All Upcoming Shows

All Shows | Main Room | Lounge | Online | Off-Site

Every scheduled upcoming event from the DC Improv. Attendance is mandatory.

 

Main Showroom

All Shows | Main Room | Lounge | Online | Off-Site

One of the most famous comedy spots in the country, our main showroom currently seats 270 at full capacity.

 

Lounge Showroom

All Shows | Main Room | Lounge | Online | Off-Site

Opened in 2006, the lounge seats around 66 and is used to showcase local and rising talent.

 

Online Showroom

All Shows | Main Room | Lounge | Online | Off-Site

In 2020 the DC Improv went online! These are shows offered via video conferencing and live streams.

 

Off-Site Shows

All Shows | Main Room | Lounge | Online | Off-Site

Sometimes we partner up with other promoters and venues to offer comedy events outside of the club.

 

DC Improv Comedy School: Welcome!

challenge yourself * meet new people * have a blast

 

Comedy classes can bring people together and change lives! Whether you're looking for a career, a hobby, or just a way to shake up your routine, classes are a great way to get things moving.

Since opening in 2003, the DC Improv Comedy School has served thousands of students. Classes are available for all skill levels, and topics include stand-up comedy, improv comedy and comedy writing. We're a creative outlet for anyone who enjoys laughing and learning. If the class you want is sold out ... get on our waiting list. Send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. indicating which class you're interested in. The next time we add a session of that class, you'll be notified for the chance to sign up. 

Classes are taught at the DC Improv, and in 2020 we also started offering online-only classes.

 

DC Improv Comedy School: Improv Classes

 

Improv training isn't just about performing on stage: It develops skills you can use every single day. These classes can spark your creativity, introduce you to new people, help you work better in groups, improve your listening and (most important) share a ton of laughs.

Beginning improv classes are the most popular way to get started with any kind of comedy training. And for anyone who wants to continue, we offer courses to help you master the finer points of both short-form and long-form improv. 

PLEASE NOTE: Classes can sell out quickly. If you don't register in time, you can be placed on our wait list. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and specify the course in the subject line. All students must be at least 18 years old.

 

Improv Instructor: Anna Bethel

 

Anna Bethel (official website) is a comedy performer and teaches short-form improv in Washington, D.C. She was both the managing director and lead improv coach with ComedySportz, Washington D.C. until 2021. Anna has performed with various improv teams throughout the nation's capital. She teaches, coaches teams and individuals, performs regularly with the DC Improv and leads many customized corporate and private performances. The troupe Porkchop Volcano asked Anna to join as a permanent member in 2016, performing on stage, in video sketches and podcasts. She has a B.A. in Cinema & Theatre from Denison University and her professional improvisation training began at ComedySportz, DC in 2010. Anna's training with Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall) of writing sketch comedy from improv inspired the creation of varied media content. She creates podcasts and video content with fellow comics in the greater Washington D.C. area.

 

Anna's Classes (in-person)

 

Level 1 | Beginning Improv. Learn basic improv skills and short form games, with an emphasis on teamwork, creative thinking and having a good time. Five or six weeks.


Level 2 | Short Form Improv: Characters and Emotions. Anna's specialty is short-form improv. In this five week course she explores the development of characters and emotions in a scene. Ends with a graduation show.


Level 2 | Short Form Improv: Relationships and Story. Further exploration of short-form improv, building on the skills developed in Beginning Improv. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show.


Level 3 | Reading the Room Workshop. A five-week study of the art of sizing up a crowd and moderating an improv performance.

 

Anna's Classes (online)

 

Level 1 | Beginning Improv Online. A three-week version of the introductory course, conducted live via video conferencing.


Level 2 | Advanced Online Improv: Characters. A three-week version of Anna's usual level 2 course, conducted live via video conferencing.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

Improv Instructor: Chris Ulrich

 

Chris Ulrich (official website) teaches classes in beginning improv, advanced short-form improv and long-form improv. He has been performing since 2003. Currently, Chris performs regularly in a number of Improv troupes including Jive Turkey, Nox, and And Scene! He has studied improvisational comedy at the Uprights Citizens Brigade and The Magnet Theater in New York, Improv Olympic and Annoyance Theater in Chicago and Los Angeles, and at the Washington Improv Theater and DC Improv in Washington. Also, he has coached and led workshops for improv troupes in the DC area.

Chris was a cast member in the DC based comedy pilot "Capital Gym," which was entered in the 2009 NexTV Pilot Competition. He appeared on Food Network's "Dinner Impossible" with Chef Robert Irvine. He also served as a consultant to Edelman Public Relations as part of its creative content team, leading creative strategy sessions to encourage new ways of thinking for Edelman client accounts.

In addition to improv training, Chris is the founder of CU in the Moment LLC, a company with a multi-disciplined approach to educating clients about body language, personal confidence, and presentation skills. Bringing a unique blend of training and collaborative experience to his clients, Chris guides and hones clients' ability to push past their personal edge to discover greater connection and confidence in their authentic voice and message be it for speeches, presentations, sales meetings, or specialty projects. He is a media consultant who can frequently be seen on GMA, CNN, MSNBC, Fox Business, Headline News, and Washington’s USA Channel 9, where he educates viewers about non-verbal communication issues. Along with his work at CU in the Moment, Ulrich is a senior instructor at the Body Language Institute. He trains executives, salespeople, government staffers, lobbyists, and small business entrepreneurs to use new body language to transform their executive presence.

Chris' Classes (in-person)

 

Level 1 | Beginning Improv. Learn basic improv skills and short form games, with an emphasis on teamwork, creative thinking and having a good time. Five or six weeks.


Level 2 | Level 2 Improv. A continued focus on short-form improv, especially building fun and dynamic characters. Ends with a graduation show. Five or six weeks.


Level 3 | Advancing the Scene Workshop. Builds on the skills of "yes and," active listening, observation, structure, and support to expand how we approach scenes. Five weeks.


Level 3 | Exploring Ensemble. A class for experienced performers, looking to get the most out of performing with a group. Ends with a graduation show. Five weeks. (Harold training is recommended but not required.)


Level 3 | Advanced Character Workshop. A five-week class using acting exercises and body language training to develop authentic characters.


Level 4A | Intro to the Harold. This class focuses on the creation of the long-form improv style developed by Del Close. Ends with a graduation show. Five weeks.


Level 4B | Advancing the Harold. A further exploration of the Harold long-form format. Ends with a graduation show. Five or six weeks.


Level 4B | The Bat: A Harold in the Dark. Long-form improv in the dark! Four weeks. Ends with a graduation show.


Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The Armando. Learn "The Armando," which combines storytelling and scene work. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show.


Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The Mono-scene. Learn "The Mono-scene," which incorporates multiple actors in a single location without edits. Four weeks. Ends with a graduation show.


Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The LaRontage. Explore a hybrid format of the dynamic character-driven LaRonde and the fun and fast pace vignettes of Montage. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show.

 

Chris' Classes (online)

 

Level 1 | Beginning Improv Online. A four-week version of the introductory course, conducted live via video conferencing.


Level 2 | Level 2 Improv Online. A four-week online version of the class, presented via video conferencing. Ends with an online graduation show.


Level 3 | Advancing the Scene Workshop Online. A four-week, online version of the class, presented via video conferencing.


Level 3 | Advanced Improv Performance Online. A class specifically to help students create the best online performances they can. Ends with an online graduation show. Four weeks.


Level 4A | Intro to the Harold Online. This class focuses on the creation of the long-form improv style developed by Del Close. Ends with an online graduation show. Four weeks.


Level 4B | Advancing the Harold Online. A further exploration of the Harold long-form format. Ends with an online graduation show. Four weeks.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

Improv Instructor: Conor O'Rourke

 

Conor O'Rourke

Conor O'Rourke has been performing comedy for more than 14 years. He was first introduced to improv in college, and he joined ComedySportz in 2009. Conor helped create the group Porkchop Volcano in 2013, which has performed at the DC Improv, Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, Brightbox Theater, the Charm City Comedy Festival and more. He has extensive experience leading corporate team-building workshops and has taught introductory improv classes both the DC Improv and the Comedy Spot (in Northern Virginia). Conor still regularly performs all around the DMV.

 

Conor's Classes (in-person)

 

Level 1 | Beginning Improv for Teens. Learn basic improv skills and short form games, strengthen communication skills and have a great time. Four weeks plus a graduation show.


Level 1 | Beginning Improv. Learn basic improv skills and short form games, with an emphasis on teamwork, creative thinking and having a good time. Five or six weeks.


Level 1.5 | Short-Form Improv for Fun. Learn and practice improv games while having fun playing with other improvisers, without the emphasis on performing for an audience. Four weeks.


Level 2 | Level 2 Short-Form Improv. Further exploration of short-form improv, building on the skills developed in Beginning Improv. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show.


Level 3 | Advanced Short Form. Incorporates new, advance games while reinforcing the fundamental building blocks of improv. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

DC Improv Comedy School: Stand-Up Classes

 

Stand-up comedy is the foundation that comedy clubs are built on. Lots of people dream about trying stand-up, whether it's to scratch it off a bucket list, or to pursue a hobby or career entertaining people.

Our classes are designed to give you a structured environment that motivates you to finally get on stage. Our instructors will show you how to write, polish and perform a short stand-up set. Some classes even feature a graduation show on the famous DC Improv stage (or, in the case of online classes, in our virtual showroom). Whether you're hoping to be a superstar or just looking to try something new, you're welcome at the comedy school!

Wait List: "Five Minutes to Funny" is extremely popular and fills up quickly. If you'd like to be placed on the wait list for that class, complete the Google form at this link. The wait list is done via e-mail sent from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and once a class is announced via e-mail, the first people to pay in full get into the course. Payment must be made online, with a credit card. If you miss out on registering and want to stay on the wait list, you must complete the form again. You are not automatically enrolled into the wait list for the next class announcement.

 

Stand-Up Instructor: Chris Coccia

 

Chris Coccia (official website) started teaching stand-up at the DC Improv in 2006, but he was a regular on the DC Improv stage way before that. Friendly, funny and accessible, he has a real gift for connecting with audiences of all types. His act is a perfect combination of hilarious material and the ability to present it "in the moment." Flowing seamlessly between material and improvised interaction with the crowd, Chris is able to open the audience up as he pulls them into a shared recognition of our own human-ness.

Chris keeps a full schedule working everything from the country’s top comedy clubs to corporate events to colleges. In addition, he won the 2008 Purina Pet Comedy Challenge, a national event with a $10,000.00 prize. He was also invited to be part of the Great American Comedy Festival in Johnny Carson's Nebraska hometown, put together by the talent coordinator of "The Late Show with David Letterman," Eddie Brill. He has appeared on Comedy Central, The Game Show Network, and XM Radio. Chris is also a frequent and favorite guest on several Philadelphia based radio shows.

 

Chris' Classes (in-person)

 

Level 1 | Five Minutes to Funny. Our signature stand-up course. Four weeks of in-person training with instructor Chris Coccia, meeting once a week. Concludes with a graduation show on a DC Improv stage.


Level 2 | Beyond Five Minutes to Funny. A three-hour seminar with Chris Coccia covering various aspects of the comedy industry.

 

Chris' Classes (online)

 

Level 1 | Five Minutes to Funny Online. A virtual version of our stand-up course with Chris Coccia. Four weeks of live instruction via video conferencing. Concludes with an online graduation show.


Level 2 | Stand-Up Coaching. One-hour sessions via videoconferencing.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

Stand-Up Instructor: Rahmein Mostafavi

 

Rahmein Mostafavi (official website) charms crowds with comic timing and charisma developed during a decade of live performance. He entered the stand-up world after working as a longtime cast member of “Shear Madness,” the acclaimed Kennedy Center improv/comedy whodunit. His natural joke writing ability, combined with his acting chops, have won him rave reviews in both the Washington area and around the country. He also produced events under the “Cool Cow Comedy” banner, bringing live comedy to venues in Maryland and Virginia.

Rahmein has been featured at the Laugh Your Asheville Off comedy festival, The Devil Cup, Red Clay, The Cleveland Comedy Festival, and the Cape May Comedy Festival. Rahmein has been seen on FOX, heard regularly on Sirius XM, was featured in “The Truth About Money” on PBS, and was honored to be a speaker at the world famous TEDx Talks.

Born in Iran, Rahmein moved to the United States with his family at a very young age. He currently resides in Northern Virginia. Rahmein won Comedy Kumite 4.2 (winter 2016) at the DC Improv, as well as two Kumite Tournaments of Champions (fall 2016 and summer 2021).

 

Rahmein's Classes (in-person)

  

Level 2 | Level 2 Stand-Up. Four weeks of further instruction on the art and business of comedy with instructor Rahmein Mostafavi. Concludes with a graduation show on a DC Improv stage.

 

Rahmein's Classes (online)

 

Level 2 | Level 2 Stand-Up Online. A three-week version of Rahmein Mostafavi's course, via video conferencing.


Level 2 | Stand-Up Coaching. One-hour sessions via videoconferencing.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

Stand-Up Instructor: Robert Mac

 

Robert Mac (official website) is a comedian based out of Washington, DC. He is best known as the Grand Prize Winner of Comedy Central's national "Laugh Riots" competition and for his appearances on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," and he has two specials on Dry Bar Comedy. Mac has been seen on the stages of the inaugural Great American Comedy Festival, the Boston Comedy Festival, Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival, and other highly acclaimed events throughout the country. A few years ago, Entertainment Business Journal ranked Mac in the top 100 stand-up comedians in the U.S.

 

Robert's Classes (in-person)

  

Level 2 | The Science of Joke Writing. A three-hour, one-night class that starts with some of the fundamentals of stand-up comedy -- what makes people laugh, the skills required to be a comic, different interpretations of comedy -- before diving into joke structure, various approaches to the joke-creation process, and a number of writing techniques to streamline your jokes and help them stand out.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

DC Improv Comedy School: Sketch Classes

 

Sketch comedy has produced some of the most iconic performers in the business -- shows like "Saturday Night Live," "In Living Color," "Kids in the Hall" and "Chappelle's Show" have become legendary. Sketch classes take you through the full process, from writing a sketch, refining it, figuring out how to put it on stage, and even performing it. The DC sketch troupe Bad Medicine provides our in-house instructors, and we also offer classes with out-of-town guests whenever we can.

If you see a class below that you're interested in but unable to take at this time, send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and specify the course in the subject line. We'll send you a message as soon as a new session is open to registration.

 

Sketch Instructors: Bad Medicine

 

Bad Medicine

Bad Medicine is a team of friends from a political town doing non-political comedy. With a bent toward the dark and the absurd, we keep the audience guessing with varied styles and formats, with the goal of pointing out the ugliness and the silliness of real life. It's the right amount of stupid fun. Bad Medicine has performed at comedy festivals such as SF Sketchfest, NYC Sketchfest, Austin Sketchfest, Montreal Sketchfest, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, SketchFest Seattle and Philly Sketchfest.

 

Bad Medicine's Classes (in-person)

  

Level 1 | Intro to Sketch Comedy. Taught by the Bad Medicine sketch troupe. A four-week course that will take you from a premise to a fully realized sketch. You'll walk away with a solid grounding in the foundations of sketch comedy.


Level 2 | Level 2 Sketch Comedy. Taught by the Bad Medicine sketch troupe. A six-week writing-focused course to help you build a portfolio of sketches.


Level 2 | Sketch Comedy: Page to Stage. Taught by the Bad Medicine sketch troupe. A one-day course with a workshop environment to help you take your comedy writing and convert it into a performance.

 

Bad Medicine's Classes (online)

 

Level 1 | Intro to Sketch Comedy Online. Bad Medicine's intro course in an online format, meeting once a week for four weeks.


Level 2 | Level 2 Sketch Comedy Online. The sketch troupe Bad Medicine goes online to focus on sketch writing, taking you through various formats and helping you workshop your own sketches. Meets once a week for six weeks.

 

Classes Currently Scheduled

Frequently Asked Questions

 

All you REALLY need to know is that we're the best comedy venue in the nation's capital. But if you want some practical info about how this place works and how to get here, check out the pages below.

 

DC Improv: Group Event Planning

office functions * private parties * talent booking * online or in person

 

In addition to being a world-class comedy club, the DC Improv can help you plan office events, fundraisers and private parties, whether they're at the Improv, in a location of your choosing or online via video conferencing.

We can coordinate improv teambuilding sessions, provide event space or help you find comedy talent that fits in your budget.

We also offer the services of Frank, a trained grizzly bear who rides a unicycle while juggling chainsaws. He's a great addition to any event, but right now we're keeping him on the shelf until some minor litigation clears up. We'll keep you posted.

 

DC Improv: Podcasts

 

Everyone else has a podcast, so why not us? For more than a decade, the DC Improv has been posting interviews with comedians, free comedy content and discussions about anything having to do with laughter. In the near future we'll also be posting info on podcasts from some of our favorite people to work with.