists. Before the cabaret’s existence the space was home to an improv theater called “Rattle Brain.” Following the theatre’s departure, notorious Denver singer Lannie Garrett rented out the space in 2006, creating the first iteration of the cabaret which was titled at the time “Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret.” Though Garrett originally intended the space to function as a venue for her performances, it swiftly molted into a home for performers, comedians, and artists of all kinds. Selene Arca, co-owner of the Cabaret with her husband Jeff, comments, “I think we are a place where people kind of…figure things out. A lot of people got their start here.” Those who weren’t quite sure what their place was seemed to gravitate towards the underground cabaret when it was founded 20 years ago, and that’s the same community that would ride or die for it now. Selene and Jeff Arca continue to keep Garrett’s legacy alive, while adding their own spin on the Clocktower Cabaret. “We’re both performers and artists first. And so for us, (we) do it because of that glowy feeling when people love what you’re doing, it’s a thrill knowing that, especially in times like this, we’re a place that people could come to and feel safe and represented.” 

Something the Arca’s maintain is a refusal to let their show be put in a box. As Selene Arca states “I’ve never seen the same show two times. Even if it’s the same lineup, like twice in a row, it’s still very different. It’s always different.” The word ‘cabaret’ isn’t always well-received; it’s often mistaken for being a promiscuous establishment that lacks family values. Selene shares, “…the word cabaret is scary. If they looked it up, they’d know…we actually put it on our website. Now the first thing you see is its definition, like, in case you forgot.” The definition reads as, “Cabaret: From French café roots to 1920s jazz, the word cabaret means intimate live entertainment paired with food and drinks.” Though some acts may feature flamboyant dance moves and a strip tease or two, first and foremost the Clocktower Cabaret has been and always will be a space for artists to freely express themselves.  

At their most recent Halloween “Boolesque” show, they had performances ranging from belly dancer Taka Carnes (a longtime performer at the Cabaret), the thrilling escapades of “Sex Bot” that executed mechanical dance moves, a Micheal Myers strip tease, a performer dressed as Velma that lifted up her skirt only to reveal two giant googly eyes stuck to her bottom (and then brandished large glasses to put on them), and a monsteresque costume that could only originate from another world; complete with red tentacles, a mask with gnarled teeth, and monster shaped genitalia that was whipped out for the grand finale. The shows can range from wholesome to downright devious, and no matter the act or performer, the sheer amount of support behind the thunderous applause once they take their bow is astounding.  

The community that surrounds and uplifts the Clocktower Cabaret is a long standing one; it is not just a workplace or performance venue, but a family. In the words of Selene Arca, who has been a part of the Clocktower Cabaret for 18 of the 20 years of its existence, “My life is here. This is my home, my house, my heart. Not just mine—we share it with everyone who comes in here, you know? But it’s my family. I met my husband here…When we got married, everybody from the Clocktower was there, you know, they all had noisemakers.” The sheer love the artist community surrounding Clocktower Cabaret has for the venue, shows, and one another is a palpable and seemingly unstoppable force. According to Selene Arca, it is one of the most important things that’s kept them going through hard times. “Every time we were ready to just quit and throw in the towel…Something would happen, a grant would come through, or our community was so supportive of us during that time. Every year we get by is like, wow, we did it again. Okay, here we go…If people stop buying tickets, we can’t keep doing it, you know? But, yeah, as long as people want us to be here, we will.” 

If you’d like to check out the mystical world of Clocktower Cabaret for yourself, you can use the discount code SENTRYEXTRACREDIT at checkout for 10–50% off tickets to select shows at The Clocktower Cabaret.