If you’re like me, when you think comedy, the last thing that comes to mind is a bracket-driven, play-off style competition. But that’s exactly what the Washington Improv Theater (WIT) has managed to create in F.I.S.T – the Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament. DC’s improv scene has grown exponentially over the last decade, and much of… read more »

If you overheard me talking with comedian Jo Koy, you might have thought I was catching up with an old friend. Koy has a way of easing you into a conversation, much like his comedy act, drawing you into his warm, engaging and, yes, funny world. He doesn’t talk out of obligation; he is earnest… read more »

Looking for something funny and fun to do on a Wednesday night? Starting this February, Metro Comedy presents live standup at Bar 7, an upscale bar and lounge located on 7th Street near the convention center. Metro Comedy, launched in 2009 by local comedian and host Ed Blaze, is set to bring comedy to Bar… read more »

The weather outside is frightful, but live comedy inside is delightful. On Tap’s list of must-see comedians will chase away even the worst winter blues.

Last month I visited open-mic comedy nights in the DC area – the take away?  Being funny is harder than it looks. This month, I check out a school of comedy.  Humor: is it something you’re born with or can you learn to be funny? My quest to answer the nature vs. nurture quandary of… read more »

Ready for a treat? Like the Great Pumpkin descending on the Peanuts gang, actor, comedian and infamous “Three Sheets” and “Drinking Made Easy” TV host Zane Lamprey returns to DC with his new not-so-Broadway “Sing the Booze” tour. A zany – no pun intended – evening featuring all new original drinking songs plus sidekicks Steve… read more »

While the DC area has produced some talented comedians, for every Dave Chappelle or Wanda Sykes there are a multitude of brave newcomers struggling to find their voices at underground venues. As an audience member attending a number of recent amateur comedy nights in local bars, clubs, studio spaces, and even a mall, I learned… read more »

If you’ve ever been abused by schoolyard bullies or stumbled through tremendously bad public speaking experiences, you and Mike Birbiglia could tell some of the same stories.  Unfortunately for you, Birbiglia would be much, much funnier.  In a self-deprecating style so severe that it borders on self-immolating, Birbiglia weaves tales so embarrassing that you’re never… read more »

Comedians work tirelessly to set themselves apart from other comedians. Do they have a unique take on the world around them? Can they leave a memorable impression on the crowds long after the show is over? Simply put:  Does their stand up stand out? I recently caught up with Eric Schwartz, known to the comedic… read more »

The folks at Washington Improv Theater want Washingtonians to know that they are growing and adapting each year. The actors and volunteers who make the Washington Improv Theater (WIT) tick host a wide range of performances throughout the year but there is more to the story and that’s part of what has helped WIT’s participation… read more »