Funny Ha-Ha: 7 Local Comedy Troupes + Showcases

Fall is coming — which means we all should laugh while we can before winter depression comes to rob us of the twinkle in our souls. If you’re looking for a joy-fix this autumn, check out these shows designed to produce the laughs and vibes you need to survive the months to come.

Batting Cage Comedy

If you find yourself stumbling out of Union Station on a Thursday night, check out Batting Cage Comedy, an intimate basement show at Kelly’s Irish Times that pays homage to producer Kevin Seefried’s favorite pastime: baseball. With a cup full of beer and a belly full of laughter, you don’t have to go to Nats Park for a night of entertainment. Come watch some of D.C.’s sharpest comedians work on longer form material and see if you can’t kick their ass at a game of beer pong. (Yes, that’s sometimes part of the show and it’s awesome.) You never know who might stop by, from local baseball legends to “106.7 The Fan”’s Danny Rouhier. Seefried’s high-energy delivery will keep you on the edge of your seat like you’re waiting for the second coming of Juan Soto. Thursdays at 8 p.m. Follow Batting Cage Comedy on Instagram @battingcageshow. Kelly’s Irish Times: 14 F St. NW, DC; kellysirishtimesdc.com // @kellysirishtimes

Bottle Rocket Comedy

There’s more to Baltimore than Pimlico horse races, a casino and “The Wire.” There’s also an aquarium. Oh, wait. There’s comedy, too — and it’s good. Bottle Rocket Comedy is a cool collective formed by Nik Oka, Chris Spann, Law and Bobbie Ray, four Baltimore comedians taking the DMV by storm, extending their reach by producing shows from Baltimore all the way to D.C. at The Dew Drop Inn. They produce several shows throughout the month, including showcases at Delia Foley’s and the hipster-friendly Protean Books & Records Store. They also have an improv-based experimental stand-up show called “Riffin’ on 36th” at Old Bank Barbers. If you walk the streets of Baltimore, you might catch producers Law and Oka outside with a mic and amp, hilariously engaging with bystanders to draw them to their shows. Follow Bottle Rocket Comedy on Instagram @bottlerocketcomedy_. Lemme Tell Ya at The Dew Drop Inn: 2801 8th St. NE, DC; dewdropinndc.com // @thedewdropinndc. Irish Goodbye at Delia Foley’s Pub: 1439 S Charles St. Baltimore, MD; deliafoleys.pub // @deliafoleyspub. Riffin on 36th at The Old Bank Barbers: 1100 W 36th St. Baltimore, MD; theoldbankbarbers.com // @theoldbankbarbers. Punchdrunk at Protean Books & Records: 836 Leadenhall St. Baltimore, MD; @proteanbooks

Catfish Comedy

If you want to see comedians roast each other’s self esteem to smithereens gladiator-style for your entertainment, then checkout “Colosseum Comedy” — a bi-monthly comedy roast battle from Catfish Comedy, produced by the hilariously quirky Vida McCahey and Joey Friedman. The show incites all the thrill and fear you felt back in the day standing around an after-school joaning session, or approaching the mean girls after you forgot to wear pink on a Wednesday. You can also catch Catfish Comedy’s weekly open mic and showcases in Adams Morgan. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. Follow Catfish Comedy on Instagram @catfishcomedydc. Shenanigan’s Irish Pub: 2450 18th St. NW, DC; shenaniganspubdc.com // City-State Brewing Co.: 705 Edgewood St. NE, DC; citystatebrewing.com // @citystatebrewing

Come See About It Comedy

Thursdays this fall, you can pull up to Takoma Station Tavern and check out Come See About It, a weekly stand-up showcase hosted by Clarence Nixon, formerly known as Dude in Da Corner. Nixon, a 2021 Magooby’s Joke House Comedian of the Year semifinalist — who is often spotted wearing his signature track suit and wide-brimmed baseball cap — has a knack for booking some of the most talented comedians from Richmond to Baltimore (and Prince George’s County in between), including Patrice DeVeaux, Anthony Oakes and Bryant Tinker. Nixon’s blatantly raw comedic style sets the tone for a night of hilarious honesty that’s worth the watch. Thursdays at 8 p.m. Follow Come See About It Comedy on Instagram @comeseeaboutitcomedy. Takoma Station Tavern: 6914 4th St NW, DC; takomastation.com // @takomastationtavern

The Heavyweights Comedy Show

If you’re looking to spend a nice, brisk evening of laughter in D.C.’s historic Mount Pleasant neighborhood, then stuff a bottle of Jack Daniels under your coat and slide through The Heavyweights Comedy Show, a monthly BYOB stand-up showcase at Lost Origins Gallery. Pour your favorite drink, take in a few new paintings and watch comedic art at play. The show’s branding boasts of ’90s sports nostalgia — their flyers stamped with legendary athletes in their prime. Frequented by DC Improv favorites      such as Jason Weems, Paris Sashay and Rahmein Mostafavi, the talent at each of the monthly shows matches the promotion. The show’s “heavyweights” title is no joke — it’s produced by some of the most talented rising comedians in the area, including Jay Agbon, Dom Grayer and Matthew Deakins, whose comedic styles combine for an off-beat night of laid-back laughs. Fridays (monthly) at 8 p.m. Follow The Heavyweights Comedy Show on Instagram at @theheavyweightsdc. Lost Origins Gallery: 3110 Mt Pleasant St. NW, DC; lostorigins.gallery // @lost_origins_gallery

House Rules

Would you rather stay at home cozied up in your living room this fall? Do it on Ivi Demi’s couch during one of his infamous House Rules comedy shows, which he hosts with the hilarious Hedi Sandberg at (that’s right, you guessed it) his house in Columbia Heights. Demi and Sandberg are just the dose of Prozac you need to calm that seasonal anxiety as the holidays hauntingly approach. Just make sure you have a ticket to the show, or else you’ll just be breaking and entering. Last Saturday of every month at 7 p.m. Ivi’s house: Columbia Heights in NW DC; ividemi.com // @ivi.demi + @teeheehee_hedi

Sonic Comedy Lab

You can catch all of these comedians and more at Sonic Comedy Lab at The Village Cafe, produced by D.C.-based creative studio Studio Sonic and hosted by me, Joe Marshall. You never know quite what to expect at the Lab. From filmed comedy sketches to live musical artists and drop-ins from the likes of “Comedy Central”’s Devon Walker, the unpredictable show format appeals to the edgy, experimental artist in all of us. You can also catch our new show “The Experiment” at DC Comedy Loft, where the audience chooses their favorite up-and-coming comedian to be featured on a future show. Sundays (monthly) at 7 p.m. Follow Studio Sonic on Instagram @studiosonic.co. The Village Cafe: 1272 5th St. NE, DC; thevillagedc.space // @thevillage.dc. Thursdays (monthly) 8 p.m. DC Comedy Loft: 1523 22nd St. NW, DC; dccomedyloft.com // @dccomedyloft

Comedy Open Mics

You can also catch some of the area’s best comedians at play working out new material, or try your hand at stand-up at some of these free, well-run open mics:

Adams Bomb, produced by Adam Coonen and Adam Lax, aims to engage veteran and newbie comics alike in comedy creation. Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. Dirty Water: 816 H St. NE, DC // @adambomb

Broken Mic’s Night Cap at DC Comedy Loft is the perfect spot if you’re looking for late night Saturday laughs. Hosted and produced by Brandon Moore, DJ Orlando Gaston and Mike Brown, a D.C. Comedy OG who also produces a monthly showcase called The Approved at the same venue. Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. DC Comedy Loft: 1523 22nd St. NW, DC // brokenmiccomedy.com

Spaghetti on the Beach is the only open mic in Capitol Hill, produced by the lively Angel Penn and wise-cracking Mark Mensh. Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Hamilton’s Bar & Grill: 233 2nd St. NW, DC // @spaghetti_on_the_beach

Joe Marshall