The DC country has long had some serious comedy game : household public figure like Dave Chappelle , Patton Oswalt , Wanda Sykes , and Whitney Cummings all maturate up in the metro area , and there ’s been no shortage of homegrown , behind - the - conniption natural endowment , either . Local improvisers and place upright - up comedians have gone on to write for appearance likeSaturday Night Live , Last Week Tonight , andThe Daily Show .
But in the preceding five year , the comedy scene in the urban center has in truth exploded . you could catch improv , sketch , and/or digest - up basically every night of the week these days , and our aspect is special : DC drollery is n’t afraid to get alternative , with idiot box appearance likeRedacted Tonight , podcasts like “ You , Me , Them , Everybody , ” and go back shows like Church Night and Summer Camp , which evidence off coaction among comedian , burlesque performers , and musicians . We ’ve rounded up the best smear in and around the district to find DC ’s especial brand of comedy .
DC Improv
Dupont CircleDC Improv is describe with framed photos of the many super - high caliber performers who have graced this degree , including home name like Louis C.K. , Ellen DeGeneres , Jerry Seinfeld , and Sarah Silverman … comedy stalwarts Patrice O’Neal and Jim Gaffigan have even memorialize album even here . In improver to providing a milepost for comics that are on top of their game , this ball club is a skillful spot to see up - and - come local strip . Check outComedy Kumite , their stand - up comedy tourney , which comes with a serious pro grappling flair . And if you want to attempt get laugh for yourself , perhaps sign up for a lesson .
Bier Baron
Dupont CircleBier Baron ( formerly the Brickskeller ) may well be know for its big selection of beer , but the level on its second floor is put to dear use most night of the workweek . Last Resort ComedyandUnderground Comedyboth make use of the place for their ( often pack ) hebdomadal sales booth - up shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays . While those shows often highlight up - and - arrive comedians from the DC and Baltimore areas , expect some more focused viewpoint - up shows : DC export like Liz Miele and Elizabeth Croydon – who have been on Comedy Central and place upright Up NY – will do tenacious set . Bier Baron is also very well-disposed to the burlesque and sideshow community ( in case you prefer your laughs to come complete with tassels and straightjacket ) . If your know your Nintendo , Futurama , orSaved by the Bell , tally outSpecific Ignorance , Underground Comedy ’s bouncy biz show , which pits comedian against the interview in a hilarious conflict of wits ( plus , you could win a free whisky shot ) .
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
ArlingtonWhen they are n’t showing 2d - ladder movie or especially popular athletics events ( Hello , World Cup ! ) , the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse offers the best comedy shows south of the Potomac . The principal room has play server to several SNL and Last Comic Standing veterans , as well as to bigger names such as Trevor Noah and Patton Oswalt . Between Thursday and Saturday , the Green Room off the primary entrance is also a hot spot for the good local and regional stand - up comic … and guests who show up early enough on Saturday night might be able-bodied to get a exercise set from short mannequin improv troupe , Porkchop Volcano .
Dojo Comedy
Park ViewNo , the joke is not that they also sell cut - rate peregrine phone . The Park View place has some near retail neighbour ( and those “ Buy a newfangled earphone ! ” signal are directly under their marquee ) , but they also have an telling black boxful theatre that reveals itself upon entry . Dojo is the brainchild of Murph McHugh who has made his name locally as both an improviser and a sketch performer , and as such , he offers workshop in both improv and chalk out , as well as an incubator curriculum in which existing improv teams can receive coaching and an opportunity to perform in a serial publication of hebdomadal shows . Pro tip : do not show up belatedly to those display . The stage is in the front , and you may be walk directly into a scene … not an idealistic way to start your improv career .
Wonderland Ballroom
Columbia HeightsWhile Wonderland Ballroom offers a dog - friendly patio , a private-enterprise trivia night , and an annual celebration where dudes wear off sundress ( yay ) , it ’s also home to comedy most Wednesdays , Fridays , and Sundays . While Billy Sunday are strictly bear - up ( Hannibal Buress even strike down in this preceding November ) , the show on Fridays and Wednesdays are less straightforward . Expect alternative choice likeSometimes Pop - Up Comedy and Improv Show , the interactive nostalgia trip Summer Camp , and the melodious comedy of Romaine and Lettuce .
The Unified Scene Theater
BloomingdaleWe can say definitively that this is the only comedy theater in the area named after a language by The Hold Steady . So it understandably also has one of the most punk rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics in the DC area – which is just how proprietor Shawn and Kathy Westfall need it . Unified Scene Theater has been open for less than a year , but it has already act host to a variety of improv teams , and their shows tend to betray out , whether the teams are local or visit from places like Upright Citizens Brigade . The Bloomingdale space also offers get-go and forward-looking improv classes .
The Highwood Theatre
Silver SpringThis Silver Spring space ’s shibboleth is “ Anyone Can Do Theatre . ” In gain to being the only dramatics on this tilt that host physical exercise - cum - field of operations proficiency ( yes , this exists ) , it put up many performance chance for local improv teams . Their long - phase drollery contention , Cagematch is on a brief hiatus , but they ’re still hosting improv most Fridays .
The Source Theatre
U StreetThis carrying into action blank just off U Street is the home microscope stage of Washington Improv Theater ( WIT ) , which hosts WIT ’s Harold Night : planetary house teams execute long - form improv , and allow hearing members to encounter in after the show . The Source also serves as more than just a dramatics space , so should you willy-nilly cheat on upstairs , do n’t be surprised to find sketch teams writing or improv team practise in one of the dry run rooms .
DC Arts Center
Adams MorganComedy takes center stage at this black box theater every Monday and Wednesday . On Monday , Laugh Index Theatrehosts a competition called Improv Wars ( which is standardized to Highwood Theatre ’s Cagematch ) , and on Wednesday , if there are n’t improv public presentation by planetary house team or main stalwartsPress Play , then there ’s a sketch show . On the weekend , Chinese Menuoffers monthly shows that function as high-pitched - quality looseness time for some of the best improvisers in the region .
RFD
ChinatownLovingly known by both strip and patrons as the “ keep out the Fuck Up ” room , RFD ’s Thursday Nox open mic , simply known as Awesome Thursdays , is notable as one of the most democratic and long running in the city . This show let in the full range of talent , from first time effort to comedian with television set credit . Patrons who have the staying power to stick around until last call might get to see the iconic Dave Chappelle mentor , Tony Woods , who tend to tramp in at the end of the night . Just do n’t talk during anyone ’s set . Host Ralph Cooper has actually trained audiences to secern loudmouth patrons to “ shut the piece of ass up ” so he rarely even has to do it himself .
The Big Hunt
Dupont CircleThese 24-hour interval , Underground Comedyruns shew everywhere from H Street NE to Columbia Heights , but their full-grown fastness is in the basement of this Dupont legal profession . The downcast - ceilinged space has a lot of circus and sideshow paraphernalia on the wall – including some conspicuously painted legs behind the leg – and it play host to both clear micers and professional comics four nights a week : Monday , Wednesday , Friday , and Saturday . Do n’t be surprised if some of the comics visiting DC Improv , which is the right way across the street , drop in on the subterranean space .
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DC Improv Comedy Club
DC Improv Comedy Club
Flickr/William F. Yurasko
Geoff Livingston Photography
Flickr/Elvert Barnes
Press Play
Josh Alexander/RFD
