Witches get a bad rap. Thanks largely to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, witches have been cast in history as evil or threatening figures. They’re often depicted in popular culture as old hags with evil cackles or wicked green spinsters that ride around on a broom.

In reality, witches are just a bunch of ladies who like to hang out outside the patriarchal norms of the day and make herbal remedies for period cramps out of a cauldron. To be honest, this doesn’t sound too far off from my typical Friday night.

Historically, witches were demonized because they represented autonomy, wisdom and female power, which posed a threat to patriarchal structures. Societies heavily influenced by religious authority — like Puritan Massachusetts at the beginning of American colonialism — were suspicious of anyone who operated outside their dogma, according to the city of Salem. Independent women, especially those skilled in healing, midwifery, or divination, became easy targets.

In honor of the misunderstood witches of the past, the women of Comedy Coven are banding together to reclaim their power — this time through humor. In the male-dominated world of comedy, this all-female group is casting a spell of laughter and unapologetic authenticity, offering audiences a much-needed break from the usual fanfare.

Featuring five hilarious women — Kari Stern, Pam Moore, Stephanie Sprenger, Zoe Rogers and headliner Janae Burris — Comedy Coven is a 90-minute show packed with takes on motherhood, relationships, midlife crises, divorce and much more.

The show is produced by comedy dynamo Zoe Rogers and storytelling queen Stephanie Sprenger, who both have been on a mission to create spaces where women in comedy can thrive.

“I started producing all-women lineups back in L.A. because, honestly, not enough women were getting booked,” said Rogers, who is also the brains behind Boulder Comedy Festival.

When Rogers moved to Colorado, she launched Comedy Fempire and later met Sprenger, who was producing the hit show “Listen to Your Mother,” where women tell their stories on stage. Creative sparks flew and soon after, Comedy Coven was born.

“Our first show date was in October, so we thought, why not call it Comedy Coven?” Rogers said.

Honestly, is there a more perfect name for a group of fierce women commanding the stage in October?

Sprenger, who entered comedy through Rogers’ class, shares that the duo was determined to create a space for female comics that was, in a word, safe.

“Women are tired of hearing the same old jokes about men’s junk,” she said. “Comedy is still a male-dominated industry, often marked by sexism, whether subtle or overt. We wanted to create a space where female comics feel safe, both physically and emotionally, and where women in the audience can hear content that’s relatable to them.”

Though all of the comics on Comedy Coven’s bill are indeed female, together, they represent different voices and styles while keeping it cohesive.

“Stephanie’s comedy focuses on being newly divorced and navigating ADHD, while Pam Moore talks about raising kids and living in Boulder,” Rogers said. “Kari Stern delves into the chaos of raising young children, and our headliner, Janae Burris, is a new mom in her 40s, so she jokes about life as an older, first-time mother.”

The evening’s headliner, Janae Burris, is a nationally touring comedian who also works as the new talent coordinator at Denver’s Comedy Works.

“Probably one of the coolest parts about the evening is that Janae is headlining,” Sprenger said. “She’s an icon, and we’re incredibly lucky to have her.”

In essence, each performer brings her own flavor, but together, they create the perfect comedic brew.

Sprenger calls Rogers the “comedy midwife” for ushering in a new generation of funny women.

“Four out of the five of us have worked together for a long time,” Sprenger said. “We write jokes together, take workshops and support each other’s growth. Most people enter comedy through grueling open mics, but for us, it’s been

this amazing, collaborative experience. We’ve built a little family of women who cheer each other on, not compete with each other.”

Comedy Coven isn’t just about generating giggles — it’s about using humor to make women feel seen and less alone. For Sprenger, who has used comedy as a way to process her divorce, the power of humor to connect people is undeniable.

“I say the things other women might not be comfortable talking about but that they want to hear because it makes them feel less isolated,” Sprenger said. “Comedy is especially powerful in that way. If we don’t laugh and connect during life’s challenges — whether it’s divorce, grief, or menopause — we’re missing an opportunity to feel less alone.”

Rogers echoes that sentiment, emphasizing how empowering it is to collaborate with another woman in comedy.

“For so long, I was often the only woman on comedy shows, and there was this outdated mentality that women were competing for the same spot,” Rogers said. “But my belief has always been to make more opportunities for other women. Working with Stephanie has been so refreshing — being in an all-women, supportive environment like ‘Listen to Your Mother’ was a game-changer. We lift each other up, and that’s what makes Comedy Coven so special.”

For any male readers out there who might be feeling left out, it’s important to know that Comedy Coven is not just for the ladies.

“My brother and his husband come to all my shows, and they’re always the loudest laughers,” Sprenger said. “Men enjoy hearing a woman’s perspective. They’re married to women, have sisters, mothers, or daughters, and they appreciate the honesty. When men do comedy, no one questions whether they’re connecting with the women in the audience. They’re just seen as universally funny. I’d argue women are just as universally funny, and anyone who watches someone like Janae Burris perform would agree.”

Sprenger added: “Men who come to our shows have a great time, and it’s also a nice perspective shift. We’ve all sat through comedy shows where guys talk about their ‘crazy wife.’ Well, maybe it’s time for men to sit down and hear what it’s like for their wife to talk about having sex in her 40s. I think men are going to love Comedy Coven, and they might even learn something, too.”

Catch Comedy Coven at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets, $20, can be purchased at thedairy.org.